Kybella

Kybella is a non-surgical treatment that can permanently dissolve the fat from under your chin, leading to a more defined jawline and eliminating your double chin. Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable for addressing excess fat beneath the chin. Noninvasive fat removal procedures have been growing in popularity, with a 9% growth between 2022 and 2023 alone. ⁽¹⁾ This quick treatment offers permanent, natural-looking results with little downtime, making it perfect for even the busiest of patients!

At Alexus Medspa, we believe in enhancing each patient’s inner beauty through custom-tailored procedures to help revitalize, restore, and refine your skin. Our team of expertly-trained staff can help each patient find the best procedure to help them look and feel like their very best self. The physicians and medical providers at Alexus Medspa have been San Diego’s leaders in facial rejuvenation for more than 50 years and have completed over 10,000 procedures.

To schedule your Kybella appointment with one of our specialists, please call our San Diego office at (888) 463-9532 or fill in our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

About Kybella

Kybella is composed of deoxycholic acid, a type of acid that is naturally produced by the body. This acid both targets and helps break down the outer structure of fat cells, essentially “melting” the structure of the fat on a cellular level. ⁽²⁾ Once these fat cells are destroyed, they are unable to return with proper lifestyle changes.

Benefits of Kybella

There are many benefits to reducing your facial fat with Kybella. This non-invasive treatment typically takes 15-20 minutes. ⁽²⁾ This is beneficial for candidates who do not have the time to sit through a procedure or wait out a long recovery time but want to achieve a more sculpted appearance. Patients who are more interested in natural results instead of a more dramatic change may find Kybella favorable as the gradual metabolization of fat creates a natural but defined contour. The results of Kybella are long-lasting, as destroyed fat cells cannot regenerate. Each treatment is tailored to help target different amounts of fat, and there is little downtime associated with this procedure compared to more traditional fat reduction procedures.

Candidates and Consultation

Before each treatment, our team at Alexus Med Spa asks that each candidate schedule a personal consultation. This is so we can understand your concerns and goals and determine if Kybella is the right treatment for you.

The ideal candidates for Kybella are those with moderate to significant submental fat or double chin. Having realistic expectations about the treatment is important because Kybella cannot help you lose weight or improve skin laxity. We recommend this treatment for patients who are interested in reducing the fat under the chin but are not interested in a surgical procedure or who cannot afford a lengthy downtime. Please note that this procedure is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding candidates.

Once your candidacy has been determined, your injector will help instruct you on how to prepare for your treatment and take care of the treatment site during recovery. They will also discuss the full cost with each patient once a treatment plan is established.

To schedule your personal consultation to find out if Kybella is right for you, please call (888) 463-9532 or fill in our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Preparation

Starting a few days before their procedure, patients should avoid using harsher skincare products such as retinoids or exfoliants. We may ask you to stop drinking alcohol before your appointment to help minimize bruising. You may also need to reduce sodium intake and exercise more to help reduce post-procedural swelling. It is essential to stay hydrated leading up to the appointment and to eat a light meal before the appointment to avoid any dizziness. Our team verifies that each patient receives a full list of preparation instructions at their personal consultation to ensure they feel informed and assured prior to their procedure.

Procedure

The procedure starts with the application of a topical numbing cream to help each patient feel more comfortable during the injection process. Your injector will then carefully mark out the treatment area in a grid pattern to ensure the placement of each injection creates the most ideal result. A small needle is then used to inject Kybella into the targeted areas. The entire procedure takes between 15-20 minutes, depending on the number of injections needed. Some patients may find that they need multiple sessions to achieve their desired result, with most patients experiencing significant results in 2-4 treatments. ⁽³⁾

Recovery & Results

Patients can return to their daily schedule immediately following their injections. Redness, light bruising, and mild swelling are common and will gradually subside through the week. We recommend using ice packs to help reduce swelling, and any discomfort can be managed through the use of over-the-counter medications. Patients should avoid sodium-heavy foods and alcohol, as well as heavy exercise, to avoid aggravating any swelling. Patients can start using makeup after 24 hours to help cover any redness or bruising.

The full effects of the treatment can usually be seen 4-6 weeks after your session and the results are long-lasting, often permanent. Once the fat cells in the chin have been destroyed, they cannot be regenerated without significant weight gain. Patients will be able to enjoy a more defined jawline, a slimmer chin, and a reduced double chin.

Corresponding Treatments

Kybella is one of many different injectable treatments that we are proud to offer at Alexus Medspa. Aside from reducing facial fat, injectables can be used to add volume, reduce wrinkles, improve skin health, and more. Many patients will choose to receive other injections alongside their Kybella treatment to enhance their appearance. Some of the popular dermal filler injections we offer include Restylane, Bellafill, Juvederm, and Sculptra. These use different formulations to refill lost mass in sunken areas of the face and reduce the presence of wrinkles. We also offer Botox, which uses botulinum toxin to keep muscles in a semi-permanent relaxed state, which prevents wrinkles from forming by preventing muscle movement.

Cost of Kybella in San Diego

The cost of your Kybella treatment is dependent upon multiple factors, such as the severity of the conditions being treated as well as the amount of procedures needed to achieve desired results. The full cost of each procedure will be discussed with the patient at their personal consultation as it can be difficult for our team to give each patient an estimate without seeing the treatment area first. Once a medical examination is performed and a treatment plan is agreed upon, our team will walk you through the full cost of your treatment as well as our accepted methods of payment.

We are currently partnered with Cherry to help qualifying patients finance the cost of their procedure. Our patients have access to a variety of different payment plans, with some qualifying for 0% APR options. To learn more or see if you qualify, check out our financing options page.

To explore the full cost of your treatment, please call our San Diego office at (888) 463-9532, or fill in our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

FAQ

References

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner.; 2023. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
2. Rogerio V, Rabelo V, Roschel P, Tatiane Sakemi, Germani M, Munoz-Lora VRM. A novel approach for deoxycholic acid administration to treat submental fullness: A case report assessed by 3D stereophotogrammetry. Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. 2024;14(3):280-283. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2024.03.011
3. Liu M, Chesnut C, Lask G. Overview of Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid Injection) as a Fat Resorption Product for Submental Fat. Facial plastic surgery: FPS. 2019;35(3):274-277. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1688943
4. Khan H, Nur Ul Ain, Bhatti DS, Khan J. An Assessment of the Reduction of Submental Fullness With ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid Injection) in the Expanded Safe Zone. Curēus. Published online February 22, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.35286