Kybella Injections: Target Fat with Deoxycholic Acid

Kybella is specifically formulated to target fat deposits that create the “double chin”. This is achieved by injecting synthetic deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring substance that helps the body break down fat. Once injected, Kybella permanently destroys fat cells. Once destroyed, these fat cells can no longer store or accumulate fat.

In the practice of aesthetic medicine, Kybella injections are also used off-label to treat other small pockets of fat on the body and offer an alternative to surgery. Europe and other countries are already utilizing Kybella injections off-label to treat fatty areas all over the body.  

On-Label Treatments:

• Submentum: the area under the chin, or “double chin”. FDA-approved for this area.

Off-Label Treatments:

• “Bra fat” or “Back fat”, especially if it is emphasized by undergarments.

• Underarm fat, located in the area under the armpit.

• Stomach, small pockets of fat, or post-baby stomach fat. Some patients come in to treat small areas of fat left over from liposuction.

• Elbows, knees, arms, and thighs; areas can have small fat pockets that can be targeted with Kybella injections.

• Jowels: small pockets of fat near the corners of the mouth.

If you are bothered (unhappy, self-conscious, embarrassed) by small areas of fat and don’t want to have surgery, then Kybella may be right for you.

However, if you want to treat a larger area of body fat, Kybella injections are likely not for you. (You would need a great deal of product to combat larger areas).

We suggest looking into other options including CoolSculpting, GLP-1 medications, or Liposuction options. These options are intended to treat larger surface areas and would be more cost-effective overall.