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Do you find yourself feeling self-conscious about your double chin, but you don’t have the time or interest in plastic surgery? Fortunately, surgery is no longer needed to eliminate excess fat beneath the chin, thanks to Kybella®.
Do you have a double chin? If so, you’re not alone. This type of fat, which is also known as submental fat, affects many people.
However, there’s good news. Kybella®, which is an injectable, can remove this excess fat beneath the chin and neck to reveal a smooth jawline. What’s more? It doesn’t require the downtime that’s needed for treatments like neck lift surgery and liposuction.
In this blog, David Reeves, MD, FACOG, of Medical Aesthetics & Laser in The Woodlands, Texas, explains what causes a double chin and how Kybella can make it a thing of the past.
What causes a double chin?
Submental fat under the chin affects close to 70% of adults in the United States. A double chin disrupts facial symmetry, causing the face to appear unbalanced. It also gives the appearance of being older and heavier.
Unfortunately, there's no single cause for a double chin. Double chins, which affect men and women of all ages, can be caused by a number of factors, such as weight gain, genetics, and natural aging.
It’s important to know that double chins aren’t limited to people who are overweight. It’s also important to know that fat in this area is stubborn and resistant to diet and exercise.
Furthermore, there’s no way to “spot treat” excess fat in one particular area with diet and exercise. And, attempting to reduce a double chin through overall weight loss is often ineffective as well.
How does Kybella work?
Kybella is a synthetic version of deoxycholic acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in fat breakdown and absorption. When injected into targeted fat pockets, Kybella causes the rapid destruction of fat cells by breaking down their cell membranes.
The body's natural metabolic process then removes the damaged fat cells from the area and eliminates them from the body. Kybella only affects fat cells and has no effect on other cells or tissues.
This is different from what happens when you lose weight. When a person loses weight, the fat cells don’t go anywhere. Instead, the fat cells just shrink, which results in a decrease in the overall visible volume. However, Kybella permanently destroys the fat cells at the treatment site, resulting in long-lasting results. Once the fat cells are destroyed, those cells can’t return.
What is a Kybella session like?
First, our team assesses you to determine if you’re a good candidate for Kybella injections. If you are, we customize a treatment plan just for you. The number of treatments we recommend for you will depend on your characteristics and goals. The majority of patients see visible results within 2-4 treatments, which are scheduled about a month apart.
To perform your procedure, we inject Kybella into the fat under your chin with an ultra-fine needle. Treatments usually take about 15-20 minutes. Following your procedure, your chin may swell a bit and be slightly tender for a few weeks, but you should be able to go about your normal routine.
If you have a double chin and want to see if Kybella can help you, we can give you a thorough evaluation and discuss your next steps. To learn more, call 281-419-2220 or book an appointment online with Medical Aesthetics & Laser today.