What is the recovery like for Kybella injections?

As an injector of deoxycholate (aka Kybella) for TEN YEARS, I can review for you the series of symptoms and signs that are typical of these injections for the neck area.First, they experience some pain, usually rated 6-8 on a scale of 1-10, for a total of 6-8 hours starting about halfway through the injections, made very tolerable with pain medicine taken prior.Next, they experience swelling, which can get huge if there was a large amount of fat, which peaks at 20-28 hours after injection and is largely gone by 48 hours after the procedure. Some of the swelling (but not the medicine) can go down into the upper chest skin--but usually leaves by the end of the second day).They will develop, often, some numbness in the treated area, which disappears within 2 months.They often have tenderness-to-the-touch in the area (but only when the area is being touched) for 1-2 months, which is not severe enough to interfere with daily life and working.They may have a transient 4-12 hour period, within the first 24 hours after treatment, of hoarseness and mild discomfort swallowing solid food (but no problems breathing or drinking or eating soft foods and smoothies)!On the 3rd or 4th day after treatment, the treated area starts to "gel." This is something you feel; not see. This is followed by a solidification or hardening of the gel-fat.  Next, the solidified fat breaks into bits, called "nodules", which are almost always felt but not seen.  At this point the body's immune system macrophages (big eaters) are in full swing, eating the dead fat in the nodules and carrying the dead fat away to be eliminated from the body...and so the nodules gradually disappear over a few months.  Again, they are felt but almost never seen.  And they always go away with time.At about a month after the procedure, most people have definite reduction in fat and tightening of skin in the treated area.  This continues to improve over the next 3-5 months.  (I have never had a single patient unhappy or dissatisfied with the results of this procedure.  And I have treated hundreds of necks with this!)  It is an absolutely wonderful procedure!!! Those who are injected on a Thursday or Friday are back at work on Monday!

Thank you for your question. The side effects you outline are common plus temporary numbness. Swelling is the most common side effect and patients can be self conscious about their appearance for 2 - 5 days. In general, the greater the fat pad and the greater the dosage of Kybella required, the more swelling can be expected. Some patients will wear a turtle neck or neck scarf to minimise visibility of swelling. Application of cold packs and use of anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can be used to speed up the resolution of swelling. Using ibuprofen does not interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment. A rare side effect, that the manufacturer has recently brought to the attention of practitioners, is ulceration and tissue necrosis (breakdown) - this is thought to be due to injections being too superficial or intra-arterial. To minimise side effects, ensure you have your treatment with an experienced practitioner.

There is temporary swelling and risk of bruising with Kybella. For the first few days, numbness is also present below the chin. I have noticed with my patients that recovery time is very much dependent on the amount of Kybella that needs to be injected. The more injections, the longer the recovery time from swelling. Generally,the swelling in patients is unnoticeable within a couple of days. However, a full recovery is considered to take place within 4-6 weeks.