How does Kybella Treatment Work?

Today I’ll be sharing how Kybella Treatment works.

Weight gain is not the only possible cause of a double chin. For many of us, the predisposition to the development of excess fat under the chin is genetic. For others, the condition presents itself with age. You cannot choose your genetics or your age, but you may be able to do something about the effects on your profile. Eliminating your double chin will make you appear pounds lighter or even years younger than you do today.

Not all that long ago, there were not many effective treatment options available to improve the appearance of that extra fold. You may have considered liposuction, but were put off by the idea of surgery. Now you have another option. Many people have their double chins reduced or eliminated with Kybella.

Effective Fat Reduction With Kybella

Kybella is an effective, injectable prescription medication used to specifically target and eliminate the excess fat stored beneath your chin. Currently, Kybella is the only injectable product approved by the FDA to cut fat in this area(submental fat). Eliminating submental fat can help define your jaw line and improve the appearance of your profile.

Of course there are natural things you can do to lose weight such as eating healthy but focusing on chin fat can be difficult even when losing weight.

A Synthetic Version of a Naturally Occurring Bile Acid

Your body naturally produces a bile acid, cholanoic acid, to absorb and break down the fat in your diet. Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is a synthetic form of this bile acid. When injected into the fatty tissue of your double chin, it destroys the fat cell membrane, therefore destroying the fat cells. Treatment with Kybella is recommended for those with moderate to severe submental fat.

At this time, Kybella is only used to treat the area under the chin. It is not known if the product is effective or safe for eliminating fat in other areas of the body. Kybella is not used to treat neck fat or loose skin, although some treated with Kybella may experience some skin tightening in the treated area.

Your Kybella Treatments

Before your treatment, your doctor will mark the injection sites and may apply either a topical numbing agent, ice the area, or inject lidocaine to ease the discomfort of the injections. The process typically involves 12-20 injections into the treatment area but may involve as many as 50 injections. The number of injections used is determined by the size of the treatment area and the amount of excess fat to be eliminated.

The number of treatment sessions necessary depends on the needs of the patient. Multiple treatments may be necessary to get the best possible results. Kybella treatments are performed with at least one month between sessions for up to six sessions.

Chin Fat Removal

You will not see the effects of your Kybella treatments right away. It will take some time for the treated fat cells to be eliminated from your body. Most often, patients see visible improvements in 2-4 treatment sessions. It will take a few weeks after your treatment sessions before you will know your final results.

Since the fat cells are destroyed, the effects of your Kybella treatments are permanent, as long as your weight remains relatively stable.

Effective Treatment Without the Downtime

Most patients continue with their normal activities the same day as their Kybella treatments. Although Kybella is not an invasive procedure, you may experience a few side effects. Most side effects are resolved within a week or two and are not too problematic.

Kybella treatment should not be scheduled too close to an important event, just in case side effects should appear. Those side effects may include:

• Temporary swelling of the treatment area
• Temporary redness or bruising
• Mild pain or numbness
• Areas of hardness in the treatment area
• Sensations of itching or warmth

Avoiding the use of Ibuprofen or acetaminophen before treatment can reduce the risk of post-treatment bruising. Kybella should not be used anywhere outside of the submental area. Kybella should also not be used if there is any sign of infection in the treatment area. Treatment can continue after the infection has cleared.

Kybella Could be Your Ideal Treatment Option

Kybella may be your best option to treat your double chin, especially if you want to avoid invasive surgery to correct the problem. The ideal candidates for Kybella fit the following description:

• You are bothered by submental fullness or a double chin
• You want to eliminate fat without surgery
• You do not have a lot of loose skin
• You are over the age of 18

Kybella is an effective treatment option and works well for most patients. Your doctor will know if Kybella is your best treatment option. To determine this, your physician will want to discuss your medical history, including any history of breathing problems or difficulty swallowing.

Kybella Treatment From a Trained, Licensed Professional

Stephen Weber, MD, FACS, is the founder and medical director for Weber Facial Plastic Surgery. He is double board certified in facial plastic surgery and a Diplomate of the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

In his practice, Dr. Weber and his team focus on providing whole-patient care to ensure lasting treatment results. Treatment services include non-invasive and surgical cutting-edge procedures to produce the greatest results with the least down time. Patients travel from around the country to benefit from Dr. Weber’s education and expertise.