Something very exciting happened in the spring of 2015. A new product called KYBELLA® (injectable deoxycholic acid) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate convexity or fullness associated with submental fat. This was a huge step forward for a nonsurgical treatment of what most of us call a double chin.
Traditionally, treatment of this area involved surgery or liposuction with associated downtime from the procedure. With KYBELLA®, this area can be treated in an office setting with multiple safe small injections.
Submental fat (double chin) affects both men and women. When you look at yourself in a mirror, you know whether or not you have a problem. It can be the result of normal aging, family genetics and/or weight gain. It is usually resistant to diet and exercise. If you feel you look heavier or older than you are because of your double chin, KYBELLA® may be right for you.
Q. What is KYBELLA®?
A. KYBELLA® is deoxycholic acid which is a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps digest dietary fat.
Q. How does it work?
A. KYBELLA® causes the destruction of fat cells. Once they are damaged, these fat cells release the stored fat and cannot refill with new fat. The fat released from a cell is cleared from your body by your natural metabolism.
Q. How is a treatment performed?
A. KYBELLA® is injected into the submental fat. There is some discomfort felt during the administration of the product. The area is usually pretreated with a topical numbing agent and with an ice pack during and after a treatment for any discomfort. In addition, OTC analgesics may be used before or after a treatment.
Q. Is one treatment enough?
A. In the FDA study for approval of KYBELLA®, patients had from one to six treatments. Specifically, 28% showed improvement after two treatments, 43% showed improvement after three treatments, 55% showed improvement after four treatments and 59% showed improvement after six treatments. Once a desired result is achieved, a no further treatments are expected.
Q. If several treatments are needed to achieve desired results, how close should they be done?
A. Multiple KYBELLA® treatments would be spaced with a minimum of six to eight weeks between treatments. A comprehensive treatment plan may be spread out over months. Since it is not expected to have results reverse, one could do treatments at the times most opportune and convenient so as not to interfere in day to day activities.
Q. Were patients satisfied with their results?
A. 68% of patients treated with KYBELLA® responded to the treatments, and 79% were satisfied with their results.
Q. Were there adverse reactions?
A. Yes, transient minor adverse reactions did occur in a minority of treated patients. These were most commonly edema/swelling, hematoma/bruising, pain, numbness, erythema and induration. Of all adverse reactions reported in the study most were mild to moderate. The most severe side effects were trouble swallowing seen in 2% of treated patients and temporary nerve injury in the jaw that caused an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness in 4% of treated patients.
Q. What should be expected during the healing time after a treatment?
A. There will be several days of soreness, and there can be several weeks of numbness in the injected area. These reactions should resolve spontaneously and need nothing stronger than OTC analgesics for discomfort. There will be swelling in the injected area, so social and work commitments should be thought of before doing a treatment. A scarf or turtleneck sweater will cover most redness or swelling.
Q. What does a treatment cost?
A. Depending on how much KYBELLA® you need in a treatment, your cost may range from $1000 to $1500 on average. Remember you may need more than one treatment. However, weigh the cost of an office based injection treatment versus a surgical procedure that might involve anesthesia, surgeon fees and loss of income due to downtime. If the pros of a non-invasive treatment for the aesthetic improvement of your double chin outweigh the costs, risks and downtime of a surgical procedure, KYBELLA® may be right for you.
If you would like to know more about KYBELLA® and discuss whether or not you are a potential candidate for a treatment, please contact Zavier at 602-296-4477 or email us at customerservice@willomedispa.com to schedule a Complimentary Consultation. Willo MediSpa located in Central Phoenix at 201 E. Monterey Way, Phoenix, AZ 85012.
Written By:
Dr. Nello Rossi – Willo MediSpa
Phone: (602) 296-4477
Email: CustomerService@WilloMediSpa.com
Website: https://willomedispa.com
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