Kybella is a new treatment for the nonsurgical treatment of chin and neck fat. Deoxycholic acid is the technical name and what it does is dissolve the fat in the neck and chin area. In Denver, not many doctors are performing this procedure which Dr Thiagarajah performs.
Who is the ideal candidate for Kybella?
The ideal candidate is a patient who has fat in their chin and neck and desires its cosmetic removal. Patients who have a loose neck but no fat are not ideal candidates because Kybella does not tighten the muscle (platysma) of the neck but only removes the fat.
How is Kybella Administered?
Each treatment session consistes of several small injections to the neck and chin area. These are performed with a very small needle.
What is the recovery for Kybella?
After the injections, the area that is injected will be swollen for 1-2 weeks. The downtime for the procedure is roughly 72 hours. After the injection patients may feel burning in their neck area and numbess. This goes away.
How many treatment sessions are needed to see a good effect?
Each patient is different but most patients in Colorado need 2 treatment sessions separated by 4-6 weeks. Some patients may need as much as 6 treatments whereas others will only need one treatment.
What are the risks of Kybella treatment?
Kybella dissolves fat. Fat is also part of the outer covering of nerves which supply the muscles and sensory structures of the face and neck. In the FDA trial for Kybella some patients had temporary numbness in the area of the neck that lasted up to 12 week.s We inject Kybella in the office in Denver in a controlled area under the neck away from the nerves for this particular reason. Kybella should not be used on the face or other areas where there is great deal of movement or nerves. Kybella should not be used near the eyes as it risks damage to the motor nerves that supply the eye muscles and also the optic nerve.