Dr. Deborah Sarnoff
A cruel reality of the aging process is that the fat on our bodies redistributes over time. As if to mock us, Mother Nature and Father Time conspire to make sure we end up losing fat in places where we want it and gain it places where we don’t want it.
As we age, fat tends to migrate downward from our cheeks so that we lose volume in the middle of our faces and gain it under our chins. When fat collects underneath the chin, it makes for a less defined profile that obscures the gap between the head and the neck.
An increase in chin fat, also known as submental fat, is a condition that is often due to genetics. But it can also come about as a result of being overweight. And the onerous ‘double chin’ doesn’t discriminate. Men and women alike can develop one as they age.
If you have a double chin that you’d like to get rid of, but don’t want to go under the knife, there is a new solution that does not involve liposuction or invasive surgery. It’s called Kybella.
Kybella, an FDA approved drug, is a natural fat dissolver that can be injected directly into the chin. An organic bio-salt that is produced by our bodies, Kybella (deoxycholic acid) can also be produced synthetically in a lab.
Injecting Kybella approximately 25 times per session about half an inch deep into the fat on the chin will cause the fat to dissolve and melt away.
Depending on how much submental fat you have, you might be able to get rid of your double chin in only one treatment session! For others, it may take up to 5 or 6 treatments with each treatment spaced about 4-6 weeks apart.
Before injecting Kybella, a numbing cream is applied making this non-surgical procedure virtually painless. However, patients should expect some downtime and prepare to wear a scarf or a turtleneck for a while, since the chin will swell over the next 3 or 4 days following the procedure and cause minor discomfort. Ibuprofen usually helps alleviate the discomfort during the swelling period.
But after the swelling goes down, the chin will be smaller and more youthful than it was before the treatment. After just one or several treatments, the double chin will be nothing, but a distant memory.
Kybella should only be applied by a knowledgeable board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who possesses a thorough understanding of the human anatomy. Otherwise you run the risks of skin ulceration, scarring, and difficulties with mouth movement.
If administered incorrectly and a certain nerve in the chin – the marginal mandibular nerve – is accidentally injected, this could lead to problems with smiling. This condition is usually temporary, but it prevents one from being able to sufficiently move the corner of one’s mouth. Therefore, it is important that you do your research before choosing a physician to administer your procedure.
Kybella treatments generally run about $1,000 – $2,000 per session. A consultation will be able to determine how many sessions you will need based on the amount of unwanted submental fat.
So, if you are living with an unwanted double chin, I suggest trying this non-surgical alternative. Get the beautiful chin you deserve.
