Kybella or Liposuction for Submental Fat? How About An Even Better Option?

One of the first and most obvious signs of aging can be fat on the chin, also known as a double chin or sagging neck. Submental fullness, as the medical community calls it, or the gobble neck, as non-medical professionals sometimes call it, may not go away, even if you maintain an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, about one in three people suffer from it, causing them to feel self-conscious and worry that they look older or heavier than they are.

Until 2015, liposuction was the primary treatment for fat in the chin area, but new advancements like Kybella (deoxycholic acid) injections have grown more popular. Neither of these, however, represents the best way to eliminate submental fullness for good. 

What is Kybella?

Kybella is an injectable fat-dissolving medicine used to treat double chins with a process that requires no surgery. Each treatment takes 30-45 minutes, and recovery time is minimal (many patients can return to work the same day). The final price is based on the number of treatments needed to achieve the desired result; most patients require two or more sessions at a minimum. 

Kybella vs. Liposuction for Double Chins

Common side effects of Kybella include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and redness; in rare cases, nerve damage may occur. The long-term impact of Kybella is unclear, but scar tissue can form that may limit the success of future liposuction procedures. 

Before Kybella came on the market, liposuction was the only way to address double chins. This type of procedure is typically invasive, meaning it requires general anesthesia. Although general anesthesia and the fact that incisions are actually made to remove fat render this procedure riskier than Kybella, the fat is removed in one session, and the treatment is more customizable compared to injections. Recovery time lasts a few weeks on average, much longer than the practically non-existent downtime after Kybella. That said, the cost is usually limited to a one-time fee rather than gradually increasing with each treatment, as is the case with Kybella.

Is Chin Liposuction My Best Choice?

It's common for patients to compare Kybella and chin liposuction, but they're never really sure what the best procedure is for their aesthetic goals.

While liposuction can provide more significant results than Kybella, it is more invasive and may require a lengthy recovery period. And while Kybella limits drastic side effects and risks, injections are still somewhat uncomfortable, results are not customizable and less dramatic, and the cost for several sessions can add up.

Therefore, patients favor minimally invasive procedures that can provide significant changes to achieve their ideal aesthetic but without the surgical elements of liposuction. 

Newer alternatives like Chin AirSculpt® avoid using the abrasive tools characteristic of liposuction, like scalpels, stitches, needles, and general anesthesia, while still delivering results just as dramatic. Permanent results are achieved in as little as a half hour with one treatment, and downtime lasts just 24 hours. 

For those patients who previously received Kybella but did not achieve their desired results, the AirSculpt® Injection Revision is specifically designed to fix the past mistakes of injections for submental fat.

For more information on how we can help you, call our Las Vegas office or any of our locations worldwide to schedule your complimentary consultation.