What is Kybella's recovery time in regards to severe swelling?

Thank you for your question! This is a very common question! Swelling will generally peak around 3 - 4 days and reduce within 10 - 14 days. This tends to be more prominent when there is a large amount of fat and if it is your first time being treated. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to aesthetically reduce the swelling during the healing process (2 - 4 weeks). For discomfort due to swelling, I
recommend reducing exercise after treatment and icing it to make it feel better. Permanent results from the treatment are seen within 3 - 4 weeks and can continue to be seen up to 6 months. With each subsequent treatment there will be less swelling due to the body having an established tolerance to treatment. 
For more detailed information answering this question, please feel welcome to view the video below. I hope you find it helpful. Best of luck with your treatment!
Dr. Anil Rajani, MD

Thank you for your question. Kybella is FDA approved for treatment of a "double chin". We inject Kybella, a synthetic version of naturally occurring deoxycholic acid, below the skin. It dissolves and removes the excess fat.  As the fat is dissolved, an inflammatory response occurs and this can take 2-4 weeks to subside. There may be some bruising and redness for up to 1 week but these can easily be covered with makeup. Overall you can return to work immediately and most people would not notice that you have had the procedure.  You’ll see some results after the first treatment, but to get the best results, we recommend two to five treatments.
As always, an in-person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with cosmetic training is the best way to assess your needs and provide medical advice. 

Typically, the most common side effects after treatment with Kybella are swelling, bruising, numbness and/or redness in the treated area, which subside in a short time. These occur most frequently after the first treatment. Although there is no actual “downtime” after the administration of Kybella, swelling or bruising must be considered if one has an event planned within ten to fourteen days after treatment.

Kybella is an excellent solution for patients who have unwanted fullness under their chin. The swelling associated with the injections usually lasts 1-2 weeks after the treatment with the most severe swelling lasting usually just the first few days. Good luck to you!

Swelling is patient-dependent but expect at least a few days of figuring out a way to hide your neck. For women it's fairly easy to hide behind a scarf, but men have it a little tougher in camouflaging a puffed out neck.The swelling is a non-negotiable part of the treatment process. A lot is going on underneath. But when that fat is gone, it's gone, so the temporary puffery is a small price to pay.You'll have some residual puffiness after the initial swelling has passed - up to a couple of weeks - but mostly that will be only noticeable to you, not others.