Kybella Fat Dissolving in Houston, TX
Permanently eliminate submental fat and define your jawline without surgery, anesthesia, or downtime.
Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable specifically designed to eliminate fat cells beneath the chin. Once those cells are destroyed, they don’t come back. For patients with isolated submental fat (the fullness under the chin that creates the appearance of a double chin) who are at or near a stable weight and not interested in surgery, Kybella delivers a genuinely permanent result.
It’s worth being clear about where Kybella fits in the current treatment landscape. It’s not a weight loss treatment. It’s a targeted fat reduction treatment for one specific area. Patients who are significantly above their goal weight typically get better outcomes from weight loss first and Kybella after, if submental fullness persists. Patients who are at stable weight and frustrated by a double chin that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise are exactly the right candidate.
How Kybella Works
Kybella’s active ingredient is deoxycholic acid, a molecule your body naturally produces to help absorb dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, deoxycholic acid disrupts the cell membrane of fat cells, causing them to break down. The body then clears the destroyed cells through its natural metabolic processes over the following weeks.
The process is permanent: fat cells don’t regenerate. Once treated fat cells are eliminated, they can’t come back. The remaining fat cells in the area can still grow if you gain significant weight, which is why stable weight at the time of treatment produces the most lasting results. But the treated cells themselves are permanently gone.
What Kybella Treats
Kybella is FDA-approved for submental fullness, the fat beneath the chin. This area is one of the most common aesthetic concerns we hear about from patients across all age groups, and one that diet and exercise have limited ability to address since submental fat distribution is largely genetic.
Double chin from excess fat: The most common presentation. Patients who’ve always had some fullness under the chin regardless of body weight are often ideal candidates since the fat deposit is isolated and not connected to overall body composition.
Submental fullness after weight loss: Some patients find that overall weight loss improves their body composition significantly but submental fat persists. Kybella addresses this specific remainder effectively.
Profile definition: Even without a dramatic “double chin,” submental fullness that blunts the chin-to-neck transition affects how the face reads in profile. Patients who are bothered by this in photos respond well to Kybella.
Kybella vs. Other Options for Submental Fat
Patients considering submental fat reduction have a few options and it’s worth understanding how they compare.
Kybella: Permanently destroys fat cells with no surgery. Results develop over several weeks and typically require two to three sessions. The swelling period is significant and is the main practical consideration for patients with professional or social obligations.
CoolSculpting/fat freezing: Uses controlled cooling to destroy fat cells in a similar mechanism without injection. Also permanent. Results timeline is similar to Kybella.
Neck liposuction: Surgical option that removes fat in a single session. More dramatic volume reduction possible. Requires anesthesia and recovery.
GLP-1 medications: Systemic weight loss medications that reduce overall body fat including in the submental area for patients who carry weight more broadly. Not a targeted treatment.
Attiva RF: Addresses skin laxity in the neck area rather than fat volume. Appropriate for patients whose concern is loose or crepey neck skin rather than fat fullness. The two can be combined for patients with both concerns.
We’ll help you determine which approach makes the most sense at your consultation.
What to Expect
A Kybella session takes 15 to 20 minutes. Multiple small injections are placed across the treatment area using a grid-like pattern mapped to your specific anatomy.
The sensation: A brief stinging and burning sensation during injection is normal and typically settles within a few minutes. Most patients tolerate it well with the numbing applied beforehand.
Immediately after and the first week: This is the most important expectation to set clearly. Kybella causes significant swelling in the treated area, sometimes called “frog neck,” that can look dramatically worse before it looks better. Swelling peaks around days two through four and gradually resolves over two to four weeks. This is normal, expected, and temporary. Patients who know this in advance handle it well. Patients who aren’t warned find it alarming.
Other normal responses include numbness, bruising, and firmness in the treatment area as the fat cells break down. These all resolve over time.
After care: Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated the first few nights can help manage swelling. Ice packs in the first 24 hours help with discomfort. Avoid blood-thinning supplements beforehand to minimize bruising.
When results are visible: Most patients see meaningful change at four to six weeks post-treatment as the body clears the treated fat cells. Full results are typically visible at 12 weeks.
How many sessions: Most patients need two to three sessions spaced at least four weeks apart for optimal results. Some patients with mild submental fullness see sufficient results from a single session. Some with more significant fullness may benefit from a third. We’ll assess at each appointment rather than pre-committing to a fixed number.
Kybella and Attiva RF: Addressing the Full Picture
For patients who have both submental fat and neck skin laxity, Kybella and Attiva RF work well as a combination approach. Kybella removes the fat and Attiva RF tightens the skin, which can prevent the loose skin that sometimes becomes more visible after fat is removed.
The typical sequencing is Kybella first to remove the fat volume, followed by Attiva RF once the area has fully settled, usually three to four months after the final Kybella session. We’ll discuss timing at your consultation based on your specific anatomy.
Is Kybella Right for You?
Good candidates are adults in good overall health who have moderate to significant submental fullness and are bothered by it. You should be at or near a stable weight, since significant weight gain after treatment can allow remaining fat cells in the area to grow.
Kybella is not appropriate if you have had prior neck surgery or procedures in the area, if you have an infection or active skin condition in the treatment area, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Patients with very lax skin in the neck area may find that removing the fat without addressing the laxity first can make loose skin more visible. We assess this at consultation and discuss whether Attiva RF should be incorporated into the plan.
One expectation to set clearly: Kybella requires patience. The results are real and permanent, but the timeline from treatment to visible outcome is several weeks, and the intervening swelling period requires some lifestyle planning. Patients with significant professional or social obligations need to factor this into their scheduling.
Real Results From FACE/FIT Patients
Every image below is a real FACE/FIT patient. No stock photos, no filters. View our full gallery
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Achieve your skincare goals with our expert facial treatments that cater to your unique skin needs, leaving you with a glowing, revitalized complexion.
Kybella Pricing at FACE/FIT
Kybella is priced per vial at FACE/FIT. Most sessions use two to four vials depending on the degree of submental fullness. We’ll give you a clear estimate at your consultation. Current pricing is on our pricing page.
FACE/FIT Club members receive member pricing on all injectable treatments. Cherry and CareCredit financing are available.
Ready to permanently address your double chin?
Book a Kybella consultation at FACE/FIT Houston. We’ll assess your submental anatomy, talk through your goals and timeline, and give you an honest recommendation about how many sessions to expect and whether any complementary treatments make sense.
5 STAR AESTHETIC PRACTICE
Write us a review
