What is Kybella and Can it Actually Eliminate a Double Chin?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a structured and contoured jawline? With Kybella, you finally can. Kybella is a one-of-a-kind injectable treatment that targets submental fat (fat under the chin). As time passes you’ll notice a more defined side profile without having to go under the knife. 
Amy Brenner, MD & Associates provide Kybella treatments for both men and women, which is exactly why we believe it can transform your look and even help you appear younger! Read on to learn more about Kybella and what the fat-reduction treatment can do for you. 

How to Reduce a Double Chin (Without Surgery) →

The source behind a double chin and excess submental fat

Everyone is different, so there isn’t a single factor that leads to double chins. As with fat in other areas of your body, fat cell growth and shrinkage is complex. However, there are a few common culprits that could cause excess submental fat. 

Age

To be honest, aging affects many aspects of your body, and it doesn’t only lead to wrinkles, dark spots, and body aches. Especially after you hit your late 30s and early 40s, collagen and elastin production declines fairly quickly, which causes you to lose tightness and fullness in your face. Fat becomes less evenly distributed, which can make submental fat more prominent. 

Plus, your metabolism slows down as you get older. In your teens and 20s, you may have been able to eat greasy foods and sweets all you wanted without consequence, but soon you may notice extra weight packing on you didn’t have before. The same happens to your face. If you don’t adjust your eating habits to your metabolism changes, fat cells under your chin can grow larger and create a double chin effect. 

Poor Diet & Exercise

Poor diet and lack of exercise could also lead to a double chin and weight gain in general. Whenever you consume more calories than you burn (and yes, drinks alway count), your body stores the extra energy as fat. While you aren’t growing new fat cells, this does cause the fat cells you have to expand, and you’d be surprised how large they can become. 

However, if you’re struggling with your weight or simply want to get help with building a healthier lifestyle, our wellness coach at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates can help. We also offer multiple weight loss and wellness programs to keep you on track. 

Genetics

It’s probably not what you want to hear, but if having a double chin runs in the family, there’s a good chance you might have one today. In some cases, you could be at a healthy weight, maintain a balanced lifestyle, and still have excess fat under your chin. The truth is, people carry their weight in different areas. Some may have more fat in their stomach and thighs while having a tight jawline line, and others could be completely opposite. But with the help of Kybella, you can fight against genetics to achieve a more structured look. 

What is Kybella and how does it work?

Kybella is a non-surgical injectable which uses deoxycholic acid, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring chemical found in your digestive tract. The chemical your body produces breaks down and absorbs fat by destroying the cell membrane, which is crucial for digestion. 
So it’s no surprise that when the synthetic version is injected into submental fat, the same breakdown and absorption process takes place. As the deoxycholic acid dissolves fat, it becomes cellular wastes that the body gets rid of once and for all, giving you long-lasting (if not permanent) results. 

💡Note: Kybella does not tighten skin; it only helps to get rid of fat. If you have loose skin, you can always combine your injections with a different aesthetic treatment to achieve the full look you’re after (we’ll go through complementing procedures later). 

Is fat dissolving something new?

No, fat dissolving isn’t new! Some of our clients are skeptical about Kybella, believing the science behind it is a “fad” or “trend” that hasn’t been proven to work. That couldn’t be further from the truth. 
Chemical fat dissolving (also known as mesotherapy), actually dates back to the 1950s.  Then a decade later, researchers began using chemical compounds to break down fat in trauma patients, who after a fracture, would suffer from fat globs entering the bloodstream. From there, research expanded to other areas of the body—including the facial and chin area. 
Before deoxycholic acid hit the beauty industry, bodybuilders used injections to slim up before a competition. They would inject the compound PC/DA, which included deoxycholic acid. Later, researchers discovered deoxycholic acid was the chemical responsible for this breakdown of fat. Fast forward to the 21st century, and now men and women can benefit from injectable deoxycholic acid to gain a more defined chin and jawline. 
Therefore, not only has Kybella been proven to work, it has made a long-lasting impression in the health industry for decades. 

What to expect when you get Kybella at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates

You should always get your Kybella injections through a trained medical professional. Never should you go to a provider with little experience, training, or qualifications. Our team at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates consists of some of the best medical experts, including board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified aesthetic specialists. So if you’re in the Cincinnati area and want a Kybella treatment that will bring you real results, come to our office and we’ll work to help you reach your goals. 

Before the Kybella treatment 

The Kybella process begins with a consultation. We will take that time to examine your chin and talk to you about your concerns. Based on that, we can create a treatment plan (which may include other non-invasive procedures) to help you achieve the look you’re after. 
We ask that our patients inform us of their medical history before coming in for their first Kybella treatment. Let us know if you have trouble swallowing, have had any kind of facial surgery, or have infections or other medical conditions in the injection area. It would also be helpful for us to know whether or not you’ve had other cosmetic procedures performed on your face, neck, and/or chin. 
Keep in mind that you don’t want to schedule your procedure right before a major event since you will probably experience some swelling later on. On the day of your appointment, try to avoid ibuprofen to avoid unwanted bruising. 

During the Kybella treatment 

We will first apply topical lidocaine to the treatment area to ensure you remain comfortable during the injection process. Once that settles, we create a custom grid, outlining your unique injection plan. This grid is based on how much submental fat you have and its specific location. 
Using the temporary grid, one of our board-certified physicians will begin injecting the Kybella solution into your tissue. Believe it or not, after about five minutes, the procedure is finished. We’ll remove the grid with alcohol then apply ice to control swelling. 

After the Kybella treatment

Directly after your Kybella treatment, you will probably notice some swelling, but that will go away over time. In fact, swelling is 100% normal and means the Kybella is doing its job—it stems from deoxycholic acid breaking down fat cells. 
As our patients go through more procedures, they usually find that the amount of swelling decreases each time. There may also be some redness and slight bruising, both of which are temporary and shouldn’t be a cause of concern.

Learn more about Kybella side effects and what to expect →

Since you won’t typically see results until after two treatments, we only offer Kybella in a two-treatment package. You will want to schedule your second session a month after the first. Depending on your needs, we may recommend you come in for a third or even fourth treatment so you recieve the best results possible. 
Deoxycholic acid takes time to work, so unlike other injectable procedures (such as Botox), you won’t walk out of the office seeing results. Full results typically appear after 90 days. 
For more well-rounded results (such as skin tightening and further fat reduction) you can opt to get complementing procedures, including: 

CoolSculpting: CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis technology to freeze and kill fat cells. A series of chin CoolSculpting treatments along with Kybella can maximize fat loss.

Dermal fillers: Dermal fillers injected into the jawline can help reshape and rebalance your face’s natural structure. 

Novathreads: Novathreads are a minimally invasive procedure that lifts and tightens the skin. The body naturally absorbs the surgical sutures after 4 to 6 weeks, which can lead to a boost in collagen production.

RF microneedling: RF microneedling combines radiofrequency energy with traditional microneedling to improve your skin’s texture and tone after a Kybella treatment. It can also help with skin tightening. 

Learn more about Kybella and schedule your appointment with Amy Brenner, MD & Associates.

Let our aesthetic experts help create a customized routine and give you the look you’ve always wanted. We will work with you to understand your unique conditions and concerns to get you one step closer to reaching your goals. As a medspa and medical practice, we are uniquely equipped with the ability to not only treat your skin and face, but also help you maintain your overall health. 
We’re here to offer a warm, friendly environment while providing the highest quality treatments and procedures to help you look great and feel great. 
Get started today by using our virtual consultation tool or scheduling an appointment. 
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