Botox is a fairly popular anti-aging treatment because results are seen within as few as four days. At Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD, we are proud to offer alternative esthetic treatments that last for years. Today, we’re talking about how soon you can expect to see the results of a Kybella treatment.
What Is Kybella Treatment?
This Kybella treatment is an FDA-approved prescription medication that can be used safely and effectively to enhance the appearance and contour of moderate-to-severe fat beneath the chin. This fat is often referred to as “double chin” or submental fat. It is important to note that we do not offer injections to children under the age of 18. Moreover, there is not yet any research on whether this prescription medication is passed through breast milk or the umbilical cord, so it is not recommended for pregnant women.
How Does Kybella Treatment Work?
The active ingredient in this FDA-approved medication is synthetic deoxycholic acid. This acid is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body. It helps your lymphatic system break down and absorbs dietary fat. When the synthetic version of this molecule is injected into the fat underneath the chin, it kills those fat cells. The result is a significant reduction in submental fullness and an improved chin profile.
Where Does Kybella Treatment Work?
This treatment is used primarily to remove excess fat underneath the chin. However, it can also be used to contour the lower jawline. Recently, this treatment has been used to contour other regions of the body, including:
- Bra bulges
- Armpit fat
- Lower buttocks
- Inner knee
- Lower back
How Is It Administered?
This treatment is administered through injections that contain 10 milligrams of deoxycholic acid per milliliter. Each treatment requires several tiny injections beneath your chin. The entire process takes only 30 to 45 minutes. How many injections you require depends on the volume of fat beneath your chin and the profile you are trying to achieve.
What Is Submental Fullness?
Submental fullness refers to the adipose tissue underneath the chin. Both men and women are susceptible to submental fullness and there are several “triggers” for the condition. Most commonly, rapid weight gain causes a “double chin”. Sometimes, it is triggered by weight gain but remains once you have lost excess weight and are at a healthy BMI.
In other cases, genetics are the cause of submental fullness. No matter how healthy your diet is or how regularly you work out, the fat under your chin won’t budge if your submental fullness is hereditary. If you’ve never been overweight and suffer from submental fullness, genetics may be the cause of your condition.
Finally, submental fullness may be caused by aging. Chin fat represents a huge problem in the senior population. In fact, according to a 2015 survey conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, two out of three people surveyed reported that they are disturbed by the fat under their chin. Another result that came out of the survey was the report that people are just as equally bothered by chin fat as by fine lines and wrinkles around and under the eyes.
How Soon Do You See Results From Kybella?
One of the questions we receive most frequently about this type of treatment is how soon can I expect to see results. This is one of the most significant ways this treatment differs from Botox. With this treatment, the results are most noticeable four to six weeks following treatments.
A major benefit of this treatment is there’s no need for frequent touch-ups because of how long the results last. However, it can take up to four treatments to achieve your desired results. During your initial consultation, we will help you decide how many treatments you will need to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Will I Need Time to Recover?
An incredibly significant benefit of this treatment is the fact that there is no downtime. After treatment, you can go right back to your normal daily activities. You also don’t need to make extensive preparations in advance of your treatment. Just talk to us if you’re taking an anticoagulant.
How Many Treatment Sessions Will I Need?
We all have different chin profiles. We all have different volumes and distributions of submental fat. Some clients need several treatment sessions to achieve their desired results. About 60% of people who receive these injections to treat submental fat receive six treatments spaced at least a month apart. We will help you determine the number of treatments you’ll need to achieve your ideal chin during your initial consultation by assessing your current profile.
How Long Will Results Last?
This injection destroys the fat cells beneath the chin. Once those fat cells die, they can neither store nor accumulate fat. Once you’ve reached your ideal goal, it is not expected that you will need follow-up treatments.
Am I a Good Candidate?
This treatment is very well received by nearly everyone. We will review your medical history, assess your current general health, and talk about your future plans for enhancements. We need to know if you have already had enhancements made to your face, neck, or chin or if you plan to in the future.
Moreover, we need to know if you have an active infection affecting your neck, chin or face. Let us know if you have had trouble swallowing in the past or if you currently are having difficulty swallowing. Moreover, we need to know if you have bleeding problems, are pregnant or nursing, or if you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed in the near future.
Will I Have to Stop Taking My Medications?
Be sure to disclose any and all prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking, along with any vitamins and herbal supplements. It’s perfectly safe to take most medications in the days leading up to your treatment. However, you should avoid taking anything designed to prevent blood clots, such as anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines and vitamin E.
Is Kybella Right for Me?
We recommend this treatment for people who are at least 18 years of age and bothered by the fat under their chin. “Bothered” can refer to unhappiness, self-consciousness, or embarrassment. We strongly recommend this treatment for adults who feel their condition makes them look older or heavier than they actually are and do not want to take invasive measures to correct the condition.
Finally, this treatment is strongly recommended for people whose submental fullness does not go away after a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Alternatives to Kybella Treatment
The most popular alternative to this treatment is chin liposuction. Liposuction involves removing the fat cells from the body via suction or draining. There are techniques that are effective in removing submental fat. It’s not uncommon for adults between the ages of 20 and 50 to opt for neck liposuction because their skin is typically more elastic than that of the elderly. However, while this will remove excess fat, it will not improve skin quality.
If you have lax or sagging skin on the neck and a double chin, a neck lift may be right for you. However, since submental fullness can be genetic, not everyone needs a neck lift. Submentoplasty is a middle ground alternative that involves both liposuction and tiny incisions beneath the chin. It is often referred to as a “mini” neck lift. If you have excess fat under the chin and sagging skin around the neck, you may need both chin liposuction and a neck lift.
How Does Chin Liposuction Work?
Chin liposuction works by inserting a cannula, or tiny tube, into the chin in several areas. A small volume of fat is strategically removed from each are using gentle suction. The end result is a smoother, better-contoured profile with less submental fullness.
Differences Between Kybella Treatment and Chin Liposuction
The primary difference between this treatment and chin liposuction is the anesthetic used. Injections typically involve the application of a topical local anesthetic. For chin liposuction, sedation or an injected local anesthetic are usually used. Kybella usually requires between two and six treatments spaced a month apart to achieve the desired results. On the other hand, chin liposuction is completed in just one session.
While there is no downtime associated with these injections, you will need to wear a special chin strap following chin liposuction for several days while your skin heals.
Is Chin Liposuction Right for Me?
Chin liposuction is not painful due to the anesthesia. However, it’s not right for many people. It costs more than Kybella and can cause significant swelling. As a result, it can take longer to see results after chin liposuction than a Kybella treatment session. Chin lifts and neck tucks come with the same issues. There will be significant downtime and a long recovery process. In the meantime, you’ll have to miss several weeks of work. There is medication to treat the pain, but there’s no prescription to alleviate the discomfort of having facial drains.
Thermage
In clients with lax skin and submental fullness, we strongly recommend Thermage. This non-surgical cosmetic treatment stimulates the production of new collagen via state-of-the-art radio frequency heating. The jumpstart is immediate and tightening continues to improve for at least six months. Thermage FLX® can sculpt the neck without liposuction, improve acne, and make the skin look younger. More importantly, after just one treatment session you can enjoy your new and improved look for three to four years.
Micro-Needling
Micro-needling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is another popular cosmetic treatment. It’s usually used to treat acne scars and age spots on the face. But did you know it can be used to treat your double chin? Unlike more common treatments for submental fullness, micro-needling addresses the texture and firmness issues that often plague the neck. It can take up to six months to see the final results, but it is well worth the wait.
While micro-needling may sound scary, we use very fine needles to eliminate the risk of pain. Moreover, we apply a topical anesthetic so you’ll only feel a light tickling sensation. You will notice your submental fullness has reduced immediately. However, several treatment sessions may be necessary depending on the volume and location of the excess chin fat. Follow-up treatments are usually spaced four weeks apart.
If you hide your neck with turtlenecks and scarfs, we strongly recommend micro-needling. This treatment will reduce submental fullness while reversing signs of aging, acne scars, stretch marks, and other imperfections.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Sometimes, your double chin is caused by aging or genetics, and no amount of diet or exercise can correct that. To learn more about Kybella Treatment and what kybella results you can realistically expect, contact the dedicated medical professionals at Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD today to schedule your initial consultation. We’ll help you find the treatment that is best suited to achieve your aesthetic goals.
