This post is long long overdue. But I wanted to make sure I got to experience the FULL results before I shared my experience with you. I get SO many DMs about my Kybella treatments – and you all have been so supportive along the way. So let’s get into it! Thank you SO much to SkinSpirit Palo Alto for truly changing my life (and my face), my confidence level is so much higher now, and I am eternally grateful!
What is Kybella?
KYBELLA® is a prescription medicine used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called
“double chin.”
How does it Work?
The active ingredient in KYBELLA® is synthetic deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, KYBELLA® destroys fat cells, resulting in a noticeable reduction in fullness under the chin. Once destroyed, these cells can no longer store or accumulate fat, so further treatment is not expected once you reach your desired aesthetic goal. Basically, that fat will never come back.
What to Expect
Before starting treatment, your healthcare specialist will examine the area under and around your chin to determine if KYBELLA® is right for you. Then, your specialist will tailor your treatment to the amount of fat under the chin and your aesthetic goals.
How is it Administered?
Treatment can only be administered by a KYBELLA®-trained healthcare specialist. At each treatment, you will receive multiple small injections under your chin, and the injection process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The exact number of injections will depend on the amount of fat you have under your chin and your desired profile. I see Michelle Jones at SkinSpirit Palo Alto. She also does my Botox, and Laser Hair Removal. Love her to death!
How many treatments will you need?
Since everyone’s chin profile is different, the number of treatments varies from patient to patient. Your healthcare specialist will help determine how many treatment sessions you need based on the amount and distribution of your submental fat and your personal treatment goals. Each KYBELLA® treatment session is given at least 1 month apart, and you should not receive more than 6 treatments. In clinical studies, 59% of patients received 6 treatments. I had three treatments, but saw noticeable results after the first one.
What is Recovery like?
After KYBELLA® treatment, you will likely have some swelling, bruising, or numbness under your chin. Be sure to inform your healthcare professional if you develop an uneven smile, facial muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing or injection site problems such as bruising, hair loss, open sores (ulcers), and damage and tissue cell-death (necrosis) around the injection site. Call your healthcare provider if you develop open sores or drainage from the treatment area. I was a little swollen, but if you didn’t know me you would never know — it just looks a little puffy for about a week or so.
My Experience with Kybella:
I first started this process this time last year. The first time I did the treatment, I was expecting SO much pain. But it honestly wasn’t bad – I would say it hurts more after than it does during the treatment! I did the entire thing on IG live, so maybe the pressure of the camera helped me keep a brave face — whatever it was, it was tolerable! I have a really low pain tolerance — like I cry when I get a haircut- but needles don’t bother me. I was on Accutane when I was younger and so I had to get my blood drawn every single month – I think that normalized them for me. I was definitely puffy and swollen, but it’s not like I was locked up in the house. I went to Jay-Z the very next night and was fine! I was also able to work out the next day — I just didn’t run because the fluid in my neck kind of felt heavy and weird. The downtime is MINIMAL, which is the best part of the treatment. You can go to work right after if you really wanted to. Each treatment got easier and easier because I knew what to expect, and the swelling actually lessened with each treatment as well.
Before I had Kybella done, I was always self conscious to talk on IG stories because of my double chin. Whenever I Facetimed or took a selfie I would hold the phone all the way over my face so I could get a better angle. Luckily, I don’t have to do that anymore and am truly so much more confident. Kybella honestly changed my life. I have always had a fuller face, so no matter how skinny I was, the chin was always a problem area for me. I could always hide my body or dress for whatever area I was self conscious about at the time, but you can’t hide your face.
I am SO SO SO happy that I did this and would highly recommend it to anyone!
Cool Sculpting results will be coming soon — plus, how SkinSpirit is getting me wedding ready!
Thanks for this post, very helpful