Kybella for armpit fat removal? (Photo)

Question

Hello, I am not over-weight but I need some procedures to remove the armpit fat (maybe fat + some breast tissue), will Kybella work on the fat removal for armpit?

Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS · Answer

Kybella is a wonderful product for dissolving fat and tightening skin but it really depends on what your goals are and how fast you would like to achieve these goals.  Treatment of anterior bra fat with Kybella is actually being looked at in an ongoing trial and so I can't speak to their results just yet.  I can tell you that we have used it in a few off-label areas with very good success but it has taken at least 2 treatments to do so.  My suggestion for a quick and easy in-office procedure would be to do liposuction in this area followed by ThermiTight.  The procedure should take no more than 30-45 minutes total and the results can be seen in as little as a few months.  I hope that helps and wish you the very best!

Richard W. Westreich, MD · Answer

Currently, Kybella is only FDA approved for submental fat; however, Allergan is working on FDA approval for additional areas in the future. In the meantime, you can consider Exilis as a non-invasive treatment for fat reduction.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Hi definition procedures such as VASER Liposuction give results instantly and the final result should be seen by 3-6 months. Noninvasive procedures such as CoolSculpting or Sculpsure will only give you a 20-25% reduction in fat and will take several treatments. Kybella can be used, just take numerous treatments.  I suggest consulting with a body contouring specialist. Best, Dr. Emer

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

We have used it in a few cases and it does seem to work for the bra roll area. Because the clinical trials on Kybella were for fat under the chin, anything else is off-label so there is little clinical data to document how well it works and what the side effects might be.

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Hello,Thanks for your inquiry!While Kybella is only marketed for the neck area, some physicians do chose to apply Kybella to other areas of the body. However, this is an off-label usage of the product and is up to the discretion of the physician.Additionally, if you're looking to remove breast tissue, you would need to have a breast reduction performed since it is not safe or recommended to remove breast tissue otherwise.For the best personalized plan, I recommend visiting a board-certified physician or surgeon to discuss your options to ensure the best results!Best of luck

Kouros Azar, MD · Answer

At this time, Kybella is only FDA approved to treat submental fat so anything else is considered "off label" which means that there hasn't been enough testing done into the efficacy and safety of using Kybella in these other areas. My best advice would be for you to schedule an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area to talk about other options for treating the fat in your arm pit/bra strap area such as CoolSculpting.Kindly,Kouros Azar

Corey Frucht, MD, PhD · Answer

Hello, and thanks for your question. Kybella is FDA-approved for reduction of fat underneath the chin, but has not yet been studied in other areas, but this is currently under investigation. In order to determine the best treatment plan for you, I recommend an in-person consultation with a well-trained dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Best of luck, Dr. Frucht.

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

Kybella is only FDA approved to treat the submental area under the chin. Anything other than this area is considered "off label" and does not carry extensive research to potential side effects and complications. Use caution and go to an experienced injector who is board certified.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Kybella is the first and thus far only FDA-approved, non-surgical, injectable treatment for the double chin. At this point it is only indicated for the double chin. However there are currently studies on the use of Kybella for other areas including bra fat. The safety and side-effect profile for Kybella has not been established on areas other than the double chin and Kybella treatments in other areas are currently considered off label. There are a number of surgical and non-surgical options for pockets of fat including a variety of energy-based devices. Good luck!

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Kybella is fantastic treatment for submental fat under the chin.  However, it is not FDA approved for fat reduction in other places of the body. You should look into Coolsculpting and other non-surgical fat removal procedures.  Best, Dr. Green

Kybella for armpit fat removal? (Photo)

Answers (14)