How Much Does Kybella Cost?

Kybella costs $1,350 on average, according to 460 reviews from RealSelf members. However, the price can range as high as $3,400 for a series of these fat-dissolving injectable treatments.

Doctors on RealSelf say that 1 vial of Kybella costs $600–$800, which can add up quickly.

Read on to learn all the factors that can affect your total cost for Kybella treatment, how it compares to chin lipo, and whether real patients think their results are worth the money.

RealSelf Tip: The active ingredient in this injectable treatment is the enzyme deoxycholic acid, which dissolves unwanted fat cells. It’s FDA-approved for reducing the appearance of a double chin (submental fat) and creating a more streamlined jawline, but many doctors use it off-label for fat reduction in other small areas, like the bra roll.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Kybella

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How do Kybella treatment costs compare to double chin lipo?

The average cost of Kybella injections is less than half as much as chin liposuction, which typically costs $3,274.

However, if you need multiple vials during a series of Kybella treatments, your total price could be similar to what you’d pay for chin lipo. 

If you’re open to a minor surgical procedure, chin lipo has several benefits:

• It delivers very predictable fat reduction results in a single, safe procedure.
• This relatively quick, minimally invasive plastic surgery procedure can be performed under local anesthesia.
• You could have less downtime from post-lipo swelling than you would after a Kybella treatment.

An experienced plastic surgeon will be able to tell you whether you’re a better candidate for one treatment option or the other—and provide personalized price quotes.

Is Kybella worth the money?

Kybella has just a 49% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, far lower than the 92% Worth It Rating that RealSelf reviewers give chin liposuction.

A 2016 clinical trial found that 82.4% of the people treated with Kybella reported a significant improvement in satisfaction with their appearance, but it hasn’t been so popular in recent years: RealSelf reviewers who say it's "Not Worth It" report minimal results, sagging skin left behind once the fat is gone, or long-lasting numbness in the treated area.

Swelling is a common side effect, but some patients experience what’s called “bullfrog neck,” severe swelling under the chin that can last up to a month post-treatment.

Many of those reviewers who say it was worth the money saw their desired results, with double chin fat reduction that left them feeling less self-conscious.

Patients in their 20s and 30s, with good skin elasticity and just a small pocket of excess fat, usually make good candidates for Kybella. But if you already have jowls or skin laxity in the treatment area, you could end up with more loose skin once the fat is removed.

If you’re not sure where you fall on that spectrum, a board-certified plastic or dermatological surgeon will be able to tell whether you’re a good candidate for noninvasive Kybella injections or recommend a different cosmetic procedure.

What affects the total cost of Kybella?

These factors will have the biggest impact on your Kybella treatment cost.

1. The cost per vial and number of vials per treatment.

As we mentioned above, a single vial of Kybella typically costs $600–$800 in the U.S.

If a provider quotes you a significantly lower cost per vial, this may be a red flag that you won’t be getting the real thing, or that the product will be diluted.

It can take 2 vials (or more) for one small treatment area, like the “submental fullness” in the double chin area. That’s because the provider has to make a series of injections, in a grid-like pattern.

Even if you need just 2 vials per session, your double chin treatment cost could be $3,200 if it costs $800 per vial and you need 2 treatment sessions.

During your consultation, ask your provider how much they charge per vial and how many vials you’ll need, based on the size of the treatment area and how much excess fat you want to dissolve. 

Then ask them for a written cost estimate, based on their recommended treatment plan.

2. How many treatment sessions you have.

In Kybella clinical studies, 59% of patients had 6 treatment sessions (spaced 1 month apart). Doctors on RealSelf say that the average number of treatments for Kybella patients is 3.

Ask your provider how many sessions you’ll need to see your desired results, and make sure the written estimate they provide takes your full treatment series into account.

3. Your provider’s credentials.

A board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist will probably charge more per vial than an aesthetician or registered nurse injector. Any experienced provider will charge more than one who hasn’t been performing Kybella treatments as long.

The additional cost can be worth it in order to get optimal results and minimize the risk of potential side effects (like nerve injury or tissue damage) from poor injection technique.

4. Their practice location.

Medical practices or med spas in high-rent areas usually have to charge more per vial, to help cover their overhead. For example:

• According to reviewers on RealSelf, you’ll pay the highest price for Kybella in New York City, Los Angeles, or Dallas-Fort Worth.
• The cheapest metro area in the U.S. to get Kybella is affordable El Paso, Texas.
• Chicago, Illinois facial plastic surgeon Dr. Anil Shah charges $650 for 1 vial of Kybella.
• In San Francisco, where the cost of living is higher, plastic surgeon Dr. Usha Rajagopal charges $900 for 1 vial of Kybella.

5. Special offers or discounts.

Some providers offer limited-time promotional pricing or discounts for a series of Kybella treatments. Ask if there's a price break for buying a package of two or three treatments up front. 

Before you commit to an online deal, be sure that you understand who will be performing your injections. Check their qualifications, read reviews from their Kybella patients, and study their gallery of their patient before and after photos.

Ending up with complications (like temporary facial nerve damage) from an inexperienced injector is not worth shaving a few hundred bucks off of the price.

If you’re looking for more ways to save on chin fat reduction, sign up for the Allē reward program. It's free, and you can earn points toward future treatments from Allergan, including other treatments like Botox, Juvéderm fillers, and CoolSculpting.

Can you finance Kybella treatments?

Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Kybella costs in U.S. states

Browse average Kybella costs and ranges by state, according to the 139 most recent RealSelf reviews as of March 2023. (Note: States not included don't have enough recent data to display.)

Kybella costs in major U.S. metros

Average costs according to patient-reported data. As of July 2023, the cheapest metro area in the U.S. to get Kybella is El Paso, TX, while people tend to pay the most in Dallas-Forth Worth. Cities not listed did not have enough data to include.