Are you unsatisfied with the shape of your face? Do you want a simple, non-invasive way to reduce submental fat under the chin and transform your profile? If so, you could benefit from Kybella injections. This FDA-approved treatment can dissolve excess fat and transform your appearance in a matter of weeks. We’re proud to offer this revolutionary treatment option at Optimize Face MD in Aliso Viejo, CA, alongside our other aesthetic services.
What Is Kybella?
Kybella is a treatment option that uses deoxycholic acid to safely and painlessly dissolve excess fat under the skin. It is specifically formulated to treat submental fat under the chin, which can be challenging to target with diet and exercise alone. Once the product is injected, this treatment destroys fat cells and prevents them from re-growing or storing additional fat. This makes treatment both effective and long-lasting.
A normal treatment session takes less than 30 minutes to complete, making it an excellent fit for even the busiest schedule. The injection process is practically pain-free thanks to a topical anesthetic, and most patients experience a short and easy recovery period with zero downtime required. The majority of patients see significant improvement in their areas of concern after just 1-3 treatment sessions.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
During an initial consultation, our doctor will examine your areas of concern to determine how many injections you may need to achieve your ideal image. While each patient’s experience is different, we find that most patients need between 3-6 treatments to reduce submental fat and create a slimmer, more youthful silhouette.
In general, your treatment plan will include 3-6 sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Our doctor will monitor your results and adjust your treatment plan as needed to help you create your ideal image. You should be able to see your final results develop within 2 months of your final appointment.
Which Concerns Can Be Treated?
This product is FDA-approved for treating the area under the chin. It specifically targets the classic “double chin,” which may develop due to sudden weight gain, certain health conditions, or aging. Submental fat is notoriously difficult to reduce without invasive procedures like liposuction, but this treatment offers patients an alternative solution to their double chin.
Since it targets fat cells, this treatment is only intended for the elimination of unwanted pockets of fat under the skin. It is not able to correct skin laxity, another common cause of the double chin that is connected to the aging process. If you experience skin laxity in the area under your chin, our doctor can recommend an appropriate treatment that could be combined with Kybella to ensure optimal results.
How Long Will My Results Last?
One of the biggest benefits of this treatment is its ability to achieve long-lasting or even permanent results. Once we reach adulthood, our bodies contain a finite number of fat cells. These cells can expand exponentially as you gain weight or experience bodily changes, but they do not multiply re-grow when destroyed by this treatment. This means that we can effectively target and reduce the number of fat cells in the submental area.
A double chin and similar fat pockets can grow larger over time as fat cells expand. These stubborn fat deposits can remain the same size regardless of your lifestyle or activity levels, leading many patients to experience low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with their appearance. This treatment systematically destroys a large number of fat cells under the chin, delivering results that can last indefinitely when maintained with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Some patients are concerned that weight gain could undo the success of their treatment. While we do recommend that patients maintain their weight as carefully as possible after treatment, weight gain does not necessarily mean that your results will disappear. The number of fat cells eliminated during treatment ensures that your results will appear largely the same for the foreseeable future.
How Does This Treatment Compare to Liposuction?
Traditionally, liposuction was the go-to procedure to remove unwanted fat from the chin area. This process, while usually successful, involves a great deal of trauma to the surrounding tissue as the fat is vacuumed out with a narrow cannula. In addition, it requires significant downtime and comes with all the normal risks associated with a minor surgical procedure.
In contrast, Kybella offers a non-invasive treatment option to patients who may wish to address their double chin without surgery. It requires no downtime or general anesthesia and will not leave any visible scars or marks after treatment. While the process of dissolving the fat takes several weeks, the results seen after treatment are comparable to a liposuction procedure.
Will Treatment Change the Shape of My Face?
It’s common for patients to be concerned about the extent of their possible results, especially in regard to face shape. Kybella can be considered an enhancement to your natural beauty and facial structure. Over time, your face shape changes slightly as signs of aging appear and fat pockets develop. This product can help restore a younger appearance by slimming the chin and neck and removing unwanted fat.
While your results will be noticeable, your overall face, neck, and chin shape will remain largely the same. The non-invasive nature of this treatment means that no one else will know you had treatment unless you choose to let them in on your secret. You will still look like yourself, but your appearance will be more youthful, vibrant, and slimmer than before, giving you a new confidence boost.
Am I an Ideal Candidate?
If you’re an adult man or woman who experiences submental fat and wishes to rejuvenate your facial profile, you could be a good candidate for this treatment. In order to pursue treatment, you should be healthy and free from any allergies or medical conditions that may interact negatively with this treatment. You should also be within 20 pounds of a healthy weight for your height and body type.
This treatment may not be ideal for patients who wish to correct skin laxity in the submental area. In addition, if you are planning to become pregnant after treatment, you should be aware that this sudden weight gain could impact your final results. If you’re unsure whether this treatment is right for you, our skilled doctor can help you evaluate your candidacy during an initial consultation.
What Should I Expect?
Here is a basic overview of our professional treatment process.
Consultation
Your first appointment will involve a one-on-one consultation with our experienced doctor. During this appointment, our doctor will examine your submental area and review your medical history to determine your candidacy for treatment. If you are approved for Kybella injections, our doctor will provide you with personalized instructions to help you prepare for your first appointment and an estimate of how many appointments you may need to achieve your goals.
In addition, we will take a picture of your face in profile to compare to your final results. This way, you will be able to see the way Kybella enhances and slims your profile over the next several months.
Preparation
In order to prepare effectively for treatment, it’s important to protect the target skin from any infection or irritation prior to your appointment. This means avoiding any exfoliants, peels, or resurfacing treatments that could inflame your skin. You may also want to avoid any untested skincare or makeup products until after your treatment plan is complete to avoid any allergic reactions.
You should plan to stop taking certain blood-thinning medications, herbal remedies, and supplements before your treatment to minimize bruising. You may also be instructed to stop drinking alcohol 24 hours before your appointment. If you shave, you should do so the morning of your appointments so that your skin is clean and clear before your injections.
Treatment
Before your appointment, you should wash your face and neck with a gentle cleanser. You can apply makeup as normal, but you should not apply any products below your jawline. Once you arrive at our office, one of our trained staff members will examine your skin to check for any signs of irritation in the target area. They will then sanitize the skin and apply a topical numbing agent before beginning the injection process.
Our staff member will use a fine syringe to inject the predetermined amount of Kybella into your skin. Thanks to the anesthetic, this process is painless for most patients. You may feel a slight tingling as the deoxycholic acid enters your skin and begins to break down unwanted fat cells. Once our staff member is finished, they will clean the injection sites and give you instructions for recovery. A normal appointment lasts less than 30 minutes for most patients.
Recovery
Because this treatment requires zero downtime, you can return to your normal daily activities immediately. However, we recommend that you schedule your treatment at least 3-5 days before any major social events. As the deoxycholic acid breaks down your fat cells, you should remain well-hydrated to promote a healthy healing process.
Beginning 2-4 weeks after treatment, you should notice that your double chin is beginning to shrink in size. You can check the progress of your treatment by examining your face in the mirror. Some patients find it helpful to take a weekly photo of their face in profile to track the changes in their appearance. Approximately 6-8 weeks after treatment, the deoxycholic acid has finished destroying face cells and your final results from treatment are visible.
Results
Your final results will be fully revealed 6-8 weeks after your last injection session. At this time, we will compare your current profile to your original picture. You should notice that your double chin is significantly smaller or completely eliminated. Your neck should appear slimmer, and your jawline should look smoother and sharper. Overall, you should look younger and have a more attractive profile than you did before your first session.
Once your treatment is complete, you can look forward to enjoying your final results for years to come. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can help you prevent remaining fat cells from expanding over time. While it is unlikely that you will need follow-up treatments, you can return to our office for future Kybella appointments as needed since this treatment is safe for repeated use over time.
Contact Us to Learn More About Face Shaping Treatments!
Submental fat can impact the way you feel about yourself, but you don’t need to let your double chin keep you from living your life to the fullest. With Kybella, you can say goodbye to unwanted fat permanently and reclaim your ideal image in a few easy appointments. To learn more about this treatment option, contact our team of experts at Optimize Face MD in Aliso Viejo, CA, to schedule your initial consultation today! We look forward to serving you!
