Injectable
Kybella
A small injectable series that permanently reduces the fullness under the chin. Non-surgical, with real but temporary swelling — plan seven to ten days away from close-range photographs.
Request a consultationComplimentary · no obligation to treat
Appointment
45–60 minutes
Sessions
2–4, at least 4 weeks apart
Visible swelling
3–7 days
Result
Permanent in treated area
In detail
Why Kybella, and why a series?
What the double chin actually is
Fullness under the chin — the submental area — is usually a mix of three things: fat, skin laxity and, in some people, a slack platysma muscle at the front of the neck. Kybella addresses the first of those. It does not tighten skin, and it does not act on the muscle. A consultation is where the mix is assessed honestly, because a patient whose fullness is mostly skin laxity will be disappointed by an injection that only removes fat.
The molecule
Deoxycholic acid is a molecule the body already makes — it is one of the bile acids that break down dietary fat during digestion. In Kybella, that same molecule is manufactured to pharmaceutical standard and injected in small, precise doses into fat below the chin. Where it contacts a fat cell, the cell membrane is disrupted and the cell dies. Over the following weeks the body clears the cellular debris through its ordinary immune and lymphatic pathways.
Permanent, in the area treated
Fat cells destroyed by Kybella do not come back. That makes the result durable in a way that surface treatments and topicals cannot match. It is not, however, a defense against weight gain — the remaining fat cells can still enlarge, and a significant weight change can partially undo the visible result. Weight stability matters.
Kybella is an FDA-approved prescription medication. Every session includes written consent and a clinical review.
Why a series
A single session removes some fat. It rarely removes enough to give a defined chin-and-neck line in one visit. Most people need two to four sessions, at least four weeks apart, before the change is what they had in mind. Under-treating and asking the patient to come back is deliberate, and safer than trying to do it all at once.
Who it suits
The concern this answers
- Moderate submental fullnessA pocket of fat under the chin that persists at a stable, healthy weight and does not soften with posture. The most reliable Kybella candidate.
- A profile that does not match the faceThe chin-and-neck line is disproportionately soft compared with everything else — often genetic, often unaffected by weight loss.
- Younger skin with good elasticitySkin that will retract as fat is removed. Under about fifty is the easiest case; individually assessed above that.
- Preference for a non-surgical optionAn honest alternative to submental liposuction for the right anatomy, with no scar and no anaesthetic.
Not the right treatment if
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning pregnancy soon, or unsure — Kybella is contraindicated.
- You have an active infection at the treatment site.
- Your fullness is primarily skin laxity rather than fat. A surgical or energy-based skin treatment is the honest answer, not Kybella.
- You have had prior surgery to the submental area, marked scarring, or a known injury to the marginal mandibular nerve. Assessed case by case.
- You have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), a bleeding disorder, or you are on anticoagulation that cannot be safely paused.
- You cannot commit to at least four weeks between sessions, and to visible swelling that will read as recent treatment.
- You are expecting a jawline that has never been yours. Kybella refines what is there; it does not build a new bone structure.
The appointment
What actually happens
- 01
Consultation and honest assessment
The fullness is palpated to distinguish fat, skin laxity and muscle. Medical history, medications, prior treatment and swelling tolerance are reviewed. If Kybella is not the right answer for your anatomy, that is said.
- 02
Photographs and marking
Profile and three-quarter photographs so progress can be judged against reality, not memory. The submental area is marked to place each injection precisely and to keep away from the marginal mandibular nerve.
- 03
Numbing
Topical numbing, and often a small amount of local anaesthetic mixed into the treatment area to reduce the initial sting.
- 04
The injections
Kybella is administered as a series of small injections through the grid, typically twenty to fifty tiny doses in a session. There is a brief sting at each injection, followed by a warm burning sensation for several minutes as the medication begins to break down fat cells.
- 05
Ice and observation
Cold compresses immediately afterwards to blunt swelling and discomfort. You are observed for a few minutes before leaving.
- 06
Written aftercare and the next date
Written care for the swelling window, warning signs to call about, and the next appointment scheduled for at least four weeks away.
Afterwards
The swelling window is the treatment
The first week
Expect significant swelling under the chin and along the upper neck for three to five days, with a firm, sometimes tender feel that can last a week or two. Bruising is common. Numbness in the treated area is normal and resolves over weeks to a month. This is not a complication; it is what the medication is doing.
Plan around it
Do not book Kybella in the seven to ten days before an event where you will be photographed at close range. The swelling is real, and it does not fully hide under makeup or a scarf. Turtlenecks help.
The first 24 to 48 hours
Cold compresses on and off. Sleep with the head elevated. No strenuous exercise, no heat (sauna, hot yoga, hot showers), no alcohol. Ordinary paracetamol for discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin unless already prescribed.
Call about
Uneven smile, difficulty closing the mouth, difficulty swallowing, spreading redness, worsening warmth, fever, or any change that feels wrong. Rare, and reversible when caught early — call, do not wait.
Investment
What it costs
$850
per vial, per session
Most patients require one to two vials per session and a total of two to four sessions to reach the result they had in mind. A single session with one vial is $850; a session with two vials is $1,600. A full treatment plan typically lands between $2,400 and $5,000 across the course, quoted honestly at consultation once the anatomy is assessed. Product is bought sealed from the licensed United States supplier, and the vial count planned for your session is confirmed in writing before the appointment. When comparing pricing anywhere, a fair set of questions to ask is what product is being used, how many vials are included per session, and how many sessions are planned.
Concierge appointments begin at $650. Kybella is delivered at your home within the service area — Fort Worth, Dallas, Highland Park, Arlington, Mansfield, Burleson, Cleburne, Alvarado and Keene — and travel beyond it needs advance approval and any fee is disclosed in writing before the appointment is confirmed. Every injectable appointment includes a $40 comfort fee for the numbing and supplies used at the visit.
Honestly
The risks, plainly
- Swelling, bruising and tenderness in the treated area for days to a couple of weeks. Expected, not a complication.
- Numbness under the chin, usually resolving over a few weeks.
- Injection-site firmness or nodules that resolve as swelling subsides.
- Uneven smile or difficulty swallowing — rare, from temporary irritation of the marginal mandibular nerve. Almost always temporary and resolves over weeks to months, and minimized by careful grid placement.
- Skin ulceration or damage, uncommon, from injection too superficial. Grid placement is precisely to avoid this.
- Infection, rare with sterile technique.
- An incomplete or asymmetric result, requiring an additional session. Not unusual, and it is why the plan is priced as a course, not a promise of one-and-done.
- Loose skin after fat reduction, particularly with less elastic skin. Assessed at consultation, and a reason to consider a different treatment for the right candidate.
Questions
What people ask
Is Kybella permanent?
Yes. Fat cells destroyed by Kybella are cleared and do not regenerate in the treated area. Remaining fat cells can still enlarge with weight gain, so long-term result depends on weight stability.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people need two to four sessions, spaced at least four to six weeks apart. Mild fullness may resolve in two; moderate fullness often takes three or four. This is discussed at consultation, based on how much fat is actually there.
How much swelling should I expect?
Real swelling. The chin and upper neck typically swell noticeably for three to five days, with lingering firmness for a week or two. Bruising is common. Plan the appointment so you are not seen at close range for at least a week.
Does it hurt?
The injection itself is brief but stings, followed by a warm burning sensation as the medication begins to break down fat cells. This lasts several minutes and settles. A topical numbing agent is used, and ice is applied during and afterwards.
Will I have loose skin afterwards?
For most people under fifty with reasonable skin elasticity, the skin retracts as the fat reduces. For older skin or advanced laxity, Kybella addresses the fat but not the skin, and the result can look emptier rather than tighter. This is assessed honestly at consultation before the first session.
Can Kybella be used elsewhere?
Kybella is FDA-approved only for submental (under-chin) fat. Other areas are considered off-label and are not offered here.
Is this a medical treatment?
Yes. Kybella is an FDA-approved prescription medication. Written consent and clinical review are completed before every session.
Start with an honest assessment
Kybella is the right answer for the right anatomy, and the wrong answer for the wrong anatomy. The consultation exists so that decision is made in advance, on your face rather than on a brochure.
Complimentary · no obligation to treat