Is Kybella Right for Me?

The best way to know whether Kybella is the solution to your double chin is to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon. Kybella is a popular, groundbreaking new way to eliminate “submental fullness” aka, a double chin. The deposit of fat that forms underneath the chin isn’t like the deposits that form elsewhere on the body. Previously, the only way to eliminate this stubborn fat was liposuction, which while minimally invasive, is still considered surgery, and requires wearing a head and neck compression garment that wouldn’t exactly make the pages of Vogue. Luckily, there’s an effective alternative to liposuction for contouring this part of the body. Dr. Silvia Rotemberg has added Kybella to her suite of services in order to give her patients every advantage when pursuing their aesthetic ideal. Treatments are as simple as a series of injections, and there’s no downtime or painful recovery in between treatments. To learn more about Kybella and the range of other injectable treatments available, schedule a personal consultation in Miami at Rotemberg Plastic Surgery. Call (305) 539-7083 to get started on the defined features of your dreams!  

What Exactly is Kybella?

If you’re considering Kybella, like most patients, you probably have a few questions. Kybella is a newer treatment compared to other mainstay injectables like Botox and Juvederm, and earned its FDA approval in 2015, ⁽¹⁾ the same year Allure Magazine gave it the coveted Best of Beauty Breakthrough award! After all, the frustrating thing about the fat deposit under the chin is that it’s usually beyond our control. Genetics, hormones, aging, and the weight fluctuations that accompany life changes can all lead to an unwanted bulge that disrupts the contours of an ideal profile. Diet and exercise all you want, but it’s not likely to impact this stubborn little area. But if liposuction just seems a little too dramatic a means to reclaim your jawline, you’re not the only one that feels that way, and Kybella might be just the thing. 

Kybella’s active ingredient is deoxycholic acid. It’s what the bacteria in our intestines produce as bile to help break down the fat in the food we eat. When the specially synthesized version in Kybella is injected under the chin and directly into the subcutaneous fat, it disrupts the membranes of the fat cells, leading to their eventual death. 

Release the macrophages! After the body registers that there are dead and damaged cells, the immune system releases an influx of macrophages–white blood cells that digest anything that isn’t a healthy cell. So, the fat cells are eliminated. But that’s not all that happens. The body responds by activating fibroblasts, which produce a new supply of collagen in the area. So not only is fat permanently removed, but Kybella also produces a skin tightening effect for a firm, youthful appearance to the area. ⁽²⁾

Candidates

Like any cosmetic procedure, the best candidates are those who are well-informed, approved by an experienced and caring provider, and have realistic expectations about what the treatment can accomplish. Kybella is no different! Kybella is best for mild to moderate submental fullness. If you have a significant amount of fat under your chin and around your jawline, you may be a better candidate for liposuction. Kybella is administered via injections, usually in several sessions spaced out over several weeks. 

While Kybella doesn’t have a recovery period like liposuction, it’s not a quick fix.

It can cause temporary swelling, which is usually the most dramatic after the first injection session, and will last about a week. Tissue tightening occurs over the course of the next few months.   

Each treatment session consists of 20 or more injections administered in a gridded pattern underneath the chin. Kybella is used to target pre-platysmal fat, that is, the fat that lies atop the platysma muscle of the neck. It’s not for jowls, and it’s not for the jawline. Kybella injectors will carefully mark the area receiving treatment to ensure that the many delicate nerves, glands, and muscles are avoided during injections. 

Benefits of Kybella in Miami

Advantages of Kybella in targeting submental fullness include:

To learn more about Kybella and whether it’s right for you, schedule a personal consultation at Rotemberg Plastic Surgery at your convenience or by calling (305) 539-7083. To learn more about the other exciting services that Dr. Rotemberg offers patients in Miami, follow her informative blog! Or, if you’re feeling social, follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our patients’ real results and learn about exclusive specials!

Personal Consultation

The best way to determine whether Kybella is the answer to your pesky double chin is a personal consultation at our South Miami offices. We’ll carefully review your medical history and examine your face and neck to recommend the best course of treatment for addressing your concerns. Expect a compassionate and honest conversation and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about Kybella and our other aesthetic services.  

Preparation

Since Kybella is a simple series of injections, there’s little preparation required. To reduce the risk of any unnecessary bruising, avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, and alcohol the day before and after your injections. After your session, avoid touching the area or applying cosmetics or creams to reduce any risk of infection.

Procedure

Before your Kybella session begins, our staff will cleanse the area and apply a topical anesthetic for your comfort. Dr. Rotemberg will carefully mark the area to be treated, creating a grid to ensure an even application of injections. The number of injections can range from 20-50, depending on the size of the area, and the extent of your submental fat deposit. A Kybella treatment is fast. Patients are usually out of our office and ready to continue their day in less than half an hour. 

After Injections

Kybella sessions are usually spaced out about a month apart, and the number of sessions needed to achieve your ideal results will depend on your unique condition. Some swelling is to be expected, and although it will be most noticeable after your first injection session, it typically diminishes after a week. Applying ice and sleeping with your head elevated can help alleviate discomfort and swelling. Most patients do require several sessions to see the results they desire, and the combined effects of individual sessions can take several weeks to become visible. 

Results

Kybella offers a way to gradually eliminate the fat deposit under the chin, and although results don’t happen overnight, the final outcome is permanent. As the body gets to work to eliminate the damaged fat cells, patients can expect subtle improvements over the course of their treatments until they are left with a more defined chin and improved angles where the underside of the chin meets the neck. 

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures 

For those with a naturally subtle or small chin, eliminating submental fat may still not deliver the definition desired. Radiesse can enhance chin definition for better overall jawline contours and a more angular appearance. This injectable is made of biocompatible, hypoallergenic, calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance that occurs naturally in the body. While the injectable provides immediate volume, in the weeks after being injected, this filler stimulates the production of collagen. In addition, the particles in the cosmetic provide a “scaffolding” to promote the development of healthy, strong stores of collagen. The effects of Radiesse can last up to a year, and this injectable is a popular choice for adding volume to cheeks, as well as a non-surgical method of enhancing and correcting contours of the nose and chin. 

How Much Does Kybella Cost in Miami?

The total price of your Kybella treatments will depend on the amount of product used during injections, the number of injections required, and the number of sessions necessary to achieve ideal results. Dr. Rotemberg will be able to give you an estimate for the cost of your procedures during your personal consultation. 

FAQ

References

1. Patel S, Kridel R. Current Trends in Management of Submental Liposis: A Pooled Analysis and Survey. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2018;20(3):202-206. doi:10.1001/jamafacial.2017.1567
2. Shamban AT. Noninvasive Submental Fat Compartment Treatment. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2016;4(12 Suppl):e1155. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001155