Is Kybella the answer?

Dermatological medical technology is alive and well.  So it’s no surprise that new cosmetic dermatology treatments are always coming on the scene.  Most recently the FDA approved a new injectable treatment for adult submental fat, or double chins, called Kybella in the form of a synthetically derived deoxycholic acid.

At Olympic Dermatology we offer many state-of-the art cosmetic dermatology procedures, and we’re often the first in our area with new treatments, like Exilis Elite.  But how do we evaluate new services and determine if they’re right for us to offer to our patients?

Every treatment we offer must be scientifically proven, repeatable and effective.  Establishing that in the medical dermatology community can take time.  But that’s our bottom line because we want to be assured of this, in addition to FDA approval, before offering any new service to patients.

So will you be able to get Kybella at Olympic Dermatology?  We’re currently evaluating it.  Keep in mind, what we know now is that it takes up to six treatments and only some people respond to the procedure.

At this point, we believe a better way to eliminate or reduce a double chin is through traditional small-volume liposuction, possibly followed by an Exilis treatment.  This, in our professional medical opinion, is a more dependable option that’s available to patients right now at Olympic Dermatology.  Determining if it’s right for you is easy; simply schedule online a free cosmetic consult with one of our providers.

Other Kybella details that we know now include it should only be administered by a licensed, experienced health care provider, and patients should fully understand the risks associated with use of the drug before considering treatment.  The FDA also says patients may receive up to 50 injections in a single treatment, with up to six single treatments administered no less than one month apart.  Kybella is only approved for use in the chin area because it hasn’t been tested for any other area of the body.

Kybella may also have side effects.  Common ones include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and areas of hardness in the treatment area.  Less likely but more serious side effects may include nerve injury in the jaw that can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness and trouble swallowing.

If Kybella ultimately passes our high standards of being scientifically proven, repeatable and effective, we will consider offering it.  But for now there is already a scientifically proven, more effective alternative that is working for our patients involving traditional small-volume liposuction, possibly followed by an Exilis treatment.  Check out our testimonials and see what real Olympic Dermatology patients have to say about their experiences.