What To Expect With Kybella: Before and After Your Procedure

What Is Kybella?

Kybella is a non-surgical, FDA-approved injectable treatment for submental fat. It contains an active ingredient called deoxycholic acid, which is a molecule the body produces naturally. This ingredient helps your body breakdown and absorb fat permanently. Kybella also helps by tightening the skin at the injection site through the inflammatory process it creates.

How Kybella Works

The active ingredient in Kybella, deoxycholic acid, is your secret weapon against the double chin. The synthetic deoxycholic acid that is injected under your chin obliterates the fat cells in the injection area. The cells themselves pop open and disappear permanently, rendering fat storage impossible and producing a more streamlined appearance and profile. If you have tried every late-night infomercial device, diet, and exercise to target the fat that accumulates under your chin but you haven’t had success in ridding yourself of it yet, then Kybella is an option for you.

How is Kybella Different from Other Fat Reduction Treatments?

When it comes to the non-surgical options you have for getting rid of fat, Kybella is an incredibly effective treatment that is not as invasive as other options such as liposuction. Laser treatments or other treatments (CoolSculpting) that destroy fat cells under the chin are highly effective as well, but they come with a higher cost, longer recovery times, and may cause more discomfort then Kybella. While CoolSculpting works to destroy fat cells permanently, it does not have the skin tightening effect that Kybella provides. Liposuction is another popular treatment to target fat, but it’s invasive and can leave a couple of entry scars. During liposuction, fat is physically removed from the body through a suction cannula that is inserted through an incision in the skin. With liposuction, you’ll see an immediate and noticeable difference, but you’ll also experience a longer recovery period with more complicated aftercare and downtime.

Who is a Good Candidate for Kybella?

Kybella is a safe and effective injection for most people. You are an ideal candidate if:

• You’re over the age of 18
• You’re in good health
• You have at least a moderate amount of under-chin fat
• You have a desire to avoid invasive surgery
• You have not gotten results from diet or exercise

Kybella is not recommended for use in women who are pregnant or anybody with a history of keloids. Aside from these concerns, most people who have fat in their submental area can be treated with this injection.

What Happens During a Treatment with Kybella?

When you come to Cosmetic Injectables Center for Kybella injections, our master injectors mark each injection site with a marking grid provided by Allergan. Sometimes a numbing agent is administered to help make the treatment more comfortable. Anywhere from 20 to 50 areas can be marked for injection under the chin. Several injections are required in a session to target all the fat cells in the area to ensure your Kybella injections are as effective as possible. The number of treatments you’ll need to meet your goals varies from person to person. Usually, three treatments are optimal – however some only need one treatment while others might need up to six treatments. Each session is spaced six weeks apart to ensure the skin heals properly in the interim.

Does Kybella Have Any Side Effects?

Kybella is a very safe treatment, which is why it received FDA approval in 2015. The main side effect that patients experience is some possible redness or swelling at the injection site. Hardness at the injection site can also occur. Temporary numbness is another common side effect, which actually helps to make subsequent Kybella injections more comfortable. Some patients experience more swelling than others. It’s not abnormal for the swelling to last up to 10 days. If you want to hide the swelling until it heals completely, a well-placed scarf or face mask will do the trick. Another issue that can be encountered after treatment is skin laxity. When fat is removed from an area, extra skin can be left in place. Thankfully Kybella creates inflammation, which helps to tighten the skin and mitigate droopy effects compared to other fat removal procedures.

What Happens After a Kybella Treatment?

Kybella is non-invasive, and much like any other injectable or filler there is no significant downtime associated with treatment. You will most likely be able to go right back to work after your session. Apart from some swelling, minor redness, and unlikely but possible bruising, there are no noticeable physical effects. You can experience some post-injection discomfort from Kybella, but this is easily dealt with by using over the counter pain relievers. Any bruising, redness, or tenderness at the injection site should resolve itself in a week or two.

Is Kybella Only For Submental Fat Treatment?

Aside from stubborn fat under the chin, We at Cosmetic Injectables Center have also used Kybella to improve the appearance of abdominal fat, and fat on the side of the underarm around where the bra normally sits.

How Much Kybella Can You Get?

Though there is a limit to 10mL or five vials of Kybella per session, there’s no technical limit to how many Kybella treatments you can get. Typically, patients undergo three to four treatment sessions with Kybella to help them get the results they want. In theory, whenever there is fat that needs to be treated, then Kybella can be administered – but our patients are generally happy after just three treatments.

How Long Does Kybella Last?

Kybella is a method to permanently rid yourself of fat but it’s important to keep in mind that it is not a miracle injection. While the fat in the treatment areas will not return, any fat cells that aren’t treated can expand if you don’t maintain a healthy diet and exercise plan. A long-lasting impact on your appearance is the result of Kybella in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.

How Long Until You See Results?

Maximum results are often noticed around the six week mark after first treatment, so you may have to be patient to achieve your optimal results. However, t’s not unusual to have minimal improvement after just one session. A majority of satisfactory results are seen six weeks after the second or third treatment session.

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A Few Kybella Myths

You may have heard a few things about Kybella through the grapevine. We encourage our patients to ask questions if they want to know about a specific treatment, as we are always up to date on the latest and best information available to help keep our patients educated. Still, there are a few myths about Kybella that persist. Some of the most common Kybella myths include:

Myth: Kybella is Unsafe

It’s important to remember that the main ingredient in Kybella is mimicking a naturally occurring substance in the body. For that reason, and the FDA’s stamp of approval, Kybella treatments are safe and effective.

Myth: A Double Chin Will Return

The results we see with Kybella are permanent. The fat cells that were destroyed will no longer be able to collect fat and expand. But remember, any remaining fat cells can still grow larger. Good lifestyle choices like a healthy diet and consistent exercise will help you to maintain the effects you see with Kybella.

Myth: You Can Get Rid of a Double Chin Naturally

As many patients in our office have found out, some fat under the chin simply will not go away no matter what you try. Stomach fat and fat on other parts of the body can often present the same problem – like a double chin, it simply persists even with vigorous exercise and a healthy lifestyle. This is typically due to genetic factors. Kybella zaps these stubborn fat cells for good.

Myth: Kybella is Too Expensive

The cost of Kybella treatment differs for each patient. The amount of submental fat you are looking to get rid of and the number injections you may need will determine the cost. But, keep in mind treatment with Kybella is more cost-effective than other options such as surgery. At Cosmetic Injectables Center, we offer package specials to help patients complete their Kybella treatment series and achieve the desired results.

Are You Ready to Try Kybella?

If you’re struggling with fat under the chin that won’t go away, you don’t have to live with it – Kybella could be the answer to your problems. Kybella has helped many of our patients look younger, feel more confident, and improve their appearance. It’s a treatment that can help you to shed your chin fat forever – without surgery and with minimal to no disruption to your daily life.

Contact Us Today

We know from patient testimonials that the physical and mental benefits of Kybella treatments can be transformative. If you’re at all interested in learning more, contact us today to speak with our professionals at Cosmetic Injections Center and we’ll schedule a consultation. We can’t wait to share all that Kybella has to offer with you.