Although anyone who wanted to get rid of a double chin would have had to have liposuction performed, not everyone has been keen to undergo this somewhat invasive form of treatment. However, thanks to FDA approval being granted on Kybella, more people than ever have been able to enhance their appearances without the stress of invasive surgical procedures.
What is Kybella?
Kybella is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, which is in fact a naturally occurring molecule that has the ability to metabolize dietary fat. A clinical associate professor of dermatology at UCLA, Derek H. Jones, who is also the lead clinical investigator of Kybella, described what the substance is and what it does. “Basically, what it’s doing is disrupting the fat cell membrane. As soon as it hits, it causes lysis – or destroys the cell membrane. After that, the fat cell releases its fatty contents and the body metabolizes the fatty contents as normal,” he said.
Not a Quick Fix
Even when dieting rigorously, it has been proven that it is close to impossible to shift fat deposits that accumulate under the chin over time – until now, that is. However, this does not mean that Kybella is a ‘once-off miracle treatment.’ Patients will be required to make between 2 and 4 visits to their cosmetic or plastic surgeon, and each visit will consist of 20 injections being administered into the area under the chin. End results will only be fully visible after the final visit has been completed, so this is by no means a quick fix.
Faster Recovery than Liposuction
Patients who have had liposuction performed under the chin would have to expect recovery to take a few weeks. However, with Kybella, this period is shortened dramatically, making it the more appealing choice. While symptoms such as general tenderness and swelling at the site of the injections are to be expected afterwards, these will usually clear up within a few days at the most. Other symptoms that can be expected include temporary numbness and general pain.
Not Suitable for Everyone with a Double Chin
Although this treatment is FDA approved, it doesn’t mean that it will be suitable for everyone who is unfortunate enough to have a double chin. For a start, it may not be administered to anyone who is under the age of 18 years. Before having the injections administered, it is strongly recommended that surgeons rule out any possibility that a patient’s double chin is not being caused by medical conditions such as enlargement of the thyroid or swelling of the cervical lymph nodes in the neck area.
It is crucial for patients to ensure that they have these injections administered by licensed, trained and experienced surgeons. This will prevent damage from occurring to the mandibular nerve and it will help ensure that patients obtain the results they desire. Anyone who would like to find out more about this treatment can schedule a consultation with us today.
