Kybella® for a Double Chin
Reduce Submental Fullness In Newton And The Boston Area
Some people call it neck fat. To get technical, some people call it submental fullness. Some people call it what it looks like: a double chin. Boston-area physician Dr. Holly Happe knows that no matter what people call it, they want it gone. The same goes for bra fat, arm fat, thigh fat, and bulging stomach fat. Weight, genetics, or aging may be the culprit, but you don’t have to live with unwanted pockets of fat. That’s why Dr. Happe offers Kybella® for the Boston region at Newton’s Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics.
Ready to reduce that double chin? Boston-area women and men who want to discover what Kybella® can do can arrange an initial consultation at Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics. Call (617) 597-2600.
The bulk of a double chin and other noticeable bulges is typically made up of fat cells. The number of fat cells in your body is basically fixed by the time you enter puberty. That means when you slim down as you diet or exercise, the fat cells are shrinking. You are not losing them.
You have no control over which fat cells shrink. As a result, a double chin may remain as a bulky annoyance even as other areas reduce in volume. Or vice-versa.
When injected with experience, Kybella® specifically targets the fat cells that make up a double chin or that bulge out from a bra. Kybella® breaks them down so they no longer exist as fat cells.
What Causes A Double Chin?
Understanding what leads to the development of a double chin can help you to reduce it. When you gain weight, there may be a buildup of fat cells between the jaw and neck.
Although a double chin is often associated with weight gain, you may be slim with a low body fat percentage but still have an unwanted bulge. Genetics have a major influence on how likely you are to have a double chin, so if the unwanted feature runs in your family, you may develop one too.
Your facial anatomy or bone structure may also make you more likely to look like you have a double chin because of a lack of projection in the chin and jawline areas.
Considering these factors, it may be difficult—or even impossible—to reduce a double chin with diet and exercise, so Kybella® can help where other strategies can’t.
What Is Kybella®?
Kybella® is a prescription injectable approved by the FDA to reduce the look of a double chin. Experienced physicians have discovered and developed other applications in the years since its introduction. Kybella® is now used around the United States to help women and men achieve slimmer, sleeker contours, especially in their facial profile.
Kybella® achieves results because it uses the same chemical the body does to break down fats: deoxycholic acid. In the digestive system, this chemical works in the intestines to help digest dietary fats. It impacts the membranes of fat cells, leading to a process known as “adipocytolysis.” This is the body’s natural way to get a cell to release its contents, which are then “cleaned up” and removed—even in a double chin.
What Conditions Can Kybella® Treat?
Kybella® is ideal for addressing persistent pockets of fat, as opposed to large areas. A double chin is the most obvious example, though small bulges can be found all over the body. Other potential Kybella® treatments include bra bulges, jowls, inner knee fat, the upper pubic area, small pockets of fat on the belly or under the arms, and more.
Kybella® is not, however, used for weight loss. Diet and exercise are not always effective at reducing a double chin, but they are vital for good health.
Talk to Dr. Holly Happe if you have a double chin or other particular area with an excess of fat. She can explain whether Kybella® would be the best strategy for you. Note that ideal patients for Kybella® are those who are at their ideal body weight—or close to it.
Dr. Holly Happe
A More Beautiful You
Dr. Holly Happe has years of experience with medical aesthetics, providing results that help skin to look and feel the best it can.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Kybella®?
Let’s get technical: Patients over the age of 18 who are close to their ideal weight and want to reduce moderate to severe excess fullness caused by resistant fat deposits in the submental area may be ideal candidates for Kybella®. Anyone who is not a good candidate for facial cosmetic surgery may be eligible for double chin reduction injections with Kybella®. On the other hand, if you have had or are planning to have facial plastic surgery, you may not be considered a good candidate for Kybella®. Those who have active skin infections or other medical conditions in or near the intended injection site, have trouble swallowing, or are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised not to choose Kybella® to treat a double chin.
What Is The Newton Kybella® Experience?
Dr. Holly Happe approaches each Kybella® treatment from multiple perspectives, including as a board-certified anesthesiologist. That means she aims to minimize pain and discomfort from the start.
Before beginning any Kybella® treatment, however, she will lead a consultation that includes an examination of the double chin or other pockets of fat. She will also take your medical history. Equipped with this information, she will work with you to create a plan. Minimal preparation is needed for the non-surgical Kybella® procedure.
It’s recommended that patients avoid scheduling their treatment right before a major event, avoid blood thinning medications for at least one week to reduce the risk of post-injection bruising, and wash their face thoroughly prior to having Kybella® injections in order to lower the risk of infections.
During the Kybella® procedure, Dr. Happe will begin by cleansing the treatment area and applying a grid to the chin and neck area. The number of injections required depends on the area to be treated. To treat a double chin, Dr. Happe may make up to 50 injections. These are done with both skill and speed, combining precision with convenience.
Given the nature of Kybella® treatments, you will notice that the area is tender and quite swollen in the following days. That shows that the deoxycholic acid has gone to work on your double chin. These effects fade shortly, however—usually within a week. It can take weeks to months for fat cells to be cleared from the area, resulting in the gradual reduction of a double chin. Noticeable results from Kybella® are usually seen within 12 weeks, and full results can typically be visible after six months.
In many cases, multiple treatment sessions are required. A double chin or other pocket of fat will shrink a certain percentage with each round of Kybella® injections. The dissolved fat can’t return, but if you were to gain or lose a significant amount of weight in the future, the fluctuation could affect the results from this treatment.
Are There Side Effects To Watch For?
Kybella® has an excellent track record. Dr. Holly Happe regularly works with Kybella® because of its safety profile and effectiveness. That said, there are certain potential side effects to watch for. You will get a list of possible effects from Kybella® injections, as well as instructions on caring for the area after a double chin treatment. Some patients experience some swelling on the chin, neck, and chest areas along with other side effects such as hoarse voice, mild discomfort, redness, bruising, and numbness.
What Is The Recovery Like After A Kybella® Double Chin Treatment?
Downtime from Kybella® is minimal, and the main concern most patients have is managing temporary post-injection swelling. This effect is normal and will decrease on its own within around a week. Patients can apply ice or cold packs after injections, or take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or acetaminophen to reduce any Kybella® side effects.
Are There Other Causes Of A Double Chin?
Though fat is the primary reason a person can develop a double chin, the look of submental fullness may also be due to loose skin—or a combination of the two. Skin can lose its elasticity due to several possible reasons, including aging, weight fluctuations, natural stretching during facial movements, loss of bone and fat, smoking, sun exposure, and gravity, This loose skin may “pool” below the chin. When you go to Dr. Holly Happe for double chin treatment, she will first try to determine what’s causing the problem. A skin-tightening treatment, such as microneedling, can help to create firmer, tighter tissue for slimmer contours.
What Complements A Double Chin Treatment?
Patients who slim down their double chin or get slimmer contours elsewhere can also consider other cosmetic treatments at Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics. Juvederm® injections are ideal for enhancing facial contours by creating fuller lips and rounder apples of the cheeks. These fillers are soft injectable gels that fill in the space beneath the skin to create volume.
Discover what combination of treatments can give you the look you desire.
Dr. Holly Happe administers every injection of Kybella® for double chins at her Boston-area practice. Contact Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics for an initial consultation by calling (617) 597-2600.
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