For people with questions about Kybella®, Philadelphia Surgeon Dr. Timothy Greco Sheds Light on the Fat-Destroying Injectable
A common complaint among people working to change their body contours is that no matter how well they eat or how much they work out, some stubborn pockets of fat just won’t go away. For those who have visible deposits of chin fat despite healthy dieting and exercise, there is a solution in Kybella®. Philadelphia facial surgeon Dr. Timothy M. Greco explains how this minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment can help adult patients get rid of moderate to severe cases of submental fullness—better known as fat between the chin and neck.
Many individuals are self-conscious about stubborn fat beneath the chin, which often makes a person look heavier or older than in actuality. In fact, a 2015 survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) revealed that nearly 70 percent of interviewees were bothered by the fat underneath their chin. What makes the findings even more significant is that these individuals were just as concerned with submental fullness as they were with wrinkles and lines near their eyes.
There are a number of culprits behind a double chin, such as genetics, weight gain, or aging. Contrary to what many people believe, you do not have to be overweight to have excess chin fat. The type of fat that is targeted by Kybella® is often referred to as “diet-resistant” fat. People who find success with lifestyle changes can also consider Kybella®, as dieting can shrink fat cells, but not make them go away.
Kybella® is the first and only injectable treatment approved by the FDA that can destroy fat cells under the chin, and has been a favorite for those patients who do not want to undergo surgery to get rid of a double chin.
The active ingredient used in the formulation of Kybella® is a lab-grown version of deoxycholic acid, an enzyme that occurs naturally in the body to help break down and absorb fat cells. Dr. Greco explains that this enzyme triggers a process known as cytolysis or osmotic lysis, which is when a cell bursts due to excess water accumulating inside it.
Once it is carefully injected into the fat under the chin, Kybella® works to destroy fat cells and leave behind a noticeable reduction in submental fullness. As Kybella® is administered directly into fat cells, it is extremely unlikely to affect surrounding nerves or muscles. It is important to note that this treatment can only treat convexity under the chin that is caused by submental fat and not by another condition (such as issues related to the thyroid or lymph nodes). Also, only trained, appropriately certified professionals should be administering Kybella® treatments to patients.
Once the targeted fat cells are destroyed, they cannot continue to store or accumulate fat, so maintenance treatments after patients achieve their desired results are unnecessary.
While a single Kybella® session may include up to 50 injections, the whole treatment session itself only takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Local anesthesia can also be provided upon a patient’s request. Since the treatment sessions are relatively quick and performed in office, and since most patients need no downtime afterward, Kybella® has acquired a reputation for being a lunchtime procedure.
Each treatment session should be spaced at least one month apart.
The number of Kybella® injections a patient receives per session, as well as the total number of treatment sessions, can vary depending on the patient’s specific chin profile and the goals they are looking to achieve. But no patient should receive more than six Kybella® treatment sessions in total.
The most common side effects associated with Kybella® treatments include bruising, swelling, numbness or pain, redness, and/or some areas of hardness. But these effects are usually temporary, and they tend to resolve on their own. In the meantime, side effects can be managed with ice packs and over-the-counter pain relief medications.
