Skin Care Education

Kybella / Belkyra

Brand names for injectable deoxycholic acid, a fat-dissolving treatment used to permanently reduce the submental fat deposit beneath the chin and improve the definition of the chin and neck profile.

What Are Kybella and Belkyra?

Kybella and Belkyra are brand names for the same injectable product, deoxycholic acid, sold under different names in different markets. Kybella is the name used in the United States and Belkyra is the name used in Canada, Europe, and other markets. The product is made by Allergan and is the only injectable fat-dissolving treatment that is specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of submental fat, the fat deposit beneath the chin commonly referred to as a double chin.

Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that plays a role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into a fat deposit, it disrupts the membrane of fat cells, causing them to break down. The body then gradually clears the destroyed cells through its natural elimination processes over the following weeks and months. The fat cells that are destroyed do not regenerate, making the reduction permanent for those specific cells.

The treatment is delivered through a series of small injections placed in a grid pattern beneath the chin. Each session typically involves multiple injection points and the treatment is repeated over a course of sessions until the desired reduction is achieved. Unlike fat freezing, which uses cold to damage fat cells, Kybella and Belkyra use a chemical process to break them down directly.

What to Expect

Before treatment a topical numbing cream and sometimes a local anaesthetic injection is used to reduce discomfort. The deoxycholic acid solution is then injected at multiple points across the submental fat deposit using a fine needle. The injection process takes 15 to 20 minutes. As the solution enters the tissue, a burning or stinging sensation is felt, which is a known characteristic of the product and typically settles within 15 to 30 minutes of the session ending.

After treatment, significant swelling beneath the chin is normal and expected. The area will swell noticeably, typically peaking at two to three days and then gradually reducing over one to two weeks. Bruising, redness, firmness, and temporary numbness in the treated area are also common. The swelling is a sign the treatment is working, as the inflammatory response is part of the fat cell destruction process.

Results are not visible immediately and develop gradually as the swelling resolves and the body clears the destroyed fat cells. Most people begin to see a noticeable change from around four to six weeks after treatment, with the full result visible at three months. Most people require two to four treatment sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart to achieve their desired outcome.

Who It’s For and Results

Kybella and Belkyra are best suited to those with a clearly defined submental fat deposit who are at or near a healthy weight and want to improve the definition of their chin and neck profile without surgery. It is particularly appropriate for those who have tried diet and exercise without achieving the reduction they want in this specific area.

It is not a weight loss treatment and is not appropriate for those with very large fat volumes or significant skin laxity in the submental area. Those with significant loose skin beneath the chin may find that reducing the fat deposit makes the skin laxity more visible, and may benefit from a skin tightening treatment alongside or after fat reduction.

When performed on appropriate candidates with realistic expectations, Kybella and Belkyra produce a meaningful and permanent reduction in submental fat, creating a cleaner jaw-to-neck transition and a more defined chin profile. The treatment requires patience as the recovery period and the gradual nature of the results are more significant than many other non-surgical aesthetic treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions: Kybella and Belkyra

Kybella and Belkyra are the same product, deoxycholic acid made by Allergan, sold under different brand names in different geographic markets. Kybella is the US brand name and Belkyra is used in Canada, Europe, and other international markets. The formulation, concentration, and clinical application are identical. If someone encounters both names, they refer to exactly the same injectable fat-dissolving treatment.

Most people require two to four treatment sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart to achieve their desired reduction. The number of sessions depends on the size of the fat deposit, the individual’s response to treatment, and the degree of reduction being sought. Some people are satisfied with the result after two sessions. Those with larger deposits or more ambitious goals may benefit from additional treatments up to a maximum of six sessions. A provider will assess the area after each session and advise on whether further treatment would produce additional benefit.

Yes, and it is one of the most important things to be prepared for before treatment. Significant swelling beneath the chin after each Kybella session is a normal and expected response to the treatment, not a sign of a complication. The inflammatory response that causes the swelling is part of the process by which the fat cells are destroyed and cleared. The swelling typically peaks at two to three days after treatment and gradually subsides over one to two weeks. Planning treatment at a time when significant visible swelling beneath the chin for up to two weeks is acceptable is an important practical consideration.

Both Kybella and fat freezing permanently destroy submental fat cells, but through different mechanisms and with different experiences. Kybella uses a chemical injection process that produces more significant swelling and a longer recovery than fat freezing, but can be more precisely targeted and may be more appropriate for smaller or irregularly shaped fat deposits where a fat freezing applicator does not fit well. Fat freezing uses controlled cooling through a suction applicator and produces less post-treatment swelling and discomfort than Kybella for most people. The appropriate choice depends on the size and shape of the deposit and the individual’s preference, and both are effective non-surgical options for submental fat reduction.