Can Kybella Be Used on Cheeks? 7 Things to Know

Kybella

The effects of time on our bodies are made very visible with the help of gravity. The sagging skin around the cheeks (jowls) and double-chins make us very self-conscious. Thankfully, there is a treatment that fights even the most annoying old-looking cheeks – Kybella injections.

Sagging cheeks is prominent among people aged 60 and above. And for some unfortunate souls, that age can even be younger. This is where skin tightening procedures come in handy in making us feel confident.

What is Kybella?

Kybella is the marketed name for deoxycholic acid. In cosmetics, it is a prescription medicine used to burn the fat around the submental fat, the area around the bottom of the chin.

The body naturally produces deoxycholic acid within the digestive system. The substance helps break down fats so that the digestive system can better dissolve them. Furthermore, deoxycholic acid is effective in emulsifying foods.

How Does It Work

Kybella injected on the submental fat area works as it does in the stomach. It breaks down the fat around the chin, jowls, and neck. Once the fat cells are broken, they will release fluid and shrink down or be eradicated. Either way, the destroyed cells leave the body naturally through the metabolic process.

The body’s organic healing processes will take four to six weeks to eliminate the broken-down cells of fat completely. And in the future, only very minimal amounts of fat deposits will form in the same area should the patient gain weight again. This treatment is loved because of its easy, convenient, and permanent solution to localized fat deposits.

The amount of fat that Kybella eliminates ranges from moderate to severe. And since it is essentially a substance the body naturally produces, it is generally safe.

The common application of Kybella injections in cosmetics is around the submental fat, more commonly known as double-chin. What if the skin on your cheeks becomes lax and sag with age? Can you use Kybella to tighten the cheek skin?

Can I Use Kybella to Tighten Sagging Skin on the Cheeks?

Technically, you can use Kybella to tighten the skin around the cheek. However, in 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only approved the injection of Kybella on the submental fat area of the face. Injecting Kybella on other parts of the face aside from the chin is considered off-label.

Off-label use of Kybella is not illegal, however. Kybella has shown promising results in blasting fat in areas of the body where the unwanted substances deposit themselves. These areas include the bra line, armpit folds, inner thighs, and jowls.

Is this Treatment a Permanent Solution?

Kybella treatments are engineered to deliver permanent results non-invasively. Most patients find that the desired results are permanent after a few sessions. However, a few Kybella injections do not prevent changes in the appearance of the area.

Weight fluctuations will still affect the appearance of the area that Kybella targeted. However, there will not be as much fat deposited in the area as before the treatment.

How Do Kybella Treatments Go?

Before getting the treatment, you should consult with your doctor and cosmetician. An accurate insight into your medical history and cosmetic goals will help the healthcare specialist tailor the perfect treatment for you. The data gathered can help determine how many sessions you need and how long the waiting period between each session may be.

Kybella treatments are pretty straightforward. The first step of the process is applying a topical numbing cream to the treatment area. The healthcare specialist will leave the numbing cream on the skin for about thirty to sixty minutes.

Once the area is numb, the specialist will clean the skin and mark it with a grid. The Kybella specialist will inject the substance into the marked locations. This process can be over in just a quarter of an hour.

At the end of the procedure, the specialist will apply ice to the treatment area. It is advisable to apply ice on the spot for the rest of the day to minimize any potential swelling. Professionals also encourage patients to keep their heads elevated for the next day and night; avoiding strenuous exercise for the next several days is also encouraged.

Aside from keeping their heads elevated and avoiding intensive exercise, Kybella treatments require no downtime or recovery period. You can immediately return to your day.

To get the most out of the treatment, patients usually need three to four Kybella injecting sessions. A period of a month or six weeks is usually necessary between each session. The range of rest between sessions depends on the amount of swelling or fat in the area.

Kybella takes time to dissolve fats. The treatment is a naturally slow process; it might take several weeks before results manifest.

Are There Side Effects to the Treatment?

Although the active ingredient in Kybella is a substance the body naturally produces, it is still synthetic. There may be minimal side effects. Potential side effects include:

  • Soreness
  • Numbness
  • Bruising
  • Swelling
  • Hair loss

If the injector is relatively inexperienced, an infection may occur in the treatment area. Temporary damage to your submandibular nerve is a possibility in such cases. It is essential that you trust only the highly trained professionals who know what they are doing.

Though side effects are mostly minimal, you may experience a slight burning sensation after a Kybella treatment. This burning sensation is perfectly normal and will fade within a few minutes.

Is the Kybella Treatment Right For Me?

Anyone over the age of eighteen is suitable for the treatment. Pregnant women are not ideal for the treatment. As long as you have no medical condition that can affect results, you should be good to go.

The Kybella treatment works for anyone with any skin type. It is an easy and permanent solution to getting rid of deposits of fat around the body. And although the FDA has only approved its use on submental fat, Kybella is injectable on other parts of the body as an off-label solution.Kybella can be used on the cheeks. Book an appointment with Yunik Aesthetics to get the best Kybella treatment.

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