Kybella (Injectable Deoxycholic Acid)
What is Kybella?
The field of aesthetic medicine continues to evolve at a very fast pace. We are proud to offer our patients the latest non-surgical treatments to maintain that youthful appearance they love. If one of your concerns is the presence of excess fat beneath your chin, Kybella could be the solution you’ve been wishing for.
Kybella is an injectable solution formulated with synthetic deoxycholic acid. This molecule occurs naturally in the body to assist in the metabolism of dietary fat.
What does Kybella treat?
Patients that do not want surgical solutions can turn to Kybella to remove excess chin fat and rejuvenate their neck area. Kybella is currently approved for the treatment of submental fullness. You may know this by the name “double chin.” No one likes what this excess fat does to the appearance of the face. Regardless of total body weight, a double chin gives the illusion of obesity, however slight. Men and women express the concern they feel when the fat beneath the chin doesn’t budge, no matter how well they eat or how much they work out. The scale may change, but this area of the body doesn’t decrease in size.
Julie Holesh, PA
Physician assistant Julie Holesh is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. With both an artistic eye and medical expertise, she can help you achieve optimal skin quality with injectables, laser treatments, and other med spa services.
Candidates for Kybella treatment
Any adult who feels self-conscious about submental fullness is a good candidate for Kybella treatment. Prior to injections, however, a physical assessment should be performed to confirm that the girth of the chin area is, in fact, related to the accumulation of fat cells and not a medical condition.
The double chin removal process
In order to remove excess fat, Kybella targets the fat cells in the treatment area. In our office, Bryn Mawr plastic surgeon Dr. Brannon Claytor will place several small injections along the jawline. This will allow Kybella to adequately contour the jawline and decrease fat in the chin and upper neck areas. Then, the fat cells absorb the deoxycholic acid solution. Once they are full, they rupture and the body metabolizes their contents. This process does take some time, but most patients find this a tiny consequence with a great payoff.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Helps reduce submental (under-chin) fat, resulting in a more contoured and defined jawline.
- Minimally invasive solution to the “double chin” problem without the need for surgery or liposuction.
- Quick and convenient, typically taking 15-20 minutes per session, making it suitable for busy individuals.
- FDA-approved and has a proven safety and efficacy profile in clinical trials.
- Results are gradual and natural-looking, as it breaks down fat cells over time, avoiding sudden or drastic changes.
Deoxycholic Acid: This is the active ingredient in Kybella, which helps to break down and absorb dietary fat. It’s crucial to understand as it’s the primary component that allows Kybella to effectively reduce fat under the chin.
Submental Fat: Commonly known as a “double chin,” the submental area is the area where Kybella is most commonly used.
Submental Fullness: This is a medical term used to describe the appearance of a double chin due to excess fat.
Injection Site Reactions (ISR): These are the side effects that occur in the area where Kybella is injected, such as swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness, and areas of hardness.
Candidacy: Refers to the suitability of a patient for Kybella treatment, based on various factors such as health status, amount of submental fat, and skin elasticity.
Treatment Session: The period during which a patient receives Kybella injections. Multiple sessions may be needed based on the amount of submental fat and desired aesthetic outcome.
Belkyra: This is the name under which Kybella is marketed in countries outside of the United States.
Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing, a potential side effect of Kybella if injected improperly.
Aesthetic Outcome: The visible result of the Kybella treatment, pertaining to the improved appearance and contour of the chin and neck area.
Necrosis: Refers to the death of cells or tissues, which might occur in rare cases if Kybella is improperly administered.
Contraindications: Factors that serve as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment due to the harm that it would cause the patient. This is important in the context of determining candidacy for Kybella.
Cervicomental Angle: The angle formed between the neck and the jawline, often a crucial factor in aesthetic assessments of the submental region.
Side effects of Kybella injections
The side effects of Kybella are similar to those that may occur after other injectable treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers. Patients may experience slight swelling and redness due to the number of injections they receive. Additionally, patients report numbness, slight discomfort, and bruising after treatment.
An important note to remember about treating submental fullness with deoxycholic acid is that every person is different. Where one person may feel uncomfortable during and after their injections, another may have zero pain. Some patients notice a sensation of “fullness” in the chin area as the liquid solution is absorbed into fat cells. Side effects after treatment are short-lived and should be mild.
Neck rejuvenation results
Like liposuction for fat removal, Kybella can achieve permanent rejuvenation results. The longevity of a smooth, svelte chin and neck really comes down to weight management. Kybella treatment does not destroy the full extent of fat cells beneath the chin. Those cells that remain can expand in the event that significant weight gain occurs. This is because there is no way to predict which fat cells on what part of the body will expand in response to eating habits.
With a healthy diet and exercise, it is possible to maintain results indefinitely. It can take time to realize the desired result. However, results are generally noticeable after the second session.
Kybella treatment sessions
Typically, most people get the greatest benefit from at least two treatment sessions. Our team recommends scheduling your additional sessions about 4 weeks apart. However, there are some who may require up to four visits to fully contour the problem jawline area.
Alternate procedures for double chin reduction
Historically, submental fullness has been corrected with liposuction. Kybella is a non-surgical alternative that is appealing for its minimal downtime, side effects, and successful results.
References »
Shamban AT. Noninvasive Submental Fat Compartment Treatment. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2016 Dec 14;4(12 Suppl Anatomy and Safety in Cosmetic Medicine: Cosmetic Bootcamp):e1155. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001155.
Farina GA, Cherubini K, de Figueiredo MAZ, Salum FG. Deoxycholic acid in the submental fat reduction: A review of properties, adverse effects, and complications. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020 Oct;19(10):2497-2504. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13619.
Sung CT, Lee A, Choi F, Juhasz M, Mesinkovska NA. Non-Submental Applications of Injectable Deoxycholic Acid: A Systematic Review. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2019 Jul 1;18(7):675-680.
Pham CT, Lee A, Sung CT, Choi F, Juhasz M, Mesinkovska NA. Adverse Events of Injectable Deoxycholic Acid. Dermatologic Surgery. 2020 Jul;46(7):942-949. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002318.
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Schedule your Philadelphia Kybella consultationPhiladelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Brannon Claytor and physician assistant Julie Holesh perform all injectable treatments here at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. We proudly offer a full range of premium injectables, including Botox, Xeomin, DAXXIFY, and Dysport, as well as the dermal fillers Juvéderm, Restylane, the RHA filler collection, Bellafill and Sculptra Aesthetic.
To learn more about how Kybella can banish the bulge under your chin, call our Bryn Mawr office at 610-527-4833 or contact us online.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. R. Brannon Claytor — Updated on Apr 9, 2025