Is uneven swelling indicative of results with Kybella?

Question

I just got kybella injected yesterday and my swelling is uneven. My jowls were injected (3 injections on each side) and under my chin with two vials. One side of my face (jowl area) is more swollen than the other.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Swelling can be asymmetrical and you can do massage and RF treatments to speed up the healing.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear slesieur,Swelling after Kybella is not uncommon. 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. The liposuction can be done under local while awake in the office and recovery is about the same as kybella.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Elham Jafari, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question! Swelling is very common following Kybella injection and it can be uneven and it is in no way and indicator of the final look of the results. All swelling should gradually improve and fully resolve within a few weeks. I hope it helps and good luck!

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

I don't think you can read much into uneven swelling after Kybella. I do believe that patients swelling more than normal tend to have better results and sooner.Good luck, Dr. ALDO

Sheryl D. Clark, MD, FAAD · Answer

Dear slesieur:Uneven swelling just one day after Kybella could be something as simple as sleeping more on one side more than another. Don’t worry! It will be much better in two days.All the best,  Dr. Clark

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

Swelling is common after Kybella treatment and unevenness of the swelling, atleast at this point, does not suggest that you will get an asymmetric result.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question slesieur. I understand your concern. Kybella is the first
and thus-far only FDA-approved non-surgical injectable treatment for the double
chin. The double chin can be formed by various factors including age, weight
gain, and genetics.It is difficult to make an assessment without a
formal exam where I could examine the skin from various angles and feel the
amount of fat in the area. However, I hope the information provided here is
useful.With any injection, there is a risk for pain,
bleeding, bruising, redness, tenderness, swelling, and infection, We take
special precautions to minimize these risks. We numb the skin prior to the
treatment and apply cold air to maximize our patients' comfort. We treat
bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve by two
weeks and after a laser treatment they usually resolve in one to three days,
although it still can take up to two weeks for full resolution. Most people
feel a burning sensation for about 15 minutes after the treatment. This is
addressed by placing cold compresses on the area which we provide in our
office.The most common concern for our patients after a
treatment is swelling, which occurs 100% of the time and I feel that this is an
indication that the treatment is working. Swelling can be asymmetric, meaning that there may be more swelling in one area than another area; this is normal and not cause for concern. I tell my patients to expect swelling
for one to two weeks. Some people describe it as looking like a pelican or
bullfrog. Therefore, patients prepare for this by scheduling their treatments
at times where they are not planning any special events where they want to look
their best. Some people will wear a turtleneck or scarf during this time to
hide the swelling. For my patients, I recommend applying cold compresses such
as ice packs to the area to reduce the swelling. We provide cold compresses
which can be frozen and re-used which attach to a wrap that goes around the
neck and crown of the head. Also sleeping on an extra pillow if not
uncomfortable will help to reduce the swelling.Please consult with a doctor for specific
recommendations. Good luck!

Natalie Borodoker, MD · Answer

It is not uncommon to have uneven swelling, and it is usually not indicative of the final results. Day 2 after injections  swelling is very common and usually cannot predict final outcome, do not worry and use ice compresses on the area. Swelling depends on many factors, and should slowly subside over the period of a few days to 2 weeks after initiall Kybella injection. In my experience patients swell more after the initial Kybella injection than after subsequent sessions. However unlikely, if the unevenness persists after a few weeks it may be corrected with directed Kybella injections to dissolve the fuller area. Best of luck!

Ray Bayati, MD · Answer

Hello,
Assuming it is done correctly, uneven swelling may not be a problem as it takes time with Kybella to see the results. In most patients, Kybella needs to be injected on average 3 times. If unevenness remains after 6 weeks or so then during next treatment, the physician may be able to correct it. 
Kybella is injectable procedure for double chin and excess fat in sub mental area. It is NOT recommended for jowls area because of potential adverse events.
I prefer liposuction for neck excess fat, particularly most patients have some fat under jowls too. Liposuction is one time and the results are visible within days. The cost of liposuction may come out cheaper than Kybella (complete course) yet more definitive results within days.
With Kybella, physician follows protocol and then it is left to the medication to work. With Liposuction, Physician can and would even out the results as it is all in his/her hands.
All the Best
Ray Bayati, MDElite Medical AestheticsSacramento Area, California

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

Kybella will cause swelling after the injection and is usually the worse 24-72 hours after the treatment. It is completely normal to have asymmetric swelling this early post-treatment. The swelling can take 5-7 days to completely resolve depending on how much inflammatory response is created.

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