The Blog

Kybella is a breakthrough treatment for submental fullness, or a double chin. Read on to learn more about this amazing treatment, as told by Dr. Jonathan Hall himself!

Why is Kybella exciting?

Kybella is the first injectable approved by the FDA to treat the submental fat pad, AKA double chin.  Have you taken a “selfie” lately and found yourself tipping your chin up to look a little better?  Well, you are not alone:

Surveys show that 67% of patients are bothered by excess fat under their chin. In the past, surgeons have been able to treat this area with liposuction, but many patients do not want surgery. Kybella is a “cytolytic” agent that breaks down fat. Like other popular treatments such as Botox and Hyaluronic acid fillers, it is an injectable.  An important difference is that it is permanent.  Surgeons are finding that many patients, especially many younger patients and men, would not want surgery, but find the idea of an injectable to gradually remove the fat very appealing.

Are there other noninvasive options?

Yes, CoolSculpting, or “cryolipolysis” puts an applicator on an area of fat and freezes the fat, leading to some reduction. Dr. Shridharani, a plastic surgeon in New York who has extensive experience with CoolSculpting and Kybella stated recently that although he offers both procedures, he much prefers Kybella in the neck.  The problem with CoolSculpting is that it is very dependent on how the applicator fits to apply the cooling. Kybella can be individually tailored to each patient.

What to expect:

The actual treatment takes only five minutes. The fat pad under the chin is marked and the skin is cleansed, removing makeup and oils from the skin. A temporary tattoo with dots spaced 1 cm apart is then applied to the skin with sterile saline. The number and location of dots within the “target” area help to guide how much Kybella is needed and aid in placing it evenly.

An ice pack is placed to numb the area, and then the Kybella is injected with a very small (32 gauge) needle.  You will feel a little burning just after the injections, and an ice pack is placed on top of an alcohol soaked pad at the end of your treatment and left in place for five minutes. The alcohol removes the dots from the temporary grid, and the ice helps until the burning goes away.

The fat pad more laterally tends to be thinner and may not need as much Kybella over the total number of treatments, so the amount of dots treated may vary each time. I like to see patients back at the two month mark.

After the treatment:

We recommend that you clear your social calendar for three days after the treatment. Ice packs should be used for 24-48 hours and will help with the swelling.  I recommend that patients avoid salty foods and alcohol, as well as exercise for 48 hours.  Keeping the head elevated by sleeping on one to two pillows may also help, as can taking an over the counter antihistamine such as Zyrtec the day before, the day of and the day after. Some patients take Benadryl (another antihistamine) instead of Zyrtec.

Swelling occurs as the Kybella breaks down the fat cells; the inflammation causes the swelling and may also help with the tightening that is seen starting around four weeks after the treatment and often continuing for several months. The worst of the swelling is over by the third day. Most patients start seeing a change by week four and then continued tightening for three or even four months after the treatment.

When to return for another treatment:

I like to see my patients back at two to three months after their initial treatment. I counsel my patients that most will benefit from two to four treatments and some may need as many as six.  Most patients see a pleasing improvement by the eighth week after their first treatment and return at that time for another. Some may want to wait until they have seen the end result of a treatment at three to four months before repeating.

If you are located in the Boston area and are interested in Kybella, contact us today to schedule a consultation.