While the traditional adage “Everything old is new again” may hold true for some things, such as hairstyles and restaurants, it has no place in modern medical aesthetics.
Significant developments in cosmetic lasers and injectables like Botox and dermal fillers have made this a business where there is no turning back. While scientists continue to work on a treatment for the common cold, they have made significant progress on another age-old problem: the double chin.
Effective Non-Surgical Chin Fat Reduction Through Kybella Training.
Did you know that tens of thousands of people seek methods to reduce the prominence of their jowls? 68% of respondents in a 2014 poll by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery reported that their double chin was a source of self-consciousness, second only to fine lines and creases around the eyes.
However, the catch is that, up until recently, double chins were only successfully treated with liposuction and, in most cases, subsequent surgical skin tightening.
Don’t misunderstand us; there are still lots of people interested in surgical procedures. More than 211,000 liposuctions, 18,000 chin augmentations, and 55,000 neck lifts were performed in 2014. However, not everyone can or is willing to, deal with plastic surgery’s price, hazards, and recovery time. This explains the meteoric rise in popularity of Kybella, an injectable treatment for submental fat, and the astounding 42% increase in nonsurgical fat reduction treatments since 2014. Kybella is in high demand among patients, and courses on the topic are filling up quickly among medical professionals.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the latest wonder drug that has been dubbed “the next Botox” by industry insiders.
When it comes down to it, what’s the big deal about a double chin?
Submental fullness (more commonly known as a double chin) is often responsible for exaggerating the appearance of a person’s weight and age. Many factors, including age, weight, and heredity, contribute to the development of double chins, and these may be resistant to eradication via dietary or physical activity changes.
A double chin or a drooping chin can develop in anyone, regardless of age, body type, or level of physical fitness. You can have a double chin even if you’ve never been overweight, so don’t blame it only on sudden weight gain or decrease.
What Other Treatments Existed Before Kybella?
Before Kybella, patients with double chins had to choose between several surgical procedures, including liposuction. Although conventional liposuction is effective at getting rid of excess fat, it has significant limitations. Fat reduction is an inexact science that does nothing to tighten sagging skin; in fact, loose skin may become much more pronounced once the fat is surgically removed.
Therefore, laser-assisted liposuction (Laser/Smart Lipo) was developed. Smaller areas of the body, such as the chin, upper arms, etc., respond well to this form of liposuction, but it’s still invasive, expensive, and needs time off work to recuperate, so it’s not for everyone.
The process of injecting materials into fat to try to diminish localized clumps of fat is known as Lipodissolve. While the idea of Lipodissolve remains popular, many dermatologists and plastic surgeons are concerned about its long-term effects, and outcomes tend to be variable and depressing.
Mesotherapy is the practice of administering numerous, subcutaneous injections of a single agent (or a “cocktail” of agents, such as those used to treat asthma, high blood pressure, vitamins, and supplements) to treat a specific medical condition. This term refers to the practice of using injectables to reduce fat in problem areas such as the chin, upper arms, love handles, inner and outer knees, and upper back. Nonetheless, there is a drawback to mesotherapy. The supplement phosphatidylcholine, which may cause nausea, diarrhea, depression, and arrhythmias, has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for injection, and there is doubt about its long-term use and a lack of consistency among its ingredients.
Kybella: What Is It, and How Does It Function?
Kybella is a non-human, non-animal version of deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring chemical that aids in the digestion and absorption of dietary fat. Kybella kills fat cells when injected into subcutaneous fat. Destroying fat cells prevents them from ever accumulating again.
Why Is Kybella a Game-Changer in the Cosmetic Industry
Kybella is superior to surgical chin fat reduction procedures because it is non-invasive and dissolves fat in the under-chin area without cutting into the skin. It also firms and tones the skin and jawline. What’s more? The effects will last a very long time, and they could even be permanent.
Will Kybella Work for Everyone?
Kybella has a wide range of potential patients, but not every double chin is created equal. While all double chins are bothersome to their owners (just ask them! ), the degree to which fat is deposited in the submental area varies widely. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kybella as the first injectable treatment for moderate to severe submental fullness.
Clients with submental fullness due to thyroid difficulties or lymphadenopathy, as well as those who have undergone previous surgical or aesthetic procedures in the submental area, may not be good candidates for Kybella. Kybella should only be used after a thorough consultation with a doctor.
How Many Treatments Have You Had? What Were the Side Effects?
Some patients see improvement after the first therapy session, but the vast majority of people need between two and four visits to see significant progress. Kybella treatments typically only take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and the drug works wonderfully in tandem with other injectable cosmetics like Botox and dermal fillers. The recommended interval between Kybella treatments is one month. At that point, it’ll be possible to evaluate the outcomes and prepare for further treatment.
Very few people experience any problems at all, and the few that do tend to be localized to the treatment region. Swelling, bruising, discomfort, numbness, redness, and hardening in the treatment area are the most commonly reported adverse responses, however, they normally fade away after some time has passed.
Does Kybella Work? That Is the Million Dollar Question.
Yes! The majority of patients (up to 79%) in over 20 studies involving thousands of people reported feeling better physically and emotionally after receiving treatment.
While the FDA has not yet approved Kybella for use anywhere other than the submental region, this may change soon. This incredible invention will inevitably be put to use in a variety of other contexts.
Can Kybella Help My Practice Bring in More Money?
Yes! Each treatment takes only around 15–20 minutes, including the time it takes to mark off the treatment area, and has a suggested retail price of $1,200, with an average of 2-4 sessions being recommended.
In summary, Kybella is, without a doubt, a cutting-edge medical innovation on par with Botox. According to the company’s regulatory filings, “many patients who have [Botox and filler] treatments would also be ready to have a Kybella injection to reduce fat under their chins,” suggesting the potential for annual sales of more than $500 million.