Kybella
Diminish your double chin without surgery.
What is Kybella?
Kybella injections dissolve fat cells to reduce small areas of excess fat. A synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring enzyme in the gut, Kybella is the only injectable approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to permanently treat the submental fat, also known as the double chin.
Your medical professional will inject Kybella under your chin and then the deoxycholic acid gets to work! Over several weeks the dissolved fat becomes cellular debris that gets cleared into the lymphatic and circulatory systems and eventually is excreted as waste. Some clients see visual results after one treatment but most experience visible results with 2 to 4 treatments that are usually spaced one month apart. Your medical professional will be able to determine the number of treatments you will need.
Donna's Story
Truly amazing! Delighted with my Kybella results - turned out better than I could possibly imagine! I no longer have a double chin and now after many years...I am finally pleased with and like my side profile. The procedure was easy - minimal downtime (although I took a Friday off from work since I am the self conscious type and expected worse case of swelling), injections were uncomfortable but tolerable (numbing cream applied before procedure works wonders) and for me after 2 series of injections I was good to go! Results take a few months to show fully but I starting noticing difference after approx 6 weeks and it keeps getting better over time...just be patient."
Real Kybella Patient
Frequently Asked Questions
Pros
- Kybella injections can permanently dissolve fat cells without incisions, surgery, anesthesia, or scars.
- It’s a quick procedure, taking just 15 minutes to perform.
- If your provider numbs the injection area in advance and applies an ice pack immediately afterward, the procedure can cause minimal discomfort.
- You should have minimal downtime (if you don’t have severe swelling).
- There is some skin tightening effect with Kybella in the submental area—a “bonus” of the procedure.
Cons
- You’ll probably need multiple treatments, spaced about 4-6 weeks apart, to see significant results.
- Kybella injections are only recommended for small pockets of unwanted fat.
- A small percentage of patients experience severe swelling (commonly called “bullfrog neck”) for up to a month after their treatment.
- It’s essential to make sure you’re the right candidate for this procedure, to ensure good results. Younger patients typically see better results than people over age 50, who may have droopy excess skin once the fat is removed.
- There is a possible link between fat-dissolvable injectables like Kybella and hair loss at the injected site in male patients.
Your appointment will start with an anatomic analysis and assessment by your Medical Provider, along with a photo so you can measure your progress later.
Then your provider will measure your treatment area and mark your injection sites. Next, they’ll sterilize the area. You won’t need anesthesia, but some opt for apply a numbing cream on the area a few minutes before injecting to reduce discomfort.
Kybella is given in a series of injections, each one small and quick. Depending on how much fullness you have and the number of vials you’ll need, you may get anywhere from 20 to 30 injections. This can take up to 30 minutes, though most appointments last just 15–25 minutes.
Right after your appointment, you should be able to drive home or go to work. You should expect some swelling and possibly bruising, so don’t plan on getting Kybella injections in the weeks before a wedding or another big event.
Some patients experience a “jiggling” sensation as the area swells and fat cells dissolve.
Avoid any strenuous exercise for 4-5 days following the injections. We do not want to increase the amount of blood flow to the injected area, which could increase swelling and delay healing.
Some patients see results after one treatment but most experience results with 2 to 4 treatments that are spaced one month apart.
The FDA found no long-term side effects of using Kybella for double chin removal, so it is considered safe. However, there are some potential risks, complications, and side effects.
All common side effects can last anywhere from two days to six weeks, depending on your body’s response.
- Numbness can last anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks, with sensation returning gradually over that time.
- Some patients say they had pain for a few days or weeks, though over-the-counter pain medications (other than aspirin) reportedly works well to control it.
- Damage to the nerve that controls the smile, which can cause asymmetry around the mouth, was experienced by 4.3% of clinical trial subjects. This type of nerve injury typically resolves on its own in a month, but it can take up to four months.
- In clinical trials, “72% of subjects treated with Kybella experienced hematoma/bruising.” There’s a heightened risk of excessive bleeding or bruising in the treatment area if you have bleeding abnormalities or you’re undergoing antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy.
- A study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery in August 2019 demonstrated a link between fat-dissolvable injectables like Kybella and alopecia in men. The hair loss happened at the injection site, so patients with chin or neck injections could not grow facial hair. This side effect was first noted in a study published in May 2017.
- Currently, there’s not enough research data to know with certainty that Kybella is safe for nursing or pregnant women.