When you have a double chin, you can look heavier and older than you really are. Sometimes, a double chin appears with age, and in other cases, weight gain or genetics are to blame. At the Soza Clinic in Richardson, TX, we offer effective Kybella treatments to help you get rid of unwanted fat under the chin.
This treatment was designed to get rid of unwanted fat under the chin by using deoxycholic acid, which is something your body produces naturally to deal with the dietary fat you ingest. This acid is produced by the pancreas and breaks down fat cells so that your digestive system can access the energy in those fat cells and burn it. Deoxycholic acid is an essential part of your metabolic system, and those with a higher metabolism and who are having success with weight loss generally have more of it in their system.
The deoxycholic acid that appears naturally in your own body cannot be directed to target certain fat cells, so while those who are successfully losing weight do have more of it in their systems, and it is working for them, there’s no way to get the body to address specific problem areas, like a double chin, on its own. That’s where this treatment comes in. By injecting deoxycholic acid directly into the chin, we are able to actually target the treatment and tell it where to work.
Once it is injected, Kybella, which is made up of deoxycholic acid, does the same thing to the fat cells in your chin as it does to the fat that you eat. It breaks down the cell walls, causing the cells to die. Then, your body’s own waste disposal system, the lymphatic system, removes the cells and the fat they contain, naturally.
At the moment, the FDA has only approved this treatment for use under the chin. However, studies are underway to see if it will be effective in treating fat in other areas. Scientists in Europe are currently testing its use for fat around the elbow, upper arms, stomach, thighs, knees, and cheeks.
The reason there is so much interest surrounding this treatment is that it works well in places that are difficult to target. Our bodies decide where they will store fat, and our genetics determines this to a large extent. There is very little we can do to change what genetics determines, so some people find that even though they are not overweight, they still have a double chin. Others find that their bodies love to store fat under the chin even when they are experiencing only minor weight gain. Kybella can help.
The first step in treatment is to have a consultation with us to determine if this is the best way to deal with your double chin. We will ask about the history of your double chin, what you’ve done in the past to deal with it, and examine your chin area. In order for this treatment to be successful, there does need to be a certain amount of fat present in the area.
It’s also important to know that this treatment is not appropriate for treating a double chin that is the result of sagging skin. It can only help double chins that develop due to fat accumulation. If your double chin is the result of skin issues, there are other treatments that can help.
This is a simple treatment, and there is very little you need to do to prepare. You will need to avoid all blood-thinning medication and supplements for 3 to 5 days before your treatment. This is to ensure there is no bleeding, swelling, or bruising from the treatment. You will also get the best results if you are well hydrated, if your skin is moisturized and free of sun damage, and if you are avoiding aggressive skin care products that include ingredients like retinol for a few days prior to your appointment.
The treatment itself only takes 15 to 20 minutes. During that time, we will inject the product into strategic areas under your chin and near your jawline. The needle we use is extremely small, so most people don’t find it painful, and we can provide a numbing cream to ensure you remain perfectly comfortable.
After your treatment, you should avoid certain things for about 3 to 5 days. Do not rub or massage the treatment area, keep your skin out of the sun, avoid vigorous exercise, and don’t take any blood thinning medications or supplements. We will let you know at the time of treatment exactly what supplements and medications to avoid.
Most people will need a few treatments to see their final results. The average is 2 to 4 treatments. The more fat you have under your chin, the more treatments you will usually need. For those with mild submental fat issues, two treatments may be enough. Those who have a very pronounced double chin or even a triple chin may need even more than four treatments.
When you meet with us to discuss treatment, we will evaluate your situation and let you know an estimate of how many treatments we believe you will need to reach your final goals. We will help you reassess as soon as we see how your body responds to the first treatment. Treatments are scheduled several weeks apart, and this gives your body time to remove the fat and us time to evaluate how you are responding.
Because this treatment works so naturally, and because it relies on your body’s own lymphatic system to remove the fat, it does need some time to work. Most people begin to see results about 8 to 12 weeks after their first injections. If you have a particularly pronounced double chin, it may take about six months before you begin to see significant changes.
Our bodies create fat cells in childhood. By the time we have passed through puberty, the fat cell creation process largely stops. Adults do not make new fat cells, so once the fat cells in your chin are broken down and removed, they cannot regrow except in cases of the most extreme weight gain. For that reason, this is a permanent treatment.
However, it is important to understand that no treatment can or should remove every single fat cell from any area of the body. Our bodies need fat cells for proper functioning. Therefore, there will be some fat cells left in the area, and these cells can expand if you gain enough weight.
To maintain your results, make sure to eat a healthy diet, avoid carbohydrates and sugar (especially simple carbohydrates, like refined grains), stay hydrated, and get a sensible amount of exercise. Remember that sugary and alcoholic drinks are often the biggest culprits in unwanted weight gain, and bear in mind that certain medications do have the side effect of promoting weight gain.
If your body tends to store excess fat under your chin, and you’ve invested in Kybella treatment, be sure to ask your doctor about the potential for weight gain as a side effect of any medication you are prescribed. In many cases, there could be an alternative medication that would be less problematic.
The ideal candidate is in generally good health, is otherwise fairly close to their weight loss goals, and has a double chin caused by fat accumulation. This is not generally a good treatment for anyone who has had a reaction to an injectable treatment in the past, and it is not approved for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Because deoxycholic acid is something that your body naturally produces, it is very rare for anyone to have an allergic reaction to this treatment. This makes it one of the safest treatments out there; yet it is just as effective as more invasive treatments, such as liposuction.
Speaking of invasive, this is a much less painful treatment than other fat reduction treatments, like liposuction in particular. There are no incisions, no problems with serious swelling, and no prolonged recovery period.
A double chin can make us look older and heavier than we really are, and because of the way genetics stores fat, a double chin can appear even on the thinnest and fittest of people. This treatment can align your look with the reality of your healthy lifestyle.
To learn more, contact us today at Soza Clinic in Richardson, TX!
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