Why haven’t I seen any results from Kybella after one month?

Question

I got one whole vial of Kybella injected under my chin on the first week of March. I had such minimal fat and not a double chin. Now the area looks like exactly how it did before the Kybella injections. The doctor told me since I have such minimal fat there I would only need one treatment. I feel so upset because I still look the same. Will I need a second treatment or should I wait a little longer to see the full results?

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Hi there! I’m Lauren, the aesthetic injector here at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center. Kybella typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks for visible results. If you're not seeing the improvement you expected, I would recommend scheduling a follow-up appointment with your provider to reassess the area and determine the best next steps for you.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

"​It takes a series of treatments to get good results with Kybella. Keep in mind, Kybella is good for dissolving the submental fat under the chin area while contouring the jawline and making the chin more defined, but a combination approach is needed to get the most improvement with non-invasive options. I recommend a combination approach with Thermage, Ultherapy, and Exilis.

InMode FaceTite / AccuTite with VASER Neck Liposuction is the best option for contouring and tightening the chin, neck, and jawline area. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer​​"

Peter N. Butler, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question.  As others have stated, it is typical to need more than one treatment.  I prepare my patients for 2-3 treatments on average.  I would give it the full six weeks and then follow up with your provider.

Matthew Richardson, MD · Answer

It can take up to six weeks to see a reduction of fat with Kybella, but results with one treatment are almost always minimal. We recommend at least two treatments of Kybella to see a significant difference, and usually use more than one vial per treatment session. I always advise speaking with your physician injector with any questions or concerns you might have.All the best,

Anteneh Roba, MD · Answer

In almost all cases kybella treatment requires at least two treatments and even more so one treatment is probably not enough and second , it takes at least 6 weeks to start seeing reduction in sub mental fat deposits.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

It can take 6 weeks or so to see the results after a Kybella treatment.  Also, I have never treated any patient with Kybella who only needed one treatment.  I would say it is likely that you would need at least one more treatment to see more noticeable results.

Why haven’t I seen any results from Kybella after one month?

Answers (6)