At the office of Mimi Lee, MD in Little Rock, AR, we understand that submental fullness can seriously affect your confidence. We also understand how challenging it can be to improve it yourself, especially if it is not weight-related. That’s why we are proud to offer Kybella, an injectable fat removal treatment that can eliminate excess chin and neck fat quickly and easily. Today, we’re looking a bit closer at this treatment, including how long you can expect the results to last.
How Long Does Kybella Last?
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your Kybella results to last a lifetime. This is because your body can’t create new fat cells past the age of 25, and the synthetic deoxycholic acid in the injectable destroys a percentage of the fat cells in the targeted areas. However, under certain circumstances, results can fade.
This injectable can only remove approximately 25% of the localized subcutaneous fat cells during each session. Therefore, even if you get four treatment sessions, over 30% of the fat cells you started with will remain in the area undamaged. This means that if you consume calories in excess in the future, there is a possibility that the fat cells in your submental region will expand and store some of that extra energy.
What Can I Do To Extend the Longevity of My Results?
There are a couple of things you may be able to do to ensure you enjoy smooth, tight contours for as long as possible. The most effective step you can take to maintain your ideal results is to keep your weight relatively stable. How much weight you would have to gain to notice a change in the appearance of your submental region primarily depends on your genetics.
It is typically advisable to gain no more than 10 pounds of fat after treatment to maintain optimal results. Another effective step you can take to maintain optimal results is to get Ultherapy treatment sessions periodically to keep the skin in your submental region tight and smooth.
How Long Will My Treatment Session Take?
You can generally expect your injection session to take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. Factors affecting how long your treatment session will take include how much excess fat you have in your submental region and whether you are concerned about excess fat in your chin, neck, or both regions.
If you are only concerned about a moderate amount of excess fat under your chin, you may only need 20 injections. If you have a lot of excess chin and neck fat, you may need 100 injections per treatment session.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You will probably qualify for this treatment if you are a relatively healthy adult with concerns about the appearance of submental fullness. Most people who qualify for this treatment feel like extra subcutaneous chin or neck fat makes them look heavier than they are. However, we also have clients who qualify when they feel like their submental fullness is making them look older than they are.
Additionally, you may be considered a good candidate for this treatment even if it is not excess fat causing your submental fullness. This injectable treatment is also effective for cases of submental fullness caused by poor posture or the aging process. That said, we don’t just need to consider the efficacy of this treatment. We also have to verify that it will be safe for you.
Who Is a Poor Candidate for This Treatment?
You will be considered a poor candidate for this Kybella treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally, this treatment will be considered unsafe for you if you have a history of keloid scarring, a condition, like untreated diabetes, that causes poor wound healing, or a bleeding disorder. Furthermore, you will not qualify for deoxycholic acid injections if you cannot follow all preparation and aftercare guidelines.
What Preparation Steps Will I Need To Take Prior to Treatment?
It is crucial that your blood is able to clot appropriately during your treatment session, so you must stop taking anticoagulants or any drugs or supplements that cause blood thinning. It is also important that your blood pressure is normal, so you should not smoke or drink alcohol in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment.
Additionally, you need to take steps to ensure that your skin is not irritated at the time of your appointment. For example, you should minimize prolonged sun exposure for two weeks prior to your appointment.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
You can feel pretty confident that your Kybella results will last for the rest of your life. However, the only guarantee that can be made is that if you are at least 25 when you get treated, the elimination of the fat cells will be permanent. There is a chance that your submental fullness will return to some degree if you gain a lot of weight after treatment. To learn more about this long-lasting treatment, contact us now at the office of Mimi Lee, MD in Little Rock, AR to schedule an appointment.