Can Kybella Give You a Slimmer Bra Line?
It’s a common aesthetic concern for many women: the excess pockets of fat that tend to occur at the bra line, creating an uneven contour. But even with a healthy diet and exercise, this stubborn fat can be difficult to get rid of, which may leave many women wondering if there is a cosmetic treatment option that can help to smooth away this trouble spot.
Until recently, there hasn’t been a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that could help in this area. But now, Allergan, the maker of Kybella, has announced that this injectable fat removal method may be able to treat double chins and bra-line bulges.
How Does Kybella Work?
Kybella is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that utilizes deoxycholic acid to target and remove excess fat in the submental area, which is located between the chin and neck. Deoxycholic acid is already naturally-occurring in your body, and its primary function is to aid in fat absorption, which is why the deoxycholic acid contained in Kybella injections can be so effective (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
A typical Kybella treatment session will take between 15 and 20 minutes to perform, and most people will see their final results begin to take shape over the next few weeks. Although multiple treatment sessions may be required for best results, unlike Botox or injectable dermal fillers, the results of Kybella fat removal can be very long-lasting and may not require ongoing touch-ups (The Dermatology Review).
Currently, Kybella is only approved for use in the “double chin” area, and the best candidates for the procedure will have mild to moderate excess submental fat (American Academy of Plastic Surgeons). However, the exciting new research that is already well underway by Allergan may allow for the use of nonsurgical Kybella in a number of areas.
Promising Evidence for Bra-Line Use
While ongoing research is still being conducted, there is promising evidence that treating the bra line with Kybella could soon be possible. Once approved for use in this area, new research may open up the doors for Kybella to be used to treat excess fat in the knee and ankle areas as well, which are common cosmetic concerns for both men and women.
Currently, Allergan has successfully trained 90 percent of the key Kybella clinicians in the United States on the innovative techniques required for use in these areas, and physician education is the next step toward making bra-line fat removal safe and widely accessible. Success in these areas could have big implications for the expansion of nonsurgical treatment methods to help remove fat and achieve a slimmer, more aesthetically pleasing contour.
The Bottom Line
While research is still underway to fully realize the possibility of opening up the use of Kybella to a much wider range of treatable areas, this nonsurgical injectable treatment has been a popular injectable fat removal method for the submental area for quite some time. If you’re bothered by the appearance of a double chin, but have reservations about undergoing a surgical procedure, Kybella may be the best option for you.
At Acqua Blu Medical Spa in Pittsburgh and Wexford, we proudly offer Kybella double chin treatment, administered by our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Heil. Dr. Heil has been named as one of Allergan’s trusted physician trainers to educate other physicians on the most effective injectable techniques currently practiced, and was chosen by his peers as one of Pittsburgh’s top 10 percent of plastic surgeons.
For more information about your injectable fat removal options and to help you determine if Kybella is right for you, please contact us at (724) 933-1800. A member of our friendly, knowledgeable team would be happy to answer any questions you might have, or to help you schedule a thorough consultation with Dr. Heil to discuss your unique needs and goals.
