Questions
face fat dissolving peptides: Frequently asked questions
Source-derived answers connected to this topic. Only stored records are displayed.
What Is Kybella?
Kybella is a nonsurgical injectable treatment to reduce your submental fat (double chin). It's the only FDA-approved injectable drug for this purpose. Kybella is the commercial name for synthetic deoxycholic acid. Your body naturally produces deoxycholic acid in your digestive system. It helps to break down fats so they're more easily digested. Deoxycholic acid is also used as an emulsifier in foods. And it’s a nonsurgical option for lipomas, non-cancerous tumors made of fat cells. People often choose Kybella because it has a lower recovery time than surgery and therefore fewer risks. Kybella shots are also an option for people who aren't good candidates for facial plastic surgeries like liposuction or a neck lift.
How Does Kybella Work?
When injected into the fat below the skin, Kybella breaks down fat cells in that area. After the fat cells are destroyed, immune cells called macrophages come in. They clear away the remnants of the destroyed cells and promote new collagen through the recruitment of fibroblasts. A fibroblast is a type of cell that helps form connective tissue. Once the fat cells are gone, the area under the chin will no longer store fat. Between that and the tissue tightening, the double chin should fade.
Is Kybella Safe?
Kybella is generally considered to be safe. The procedure does carry a small risk of nerve damage that may result in a lopsided smile or a hard time swallowing. In most cases, this damage is temporary. Kybella has only been approved for use in the chin area. There may be other risks when Kybella is used "off-label" for other areas of the body.
Is Kybella Permanent?
Yes. Once the deoxycholic acid destroys the fat cells in that area of your chin, they can no longer store fat. So the results should be permanent. But if you gain a significant amount of weight, you may see some fat come back to that area of your chin.
Does Kybella Work?
Twenty studies from around the globe show that 68.2% of people who received Kybella saw a reduction in the fat under their chin, compared to just 20% of people who received a placebo. And over 79% of people who received Kybella said they felt happier with how that part of their face looked. This suggests that Kybella works to reduce fat in the double chin area.
Who Can Inject Kybella?
In the U.S., only trained medical professionals like a doctor, nurse, or physician's assistant should inject Kybella. In some states, a nurse or physician's assistant needs to be under the supervision of a doctor to perform injectable "medspa" procedures. You can get Kybella shots in a variety of settings, including a dermatologist's office, a medspa (or medical spa, a spa-like setting for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures), or a cosmetic surgery center.