Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Cosmetic Dermatology

Kybella®

Kybella, a revolutionary treatment, is designed specifically for the treatment of a double chin without surgery and downtime, which is usually treated with traditional or laser liposuction. However, with its recent approval by the FDA to treat chin fat, Kybella brings many benefits to California Skin Institute patients who would like to improve their appearance with no downtime. California Skin Institute became one of the first practices in the country to use Kybella, an injectable formulated to target submental fat.

What is Kybella?

Kybella is a specialized injectable treatment designed to target fat around the chin. Instead of using fat removal procedures like liposuction, your medical provider can expertly inject the treatment solution into the fat, and damage the cells with the active ingredient.

This treatment is a revolutionary approach for those who would like to get rid of a double chin and was approved by the FDA in 2015. California Skin Institute was one of the first practices in the country to start offering this procedure, and Dr. Greg Morganroth is a national trainer for this product – helping doctors all over the country learn how to use Kybella properly and achieve some of the best outcomes for patients.

How Kybella Works

The active ingredient is deoxycholic acid, which is naturally present in the human body and plays an important role in managing fats. However, when used in Kybella, this acid works to break down the membranes of fat cells. As the fat cells are damaged, the body’s natural processes expel them from the treatment area.

It is important to note that this process is different from losing weight. When an individual loses weight, the fat cells shrink; leading to a reduction in overall visible volume. However, Kybella damages the fat cells at the treatment site, thus achieving improvements that can last longer (unless there is a big change in your lifestyle and dietary habits that cause the remaining fat cells to expand quickly).

What Kybella Treats

Kybella is FDA-approved only for the treatment of a double chin. California Skin Institute providers currently do not offer any treatments with this product for other parts of the body, as the safety of deoxycholic acid to treat other parts of the body has not yet been confirmed.

However, for patients seeking to target fat in other hard-to-target areas like love handles, we offer other non-invasive solutions, like CoolSculpting and laser liposuction.

How Long Do Kybella Results Last?

Because it damages fat cells, the outcomes can be long lasting.

Improvements with this treatment appear gradually, with full benefits showing several months of treatment, the specific time depending on the patient’s unique situation and the number of treatments received. California Skin Institute patients find this gradual improvement to be an added bonus of the treatment, because the gradual change makes it difficult for anyone to tell that you’ve had work done, and the loss of the double chin looks natural.

What to Expect During Kybella Treatment

When you visit California Skin Institute for Kybella treatment, your provider will make a detailed assessment of the fat deposits in the chin area. This is a very important step in the process because the size, shape and relative location of the fat deposits varies from patient to patient. Because deoxycholic acid helps your provider “sculpt” the fat, proper targeting of the fat cells is imperative for a natural appearance.

Once the treatment begins, your provider will make approximately 10-20 small injections in the treatment site during the session, though the precise number will vary and may differ from the range provided. The purpose for many small injections is to deliver the treatment to the site as evenly as possible, so that the gradual shrinking of the double chin looks natural, without becoming misshapen.

Several monthly treatment sessions may be needed to achieve the best outcomes, depending on the volume of the initial fat deposits under the chin.

Does it Hurt?

Kybella treatments administered at California Skin Institute are typically very comfortable for our patients. Our providers take great care by administering local anesthetics and numbing creams to reduce any potential discomfort.

If you’d like to learn more about Kybella, please California Skin Institute practice or find a location near you and request a consultation!

Disclaimer

Treatment results will vary, talk to a practitioner to see if this treatment or procedure is right for you.

Conditions treated by Kybella®


End of content dots

News, Research and More

Stay current with California Skin Institute