Why did Kybella make my chin bigger?

Question

I had two vials of Kybella put into my chin and jawline 9 weeks ago. I am left with a chin twice the size. I did not put on ANY weight. I have been the same weight for 5 years. I can not find anything on here on anybody with a similar problem and I am absolutely devastated. Can somebody tell me what is going on? I don't feel like it is swollen anymore. What are my options to fix this? My doctor is of no help and absolutely useless. Why did it make my chin BIGGER???

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

In my opinion, you absolutely did not need to have Kybella in the first place.  You do not have objectionable fat under the chin.  Less is more.  I would not launch into a bunch of unnecessary treatment because you are having persistent swelling after a Kybella treatment. Kybella is an over hyped, bummer of a treatment. It under performs and is very expensive.  I advise being pateint and letting this resolve a full 6 months.  I think if you are patient, this will resolve and you may even see a subtle improvement in the sub mental contour.  Try to see fewer cosmetic surgoens who seek to take advantage of your physicial insecurities.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Swelling can be typical after Kybella, which can fluctuate, and can take several weeks to resolve. Swelling can be improved with venus legacy and lymphatic massage. It also can take a few treatments to start to see results with Kybella. 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

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear locobaby223,Kybella typically takes 3 to 5 treatments to work. This is why I've stopped carrying Kybella in my office.  I recommend neck liposuction more often then any injectable procedure for the neck now. It provides superior results gives me more control over the area than any injectable. The liposuction can be done under local while awake in the office and recovery is about the same as kybella.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Ernest Robinson, MD · Answer

This effect is relative.  If your chin contour is related to your submental area, any change in one of these  will lead to a relative change in the other.  In your case a decrease in submental fat will lead to more definition of chin area.

Edward Omron, MD · Answer

Yes this is part of the procedure. The product will gather in the area in which it has been injected in and will remain there for about 2-4 weeks while it is being degraded. By the 4th week it should be completely gone. If you still experience a larger chin area you should be re-examined by your treating physician. Kybella generally needs about 3 treatments to be effective. After the 3rd and final treatment, it will be a total of 12 weeks until you see the final results. SO all in all you are going to be at least 6 months out before final results from the first injection. I encourage you to continue with the treatments and wait. It does work and it does provide the results your are looking for. You must be patient and go through the entire process for total results.

Heidi A. Waldorf, MD · Answer

To be able to evaluate you, a physician would need side and front photos and see you in person moving.  Also you need to be clearer about what you are describing as your chin size doubling -- the fat under the chin?  the width of the chin?  the distance from your chin to your ear?  Finally, looking at the photo on the right, it appears that you had filler around your mouth and chin. Is that correct? Did you have any botulinum toxin in your jaw muscles or chin?   Other issues to consider are whether you still have any numbness or tingling under the chin in the area the kybella was injected and whether the kybella injection stopped at the jawline.   I say all this not to suggest that you should be happy with your results but to say that when you see someone else in consultation it is important to have those details to discuss with her.  Remember that most patients have at least 6 weeks of swelling but I have seen patients have 8 weeks depending on the amount they have had injected and the amount of fat.  Also if filler is done the same day you need to be able to distinguish what results are related to one or the other. Im sorry that I was unable to give you a more specific answer -- just more questions.  I hope they can help when you seek other consultation.Best wishes.

Justin Harper, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi Locobaby 223,
I have extensive experience in using Kybella for the treatment of submental fullness. From the before and after photos you sent, I can see that you are young and have very little fat to lose, if at all. You had 2 vials of Kybella, the typical first treatment dosage and possibly a total of 20 or more injections to the subcutaneous fat in the submental area - which could cause post-treatment pain and inflammation. In my practice I usually have sessions spaced a month apart (the recommended protocol) with the total number of sessions depending on the aesthetic goal of the client. This means that theoretically, you would have a follow-up treatment already. However, if you didn’t have one, and had no chance to discuss with your doctor what could be the reason for this distressing complication, let me tell you that during the extensive study done by Allergan for Kybella, adverse effects experienced up to the 24th week post-treatment were resolved at the end of the study. Does this help?
So, if all went well, you would be seeing some improvement in the next weeks. Whether you needed Kybella done is water under the bridge. Moving forward, try to recall whether you observed post treatment advice such as icing etc. Also take note if there are still areas that are inflamed or painful to the touch. If doubt persists, go ahead and seek a second opinion from a doctor whose reputation, vast experience and “past work” you trust.   
All the best,
Justin Harper, MD.

Why did Kybella make my chin bigger?

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