Always worried about your chin in photos? Starting as soon as June, you’ll be able to destroy fat cells in your double chin with an injection. The FDA has approved Kybella, a new drug that will treat moderate-to-severe fat below the chin.
Kybella is a form of synthetically derived deoxyholic acid which the body produces naturally to absorb fats. According to the Washington Post, the treatment will involve up to 50 injections of the fat-busting drug in a single session. Patients will be able to receive up to six sessions no less than a month apart. As the Post points out, this is the first non-invasive procedure available for chin alteration. Between an injection and liposuction, Kybella will likely be the safer (and less expensive!) option.
But busting the infamously difficult “turkey-neck” with just a shot is, of course, not without side effects. Telegraph UK reports that Kybella’s most common unwanted effects are swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and areas of hardness under the chin, although more serious side effects could include nerve damage to the jaw. Doctors warn that Kybella can also kill skin cells if it’s injected improperly. As with any other plastic surgery, it should only be administered by a licensed health care professional (be wary of Botox parties, ladies!).
“It is important to remember that Kybella is only approved for the treatment of fat occurring below the chin, and it is not known if Kybella is safe or effective for treatment outside of this area,” said Amy Egan, deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III at the FDA, in a statement.
In a survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery last year, nearly 70 percent of respondents listed “excess fat under the chin/neck” as a key concern about their appearance. Get ready for a “Kybella party” invite to come your way sometime this summer.
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