When Kybella was launched in the United States for fat destruction in the submental fat of the chin, the hype around it was immense. KYBELLA ® (deoxycholic acid) injection is indicated for improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults. While there are no approved uses of Kybella in other areas, there are plenty of off-label uses that are gaining some attention from injectors and their patients.
We know that Kybella destroys fat safely by killing the fat cells and allowing the body to absorb them, and the fat goes away forever. It is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive way to get rid of fat so why not try it in other body areas.
Kybella is currently used in the double chin region, an area that previously could only be treated with liposuction or other surgical procedures. Because of Kybella fat dissolving properties, some experienced injectors are now injecting Kybella in other fatty areas. Kybella has been found to be beneficial for superficial fat around the “love handles,” the “saddlebags”, “bra bulge”, “banana rolls” under the buttocks, armpit “pooches”, and lower abdomen.
For off-label use of Kybella, it is important to have the right patient with the right body weight. It’s typically for people who are almost at their ideal weight but are having trouble eliminating fat in problem areas, despite exercise and eating right. Kybella can be used off label to treat a small amount of fat in a pocket that might be considered not big enough of an issue to require liposuction or surgery.
The downside to using Kybella for the treatment of fat in other areas of the body is that it requires multiple treatments and can get expensive. While many professionals have found the use of Kybella to help smooth out these small contour irregularities on the body, it is important to remember this is off label use of Kybella and patients should fully understand the treatment, potential effects, outcomes, and timeline.
Many providers are using Kybella off-label and recording their data to bring to the FDA. This will hopefully lead to an FDA approval of Kybella in other areas on the body.
Kybella body treatments to destroy fat maybe the procedure you are looking for to tackle those small pockets of fat that exercise and diet do not solve and too small of an area that lipo is not an ideal choice. Call Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness to make an appointment at no cost to discuss if Kybella treatment is right for you. Offices in Tampa (813) 902-9559 and St. Petersburg (727) 278-3992.
