Is Kybella Only for the Chin?

By Jason M. Riehs, MD, JD

Do you have a double chin? Is it making you feel self-conscious or look older or heavier than you actually are? Excess fat under the chin can be caused by anything from weight gain to aging, but there is a solution. With Kybella, you can remove your double chin and achieve a contoured, refined jawline. If you’re in Frisco, TX, and want to feel more confident and gorgeous, Le Beau Visage Medical Spa can help.

Is Kybella Only for the Chin?

This treatment is impressive because it’s highly specialized and solely used to treat submental fullness, AKA the fat under the chin. It is not used to target fat anywhere else, which many patients find reassuring – Kybella has one job, and does it well. It’s not used in other areas of the body because the fat under the chin is very isolated and far away from other tissue and organs, so the treatment can work on breaking down fat without the risk of it touching any surrounding cells.

Other areas, such as underarm fat, are too close to important tissues. But why not see for yourself and read more about it? By better understanding what this treatment is and how exactly it works, you can decide if this method of removing a double chin is the right option for you and your lifestyle.

What Is Kybella?

This treatment is a simple method of reducing submental fullness. It’s a prescription medicine that’s injected into the double chin by a member of our expert staff and is minimally invasive and fast-working.

In fact, you only need a few sessions of treatment before your double chin melts away, while the rest of your face and neck is left totally unaffected. This treatment is FDA-approved, minimally invasive, and effective, and for these reasons, it is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to eliminate a double chin.

Why Do I Have a Double Chin?

Submental fullness can be caused by a whole host of factors, including fluctuating weight, genetics, and aging. Genetics might mean you’ve had a double chin for as long as you can remember. If it’s developed as you’ve aged with age, it may be because your metabolism has slowed and that’s caused you to put on weight under your chin.

A double chin can be incredibly frustrating as it can be one of the hardest places to eliminate fat on the body, as it can’t really be targeted with exercise. Surprisingly, there aren’t more cosmetic treatments available that directly address submental fullness, given what a common cosmetic concern it is for many people. Luckily Kybella is a highly effective, popular option.

How Does This Treatment Work?

This treatment destroys the fat cells that are causing a double chin. It does this using an ingredient called deoxycholic acid, which is a synthetic form of an acid that is naturally produced by your body and can be found in the digestive system. Its job is to break down and absorb dietary fat. In the case of this treatment, it works the same way, but in the double chin.

Since deoxycholic acid occurs naturally in the body, patients can take comfort in the fact that they’re not being injected with a foreign substance. Generally, patients are very tolerant of this treatment and don’t need to worry about their bodies rejecting it, which makes it one of the safest treatments on the market when it comes to eliminating submental fullness.

The acid is introduced into the submental fullness with a series of small injections. From there it gets to work on fat cells, and either shrinks them or destroys them completely. The shrunken cells release fluid, and that fluid – along with the destroyed fat cells – leaves the body gradually through natural processes. The body doesn’t produce new fat cells after adolescence, so once those cells are gone, the results are permanent. That means patients don’t have to keep coming back for appointments to maintain the results, which is a huge part of why this treatment is so popular.

What Will Treatment Be Like?

Before Treatment

The first step is to come in for a consultation with our expert staff. This is when we go through your medical history, and review any medication you’re on and how that might impact your eligibility for treatment (we even look at over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements).

We’ll discuss your cosmetic goals and your ideal chin profile, and make sure you understand how exactly this treatment works and your expectations are realistic. Then we’ll design a treatment plan for you, including the number of sessions you’ll need and how many injections we’ll be doing.

We most likely won’t ask you to do any preparation before you come in for treatment other than simply booking it in!

During Treatment

A member of our staff will perform treatment in-house. They will make a series of injections in the double chin using a very fine needle. How many injections are done and how many vials of the product used will depend on your specific plan. Most patients experience a comfortable and painless treatment.

FAQ About Treatment

How Long Will the Session Take?

At Le Beau Visage Medical Spa, we only take about twenty minutes to half an hour. The exact amount of time will of course depend on the individual, but you can rest assured it’s always very quick. This means a session can be slotted into even the busiest of schedules – you can even come in on your lunch break!

How Long Will It Take to Recover From Treatment?

One of the reasons this treatment is so popular is because it requires no recovery period. This makes it a great non-invasive alternative to surgical procedures like liposuction. Patients can immediately carry on with their days, whether that means running errands or heading back to work. No anesthetic is used, meaning patients can even drive themselves to and from the appointment.

How Many Sessions Are Needed?

The number of sessions will, again, depend on the individual and the treatment plan we design for you. Some patients are completely satisfied after one visit, while others may require two or three to see optimal results. No matter how many you’ll end up needing, you can relax knowing that they’re quick and effective and won’t take time out of your day-to-day life. Sessions are generally spaced about a month apart.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Following treatment, patients have to wait for the destroyed fat cells and fluids to be released from the body through excretion.

This can take a while and as such it might be a short while before results are noticeable. Some patients can see results after two weeks following their first treatment, while others report it can take up to a month. Results really become prominent after a few sessions.

How Long Do Results Last?

Because fat cells are permanently destroyed during treatment, there’s no chance that submental fullness will ever return in the same way. It is important to know, however, that many of the fat cells shrink but aren’t destroyed. They are still capable of storing fat, and if you gain weight, that may happen.

For this reason, patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle, staying active, and eating well. By doing this you can preserve the results the treatment has offered, and they’ll be incredibly long-lasting.

Why Do People Get This Treatment?

Double-chins are one of the most common causes of low self-esteem in adults. 68% of people say they’re bothered by their double chin, according to a study done by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. But while there are multitudes of treatments available for other cosmetic concerns such as wrinkles and lines on the face, submental fullness doesn’t get the same attention.

A double chin can make you look as though you’re carrying more weight than you are, age you up, or make you appear as though your skin is sagging. It might make you worried about how you look and how you’re holding yourself at any given moment, which can stop you from just enjoying life and being present. No one should be so worried about how they look while laughing that they stop laughing altogether!

Patients find that, following treatment, they’re more confident and feel more attractive thanks to a sharper jawline. After wrestling with confidence and self-esteem issues many people find they look younger and slimmer, and as such feel happier and more free and comfortable in their skin.

How Can I Reduce Fat in Other Areas of the Body?

Because Kybella can’t be used on other parts of the body, you might be wondering how you can address fat in other areas. Luckily, at Le Beau Visage we offer plenty of body contouring services that we could recommend. For instance, our body contour technology Bodyshaping is highly popular and utilizes radiofrequency energy to target unwanted fat.

Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?

Ideally, patients should lead a healthy lifestyle so that they’re able to maintain results, and have the time to come in for a few sessions of treatment over several months. Beyond that, most adults are suitable candidates because deoxycholic acid is already naturally occurring in the body and won’t cause a reaction. It’s not suitable for those under the age of 18 or those who are pregnant or planning to fall pregnant soon.

If you are on any kind of medication that causes blood clotting, we’ll need to thoroughly examine your medical records to decide if this treatment is suitable for you. Here at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa, we offer a variety of treatments, so we’ll be able to provide you with suggestions for alternatives if this treatment isn’t right for you.

This treatment should not be thought of as a “weight loss solution”, but a tool to achieve a slimmer jawline. If you’re more interested in burning calories and seeing a lower number on the scales, this treatment might not be right for you.

Can This Treatment Address Sagging Skin?

This treatment is used to destroy and shrink fat cells. Sagging skin is a separate issue and this treatment won’t work on it as it isn’t designed to tighten skin, so if that’s your concern, we offer skin tightening treatments that maybe be more suitable for you.

Are You Ready for a Slimmer, More Contoured Jawline?

If you’ve had enough of your double chin and are ready to say hello to a new, more gorgeous you, then Kybella may be right for you. Patients report feeling younger, lighter, and more confident after treatment, and so can you! Contact Le Beau Visage Medical Spa in Frisco, TX, and schedule a consultation today. Our friendly team will go through all your options and help you feel more yourself in just a few simple sessions.

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