Fullness under the chin, commonly referred to as a ‘double-chin’, is a common, yet undertreated facial aesthetic concern that can impact both women and men. Among the common causes of excess chin fat include aging, genetics and weight changes. This area is commonly resistant to exercise and can make people look older and/or heavier than they actually are.
Who is a candidate for Belkyra?
Belkyra, also known as Kybella™ in the U.S., is a revolutionary new non-surgical treatment for improving the appearance of fullness under the chin. When injected into the tissue, the active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, targets and eliminates fat cells. It is a Health Canada and FDA-approved injectable designed to restore your chin definition without the invasiveness and downtime of traditional liposuction or plastic surgery. The procedure is highly effective for most.
Good candidates for Belkyra are individuals who:
- Have mild to moderate neck fullness
- Have minimal excess skin
- Have good skin elasticity
How does Belkyra™ work?
Belkyra™ is administered in the office by our licensed registered nurse-injector to patients deemed appropriate following consultation. It is a simple series of injections beneath the chin that typically requires only 20-30 minutes to perform. This same series of injections is repeated 2-4 times on average, spaced approximately 4-6 weeks apart. Once your goals have been met, repeat treatment is not expected.
What to expect from recovery after Belkyra
Minimal downtime is one of the benefits of Belkyra over more invasive procedures, including a neck lift and/or liposuction. Intense feeling of heat is experienced, but an ice pack is applied immediately post treatment which significantly helps with discomfort The heat subsides in about 15-30 minutes. Patients often report experiencing some degree of both numbness and swelling following the administration of Belkyra. While the swelling of the area will usually last approximately one week, the duration of the numbness may be longer.
Belkyra FAQs
Belkyra is a deoxycholic acid injection to treat moderate to severe submental fat (under the chin). Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. Injection into the submental fat causes local destruction of the fat cells which are permanently eliminated from the body.
Unfortunately, no. The safe and effective us of Belkyra for use outside the submental region has not been established and is not recommended.
Almost 80% of people properly treated with Belkyra reported satisfaction with the appearance of their face and chin. People reported improvement in their self-perception, including feeling happier and younger, based on their chin profile.
Belkyra is administered through a series of injections into the area under your chin. Treatment is typically 15-20 minutes.
The initial visit is a consultation only. Our licensed registered nurse injector will meet with you to gather pre-treatment information, discuss your objectives and provide information as to how many treatments will likely be required. Following approval and recommendations by Dr. Dawes, you are ready to begin.
Prior to administering Belkyra, Dr. Dawes or his Nurse Injector will apply a topical anesthetic as well as an ice pack to make the treatment more comfortable for you. They may also suggest you take Tylenol prior to your appointment. The injections are felt mildly; however, post treatment intense heat is felt in the area. Dr.Dawes or his Nurse Injector will recommend that you apply an ice pack to the area for 10-15 minutes post treatment to ease the discomfort. In clinical trials, mild pain was felt right after the treatment but decreased rapidly within 15 minutes.
Significant temporary swelling (for about 1 week), bruising, pain, numbness, redness, areas of hardness, tingling or itchiness in the treatment area.
For most people, downtime is minimal and occurs most commonly after the first treatment session. Side effects are usually less severe with subsequent treatments. Swelling and bruising are very common; however, so keep in mind your social plans when scheduling your treatments.
Your appearance will gradually improve with each treatment session. Many people see visible improvements in just 2-4 treatments. After the injection, the process of eliminating the fat cells occurs over the next 4 weeks. Optimum results will be seen 4-6 weeks after your treatment.
The improvement of your chin profile will gradually improve over a number of treatment sessions customized by Dr. Dawes or his Nurse Injector. Typically, 2-4 treatments are recommended, which are administered at 4-6 week intervals. Up to 6 treatments may be administered.
Yes! Once your goals are achieved, re-treatment is not expected. The fat cells are permanently removed from your body and you cannot produce more fat cells. Should you gain weight, your existing fat cells can increase in size; however, so a healthy lifestyle is recommended to maintain optimal results.
Do not use Belkyra if:
- If you are allergic to deoxycholic acid or any of the non-medicinal ingredients in the formulation.
- Have an infection in your chin or area where the product will be injected.
- You are pregnant or breast feeding.
Belkyra is best for patients with a mild-moderate amount of chin fat and minimal skin laxity. CoolSclupting with the new CoolMini applicator is an additional option, although with no skin-tightening benefit. Patients with significant skin and/or muscle laxity may be better suited for a surgical procedure. Dr. Dawes will assess which treatment option(s) would be best suited to help you to achieve your objectives and optimal results.