Draper and Lehi, Utah
Kybella in Utah, for fat under the chin
Kybella is an injection that destroys fat cells under the chin, and the ones it destroys do not come back. It only works if the fullness is actually fat. A lot of double chins are not, and finding that out is the first job.
Four things that look like a double chin
- Fat. Soft fullness you can pinch under the chin. This is the one Kybella treats.
- Loose skin. Skin that hangs rather than bulges. Removing fat underneath it can make it look looser, not tighter.
- A short chin. A chin that sits back shortens the line from chin to neck and makes everything under it look fuller. Chin filler treats that.
- Muscle bands. Vertical cords in the neck, from the platysma. Those are a neurotoxin question, not a fat one.
Most people have a mix. Working out the proportions is what the appointment is for, and for some people the honest answer is that Kybella is not their treatment.
What to expect
How a course of Kybella goes
Kybella is deoxycholic acid, a copy of a molecule your body already uses to break down dietary fat. Placed under the chin in a grid of small injections, it breaks down the fat cells it reaches, and your body clears them over the following weeks.
Each session takes minutes. Then comes the swelling, which is the part people underestimate: several days of a fuller chin, then a week or two of firmness. Sessions are at least a month apart, most people need two to four, and the result is judged once everything has settled. It was approved by the FDA in 2015 for moderate to severe fat under the chin in adults. Individual results vary.
Straight answers
Kybella questions, answered straight
Does Kybella really work?
On the right person, yes. It was approved on trials showing a reduction in fat under the chin, and the fat cells it destroys do not come back. The right person is the catch. If your fullness is loose skin, muscle bands or a short chin rather than fat, Kybella will not change it, and that is what the assessment is for.
How many Kybella sessions will I need?
Most people need two to four. The label allows up to six, at least a month apart, and each one is judged once the swelling has gone. How much fat you are starting with decides the number.
How bad is the swelling?
Expect it, and plan around it. Most people are noticeably swollen under the chin for several days, firmer and tender for a week or two, and sometimes numb for longer. The first session is usually the most swollen. Do not book one the week before photographs.
Is the result permanent?
The fat cells that are destroyed are gone for good. The ones that remain can still grow if you gain weight, so it is permanent in the way that matters rather than a guarantee against your future. Individual results vary.
What are the risks?
Swelling, bruising, pain, numbness and firmness are common and settle. The one to know about is injury to the small nerve that controls the corner of your mouth, which can make your smile uneven. In the trials it was uncommon and resolved, and it is mostly an anatomy and placement question. Trouble swallowing has also been reported, rarely.
Kybella or chin filler?
They fix different problems, and plenty of double chins are partly a short chin. Kybella removes fat under the chin. Chin filler brings the chin forward, which tightens the line underneath it. Sometimes the honest plan is filler first, or both.
Read first
Before you book
Do I need Botox or filler?
One relaxes muscle, the other adds structure. A thirty second test in a mirror usually tells you which problem you have.
How much does Botox cost in Utah?
Per unit and per area pricing answer different questions, and the cheapest per unit number is frequently the most expensive way to buy a result.
Find out whether it is fat
Individual results vary. Text first if you would rather just ask.