Submental fullness, also known as the infamous double chin, can cause you to look older or heavier than you really are.
But the time for avoiding photos and hiding from mirrors is behind you—In Houston Kybella is the first and only FDA-approved injection to reduce submental fullness!
Kybella also known as: \ Ky-BEH-luh \
An injectable treatment used to diminish submental (under chin) fat.
Addresses Submental (under the chin) fullness
Procedure Time 45 minutes - 1 hour
Eligibility 18+, Not pregnant/breastfeeding
Possible Side Effects Itching, Slight pain at the injection site, Swelling, Bruising
Experience natural-looking chin fat reduction results that can transform your appearance. View All Before & Afters
Kybella is an FDA-approved, injectable treatment specifically engineered to target and eliminate a double chin.
The active ingredient is synthetic deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule that aids in the breakdown of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, Kybella permanently destroys fat cells.
Surface-level lasers cannot eliminate dense, subcutaneous fat pads. We use this specific chemical intervention to address structural blurring in the lower face.
For patients who wish to avoid formal facial plastic surgery or submental liposuction, Kybella injections offer a purely chemical, minimally invasive alternative to physical fat extraction.
Use our interactive virtual consultation tool to explore the medical aesthetic procedures that might best fit your unique concerns.
Chemical fat reduction requires strict anatomical criteria. A good candidate for Kybella is an adult who possesses a distinct pocket of submental fat and remarkably high skin elasticity.
Every aesthetic intervention begins with a precise clinical assessment. During your Kybella consultation, we physically evaluate the tension of your skin and the density of your submental fullness. We determine if this chemical approach aligns with your specific anatomy.
To prepare for the actual injections, you must halt all blood-thinning medications, NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), and certain herbal supplements one week prior to mitigate bleeding and heavy bruising. Arrive at our Houston clinic with a completely clean face and neck.
We execute this non-surgical treatment with extreme precision. We first clean the neck and apply a potent topical numbing agent to the skin to ensure patient comfort. We then map out a highly specific grid of dots across the treatment area to guide the product distribution perfectly.
Using a microscopic needle, we administer multiple small injections of the synthetic deoxycholic acid directly into the submental fat pad. The entire injection sequence takes less than twenty minutes. You will feel a deep, warm, aching sensation as the active ingredient immediately begins to dismantle the fat cell membranes. We apply ice immediately to soothe the skin.
Kybella offers a permanent structural shift, but the biological clearing process takes time. You will not leave the office with a smaller chin. Over the following weeks, your immune system slowly flushes away the destroyed cells.
Most patients require a series of sessions to achieve optimal, long-lasting results. Depending on the volume of the fat pad, we typically administer two to four treatments spaced about four to six weeks apart. We will never administer more than six treatments for safety and efficacy reasons. Once the final swelling subsides, the jawline emerges sharp, clean, and highly defined.
We do not sugarcoat the inflammatory response. This product works by creating controlled inflammation to destroy the cells. You must be prepared for the physical reality of the recovery phase.
Proper aftercare following Kybella mitigates early discomfort and supports the clearance of the fat.
We advise patients to sleep with their head elevated on an extra pillow for the first few nights to encourage fluid drainage away from the neck. You may apply ice packs to the neck intermittently for the first two days to reduce swelling and soothe the skin. Do not aggressively massage the injection area. Allow the deoxycholic acid to work precisely where we placed it.
The price of a Kybella treatment plan relies strictly on the physical amount of product required to eradicate your fat pad. The cost varies based on the number of vials injected per session and the total number of sessions needed to reach your baseline. Eradicating a small, genetic pocket costs less than dismantling a heavy, dense submental profile.
During your consultation, we design a firm, customized plan. We provide an exact quote detailing the cost per vial and the projected number of sessions. We refuse to guess over the phone. You leave our office with a hard number, fully prepared to schedule your sessions and refine your lower face.
The first step of a Kybella treatment at Studio Essex is a one-on-one consultation. We take the time to get to know you—your goals, medical history, face shape, and and desired results.
Our team of chin fat reduction specialists always collaborate on every patient case. We'll offer you expert recommendations on how best to address your submental fullness.
First, we will place topical numbing cream on the area your provider will inject Kybella. Then, we will mark the areas of injection on your chin. Lastly, your highly skilled injector will strategically inject Kybella into the skin underneath your chin and around your jawline. You can expect to see results from your chin fat reduction 4 to 6 weeks after your initial treatment.
After the Kybella treatment Houston chin fat reduction specialists recommend a series of treatment sessions. The amount of sessions varies depending on each patients' needs, but for most, a series of 6 sessions results in permanent submental fat reduction!
Studio Essex, the medical aesthetics clinic led by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Downey and Dr. Bullocks, is proud to offer medical aesthetic technologies & services to residents of Houston. Our ultimate goal is to offer you a welcoming environment, a phenomenal patient experience, and cutting-edge technology that you won’t find anywhere else in Texas.
Kybella® is an injectable cosmetic treatment that helps patients get rid of their double chin once-and-for-all by melting away submental fat. Kybella gives patients a non-surgical and minimally invasive alternative to more invasive facial contouring procedures – such as neck liposuction – while yielding the same, potentially permanent results. Kybella’s active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, simply melts away targeted fat which is naturally eliminated from the body following treatment. This leaves Houston Kybella patients with a beautifully contoured and slimmed appearance without the downtime and recovery period that comes with traditional facial contouring methods.
The average cost of your Kybella treatment in Houston typically starts at about $600. The total cost for your Kybella treatment will depend on the amount of product needed to help you achieve your desired results.
At Heights Plastic Surgery, we accept cash and all major credit cards. We are also happy to offer financing through CareCredit® for patients. Because Kybella® is often more about cosmetic appearance and is less of medical necessity, it is typically not covered by most insurance plans.
Kybella is an in-office procedure that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Before your Kybella treatment begins, chin fat reduction experts Dr. Downey or Dr. Bullocks will apply a topical anesthetic to your treatment areas. This is to ensure you are as comfortable and pain-free as possible throughout the entirety of your treatment. Dr. Downey or Dr. Bullocks will then place a stencil under your chin to mark your targeted areas, then strategically make a series of Kybella injections under the chin. Because Kybella is a minimally invasive procedure, there is no formal downtime or recovery period associated with treatment.
Because Kybella is a minimally invasive treatment, patients are able to return to their normal daily activities – including work – immediately following treatment. It is normal to experience some redness, swelling, tenderness, and bruising around your treated areas. These side effects will typically subside on their own within 24 to 48 hours of treatment. While you may see some results of their Kybella injections after just one treatment, many patients require between three to six treatments to see ultimate results. Dr. Downey and Dr. Bullocks will determine your personalized treatment plan during your one-on-one consultation.
At Studio Essex, good candidates for Kybella experience the following concerns:
Ideal candidates for Kybella are 18 years of age or older, in good general health, have moderate to severe excess submental fat, and have realistic expectations of their potential results. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for Kybella is to schedule your private consultation with Dr. Downey or Dr. Bullocks.
Heights Plastic Surgery Membership Plans
When skin maintenance and aesthetics-inspired wellness protocols become part of your regular routine, your body stays nourished, collagen production stays active, and you feel refreshed, day in and day out. Our Heights Plastic Surgery membership offerings remove the guesswork of your next visit, making it easy to stay true to your plan while enjoying preferred pricing on treatments.
The Diamond Club membership includes one clinical treatment each month (such as a Hydrafacial, chemical peel, or IPL photofacial), plus an exclusive 10% discount on surgical cases and additional medical spa services.
The Essex Society membership provides a personalized approach to longevity, offering comprehensive baseline lab panels, monthly body composition tracking, complimentary wellness injections, and tiered savings on peptide regimens and medspa treatments.
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