Kybella

REASONS for Kybella

Many people are bothered by a “double chin”. Submental fat develops underneath the chin of both men and women, in the anterior neck.  Weight gain and genetics may play a role. Even when patients follow a healthy diet and exercise plan, that area may not improve.

Kybella offers several attractive features for good candidates, including:

• Non-surgical treatment with minimal downtime.
• FDA-approved
• Few side effects and long lasting results

As with any procedure targeting the removal of fat, continued weight gain can result in a re-accumulation of fat in the treated area and / or in other areas.

You may be a good candidate for this procedure if you:

• desire a nonsurgical treatment for anterior neck fullness
• are in relatively good health and are a non smoker
• have good skin tone and the fullness does not distort the normal anatomy and obscure your thyroid cartilage landmarks.

You are not eligible for Kybella if you previously had a neck surgery or liposuction of the area, under 18 years of age or are pregnant or nursing.   The medication is not specific for fat cells.  Accidental injection near other structures, such as facial nerve branches, can result in injury.

ABOUT Kybella

Kybella is identical to the deoxycholic acid that is naturally produced in the human body. It is a cytolytic drug, which means that it destroys the cells into which it is injected.  Thus, when injected into fat cells, they are destroyed.   Your own body then clears the byproducts. Proper medical training and knowledge are required for administration because this product can cause other tissue damage if accidentally injected elsewhere.

During your initial consultation with Dr. Tepper, he will assess your submental fullness and determine if you are a suitable candidate.  Ironically, someone with an extremely fatty neck may not be a candidate due to safety concerns. Most patients require two to four Kybella treatments for optimal results, but this may vary. Kybella treatments are administered about four to six weeks apart.

After marking the treatment area cold compresses or numbing medication is applied. Kybella is administered via a series of small injections directly into the fat.  Each treatment consists of a series of tiny injections (0.2 cc or 2 mg) into the desired area. The injections are spaced 1 cm apart.   A total of 50 injections (or 10 mg) is the maximum allowable number of infections during one session.   Most patients report that the injections can be somewhat uncomfortable, though bearable, and swelling and bruising are commonly seen.

RECOVERY from Kybella

Immediately following your Kybella treatment session, the area under your chin will be swollen. You’ll be given an ice pack to apply to the area for about 10 to 15 minutes to help minimize swelling. Swelling typically occurs one to two days after treatment with Kybella, and can last up to one week. Most patients experience less swelling in their subsequent sessions. Other potential side effects can include bruising, pain, numbness, redness, or hardness.  Patients considering this treatment may choose a time where there are no important work or social functions.