What Is Kybella and How Does It Treat a Double Chin?

What is Kybella?

Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable treatment for moderate to severe fullness caused by fat under the chin, often called a double chin. It was approved in 2015 and is the first and only FDA-approved injectable for this area.

The active ingredient is deoxycholic acid. Your body already makes deoxycholic acid naturally to help break down and absorb fat from the food you eat. Kybella uses a non-animal, synthetic form of that same molecule, injected directly into the fat under your chin.

How does Kybella treat a double chin?

When Kybella is injected into the fat under your chin, it breaks down the membranes of the fat cells, which destroys them. Your body then clears those cells away naturally over the following weeks.

Here's the part patients love: once those fat cells are destroyed, they can no longer store or accumulate fat. That means once you reach the look you want, you typically don't need ongoing treatments to keep it.

Results build gradually. Most people need more than one session to see their final result, so think of Kybella as a series rather than a one-time fix.

Who is a good candidate?

Kybella is for adults with moderate to severe fullness under the chin who want a more defined jawline and profile without surgery. It may not be the right fit if:

• Your fullness is mostly loose or sagging skin, rather than fat
• You have prominent neck bands
• You've had trouble swallowing, a bleeding disorder, or take blood thinners
• You have an infection in the treatment area

Your provider will look at your chin and neck at your consultation and tell you whether Kybella, another treatment, or a combination will give you the best result.

What to expect during treatment

After cleansing the area, your provider marks a small grid under your chin to guide placement. Kybella is then given as a series of small injections, placed about 1 centimeter apart. The appointment is quick, and you can go back to most of your normal routine afterward.

How many treatments will I need? It depends on how much fat you have and the look you want. Your provider will map out a plan with you at your consultation. You can have up to 6 treatments, spaced at least 1 month apart.

Downtime and side effects

Swelling is the most common side effect and the one to plan around. It's usually mild to moderate and lasts about 11 days on average, and it tends to lessen with each treatment. Other common side effects include bruising, tenderness, numbness, redness and firmness under the chin.

Less common, but worth knowing: in clinical studies, a small number of patients had temporary nerve injury that caused an uneven smile, or temporary trouble swallowing. These resolved on their own. Choosing an experienced injector matters, and our providers will walk you through everything at your consult.

Tip: Many patients plan their first treatment around a week with no big events, since the swelling can make your chin look fuller before it looks slimmer.

Kybella vs. other options

Kybella vs. liposuction. Liposuction surgically removes fat, which means incisions and a longer recovery. Kybella gets rid of fat under the chin with a series of injections instead, no surgery needed. The tradeoff is time: liposuction is usually a single procedure, while Kybella results build over a few sessions. Most patients plan for swelling for about one to two weeks after each treatment.

Kybella vs. diet and exercise. Eating well and staying active are great for your overall health, but you can't choose where you lose fat, and the area under the chin is often the last to change. Weight loss also shrinks fat cells rather than getting rid of them. Kybella targets the chin directly and destroys the fat cells it treats, so they can't store fat again.

If loose skin is part of the picture, ask about pairing Kybella with a skin-tightening treatment for a more sculpted result.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kybella permanent? Kybella destroys the fat cells it treats, so they can't store fat again. Significant weight gain can still affect the area, so a stable weight helps you keep your results.

Does it hurt? Most patients feel a burning or stinging sensation during and shortly after the injections. Your provider can use ice or numbing to keep you comfortable.

When will I see results? Results build gradually over the weeks after each treatment. In clinical studies, results were measured 12 weeks after the final treatment.

Can I go back to work? Yes. Most people return to their normal routine right away, just plan for swelling under the chin.

Ready to say goodbye to your double chin?

Book a consultation at Mint & Needle and our providers will help you decide whether Kybella is right for you.

Book your consultation: 302-696-2484 · mintandneedle.com