Why is Kybella so expensive?

Kybella was developed by Kythera and recently purchased by Allergan.  It was an expensive purchase and some of that has been passed on to the final cost.  A reason that Allergan paid dearly is because the clinical trials involved thousands of patients.  Many of the important questions (how much to be effective, how much to stay safe) were worked out pretty thoroughly in the expensive clinical trials.  Most patients need 3- 4 treatments, one month apart.  It is true that liposuction of the neck is less money than most Kybella series.  I offer both options, and let patients choose.  Some patients simply do not want to have a short (30 minute) outpatient procedure, and now they have a safe and effective choice.  

The primary cost of the Kybella is related to the research and development that goes into developing the product, and the price that the manufacturer or distributor charges for the product. Sometimes there is very little injector markup on certain injectable products, including Kybella.Kybella works well, but requires more treatments and sometimes more total downtime than a single session of liposuction. In my practice, I perform both treatments, depending on patient preference, and both can be quite effective when performed well and with proper patient selection.Be sure to see an expert physician injector who specializes in facial aesthetic procedures.Best,

Hello,You have raised a very good point & question.  We agree that the cost of Kybella seems to be out of proportion to the benefits when liposuction continues to be a gold standard.  Although there may be a  more discrete approach with Kybella, there is significant neck swelling (ex:  bull frog) for upwards to a week with most patients requiring more than 1 treatment.  Therefore, the argument that Kybella provides for no social downtime is not correct.  In addition, there are many non-physicians that are providing Kybella treatments which begs the question why the procedure is so expensive as compared to liposuction that must be performed by a physician.  We believe that the negative side effects combined with the potential adverse side effects of Kybella are larger than the potential benefits.

Thank you for your question about Kybella.  It is true, Kybella is not cheap.  However, it is a very new product on the market and therefore the cost of Kybella to the practice is quite high.  There are several benefits to Kybella vs lipsuction.  Kybella is a nonsurgical intervention for submental fullness; whereas, liposuction is a surgical procedure and can be quite painful.  Liposuction also does not offer skin tightening like Kybella does.  Swelling can be moderate to severe with both procedures.  However, Kybella is much less painful when compared to liposuction.  To be sure you receive the best treatment, see two or more experienced, licensed and board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment.

I hope this helps.

Very good question! Kybella is the only recently approved by the FDA and is the only treatment on the market that produces the permanent results it does without having any direct competition in the market as of today. Sometimes the pricing with a new product that is extremely successful is inherently priced higher to account for money spent on research trials, FDA approval processes and bringing it to market. As new competing products come out, this may change in the future. The clinics themselves do not add inordinate fees to the product but pricing may be higher in certain parts of the country due to location. Kybella is an outstanding product that is popular because it permanently removes submental fat and creates beautiful long lasting results with no surgery. For a lot of people in today’s busy world they are looking for treatments that require less invasive processes so they can get back to everyday life and busy careers as soon as possible. For many, the cost is justified solely on the fact that they do not have to undergo surgery. The cost of Kybella depends largely on the amount of fat, number of treatments needed as well as the amount of product being used. Some people respond wonderfully to 2 - 3 treatments while others may need 4 - 6 treatments. Everyone is different and has a different amount of fat so this will inevitably vary from one individual to the next. In general, a single treatment tends to range anywhere from $700 - $1,500. Complete treatments can range from $1,500 - $5,000. Generally speaking, a good average number of treatment needed for most people is 3 - 3.5 treatments. I highly recommend meeting with an experienced physician for a consultation to determine what the actual pricing would be for you individually. By doing this, you will be able to see the cost difference between Kybella and Lipo to determine what the best treatment is for you. For more helpful information answering this question, please see my video below. I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!

I would have to agree with the statement that kybella is an expensive product. The cost of the product itself is very expensive and therefore unfortunately the physician does have to pass that cost onto the patient. As plastic surgeons we are all hopeful that the price will come down in the near future. The biggest benefit of kybella  is the fact that it is it nonsurgical.