Researfch shows that 80% of people opted for non-invasive cosmetic solutions in 2018. Among the most popular of these solutions was Kybella, an FDA-approved prescription injectable designed to help people look younger, slimmer and healthier than they have in years. Today, our cosmetic experts at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN share everything you need to know about this innovative treatment.
How Long Do Kybella Results Last?
Kybella results are considered permanent. Once the walls of the fat cells are destroyed, they cannot return because your body stops producing new fat cells at the age of 25. However, you may need follow-up treatments after you’ve achieved your ideal results because submental fullness (the appearance of a double chin) isn’t always caused by excess fat. It can also be caused by advanced age, poor posture (looking down at your phone too much) and genetics.
Therefore, the appearance of submental fullness may recur as a result of your skin losing elasticity as you age and looking down at your phone or tablet or a book for years. The appearance of submental fullness may also recur if you gain a significant amount of weight in the future. This treatment doesn’t remove all of the fat cells in the chin and neck and excess energy consumed in the future can be stored in the remaining fat cells in the area.
Where Can This Injectable Remove Fat From?
This treatment is most commonly used to melt the fat beneath the chin. In fact, that it was designed for and the FDA approved it for the removal of unwanted chin fat in April 2015. At the same time, it was approved by the FDA to remove unwanted fat from the neck. What’s really exciting about using this prescription to remove unwanted fat from the neck is that it also eliminates the horizontal bands on your neck.
How Long Does it Take This Medication to Work?
It can take anywhere from four to six weeks after your final treatment to enjoy the final results. It takes this long to see the final results of treatment because, unlike liposuction, this fat removal solution does not suction out the fat cells. Your cardiovascular system has to work with your lymphatic system to sweep up the dead fat cells, process them and eliminate them.
It is worth noting that not even liposuction provides immediate results. Even though the invasive fat removal procedure results in the removal of the fat cells during the procedure, it can take up to six months for your skin to settle into its new appropriate position. How long this process takes depends on the elasticity of the skin but it usually takes at least six to eight weeks.
How Can I See the Final Results of Treatment As Soon as Possible?
To see the final results of treatment as soon as possible, you need to do everything you can to get your lymphatic system operating at maximum efficiency. One way to do this is to get a lymphatic massage performed by a masseuse who is certified in this particular type of massage. The purpose of a lymphatic massage is to drain lymph from your body so it can drain new lymph, along with the fat cells destroyed by treatment, more efficiently.
You should also make a point to eat nutritious foods and minimize your consumption of processed foods during the first month following your treatment session. When you eat processed foods, your lymphatic system has to focus a lot of its energy on flushing out the unnatural chemical compounds found in the artificial food. Healthy, natural foods will provide it with clean fuel that it can use efficiently.
How Many Sessions Will I Need to Achieve My Desired Results?
Most people need two to four sessions to achieve their ideal results when the appearance of submental fullness and neck bands are caused by a large amount of excess fat. If the appearance of submental fullness is merely caused by a small amount of excess fat and loose skin, only one convenient treatment session may be required.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
Each treatment session will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. However, the exact length of your treatment session depends on how many dosees need to be injected to achieve the desired results. The number of doses you will need depends on the size of the areas you need to remove unwanted fat from and how much unwanted fat is in the area. We will discuss this further during your initial consultation.
Is Treatment Painful?
Treatment is not painful at all. The needle we use to inject the medication is tiny so you should only expect to feel a slight pressure as the needle penetrates your skin. If you’re worried about feeling the needle at all, let us know during your initial consultation.
We are more than happy to accommodate you by numbing the treatment area with ice, a local anesthetic or a topical numbing cream. Just keep in mind that the treatment will take longer if your skin has to numb. Also, remember to avoid NSAIDs during the first 48 hours following your treatment to avoid potential blood thinning.
How Should I Prepare for Treatment?
There isn’t too much you have to do to prepare for treatment. The most important thing you can do in advance of your treatment is to eat a healthy snack or small meal and drink at least 16 ounces of hydrating fluids. Ensuring you are hydrated when you come in for your appointment and eating nutritious foods ensures your skin is as healthy as possible. The healthier your skin is, the sooner you will see the results of your treatment.
You should also wash your face and neck thoroughly with a gentle facial cleanser and body wash before you come in for your appointment. We strongly recommend that you come in without any cosmetics, including lotion. If you come in wearing cosmetics, we will remove them before we sanitize the area in preparation for your treatment session.
What Else Should I Do to Prepare for Treatment?
You should also avoid taking any blood-thinning medications,z including NSAIDs and MAOIs. If you feel any discomfort before your treatment session, take acetaminophen as directed on the bottle. Just make sure the acetaminophen you take does not also contain caffeine. It is okay to consume caffeine before your treatment but if you consume over 200 mg of caffeine within 24 hours, there is a chance that your blood pressure gets too high.
What Is the Recovery Process Like?
There isn’t much of a post-treatment recovery process. Since this treatment is non-invasive, there isn’t any downtime so you are free to return to work as soon as your session is over. In fact, it is incredibly common for people to come in during their lunchbreak so they don’t have to miss out on precious time with their family.
What Should I Avoid After Treatment?
After treatment, you should avoid alcohol, too much caffeine, consuming over three grams of sodium in a 24 hour period, excessively spicy foods, strenuous exercise and tobacco products. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes completely for the first 48 hours following your treatment. If you have low blood pressure, you can consume up to three grams of sodium; don’t consume more than two grams of sodium in a day if you have normal blood pressure.
Limit yourself to one gram of sodium within 24 hours for the first 48 hours following your treatment if you have high blood pressure. How much caffeine you can consume in 24 hours safely depends on how the chemical affects your blood pressure. If you are sensitive to it, limit yourself to 65 mg. If you usually drink several cups of coffee or tea daily, two hundred milligrams of caffeine may be fine. Just make sure that you stay hydrated.
Why Should I Avoid Spicy Foods and Strenuous Exercise?
It is important to avoid spicy foods and strenuous exercise during the first 48 hours following your treatment because both spicy foods and strenuous exercise can elevate your blood pressure and cause you to sweat. In fact, it is best to avoid anything that causes you too sweat, such as dry saunas, steam rooms, steaming hot showers and steaming hot soup.
Can I Exercise at All After Treatment?
It is perfectly fine to exercise in the first 48 hours after your treatment. In fact, going on a walk at a moderate pace is encouraged. Walking and other forms of moderate exercise, like a leisurely bicycle ride through your neighborhood are encouraged. Gentle exercise is good for your cardiovascular system which, in turn, is good for your lymphatic system.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
We can tell you whether you are a good candidate for this treatment when you come in for an initial consultation. Typically, if you are a healthy adult who can’t remove unwanted fat through diet and exercise, you will be considered a good candidate for treatment. You may also be considered a good candidate for this treatment if you have submental fullness caused by a factor other than excess fat.
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You should avoid this treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. We also recommend that you hold off on this treatment if you have nursed your baby in the past six weeks. Your lymphatic system requires quite a bit of energy to flush out the dead fat cells but breastfeeding also requires an inordinate amount of energy. It is best to not ask too much from your body.
You will also not be considered a very good candidate if you are not confident that you can maintain your weight after treatment. Remember, if you consume a significant amount of excess energy, over time, excess energy may be stored in the chin and neck. Besides reviewing your goals to ensure you are a good candidate for this treatment, we will also review your medical history and assess your current health to ensure you are healthy enough for treatment.
Discover How to Be the Best, Most Beautiful You Today
The results of Kybella are long-lasting and the drug works quickly to provide you with results. Once the walls of the fat cells are destroyed, they are gone permanently and you will only need a follow-up treatment if your double chin is hereditary or you gain an extreme amount of weight in the future.
To discover how to be the best, most beautiful you with this medication, call us at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN at 865-392-1944 to book an appointment.