Concerns Addressed
Treats “double chin” / submental fullness, undefined jawline, neck heaviness in profile, genetic or diet-resistant submental fat, and patients seeking non-surgical alternatives to liposuction. Kybella is fat-specific — it does not address skin laxity. Patients with significant laxity may benefit from combining Kybella with Vivace RF Microneedling for the tightening component.
Ideal Candidate
Best for adults at or near their goal weight with a moderate, well-defined submental fat pad and adequate skin elasticity. Kybella is not a weight-loss treatment — it works on a specific fat compartment, not systemic fat. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with infection in the treatment area, difficulty swallowing, prior surgery on the face/chin/neck, with significant skin laxity (skin tightening is needed alongside), or in patients with bleeding disorders. Very large fat volumes may be better served by surgical liposuction.
Treatment Area
FDA-approved only for submental fat — the fat pad directly beneath the chin. Each session involves 20–50 small injections distributed across this area using a pre-marked grid. Kybella is not indicated for fat reduction in other body areas; for those, alternative treatments are available. We do not treat areas where deoxycholic acid carries higher risk profiles.
What Kybella Does
Kybella is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid — a naturally occurring molecule the body uses to break down and absorb dietary fat. When injected into submental fat (the tissue beneath the chin), Kybella disrupts the membrane of fat cells, causing them to rupture and be cleared by the body’s natural metabolic processes.
Unlike treatments that shrink fat cells, Kybella permanently destroys them. Once eliminated, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat again. The result is a lasting reduction in submental fullness and a more defined jawline and neck contour — without surgery or general anesthesia.
Most patients require 2–4 treatment sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart to achieve their target result. Once your goal is reached, no further treatment is needed.
The Benefits
Permanent Results
Kybella permanently destroys fat cells in the treatment area. Once cleared by the body, those cells are gone — they cannot regenerate or accumulate fat again, making results long-lasting with stable weight.
Jawline Definition
By reducing submental fat, Kybella reveals the natural contour of the jawline and neck. Patients often report a more defined profile, reduced heaviness beneath the chin, and improved overall facial proportions.
No Surgery Required
Kybella achieves meaningful fat reduction through a series of small injections — no incisions, no general anesthesia, no surgical recovery. The only FDA-approved non-surgical injectable for submental fat.
Concerns We Address
Kybella is specifically designed for submental fat — the fullness beneath the chin that often persists regardless of diet or exercise. Here’s what it targets.
Double Chin & Submental Fullness
Submental fat — the pad of fat beneath the chin — is often genetic and resistant to diet and exercise. It contributes to the appearance of a “double chin” regardless of overall body weight. Kybella targets this specific fat compartment with a series of precisely placed injections, permanently eliminating fat cells and producing a measurable reduction in chin fullness over the treatment series.
Undefined Jawline
Excess submental fat can obscure the transition between the jaw and the neck, reducing definition and making the lower face appear heavier than it is. As Kybella reduces the submental fat pad, the underlying jawline becomes more visible, creating a sharper, more sculpted profile. For patients who also want to address volume loss or laxity in the lower face, Kybella pairs well with dermal filler along the jawline or chin.
Neck Heaviness & Profile
In profile, submental fat creates a fullness that shortens the visible length of the neck and softens the cervicomental angle — the angle between the chin and neck that is a key marker of a youthful, defined appearance. Kybella improves this angle by reducing the fat responsible for the fullness, producing a more elongated and contoured neck profile without surgery.
Genetic or Diet-Resistant Fat
Many patients with submental fat are not overweight — the fullness is genetic and localized, making it unresponsive to caloric restriction or exercise. Kybella is appropriate for these patients because it acts directly on the fat compartment through a chemical mechanism rather than relying on systemic fat loss. It is not a weight loss treatment and is best suited for patients who are otherwise at or near their goal weight.
Skin Laxity Considerations
Kybella reduces fat volume but does not tighten skin. Patients with significant skin laxity beneath the chin may find that fat reduction alone is insufficient — and that skin tightening is needed alongside volume reduction. For patients where this is a concern, your provider may recommend combining Kybella with Vivace RF Microneedling to address both the fat and the skin quality in the same treatment plan.
Non-Surgical Contouring
Patients who want meaningful submental fat reduction without the commitment, cost, or recovery of liposuction or neck surgery often find Kybella to be the right middle ground. Results are not instantaneous — the body takes several weeks to clear destroyed fat cells — but the outcome is a durable, surgical-quality improvement delivered through a series of in-office injections with no general anesthesia required.
Kybella vs. Liposuction
Several options exist for reducing submental fat. Each approach differs in mechanism, downtime, number of treatments, and suitability based on the patient’s anatomy and goals. Here’s how the non-surgical and surgical options compare.
Kybella is most effective for patients with a moderate, well-defined submental fat pad and adequate skin elasticity. Patients with very large fat volumes or significant skin laxity may be better served by a surgical consultation. Your provider will give you an honest assessment of which approach is right for your anatomy during a consultation.
What to Expect: Before, During & After
A Kybella treatment session takes 30–45 minutes including consultation, numbing, and the injection itself. Plan for 2–4 sessions to reach your target result.
Consultation & Mapping
Your provider evaluates the size and distribution of your submental fat, assesses your skin laxity, and marks a grid of injection points beneath the chin. The number of injections per session and the number of sessions needed are determined based on your anatomy and goals.
Numbing
A topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area and allowed to take effect. Some providers also use ice to reduce discomfort. Kybella injections produce a mild burning or stinging sensation as the solution contacts fat cells — numbing helps manage this.
Kybella Injections
Using the pre-marked grid, your provider delivers a series of small injections of deoxycholic acid across the submental fat pad. A typical session involves 20–50 injection points depending on the treatment area. The process takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
Post-Treatment & Swelling
Swelling, tenderness, and firmness beneath the chin are expected and normal after Kybella — they are a sign the treatment is working. Swelling is most significant in the first 3–5 days and typically resolves over 2–4 weeks. Ice packs and elevation help manage discomfort in the first 48 hours.
Results Timeline
As swelling resolves over 4–6 weeks, fat reduction becomes visible. Full results from each session are typically apparent at the 6-week mark — which is also when your next treatment session is scheduled if additional rounds are needed. Most patients achieve their goal in 2–4 sessions.
Post-Treatment Tips
Apply ice packs to the treatment area for 10–15 minutes at a time during the first 48 hours to manage swelling. Sleep with your head slightly elevated for the first few nights. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24–48 hours. Do not massage or apply pressure to the treated area. Swelling and numbness are normal and expected — contact our office immediately if you experience significant asymmetry, difficulty swallowing, or facial weakness. Full guidance on our post-care instructions page.
Treatment Options
Kybella is priced per session. The number of sessions needed depends on the volume of submental fat and your desired outcome — your provider will give you a personalized recommendation at consultation.
Kybella Session
A single Kybella session targeting submental fat with a series of precisely placed deoxycholic acid injections. Most patients require 2–4 sessions to reach their goal, spaced 4–6 weeks apart.
- 30–45 minute appointment
- Package of 2 — $1,100 (save $100)
- Package of 4 — $2,100 (save $300)
- Permanent fat destruction
Complimentary Consult
Book a complimentary consultation and your provider will assess your submental fat, skin laxity, and anatomy to determine whether Kybella, filler, RF, or a combination will achieve the best result.
- Honest assessment of candidacy
- Chin Filler — from $850/syringe
- Vivace RF Microneedling — ask for pricing
- No pressure to book treatment
Package savings
- ✓ Single session — $600, good if you want to try one round first
- ✓ Package of 2 — $1,100 ($550/session, save $100) — covers a smaller fat pad
- ✓ Package of 4 — $2,100 ($525/session, save $300) — the typical full treatment plan
Packages don’t expire. Sessions are spaced 4–6 weeks apart to allow swelling to resolve between rounds.
Who Performs This Treatment
How Often to Treat
Kybella works in a series — each session permanently destroys a portion of the submental fat cells, and results compound with each round. Sessions are spaced to allow full resolution of swelling before assessing results.
Most patients require 2–4 sessions to achieve their target result. Each session is spaced 4–6 weeks apart to allow swelling to fully resolve and fat clearance to complete before your provider reassesses and determines whether additional treatment is needed.
Once you reach your goal, no maintenance sessions are required. Kybella permanently destroys fat cells — they cannot regenerate. As long as body weight remains stable, results are lasting. Significant weight gain can cause remaining fat cells in the area to enlarge, which may affect results.
Sessions must be spaced at least 4–6 weeks apart. This interval allows post-treatment swelling to fully resolve and gives your provider a clear view of your progress before deciding whether and how many additional sessions are needed to reach your goal.
For patients addressing multiple aspects of the lower face, Kybella pairs well with chin or jawline filler for added projection and definition (placed after the Kybella series, not during). Skin laxity concerns can be addressed with Vivace RF Microneedling.
Kybella Questions
What to know before booking a Kybella treatment at ELLEMES Medical Spa in Atlanta.
How does Kybella permanently destroy fat cells?
Is Kybella painful?
How much swelling should I expect?
How many sessions will I need?
Will the fat come back?
Am I a good candidate for Kybella?
Can Kybella be combined with filler or other treatments?
What should I do to prepare for treatment?
When You’re Ready
Schedule a consultation and your provider will assess your anatomy, discuss your goals, and recommend the right number of sessions to achieve your result.
Book a Consultation →Or call (470) 222-6581