Is Kybella the best way to remove buffalo hump or Liposuction?

I perform both treatments but liposuction is much preferred. With liposuction, In one treatment with little to no recovery you can achieve excellent results. Kylella is best for patients with mild submental fullness and for patients who have the patients to wait for 4-6 months for results.

Liposuction is the easiest way to remove a buffalo hump, especially if it’s large. Buffalo humps contain dense fat and liposuction breaks that up with a tumescent solution. If the hump is very small and you don’t want any kind of downtime, then Kybella may be an option, but it would take a few treatments and may cause some swelling. Consulting a board-certified dermatologist will help you make the right decision.

I prefer using ultrasonic liposuction to reduce a buffalo hump.  While Kybella could theoretically be used, it would involve multiple treatment sessions and it is likely that the amount needed would be more than the maximum amount recommend by the manufacturer.  

It takes a series of treatments to get good results with Kybella. Keep in mind, Kybella is good for dissolving the submental fat, but a combination approach is needed to get the most improvement with non-invasive options. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Kybella was approved for treating fat in the submental area. Theoretically you can use Kybella wherever you have fat. I prefer liposuction in most cases. Make sure there is no medical reason for your hump. 

Dear WeezyE,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.  It also costs about the same as what you paid for your first kybella session. The liposuction can be done under local while awake in the office and recovery is about the same as kybella.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hi there. Thanks for your question. It depends on the volume of fat involved and amount of reduction needed...you'll also want to consider cost and downtime. Kybella and Coolsculpting both remove about 25% of the volume of fat per treatment. One vial of Kybella covers 10 square centimeters, so you'll want to consider how many vials will be needed and if there will be subsequent treatments (usually yes). Coolsculpting can cover a greater area than one vial of Kybella, but also may need more than one session. Lipo will be the most complete treatment in one session, but generally has more post-procedure discomfort than the other two treatments. Cost often tends to be the biggest factor for most, so consult on each of the options and find which is best for you!
@DrKatNP.trilogy

Thank you for your question. I have found that liposuction offers a much better result in less time (and likely for a lower cost), as Kybella often requires multiple treatments spaced at 6-week intervals to show any measurable change.  While liposuction may be more of a “procedure” than a series of injections, it is considered to be very safe, effective and can even be done under local anesthetic in many cases. I would recommend that you schedule an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your treatment options.  

I'm not impressed with the ability of Kybella to remove large amounts of fat. I would stick to liposuction for this. It is one treatment and it will be more complete, and probably less expensive than Kybella too.

Hello there! Either treatment can be used, but Kybella will require more treatments, most likely more money, and will probably not give you the results you are hoping for. If your buffalo hump is on the smaller side, Kybella might be a better option in that case. Good luck! Sarah RN BSN