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Kybella

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Kybella is the first and only FDA-approved drug that treats submental fullness, also known as a “double-chin.” Kybella is used to contour the jawline and permanently dissolve fat under the chin without surgery.Kybella contains a naturally-occurring ingredient in your body called deoxycholic acid, which permanently destroys fat cells. Afterwards, those fat cells can no longer store or accumulate fat.

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Kybella

Kybella is the first and only FDA-approved drug that treats submental fullness, also known as a “double-chin.” Kybella is used to contour the jawline and permanently dissolve fat under the chin without surgery.Kybella contains a naturally-occurring ingredient in your body called deoxycholic acid, which permanently destroys fat cells. Afterwards, those fat cells can no longer store or accumulate fat.

Kybella also known as ATX-101 is deoxycholic acid, a molecule which occurs naturally in our bodies to break down dietary fat. When injected, it permanently destroys fat cells. It is not a treatment for weight loss. Just like liposuction, if your weight is not maintained then the few remaining fat cells will enlarge.

Is Kybella right for me?

For years, liposuction or surgery were the only options to eliminate the double chin. Patients wishing to non-invasively melt chin fat without surgery can now do so with Kybella. However, Kybella is not a treatment for weight loss, nor is it the right treatment for every patient. Just like liposuction, if your weight is not maintained then the few remaining fat cells will enlarge slowly over time. Talk to one of our well-trained providers at Cenla Dermatology and Mohs Surgery to determine if Kybella is right for you.

How is Kybella used?

Kybella is typically performed as a series of 3-4 treatments every 6-8 weeks in order to produce gradual improvement with very natural-looking results. Kybella is delivered to the area of fat through a series of tiny injections with a fine sterile needle. The injections themselves are not very painful and take about 5 minutes. Anesthesia is not needed, and discomfort is managed by cooling the skin.  After the treatment, most patients feel a stinging sensation for about 15 minutes while the fat cells are being destroyed. Cenla Dermatology and Mohs Surgery is very experienced at getting patients through this short period of discomfort.

What can I expect after treatment with Kybella?

After the treatment, patients experience some temporary swelling in the treatment area for about 5-10 days. Patients can also feel a numb, sore, or jiggly sensation to the treated area that can last 2-4 weeks.

What can I expect after treatment with Kybella?

Other common side effects from Kybella are bruising, pain, numbness, redness and temporary hardening of the area. Less common side effects include nerve injury resulting in uneven smile or facial muscle weakness, temporary trouble swallowing, superficial skin ulceration/erosions, and loss of skin pigment or hair in the treatment area. Side effects typically resolve themselves in 1-4 weeks without treatment.

Dr. Holcomb is a national speaker for Kybella and trains other physicians on how to safely use this product. She also has experience with off-label uses of Kybella to treat small collections of fat like the jowls, bra fat, lipomas (benign fatty tumors), fat on the back of the arms, and small irregularities left after liposuction or C-section. Dr. Holcomb often uses Kybella in combination with other procedures to further improve the appearance of the neck and jawline.  

ExcelV laser may be used to improve redness, sun damage, or brown spots of the lower face, jawline and neck to complement the fat reduction properties of Kybella, microneedling may be used to improve the texture of the neck with minimal to no downtime, and chemical peels or topical skincare may also be used to improve the smoothness and tone of the neck and jawline.