Kybella- Sculpt the Chin without Plastic Surgery

Soon, people may be able to sculpt a double chin into a more attractive facial profile without surgery or downtime. The FDA recently approved an injectable solution known as Kybella, used to eliminate pockets of fat under the chin, known as submental fat.

Patients may be able to get Kybella in NYC as soon as next month. For some patients, this injectable treatment may be able to replace more invasive treatments like liposuction and surgical lift procedures.

What is Kybella?

Kybella is an injectable solution containing a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, a substance naturally produced by the body to absorb fat. When injected directly into the submental fat underneath the chin, Kybella dissolves the fat pocket to create a more streamlined contour along the jawline.

Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, the company that manufactures Kybella, recently received FDA approval for their product and hope to have it in the offices of dermatologists and plastic surgeons by June.

According to the FDA, Kybella should only be administered by a licensed healthcare professional that has been trained in the use of this product. It is not recommended for any other treatment areas besides the chin at this time. In addition to destroying fat cells, the solution may destroy other types of cells like skin cells. Caution is encouraged in the use of this product, particularly during the earliest stages of use.

Kybella has been thoroughly studied in two clinical trials involving 1,022 patients. All of the patients had moderate to severe submental fat and underwent either Kybella injections or injections of a placebo. Patients that received Kybella saw a noticeable reduction of submental fat, versus patients that received the placebo.

Kybella is not a quick fix for a double chin. According to the research, it appears patients will require multiple injections – up to 50 at a time – to achieve desired results. Most will also require multiple treatment sessions, spaced approximately one month apart, to see full results from Kybella injections.

Kybella: not right for everyone

Kybella may not be recommended for everyone. Patients that have had previous plastic surgery procedures on the neck, chin and jawline will need to be evaluated on an individual basis. Those who have difficulty swallowing, bleeding problems or medical conditions that might affect the face and neck may not be good candidates for Kybella.

Side effects with Kybella may include swelling or bleeding at the injection sites. Some patients also experienced numbness or a hardening in the treatment area. All of these side effects typically subside on their own within a few days after the procedure. In very rare cases, nerve injury could occur that might impact the appearance of the mouth. This side effect also resolved on its own within 1-2 months of treatment.

Kybella soon available

Manhattan plastic surgeons will soon be offering Kybella to patients as a non-surgical option for blasting away fat from a double chin. Before Kybella, procedures for this purpose usually involved liposuction or surgery. Both procedures involved some type of anesthesia and downtime, although results were typically fast and dramatic.

Now, Kybella offers a whole new option to patients desiring a more sculpted look to the lower face. To learn more about your options for getting Kybella in New York City, or to discover other options in facial plastic surgery, contact Dr. Preminger at 212-706-1900.