Kybella

Dissolves under-chin fat with injections of deoxycholic acid, a substance the body naturally uses to break down dietary fat, for a slimmer neck profile without surgery.

What is Kybella?

Kybella is an injectable treatment for moderate to severe fullness under the chin (submental fat), often called a double chin. Its active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, destroys fat cells when injected into the fat layer, and the body gradually clears them. It suits patients whose under-chin fullness is mainly fat with reasonably good skin elasticity; it does not tighten loose skin, fix neck bands, or substitute for a neck lift when laxity is the main problem.

How is Kybella done?

After marking a grid under the chin, the clinician injects small amounts of Kybella into the fat layer at multiple points. Treatment takes about twenty minutes in the office, with topical numbing or ice for comfort. Most patients need a series of sessions, spaced at least a month apart, to reach the desired reduction, with the number of sessions depending on the amount of fat and the response to each session.

What are the options for Kybella?

Kybella alone. A series of sessions for under-chin fat with good skin elasticity. Kybella with skin-tightening treatment. Combined when mild skin laxity accompanies the fat. Neck liposuction instead. A surgical alternative that removes more fat in one session and can address the area more completely. Neck lift instead. The alternative when loose skin or muscle bands, rather than fat, are the main problem.

What affects the cost of Kybella?

There is no single fixed charge for Kybella, and this guide does not publish prices: the written quote you receive at consultation is the binding figure.

Factors that commonly move the total include the surgeon's experience, the facility type (office procedure suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital), the type and length of anesthesia, the complexity of the surgical plan, whether other procedures are combined in the same operation, garments and follow-up visits, and the revision terms. Ask for an itemized written quote that states exactly what is included, and what would cost extra if a revision or an overnight stay became necessary.

What is recovery like after Kybella?

Expect swelling, bruising, and tenderness under the chin for days to weeks after each session — swelling is often substantial for the first week and is the most common reason patients are surprised, since the area looks worse before it looks better. Numbness or firmness under the chin can persist for weeks. Results emerge gradually over weeks after each session, with the full effect visible after the series is complete.

What are the risks of Kybella?

Risks include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and firmness, plus less common risks: trouble swallowing or nerve injury affecting the lower lip or smile if the product is injected incorrectly, which is why injector anatomy training matters; and skin injury if the product is placed too superficially. Patients should be told that the number of sessions needed is uncertain at the start, and that skin laxity may become more visible once fat is reduced.

What should I ask at a Kybella consultation?

• Is my under-chin fullness mainly fat, skin, or both — and will Kybella actually help it?
• How many sessions do you expect, and what happens if my skin looks looser afterward?
• What is the total quote, broken down, and what are the revision terms?
• Can you confirm your board certification? (Check the badge on each profile in this directory.)

Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons patient information and procedure guidance; U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance where applicable. General information only, not medical advice. Confirm details with a board-certified surgeon at consultation.