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Writer's pictureMichelle Parsons

Instead of Photoshop Welcome Kybella

Wouldn't it be great if we could photoshop in real life just as easily as we do on our phone photos? Tuck and lift a little here, trim there? Or maybe you have contemplated "going under the knife" and making some of these edits more permanent, but then think twice about the pain and cost? Well this is all of us, you are not alone. We are living longer and healthier and even feel great, but some areas of our faces are just not matching up to how we feel about ourselves. If only there were a way to nip tuck a few small but bothersome areas without the need for surgery and recovery so we could move on and put those trouble spots behind us and look as good as we feel. Well welcome Kybella. https://www.renovemedspa.org/kybella


Probably one of the top areas of concerns I hear about from the people who come in to see us is concerns about fat under the chin, fullness and deep lines around the nose and a full or sagging jawline, the JOWLS, lovely word. These are areas that we all or all will struggle with at some point, due to time and gravity. So it is these areas that I have been searching for a solution for you, my patients, and of course myself! And I am pleased to have found Kybella, an Allergan product, the makers of Botox, that when injected into these problems areas, dissolves the unwanted fatty tissue, essentially lifting and contouring and rejuvenating these facial features. Voila natural photoshop! OK, now you want to know, what is Kybella and how does it work, and it will it work for me?



What Is Kybella?

Kybella is a natural substance found our bodies, it is a bile acid, a molecule our gallbladders store to help digest fat, deoxycholic acid, that can now be synthesized and made safely in a lab into a prescription medication. Deoxycholic acid has been used in medicine and even the food industry for quite some time. It has been used to help dissolve gallstones, in mesotherapy to treat cellulite and fat and to dissolve lipomas, for fatty benign tumors. In the US, deoxycholic acid, under the trade name, Kybella, is FDA approved to reduce fat below the chin.


How Does Kybella Work?

Kybella works by dissolving areas of unwanted fat on our face or other body parts, by injecting small amount of kybella into these areas, dissolving and reducing the fat in the treated areas. Kybella, just as our natural bile acids in our digestive track do, works by breaking down the cell walls of fat cells, to liquefy the fat cells thereby releasing the stored fat in these cells. Next it activates the macrophaghes, a type of white blood cell to come to the area to take up and remove this fat from the area and release it through the lymphatic system and ultimatly eliminate it from the body through the liver and kidneys.


Kybella before and after under chin

What Fatty Areas Can Be Treated with Kybella?

Kybella is FDA approved to treat the unwanted fat below the chin. But Kybella works anywhere it is injected where there is unwanted fat, off label. Kybella can be used to dissolve extra fat in the jaw line, or jowls, extra fullness in the cheek area, and into fatty lipomas. It can be injected into brassiere rolls front and back. Kybella is not used to treat large areas, as the medication comes in small quantities. Kybella is a potent prescription medication and should only be injected by a physician trained in the injection of Kybella.


kybella jowls before and after

What Can I Expect from a Kybella Treatment?

We will evaluate and discuss with you your concerns and determine if you are a good candidate for a Kybella treatment to dissolve unwanted small areas of fat. I will recommend a conservative treatment to start. Your skin will be cleaned and a topical numbing agent will be applied. Kybella is delivered as injections with very small pediatric needles, similar to the kind of needles used to administer Botox. Immediately after injection with Kybella, you will feel a burning sensation in the area. This burning sensation is temporary and lasts about 8 minutes and ice is applied during this time to help with the discomfort. Following your treatment with Kybella, swelling is normal, and this can last 3 to 5 days, sometimes as long as a week. The area can be bruised as well, as can happen with any injection. The area may feel firm and tender to the touch during this time as well. Once the swelling and any bruising subsides, the area goes back to its normal appearance. The fat in the treated area may feel softer as it dissolves and liquefies. The process of the macrophages removing and eliminating the dissolved fat can take up to 6 weeks to occur fully. It is at this time that you will notice an improvement in your appearance with less fullness and heaviness in the area treated with Kybella.


Kybella before and after man, Dr. Peter Damico
Kybella before and after, Dr. Peter Damico, Ft Worth

How Long Will Results Last?

You will see improvement after your first treatment with Kybella, which will be long lasting, as the unwanted fat cells were dissolved and eliminated from the area, as is the case with surgical liposuction. Since I like to start conservatively for my patients, you may decide to do another treatment to the same area with Kybella to get further results. Without a great gain in weight, which is unlikely, results should be permanent.


Kybella before and after bra line, Belez Medical Spa
Kybella before and after bra line, Belez Medical Spa

Who Should Not be Treated with Kybella

If you have an infection in the area to be treated, then Kybella should not be injected until the infection has resolved. Infections could be in the surrounding skin area or even a dental infection. Also, if you have an upcoming procedure or surgery planned in the neck area, such as neck surgery or thyroid surgery, then a Kybella treatment should not be performed. Since there is some swelling that will occur after a treatment with Kybella, if you have any trouble swallowing, a Kybella treatment could make this condition worse. Since the lymphatic system is involved with the uptake of the dissolved fat cells, if you have swelling, infection or other problems with the lymph nodes in the area to be treated, a Kybella treatment should not be performed.


Kybella Special

We will be featuring a Lunch and Learn on treatment options with Kybella to be held on Monday November 11th at noon at Renove Med Spa. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided, but reservations are required. Please call us at 302-227-1079 to reserve your spot. A discount on all Kybella treatments will be offered for the month of November.


Featured Skin Care Product

In conjunction with Kybella we will be featuring the medical grade skin care product ZO Firming Serum. to tighten and firm skin, helping to define facial contours. ZO Firming Serum contains sodium DNA to support fibroblast activity and strengthens skin at the dermal-epidermal junction, improving elasticity. Visit website for before and after photo. https://zoskinhealth.com/product/firming-serum




We hope you will join us at our Lunch and Learn and if you cannot attend, please take advantage of the discounts offered this month on Kybella and photoshop no more!


Visit Us

416 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 info@RenoveMedSpa.org | 302-227-1079 OUR HOURS:

Mon/Tues/Thur/Fri: 10:00am - 2:30pm (10:00am - 4:30pm bi-weekly) ​​

Wednesday / Saturday / Sunday: Closed

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1 Comment


Michelle Parsons
Michelle Parsons
Nov 06, 2019

I love Kybella, for myself, and I hope you do too!

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