Kybella: A New Treatment for Your Double Chin

Frustrated by the double chin you inherited from your great grandmother, or by that under-chin fat you just can’t seem to lose despite a healthy diet and regular exercise? Just a few years ago, you might have been stuck with your double chin, but today, there’s Kybella.

What is Kybella?

Manufactured by Allergan, maker of popular injections like Botox and Juvederm, Kybella is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment for moderate to severe submental fullness, also known as a double chin.

How does it work?

The active ingredient in Kybella is synthetic deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found in our bodies that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fats.

When injected under the chin, Kybella destroys fat cells so that these cells can no longer accumulate or store fat. Once a patient achieves their desired profile, no further treatment should be necessary. Patients typically receive two to three treatments of Kybella, spaced two months apart. The number of treatments depends on the patient’s amount of submental fullness and their aesthetic goals.

One Patient’s Experience

Below we share one patient’s experience with Kybella, so you can get a better feel for the procedure.

I arrived at Anderson Plastic Surgery and MedSpa at about noon on December 22. Dr. Anderson and his team of nurses greeted me and explained the Kybella injection process. After cleaning the area under my chin with alcohol, Dr. Anderson laid a soft adhesive grid over my under-chin area to apply a temporary “tattoo” to mark the injection sites. He then injected Kybella into 32 separate sites under my chin.

Pain from these injections was almost non-existent at first, but increased slightly to a strong stinging within a few minutes. Dr. Anderson finished with all injections in just seven minutes and then cleaned the area again and applied an ice pack, secured by a compression wrap around my head.

In the first few days after injections, I experienced common side effects like swelling, tenderness and a feeling of fluid in my under-chin area. It was winter, so I was able to cover up with turtlenecks and scarves. To ease the tenderness and swelling, per Dr. Anderson’s recommendation, I iced the area up to four times a day and applied arnica gel morning and night.

Though I did take Advil for the soreness, I was advised not to take too much, or drink alcohol in the first few days, as both are anti-coagulants that can increase bruising. I didn’t see much bruising at all from my injections and swelling minimized after about a week, leaving slight tenderness and numbness in the area. By two weeks, I was beginning to notice a stronger definition in my profile. At the three week mark, my profile looked much slimmer and more defined. Now, I’m thrilled with the results — the slight pain and swelling were worth it! I may return for one additional treatment, depending on my next consultation with Dr. Anderson at the two month mark.

What does it cost?

For your first Kybella treatment at Anderson Plastic Surgery, each vial costs $700 or $70 per injection site. For your second and subsequent treatments, each vial costs $600 or $60 per injection site. Most patients require two to four vials of Kybella per treatment session to achieve their desired look for a range in cost of $1,300 to $2,500 per session.

Can I Use Kybella Anywhere Else?

Kybella’s manufacturer Allergan is currently seeking additional indications for the injection, such as minimizing bra-line or under-arm fat. For now, however, it’s only approved by the FDA for use under the chin.

Contact Us

Ready to nix your double-chin? Call us at 817-810-0770 today or make an appointment online.