Do you feel the need to wear short-sleeved turtlenecks in the summer to hide submental fullness? Do you wish it was cold enough to wear a scarf every day? If so, you may be a good candidate for Kybella, a fat removal treatment offered here at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN. Today, we’re taking a look at how this treatment works, what it is used for, and more. Here’s what you need to know.
How Does Kybella Work?
Kybella works by a synthetic version of your gut acid breaking down fat cells in the areas it is injected into. Individual experiences vary, but most people only need sessions that last for 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, dozens of injections are administered in strategic parts of your trouble areas. This allows for results that look both dramatic and natural.
However, you should be aware that you may need up to six treatment sessions to achieve your goals depending on the cause of your submental fullness. If one injection session isn’t enough to provide you with your ideal results, each session will be scheduled approximately one month apart. During your initial consultation, we will evaluate your submental region and determine how many sessions you should expect to need and how long they should take.
What Is This Treatment Used for?
Deoxycholic acid injections are used to eliminate fullness in the submental region. Put another way, these injections are used to kill adipose tissue cells on your neck, under your chin, and in your jowl region. One great thing about this treatment is that you don’t have to take an allergy test to ensure it will be safe for you.
Your gut produces deoxycholic acid naturally, and the deoxycholic acid we administer is bioidentical to your gut’s acid. When we administer it into the submental region, it destroys the fat cells in the areas just like the acid in your gut breaks down dietary fat. There are no incisions required to perform this fat removal method and you don’t have to worry about downtime following the session.
What to Expect During Your Injection Session
There’s not much you need to do in preparation for this non-invasive fat removal treatment. However, we recommend scheduling your sessions on days that you’re not pressed for time. It is also advisable to cleanse your face thoroughly before your injection session and come in without cosmetics.
Before we administer your deoxycholic acid injections, we will ensure your comfort throughout the process by applying a topical numbing agent to the treatment area. Once your skin is numb, we will administer roughly two to four dozen injections into your submental region. Your aesthetic goals and current body fat distribution will determine how many injections are made.
What to Expect Following Your Session
Following your injection session, you may get back to your normal routine. There is no need to take any time off from work to recover from your injections. Approximately 14 days following your injection session, you can expect to see an improvement in the appearance of your profile.
Nevertheless, your final results may not become apparent until 1.5 to three months after your injections. You can expect your final results to last a lifetime if your lifestyle is fairly healthy. However, you may need a touch-up session if your submental fullness is caused by genetics or poor skin health rather than fat deposits.
Will I Ever Need a Follow-Up Treatment?
While the fat removal results of this treatment are permanent, it is possible that you will need a follow-up session. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, this treatment only destroys some of the fat cells in the submental region. Second, this treatment is sometimes caused by skin laxity, and your skin will only grow laxer as it ages.
Do I Qualify for This Treatment?
It is essential that you come in for an initial consultation to determine whether this treatment is appropriate for you. During this meeting, we will ask you about any cosmetic treatments or procedures you’ve had recently on your face or in your submental region. We will also discuss your health history thoroughly to ensure that you are healthy enough to receive this treatment. Let us know if you have bleeding problems, a history of keloid scarring, or trouble swallowing.
We also need to know whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or not taking steps to prevent pregnancy. Also, we need to know about all of the pharmaceuticals you are taking currently, especially those with blood-thinning properties. As a general rule of thumb, you will be considered a good candidate for this treatment if you are in fairly good health and concerned about the appearance of your submental region.
Other Qualifications
Another sign that this treatment is right for you is you have been rejected as a candidate for an invasive procedure. Also, this may be the perfect fat removal technique for you if you are healthy enough to receive an invasive procedure but you don’t have the time or money for surgery. Lastly, this may be the ideal fat removal solution for you if you have tried for several months to eliminate submental fullness through a nutritious diet and regular exercise.
Everything You Should Know About Submental Fullness
Submental fullness is a very common condition that can be recognized by an accumulation of subcutaneous chin fat. While both women and men can be affected by this condition, it is much more common in women. Note, this condition can affect anyone irrespective of their weight. Also, you should note that you are not alone if you are concerned about submental fullness.
In fact, survey results indicate that two-thirds of people wish they could improve the appearance of their submental region. Additionally, there is evidence that suggests people are just as concerned about the appearance of their neck and chin as they are about the appearance of their eye area.
What Causes Submental Fullness
Age
Sometimes, excess weight leads to the development of a double chin and horizontal bands of neck fat. However, the natural aging process can also cause this condition. Starting approximately at the age of 25, the skin begins to produce less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid than it uses.
Also, existing elastin and collagen receive extensive damage from such sources of UV light as the sun and tanning beds. The weaker the collagen and elastin in your skin are, the thinner, sheerer, and more fragile it becomes. This can lead to sagging skin that folds in on itself and produces the appearance of a double chin.
Diet and Weight
To reiterate, this condition can affect people regardless of their weight. However, it commonly affects people who are overweight. While it is possible to have a nutritious diet that includes too many calories for you to maintain a healthy weight, most of the time, people who are overweight overindulge in unhealthy foods, like fried foods and baked goods.
If you are not very in tune with your body’s hunger and satiety cues, there is a good chance that you will gain fat if your diet comprises a lot of processed foods. This is because processed foods are usually very high in calories and do not provide long-lasting satiety.
Exercise
According to the results of extensive research, only around 20% of Americans get enough exercise. Finding the time to exercise is very difficult unless you have an active job or a partner to help you with your household chores. However, even people with partners sometimes struggle to force themselves to exercise. Unfortunately, an inadequate amount of physical activity can cause submental fullness.
Genetics
Your genes can also play a role in the development of submental fullness. If you have an immediate relative who has been diagnosed with the condition, there is a much more significant chance that you will develop submental fullness. Additionally, having a family history of submental fullness increases the chance that you will develop submental fullness due to lax skin significantly.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
If you feel self-conscious about the appearance of your submental region, Kybella can help. Contact us today at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN to schedule your initial fat removal consultation and find out how we can help you eliminate submental fullness for good. You deserve to feel confident in your own skin. We can’t wait to help.