What is Kybella?

KYBELLA® is a prescription medicine used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called “double chin.” This occurs in some patients from heredity and some patients from aging or weight gain. Double chins can be difficult to eliminate through diet and exercise alone, but Kybella can help to get rid of that excess fat in a non-surgical, non-invasive way.

KYBELLA® is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment that destroys fat cells in the area under the chin to improve your profile.

Who can Benefit from Kybella?

Before starting treatment, Dr. Joseph will examine the area under and around your chin to determine if KYBELLA® is right for you. The most important in this treatment is to determine if patients are appropriate candidates. KYBELLA is not a treatment for excess skin or extreme fat deposits on the entire neck. Appropriate patients are those with isolated fat under the chin and without sagging skin.

He will tailor your treatment to the amount of fat under the chin and your aesthetic goals

Who can Benefit from Kybella?

Before starting treatment, Dr. Joseph will examine the area under and around your chin to determine if KYBELLA® is right for you. The most important in this treatment is to determine if patients are appropriate candidates. KYBELLA is not a treatment for excess skin or extreme fat deposits on the entire neck. Appropriate patients are those with isolated fat under the chin and without sagging skin.

He will tailor your treatment to the amount of fat under the chin and your aesthetic goals

How is Kybella Administered?

Kybella is administered in the office with small needle injections (similar to Botox) and the actual treatment takes about 45 minutes. The area can be numbed with local anesthesia although many patients only need ice packs to numb the skin.

The injections need to be placed carefully in order to achieve even results and avoid any nerves or other problematic anatomical areas, so it is important to only have Kybella injected by a board-certified physician who has undergone the proper training for the injections.

Many patients choose our practice for the fact that Dr Joseph performs all the injections. At each treatment, you will receive multiple small injections under your chin, and the injection process takes about 20 minutes. The exact number of injections will depend on the amount of fat you have under your chin and your desired profile.

What to Expect with Kybella® treatment

After the treatment the patient will develop minor discomfort and swelling. Most patients experience mild discomfort, which is generally controlled with medicines like Advil. The swelling is usually mild to moderate but any patient undergoing this treatment for the first time should perform it on a Thursday to allow ample recovery time if swelling or bruising prohibits them from going to work.

Most patients will require 2-4 treatments that are spaced 8 weeks apart. The fat that is dissolved is permanent and retreatment is not necessary. This is not to say that weight gain and future aging changes won’t affect the double chin.

How Many Treatment Sessions Will I Need?

Since everyone’s chin profile is different, the number of treatments varies from patient to patient. Dr Joseph will help determine how many treatment sessions you need based on the amount and distribution of your submental fat and your personal treatment goals. Each KYBELLA® treatment session is given at least 1 month apart, and you should not receive more than 6 treatments. In clinical studies, 59% of patients received 6 treatments.

Will I Need Time to Recover?

After KYBELLA® treatment, you will likely have some swelling, bruising, or numbness under your chin. Be sure to inform your healthcare professional if you develop an uneven smile, facial muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing or injection site problems such as bruising, hair loss, open sores (ulcers), and damage and tissue cell-death (necrosis) around the injection site. Call your healthcare provider if you develop open sores or drainage from the treatment area.

What are the Possible Side Effects of Kybella?

The most common side effects include: Swelling, pain, numbness, redness, and hardness in the treatment area.

Serious side effects, may include nerve injury (which can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness), Trouble swallowing and Injection site problems including: bruising, hair loss, open sores (ulcers), damage and tissue cell-death (necrosis) around the injection site.

Who Should Not Receive Kybella®?

  • Do not receive KYBELLA If you have an infection in the treatment area.
  • Have bleeding problems or are taking any blood thinners.
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed (it is not known if KYBELLA® passes into your breast milk).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who performs the injection? – Dr. Joseph personally performs 100% of all injections.
  • How long does it take?  – The first visit is usually 45-60 minutes to evaluate your individual need.
  • How soon will I see the results? – The results usually begin within 5-6 weeks, but may take 2 or more sessions for best results.
  • How much does Kybella cost? – Some offices charge a flat fee per treatment. Our office charges by the number of injections necessary to get the best result.

Learn More about KYBELLA® at the official KYBELLA® website