Fig (formerly Advanced LipoDissolve) shuts down
After three years of tumultuous consumer relationships and scathing Better Business Bureau reports, Fig (formerly known as LipoDissolve) has shut themselves down.
LipoDissolve was a controversial “fat melting” procedure that promised to remove fat from hard-to-move places like lovehandles and tummies by injecting medication into these areas. From the beginning, the procedure - and the corporation behind it - have been at the center of consumer complaints regarding non-results, allergic reactions, and shoddy business practices (mostly stemming from the inability to take Fig up on their “money back guarantee”).
According to sources, Fig employees were told at the end of the workday on Friday, December 7th that the company would no longer be doing business. This included Fig medical centers around the country, as well as the corporate offices.
What is especially surprising is that, one day earlier, CEO A.J. Semaan had a lengthy - and apparently upbeat - conference call with RealSelf.com, a health and beauty website that has been a hub of information and consumer stories about failed LipoDissolve treatments. Talk about smoke and mirrors!
Over 500 employees are now out of work, but countless thousands of current and former customers have also been left out in the cold.
The question on everyone’s minds now is what will happen to these customers, who are either in the middle of receiving LipoDissolve treatments (the procedure entails approximately 10-12 series of injections over several months) or are former customers who are still waiting for their “money back guarantee” refunds? Initial murmurs on LipoDissolve/Fig message boards suggest that customers have not been informed of what to do next.
For years, Fig has been controversial, and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before someone filed a class action lawsuit or the government was forced to take action. Thousands of unsatisfied customers are likely thrilled right now that Fig have shut themselves down.
But whilst this week’s Fig shutdown might seem like a preemptive strike on their part - stop doing business before someone stops you - if Fig fails to follow through on refund requests and is halting procedures without notice, it also seems likely that we’ll get our courtroom showdown after all.
And where are they now?
As a U.S. representative for the original developers of Lipodissolve, we are relieved to see companies like Fig close down. The consequences and damages the company has done to Lipodissolve and the public understanding of Lipodissolve will take many years to correct. Lipodissolve is a very good, simplified procedure with high safety record, but like all medical procedures it needs proper medical evaluation and is only suitable for the right candidate with pockets of fat - not obese patients.
Fig modified the original Lipodissolve procedure by altering protocols and medications wanting a “revolutionary” version of their own which they aggressively marketed as a “superior treatment” and different from other Lipodissolve treatments. Fig particularly elevated deoxycholate levels, causing severe pain and side-effects that otherwise have been rare or unreported in Lipodissolve treatments in Europe prior to Fig’s existence. The use of deoxycholate in excess (PCDC) as has been popularized in the U.S. but has always been discouraged in use by the developers.
Lipodissolve, or injection lipolysis as the procedure is known outside the United States, was successfully used for many years without major complications. It is only since 2007 these reports started emerging as more and more clinics began imitating the procedure haphazardly.
The risk with simplified new procedures like Lipodissolve, is always that there will be businesses wanting to make quick money and take undue advantage from an otherwise good procedure. This is very unfortunate to the people who ultimately become victims of such mismanagement and commercial abuse.
Fig, aka Advanced Lipodissolve Center created tremendous losses to employees and patients, and created even more losses to the many valid and authentic medical providers of this treatment. Fig’s repeated misrepresentation, misuse of the actual treatment, and misuse of the name Lipodissolve for their procedure has been a serious misrepresentation of Lipodissolve.
The Fig founders apparently had enough money to start a new company, BENU Medical LLC (http://www.benumedical.com/) in where they market SmartLipo in the same aggressive manner, as with “Advanced Lipodissolve”.
Kara Freeman
Public Relations
ASNA Administration