For many patients, some extra fat under the chin and around the jawline can make them feel older and heavier than they actually are. If genetics is to blame for that double chin, no amount of dieting and exercise will make it go away. Kybella® can spot-treat this problem area by killing off fat cells with a synthetic deoxycholic acid. This acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body which helps breakdown and absorb dietary fat in the system. Once the fat cells are destroyed, they can no longer store excess fat so the results are permanent.

It’s important to work with board-certified injectors so that only the right amount of fat cells are completely destroyed and there is no excessive swelling. Most patients need a series of Kybella® injections and we can repeat treatments as often as needed to achieve your goals.

The treatment begins with Dr. Zimmet marking areas of the neck under the chin that will need injections. We may inject some local anesthetic into the treatment areas to numb the treatment sites completely. Next, a series of injections is administered into different parts of the neck to deliver the synthetic deoxycholic acid directly into the fat cells. Some patients notice a mild stinging sensation which usually subsides within about 20 minutes. After treatment, we recommend icing the treatment areas for a few hours to reduce swelling and discomfort.

One of the biggest benefits of Kybella® treatments is there is no surgery involved. The treatment itself is relatively quick and virtually painless. There’s no recovery time but most patients do experience some swelling. Any swelling you have will last about 24 hours after treatment and then disappear after 48 hours. Swelling may last up to a week, depending on the dosage. Once this subsides, patients notice the treatment area starts to shrink gradually.