Do you shy away from cameras because they add 10 pounds? Do you wear scarves or turtlenecks to hide your double chin? At the office of Steven H Dayan, MD in Chicago, IL, we are proud to offer the only injectable treatment FDA-approved to treat chin fat. Today, we're talking about the incredible benefits of Kybella treatment, how long the results last, if you're a good candidate and more. Let's get started.
Kybella, also known as deoxycholic acid or cholanoic acid, is a secondary bile acid that is FDA-approved to treat submental fullness. This acid is the metabolic byproduct of bacteria found in your intestines. This safe, effective prescription injectable is quickly becoming the rockstar of the cosmetic industry because it offers an affordable, more comfortable alternative to invasive medical procedures, like liposuction and neck lifts.
The active ingredient in this treatment is a synthetic version of deoxycholic acid. The naturally occurring iteration of this molecule is found in your gut and helps your body break down and absorb dietary fat. The synthetic chemical in this treatment functions similarly. It breaks down the fat in the injection site, allowing your body to eliminate the fat cells as waste.
This treatment is completely safe. In 2015, the FDA approved it for the treatment of submental fullness. The FDA subjects all potential medical treatments to extremely rigorous, double-blind, third-party testing. There is no opportunity for bias and potential placebo effects are accounted for in their vetting process.
Deoxycholic acid treatments involve approximately 20 small injections and treatment lasts only 15 to 20 minutes. The exact placement of the injections and how many you need depends on the volume of submental fat you have and the chin profile you are trying to achieve. If you are treating a large area, you may need between 30 and 50 injections per treatment.
One of the most advantageous things about this treatment is that it's absolutely pain-free. This is due, in part, to how fine the needles are. To prevent any discomfort during treatment, Dr. Steven Dayan will apply a numbing cream to the treatment site beforehand.
You may also request a local anesthetic be administered before treatment. After your injections, you can apply ice to the treated area to ensure no discomfort following your treatment.
Submental fullness is sometimes known as chin fat. However, this is a bit of a misnomer. When most people hear "submental fullness", they visualize fat under the submental (chin) region. However, there are other potential causes of a full submental region than subcutaneous fat. The two primary examples are aging and genetics.
Some people have a "double chin" but have never been overweight in their life. Weight loss would not help them in any way, so Kybella is the only option.
The results of this treatment are considered permanent. Deoxycholic acid destroys fat cells permanently. Once your lymphatic system has absorbed and flushed them out, you can't grow new ones. Thus, even if you gain weight later, less visible fat will accumulate under your chin.
No cosmetic treatment or facial exercise can tell your body where to store fat. This is determined by your genes. So, if you gain a significant amount of weight in the future, fat deposits may still accumulate under your chin.
You won't walk out of your Kybella treatment with no double chin. After one to two weeks, you will start to see the results of your treatment. After a month, you will start to see even better results. The best time to gauge the outcome of your treatment, however, is two to three months after.
We all have different chin profiles and volumes of submental fat. Thus, there is no one-size-fits-all course of treatment for submental fullness. During your initial consultation, we will gauge how many treatments you should need to achieve your desired profile.
Most of our clients only need two to three treatments, spaced one month apart. But you may need up to six treatments to achieve the profile of your dreams.
Before you leave your first appointment, schedule a follow-up a month out from your initial treatment date. Your full results may not be visible yet, but we can help you determine if you will need follow-up injections.
This treatment may be right for you if you are displeased by the appearance of fat under the chin. If your submental fullness is caused by excess subcutaneous fat, there are fairly adequate alternatives to Kybella. However, if your submental fullness is due to genetics or aging, this is your best option.
During your initial consultation, we will ask you several questions to determine if you are an ideal candidate. Topics covered will include previous local treatments, your general health, your aesthetic goals and any medications and supplements you are currently taking.
Be prepared to talk about any cosmetic treatments you have already received on your face, neck or chin. You should also disclose any medical conditions affect your neck or the area around your neck.
The FDA has not tested this treatment for safety in women who are nursing or pregnant. Let Dr. Steven Dayan know during your initial consultation if you are nursing, pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if deoxycholic acid is passed through breast milk to children.
Bring a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking to your initial consultation. Dr. Steven Dayan needs to know about every drug, vitamin and herbal supplement you're taking to ensure nothing will affect the outcome of your treatment.
It is particularly important to mention if you are taking medications that prevent blood clotting, like anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications. Examples of medications and supplements that may affect the outcome of your treatment include:
Dr. Steven Dayan needs to know as much as possible about you to determine if this is the best treatment for your submental fullness. He needs to know about all health conditions you have, including blood diseases and difficulty swallowing. If you have an active infection at the treatment site, wait a couple weeks to get better.
Allergan is one of the most renowned cosmetic treatment manufacturers in the world. In fact, the company trademarked the recipe for Botox back in 1989. Since then, they have only developed more effective, longer-lasting cosmetic treatments. For example, they are the parent company of Juvederm®.
Being owned by Allergan gives this treatment a significant advantage. They have spent years investing in research and development to develop longer-lasting injectables that treat a wider range of aging signs. This dedication to chasing perfection extends to this body contouring treatment.
Moreover, Allergan offers a Brilliant Distinctions program that allows you to earn points whenever you purchase one of their products. You can convert these points to savings on any Allergan treatment, including Botox, Latisse and Juvederm.
Most of our clients receive this treatment to improve their jawline and neck contours. However, this injectable can melt fat anywhere liposuction can. A good general rule of thumb regarding body contouring treatments is "if there's an inch of pinchable fat, you can treat it." Kybella may be used to melt excess body fat:
Because this is a non-invasive treatment, there aren't a lot of strict rules you have to follow for after-care. Once your injections are finished, you are free to go back to most of your regular activities. However, we advise holding off on exercise until the day after your treatment. This allows the injection time to settle in the target area and prevents it from spreading.
Feel free to apply ice to the treatment site a few times or take Tylenol to prevent any discomfort. You are also free to apply any makeup you want to the treatment site. To speed the results along, you may drink fresh pineapple juice or take Bromelain supplements.
To prepare for treatment, cleanse your face thoroughly before you come in for treatment. A clean face mitigates the risk of infection. Moreover, don't take acetaminophen or ibuprofen within eight hours of your treatment. These, and other medications that cause blood-thinning, may affect the outcome of your injections.
If your submental fullness is caused by aging, you may benefit from anti-aging treatments in addition to your facial contouring treatment. Such treatments include Botox, Juvederm and laser skin tightening.
Once you remove a large volume of fat from an area of your body, you may find that your skin becomes lax. Dr. Steven Dayan offers several laser therapies to tighten and revitalize your skin.
One of our most popular laser skin tightening treatments is ThermiSmooth. It is primarily used on the torso, arms and legs. However, it can also be used to treat problem areas around your neck, forehead, cheeks, mouth and eyes. During treatment, we will simultaneously cool the superficial layer of your skin and gently heat the deeper layers of your skin.
The ThermiSmooth laser is one of the best skin-tightening lasers that you could hope for. Because it cools at the same time as it transfers thermal energy, there is no painful sensation of rubber bands snapping against your skin. Moreover, it can be customized to your exact skin tone, texture and type for maximum efficiency.
ThermiTight is a non-ablative laser treatment that is pain-free and has no downtime. The device is specifically designed to tighten the skin of your lower face and neck. The best part about this treatment is you can see your final results after just one treatment session. The gentle thermal energy stimulates your body's natural collagen production to keep your skin tight, smooth and beautiful.
We offer several anti-aging injectables to treat your face. These include neurotoxins like Dysport, Xeomin and Botox to treat moderate-to-severe lines and wrinkles. Neurotoxins are particularly effective for the treatment of "motion" lines. These are lines that are exacerbated when your face is in motion. Neurotoxins are also great for treating wrinkles on your hands, chest and neck.
If you're concerned about "static" lines and wrinkles, we recommend you ask about our dermal filler injectables, such as Restylane, Radiesse and Juvederm.
If you're ready to look younger and slimmer, Dr. Steven Dayan can help. Contact the office of Steven H Dayan, MD in Chicago, IL today to schedule your initial consultation and discover if Kybella is the best option for you.