Is inflammation after kybella beneficial or should it be prevented?

Question

I had kybella this morning and am seeking evidenced based advice on swelling. There seems to be conflicting information. One school of thought is that icing, compression, and other efforts should be taken to reduce swelling. The other is that inflammation is beneficial because it leads to higher neocollagenesis due to the wound healing cascade. Is there research to support either of these approaches? Thank you so much in advance.

David M. Lieberman, MD · Answer

Great question.  Throughout the years we have found that Kybella results are better when we do not limit swelling.  In the beginning we did a lot of ice and compression and the results were not great. We now allow the swelling to take place, increased our dosing and we are seeing much better results.  We tell our patients to embrace the swelling. Best of luck!

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Swelling is normal and does not negatively impact results. Kybella take 1-3 treatments every 6 weeks.  Patient will develop swelling and possible bruising after each injection that may last a few days.  The benefit of Kybella is each treatment is quick and completed in the office. However, some patients need more than one treatment to get desired results. Hope this helps.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

On the other hand if one were to blast this with steroids, it would interfere with the effects of the Kybella. This treatment works on the basis of inflammation. Kybella is a disappointment in my opinion.  I can't recommend this service.  It is very uncomfortable.  It often requires multiple sessions to see an effect.  It is very expensive. Neck liposuction is a much better option.  However, no one is spending $100 million on a marketing campaign for neck liposuction.  Don't get talked into unnecessary energy treatments on the neck. Study feed back of folks who have actually had these treatments.  You experience is not likely to be much different than what they describe.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Inflammation is typical and will not interfere with your results. For after care, I recommend venus legacy and massage. It can take 6-8 weeks to start to see results with Kybella and some people need more than one treatment. To improve Kybella results, I recommend a combination approach with thermage, ultherapy, exilis. VASER liposuction in combination with ThermiRF is an alternative for contouring the chin, if you're a candidate. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Vilma Di Maria, MBBS · Answer

this is a great question, ThankyouInflammation and swelling is great. The immediate swelling can represent fat death and then the inflammation leads to collagen production. This helps with skin retraction. I always tell my patietns to embrace the swelling as it means the product is doing its job. the skin retraction usually takes at least 4 weeks to start happening.Good luck and i hope this helps

Eric Shreder, DO, MS · Answer

Ice immediately after the procedure will reduce any burning sensation you may feel.  I do not recommend ice or anti-inflammatory medications during recovery.  Inflammation is actually desired because this triggers the process of fat cell destruction. Most controlled inflammatory processes in the dermis/sub-dermis will lead to neocollagenesis. For instance many studies have shown that microneedling leads to increased collagen and elastin production. There is no reason to believe that Kybella's controlled inflammation side benefit would not lead to collagen production in the deep sub-dermis. As a result I have seen skin tightening occur after Kybella treatments in some patients.

Katherine Dee, MD · Answer

In my opinion, the inflammation is what helps get the skin tightening effect we see with Kybella. Icing will not really reduce the inflammation very much, so some icing is OK. Usually after the first 10 minutes of burning, the pain goes away and is replaced with numbness for most people. Unless there is continued pain, I would not recommend icing just to try to reduce swelling. This likely won't have much of an effect. Try to embrace the swelling! As to your question about data-- no I don't know of a study that proves that inflammation is key to the tightening effect. Many of us believe that this is the logical explanation for the fact that we see it at all, because tightening is not directly triggered by the acid itself. 
Although Kybella often takes multiple treatments, it does work well to get rid of fat and sculpt the jawline over time, with no surgery or scarring. For people who are good candidates who are not impatient, it is a great option.

Justin Harper, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi JaneyDoe,We do recommend icing carefully -  30 sec on, then 30 sec off  for 20 minutes per hour over a 3-day period. Inflammation per se is expected. However, some patients experience and extended period of inflammation or numbness. Be sure to consult your Provider who can prescribe Arnica and/or acetaminophen.Inform your doctor if there is difficulty in swallowing or asymmetry.All the best, Mary

Is inflammation after kybella beneficial or should it be prevented?

Answers (8)