Kiss Your Double Chin Good-Bye

By Soheila Rostami, MD

Even if you eat right and exercise regularly, it can still be impossible to get rid of a pesky double chin. Some people have always struggled with a double chin, while others develop one later in life. If you’ve ever wished you could beat the bulge without surgery, you’re in luck.

The FDA recently approved Kybella, a new injectable treatment that is designed to target fat under the chin, also known as submental fullness, and improve your profile. The drug is now becoming available to consumers through specially-trained physicians.

Here’s what you need to know.

Kybella injections destroy fat cells under the chin with synthetic deoxycholic acid. This substance is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that helps break down and absorb dietary fat.

Kybella is injected into the fat beneath the chin and actually destroys the cells, which noticeably reduces submental fullness. Since Kybella completely destroys the cells, they can no longer store or accumulate fat. This means the results are long-lasting and patients shouldn’t need further treatment.

If you are unhappy, self-conscious, or embarrassed by the fat under your chin, you might be a good candidate for Kybella. It produces noticeable results for patients over the age of 18 with a moderate amount of submental fullness. The treatment is most effective for people who eat well and exercise regularly, but still have trouble reducing their double chin. It is a great alternative to surgery.

Patients can receive up to six treatment sessions, with each session consisting of multiple small injections. Your Kybella-trained specialist will determine how many injections and treatments you need based on your desired appearance. A single session only takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on the amount of fat you have and the number of injections you need. The treatment sessions are given at least one month apart.

This treatment is quick and easy, so you shouldn’t need much downtime after your injections. There may be some swelling, bruising, redness, numbness, areas of hardness, or pain, but these are temporary and usually resolve on their own.

Currently, Kybella is only approved for use in the submental area – the neck and chin. Over 20 clinical studies have been conducted, treating more than 1,600 people. The majority of patients received six treatments during the clinical trials.

If your double chin is making you look older or heavier than you feel, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about Kybella.