Have You Heard of Kybella?

You look in the mirror, homing in on that stubborn “double chin”. You’ve tried every diet, exercise, and lifestyle change to get rid of it, but none of your efforts can make this area of fat disappear.

If this sounds like you, there’s only one question that comes to mind: have you heard of Kybella?

Kybella is an injectable treatment used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin, known as submental fat. In fact, it’s the first and only FDA-approved treatment to get rid of that dreaded double chin. Read on to learn exactly what Kybella is, how it works, and how it can help you achieve the look you want.

Deoxycholic acid

Kybella is an injectable form of deoxycholic acid, a substance that is already naturally present in your body. Deoxycholic acid is a secondary bile acid, meaning that it is the metabolic byproduct of cholic acid by intestinal bacteria. The role of deoxycholic acid is to help the body absorb dietary fats.

Kybella is a cytolytic drug, which means when it is injected into tissue it physically destroys the cell membranes. Therefore, proper injection of this drug into the submental fat will cause focal adipolysis, meaning it destroys the fat cells. After the cell destruction, macrophages clear the cell membrane fragments and free lipids as well as stimulate the production of collagen through fibroblast recruitment. (Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016) The result? A smoother, sleeker appearance of the targeted area.

The Kybella procedure

Kybella is a nonsurgical in-office procedure that involves injecting the drug into the fat tissue in the submental area. The procedure typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes to perform. Patients may receive up to 50 injections in a single treatment, depending on the severity of their condition. The average patient will require about 12 to 20 injections per visit, according to plastic surgeon Alan Matarasso, MD. Since this procedure is minimally invasive, you can expect to resume your normal daily activities directly after your appointment.

The side effect profile of the Kybella procedure is similar to the customary side effects seen with injections, including bruising, swelling, pain, numbness, and redness of the injection area. The side effects last about 4 days on average. (Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016)

Kybella results

In the Refine 1 ATX-101 trial, a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 500 patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group was injected with Kybella and the placebo group was injected with saline. Results were evaluated both by a “blinded” evaluator and patient self-assessment. Data from this clinical trial revealed that approximately 80% of patients demonstrated greater than 1 grade improvement in submental fat in approximately 12 weeks after their last treatment. (Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016)

Kybella represents a permanent solution to your double chin because once it is injected and the targeted fat cells are destroyed, these fat cells can no longer store or accumulate fat. The result is an improvement in the appearance of the submental area through both reduction of localized subcutaneous fat deposits in patients along with tissue tightening. (Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016) It is still important, though, to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to keep the same excellent results long-term.

While most people see visible results after two to four treatment sessions, the exact amount that you require can vary. A total of up to six treatments may be administered, separated by at least one month. Final results require patience as the swelling can sometimes take several weeks to resolve and tissue tightening takes place over months.

Who is an ideal candidate for Kybella?

Submental fat represents an aesthetic problem amongst a wide variety of patients both young and old, male and female, and regardless of body mass. In many cases, submental pockets of fat are determined by genetics and are thus resistant to diet and exercise alone. Anyone who is bothered by the appearance of a double chin and is in general good health may be an excellent candidate for Kybella injections.

If you’re considering Kybella to help you achieve a more defined jawline and smoother, sleeker profile, contact board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant today to schedule your consultation. During your consultation with Dr. Krant, you can discuss your needs and goals, and Dr. Krant will design a treatment plan custom-tailored to help you reach your desired outcome.