Are you bothered, embarrassed, or self-conscious about the fat under your chin? Do you wish to avoid surgery to improve this area? Do you have this stubborn area despite eating healthy and exercising? If so, KYBELLA® may be a promising treatment for you.
This area under your chin with excess fat is called submental fullness. Submental fullness is excess fat beneath the chin, commonly known as “double chin.” It can be something you’ve had your whole life due to genetics, or an issue that starts to appear as you get older, or if you gain weight.
What is KYBELLA®
KYBELLA® is a prescription medicine and is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called “double chin. The active ingredient in KYBELLA® is synthetic deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, KYBELLA® destroys fat cells, and once destroyed, these cells can no longer store or accumulate fat. This results in a noticeable reduction in fullness under the chin, revealing an improved chin profile.
Most clients will need 3-6 sessions of KYBELLA® 4-6 weeks apart for the best outcome.
What to expect at your visit
The KYBELLA® treatment takes about 30 minutes. During your office visit, your under-chin area will be injected multiple times with a tiny needle, depositing the fat-dissolving medication evenly. Most clients find the treatment not painful, with the help of ice applied before injection. You can expect to be in the office for about 30 minutes and can typically resume normal activities quickly.
Side effects
The most common side effects of KYBELLA® include swelling, pain, bruising, numbness, redness, and areas of hardness in the treatment area.
KYBELLA® can cause serious side effects, including injection site problems such as bruising, hair loss, open sores (ulcers), and tissue cell death (necrosis) around the injection site or trouble swallowing and nerve injury in the jaw that can temporarily cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness. In clinical studies, nerve injury in the jaw resolved independently in a median of 44 days (range of 1 to 298 days), and trouble swallowing resolved independently in a median of 3 days (range of 1 to 81 days).
Precautions And Exclusions:
Talk to your treatment provider about your overall health during your consultation. You’ll need to avoid KYBELLA® treatments if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, have an active infection under your chin, have insulin-dependent diabetes, are experiencing swollen glands in your neck area, or have certain medical conditions, including issues with speaking or swallowing, hemophilia hormone/thyroid disorder, cancer, liver disease, or kidney disease. KYBELLA® is also not recommended for those currently undergoing chemotherapy or are under 18 years of age.
Pre-treatment recommendations
It is recommended to stop any medications that could increase bleeding 3 days before your appointment. These include oily vitamins such as fish oil, vitamins E and D, ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs), and abstaining from alcohol. Take a look at your calendar and any upcoming events. You can be bruised for up to 2 weeks and swollen up to 7-10 days after your treatment. So it is good to plan accordingly.
Aftercare recommendations
After your treatment with KYBELLA®, you will feel slight warmth and may see some redness in the area. You can take Tylenol and use cloth covered ice at home for comfort. Avoid ibuprofen or Aleve (NSAIDs), as inflammation is a good thing as your body encapsulates and flushes out the fat that has been destroyed. Please do not rub or massage the area during the first 7 days. Do not apply a compression wrap to try to decrease swelling. Please do not exercise, use the sauna or hot tub, tanning bed, or be in the hot outdoors for at least 3 days after your treatment.
Starting 7 days after your treatment with KYBELLA®, we recommend starting a lymphatic massage on your neck. Your provider can instruct you on how to do this at home. It is best to do this 3-5 times a day for 5 minutes each time and continue this daily for the following 10 days.
Recommended pairings
If you are looking for a more prominent jawline, your provider may recommend a jaw and/or chin filler. This procedure may be done at least two weeks after your KYBELLA® treatment. It would accentuate the definition of your jaw and lower face.
