Kybella.Permanent.

What it is.

Kybella® is the only FDA-approved injectable that permanently dissolves fat. The active molecule is deoxycholic acid — a substance the body already produces as part of bile to break down dietary fat. When injected directly into a fat pad, it disrupts the cell membrane of the fat cells (adipocytes); over the following 4–6 weeks, the immune system clears the debris and those cells don't return.

It's permanent because the cells are gone. Future weight gain shows up elsewhere first. That's the appeal — and the responsibility: Kybella is one of the few injectables where conservative dosing matters as much for the long-term result as for the day of treatment. We work in a series of restrained sessions rather than reaching for one heavy day.

Where we use it.

• Submental fullness (the double chin) — the FDA-approved indication. The classic pocket of fat under the chin that doesn't respond to weight loss.
• Jawline definition — small Kybella along the jaw, paired with masseter Botox or jawline filler, sharpens the lower-face silhouette.
• Pre-jowl pocket — the small fat shadow just in front of the jowl line that softens the lower face.
• Bra rolls (off-label) — small pockets of localized fat at the back, where the body of the bra strap sits.
• Banana rolls (off-label) — the under-buttock crease that doesn't respond to glute work.
• Anterior axilla (off-label) — the front-of-armpit pocket visible in fitted tops and dresses.

What to expect.

A Kybella appointment is 45–60 minutes — most of which is the consult, photographs, and the careful grid-marking of the treatment area. Treatment itself is 10–20 minutes, with a series of small subcutaneous injections in a calculated pattern. Topical numbing makes the injection itself comfortable; the burning sensation that follows for 5–10 minutes is the deoxycholic acid working.

Plan for visible swelling. The treated area will look 2–4× the size of the original fat pad for 3–7 days. This is part of the mechanism — the immune system clearing the lysed fat cells — and is essential to the result. We deliberately don't book Kybella patients before social events, weddings, or photo days.

Appointment

45–60 min

Downtime

3–7 days swell

Series

2–4 sessions

Lasts

Permanent

Results & cadence.

Most patients see meaningful change after 2–4 sessions, spaced 4–6 weeks apart. A small percentage need only one session; some need more. We re-photograph at every visit and stop when the result is right — never adding "one more" out of routine. Once the fat cells are cleared, the result holds permanently barring significant weight gain.

Considerations.

Common, expected effects: significant swelling for 3–7 days, bruising, mild numbness, and tenderness for 1–2 weeks. Less common: small areas of firmness that resolve over weeks, transient asymmetry. Rare: marginal mandibular nerve weakness (a temporary one-sided smile change) — minimized by anatomic mapping and conservative depth. Kybella is not used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, with active infection, severe submental swelling, or known bleeding disorders. Patients with skin laxity (loose skin) need a candid conversation — Kybella reduces fat but does not tighten skin.

Who places it.

Every Kybella treatment at Privé is performed by Elizabeth Hurley, RN, BSN, CANS — a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist with extensive experience in submental anatomy and the marginal mandibular nerve. Conservative grids, photographic documentation between sessions, and a willingness to stop earlier than later are core to the protocol.