Introduction
At our boutique practice in Miami, Kybella is one of our most popular non-surgical treatments used to treat the neck area. Double board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, Gregory D. Lewen, M.D., offers Kybella® for men and women in Miami, Aventura, and the surrounding areas of Florida. Below, we’ve included a comprehensive guide to the treatment. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation please contact us today.
“Submental fullness” (fullness in the area underneath the chin) can cause your facial profile to appear older or heavier than you actually are. Many times, patients will refer to this area as their “double chin.” However, you don’t have to be overweight to have fullness in the area underneath your chin, and sometimes, no matter how much you diet or exercise, this fullness may not go away completely. Although weight gain and aging can certainly contribute to unwanted fullness in this area, many people have a genetic predisposition for additional fullness in this area, and it may still be present to some degree in leaner and younger individuals.
Kybella® is a first-of-its-kind injectable product that works to permanently eliminate fat cells under the chin that can cause submental fullness. This injection can make a large difference to improve the appearance of your profile, as well as improving the contour and shape of your jawline. By permanently eliminating the excess fat in the submental area, you can get rid of the fullness or “double-chin” appearance that bothers you in pictures, without having the downtime of a surgical procedure such as liposuction.
Although you will have a significant and noticeable improvement in submental fullness after one treatment, most people will require two to three treatments spaced apart at least four to six weeks in order to achieve the best possible results from Kybella injections. The exact number of injections and/or treatments will depend on the amount of submental fullness that is present, as well as the desired cosmetic improvement in your facial profile. If you have questions regarding the number of treatments required to achieve your cosmetic goals, Dr. Lewen will be happy to address these concerns at the time of your consultation.
Every patient is somewhat different in terms of the healing time required after Kybella® injections for submental fullness are performed. Procedures that require more product volume will typically have slightly more healing time required. Although Dr. Lewen utilizes advanced injection techniques to minimize bruising as much as possible, this can still occur with these injections, and you should also expect some degree of swelling in the treated area afterward. Most of the swelling in the treated area of the neck will resolve over the course of the first few days to one week. For some patients, swelling can persist a little longer, but this is variable. Women are typically advised to wear high neck shirts or scarves to conceal the treated neck area for the first few days after treatment. Men are typically advised to grow out facial hair to conceal the treated neck area for the first few days after treatment. Applying ice to the treated area immediately afterward and for the first 24 to 48 hours will significantly reduce the risk of additional bruising and swelling in the area. Arnica, a homeopathic remedy, may also help to alleviate swelling and bruising somewhat faster.
Other than swelling, the most common side effect seen after Kybella® injections for submental fullness is temporary numbness of the treated area. Although some degree of numbness can persist for up to a month after treatment, there will be a gradual improvement in the numbness, and all patients can expect a full resolution of this effect with proper healing time.
There is little to no downtime required after Kybella® injections, and you can resume normal exercise 24 hours after treatment. You should expect your final results from each round of Kybella® injections by about four weeks after treatment, although there will be a steady and gradual improvement in the area after the first week.
Kybella Cost
The cost of Kybella® in Miami varies, and we recommend that you consider the expertise of the individual performing the procedure. Dr. Lewen has been extensively trained in performing Kybella® injections. His experience qualifies him with a complete understanding of the delicate anatomy in this area of the face and neck. If cost is a consideration, we encourage you to learn about our financing options.
