There have been some pretty famous celebrities with double chins: Jackie Gleason, Orson Welles, Rodney Dangerfield, among many others. Their double chins didn’t seem to bother them a whole lot.
You may feel differently about yours, however. Surveys have shown that around two thirds of Americans have at least some semblance of a double chin. And they’re not thrilled with them. The problem has been doing anything about this fat under our collective chins. In the past, the only way a person could tighten up their profile was through surgery, and many people didn’t want to go that route.
That changed in April 2015 with the introduction of Kybella to the aesthetic world. Kybella is an injectable product made from deoxycholic acid that dramatically reduces fat accumulated under the chin, tightening the patient’s profile.
We now offer Kybella, the first and only FDA-approved injectable double chin treatment, at DeLaine Anti Aging Cosmetic & Eye Surgery.
What is Kybella?
Kybella is deoxycholic acid. The FDA has approved Kybella to be given as a series of injections under the chin. The number of injections per treatment session, along with the number of overall treatments (the limit is six) is up to the individual patient.
How does Kybella work?
The simple secret behind Kybella is deoxycholic acid. In the human body deoxycholic acid is tasked with breaking down dietary fat. When researching deoxycholic acid scientists wondered if it would differentiate between different sorts of fat. It doesn’t; to deoxycholic acid the fat accumulating under your chin is just the same as fat you’ve ingested. So, when Kybella is injected into the fat under your chin it breaks it down, just as it does with dietary fat.
By destroying the fat under your chin, it also 
removes the fat storage mechanism (which is a leftover from our prehistoric days when we needed to store fat to cover the lean times) in the area, meaning it won’t come back unless you gain a large amount of new weight. By removing the fat your profile slims dramatically.
Would Kybella benefit me?
There are two components of double chins: fat and sagging tissue. Sagging tissue can be a result of the downward pull of gravity, genetics, and the effects of aging. Kybella isn’t a skin tightener, so it won’t tighten this loose skin. Kybella reduces the fat. Still, by removing the fat, there will be less material to push any sagging skin downward, so your profile will improve. If you have excessive sagging skin, however, a neck lift or lower facelift could be a better solution.
Is Kybella permanent?
Like liposuction, Kybella’s results are permanent, but it achieves them without surgery! Prior to your first treatment, you decide how much you want to slim your profile. Once it is achieved, the results are permanent. Your skin will slacken somewhat as you age, but the fat is gone for good.
When will I see results of my Kybella treatment?
Everyone has different treatment goals, and Kybella doesn’t have a set number of treatments. The maximum allowed is six treatments, but we’ve found that many patients are satisfied after two to four treatments. During each session, you’ll receive a series of injections into your chin fat with a very small needle.
Kybella side effects
Kybella does have some potential side effects, although the more serious effects are rare. They include nerve injury in the jaw that can create an uneven smile, trouble swallowing, and some weakness in the surrounding facial muscles. In clinical studies these side effects are not long-term, but they do not resolve immediately.
These are the common side effects:
- Numbness
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Residual pain
- Areas of hardness in the treatment area
The above side effects are similar to those from various dermal fillers.
Are there alternatives to Kybella?
As noted above, Kybella is the only non-invasive option for reducing your double chin. There are surgical alternatives, namely facelifts and neck lifts. In some cases, liposuction can be used to remove fat without the larger incisions needed for those other procedures.
Schedule a consultation
Ready to get rid of your double chin with Kybella? Call (219) 464-7546 DeLaine Anti Aging Cosmetic & Eye Surgery to schedule a consultation. Our practice serves Valparaiso, Michigan City, Merrillville and surrounding areas.