Can you use kybella to fix a "buffalo hump" and will it work? Is it safe? How many treatments would I need to see results?

Question

I have what is called a buffalo hump on my neck-back area ( just a small hump) I was told that even tho kybella is not approved for this area that it actually does a really nice job and it's done very evenly/ works well. I guess I would love to hear other doctors opinions/experience on using kybella to treat this area instead of liposuction. Also, if you do have experience with kybella on this area how many treatments do you think it would take me to see any results. Thank you all for your help!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I find that VASER liposuction is the best for getting improvement for buffalo humps. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a body contouring expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Hello Kayla.Kybella should work. It's not FDA approved in this anatomic location - so how well it works and the time it will take to work are not known (it has not been studied). You should consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about your options.Best wishes, Dr. ALDO :)

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Kybella could potentially be used to treat a "buffalo hump" but it would be considered an off-label use of the product.  The size of the hump would determine how many vials would be needed per treatment and how many treatments might be needed.  You mentioned you felt yours was small, so I would say it is possible it could take 2-4 treatment sessions.  An examination would really be needed to give you more precise advice.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for
your question 22kayla22. Kybella is
the first and thus-far only FDA-approved non-surgical injectable treatment for
the double chin. A buffalo hump is located on the back of the neck and is associated with certain endocrine abnormalities. The cause of the buffalo hump should be determined for best treatment. Currently Kybella is only indicated for the double chin. However some doctors use it off-label in other areas. I do not have experience in off-label use of Kybella. Please
consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Melanie L. Petro, MD · Answer

It would be "off label" but we certainly use it in areas other than the submental area with excellent results.If it could be debulked with Coolsculpting you would have less swelling & require less kybella treatments.

Paul Pietro, MD · Answer

Hello 22kayla22,Thank you for your question. Kybella has proven itself a very effective treatment in clinical trial and clinical experience for its FDA approved treatment for submental fat. Unfortunately regarding "off label" uses such as you are describing we do not have the same data by which to rely on, thus any information will be anecdotal. For the under the chin area we do know 2-4 treatments are typically needed depending on the amount of fat present and ones desired outcome. Only an in person evaluation can give us this information especially regarding how many vials per treatment would most likely be needed. This is very important because you may find that liposuction is actually a more economical way to proceed not to mention the time saved being fully treated in one appointment as opposed to 3 or 4 treatments spaced roughly six weeks apart. See an experienced surgeon in both liposuction and Kybella you will have the most complete picture this way. Be well.

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. Yes, Kybella can be used off-label to treat fat in other parts of the body such as the neck, underarms, bra fat, abdomen, jowls, and thighs. It's hard to give you an idea of how many vials or how many sessions would be required without evaluating you in person or seeing a photo. I recommend you see an expert injector for an in person consultation and to discuss your treatment options. Good luck!

Annie Chiu, MD · Answer

Kybella is a recently approved cytolytic agent that can destroy fat cells permanently. It is currently FDA-approved for submental fullness, or the little bit of chin fat that is common in both men and women. After a few years on the market, there is definitely increased off-label use for Kybella, including for nodules of abnormal fat proliferation such as lipomas. Because of reports of success in the use of Kybella to treat lipomas, there is definitely a possibility that Kybella can be used to decrease the appearance of a “buffalo hump”. Kybella is a product meant to treat small pockets of fat, so multiple sessions would be needed for a larger area like a “buffalo hump” and the cost effectiveness of this against liposuction (which can typically be done in one session) needs to be weighed. Your treating physician can probably guide you in how many sessions and if it is a viable alternative against liposuction. Be realistic and understand that some studies show the cells in a “buffalo hump” are smaller and express different genes than regular fat—with Kybella being quite new for this application, it may be hard to predict exactly how much product is needed. I encourage you to have an open discussion with your treating physician about what is the most cost effective and desirable treatment for you.

Can you use kybella to fix a "buffalo hump" and will it work? Is it safe? How many treatments would I need to see results?

Answers (8)

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