People who suffer with double chins often are so self-conscious they avoid looking in the mirror and having their picture taken. Traditional treatments for double chins typically required some kind of liposuction to help remove the excess fat but there are concerns about the affects of anesthesia and recovery time.

Recently, the FDA approved a new treatment for the reduction of moderate to severe fat deposits under the chin called Kybella. Kybella is composed of deoxycholic acid which dissolves fat which allows plastic surgeon’s to resculpt under the chin without the need for surgery.

Many people prefer the option of using a needle verses going under the knife. This procedure provides promise for so many people. Men in particular typically don’t like having any kind of cosmetic surgery that requires a long recovery time but would prefer a non-invasive treatment that is applied in the doctor’s office.

The drug is administered with small needles, up to 50 per session. They are injected directly into the fat deposits under the jawline. A typical treatment is usually done with 2 to 6 sessions for an entire month taking roughly 20 minutes each to perform.

The most common side effects were mild pain, some bruising and swelling. People with a lot of fat usually have more swelling, but the swelling generally cleared up in 48 to 72 hours after a treatment.

For patients with a lot of excessive fat and loose skin, may not like the look of having an ugly neck after the fat is reduced and may require some kind of thermal tightening or neck-lift afterwards.

The FDA has warned that the drug also destroys skin cells so it’s important that the physician knows how to apply Kybella without affecting the dermis.

Studies have shown that 68.2 percent of patients who received the new treatment saw at least some reduction in fat.

Kybella should never be injected into parts of the body other than the chin area. It is unknown whether this is safe or effective and further testing will be required.

Results usually last about three years, even when gaining weight in other parts of the body it doesn’t reappear under the chin.