Background: The adipocytolytic non-surgical esthetic procedures are indicated for the reduction of localized fat and are effective in reducing local adiposity through the ablation of adipocytes with fast and lasting results, besides causing local inflammation.
Objective: This study aimed to characterize the adipocytolytic procedures and correlate the phases of the inflammatory process with the results obtained from such procedures, in order to clarify the role of inflammation triggered by the adipocytolytic procedures and its relation with the lipolytic process, with a focus on body shaping.
Methods: This work is an integrative literature review that presents a total of 72 articles published between 1998 and 2015, derived from the PubMed database, in order to establish a relationship between clinical and basic science research, assuming an important role in medical practice based on evidence.
Results: The results show that the adipocytolytic procedures are characterized by triggering inflammation arising from the disruption of adipocytes by interfering with the lipolytic signaling pathways in both acute and chronic phases of inflammation through the direct action of proinflammatory cytokines or catecholamines. Therefore, inflammation plays an important role in modulating the lipolytic process, influencing body shaping.
Conclusion: The inflammatory process assists the adipolytic process in all stages of inflammation, contributing to the reduction of body contouring.
Keywords: adipocytolysis; body contouring; esthetic procedures; inflammation.