Liposuction and Kybella Charlotte

A double chin, medically known as “submental fullness,” causes many people to feel uncomfortable with their appearance. Because the areas where fat tends to accumulate are largely determined by genetics, a person may have a double chin even when they’re of normal weight overall. This is why losing weight through a healthy lifestyle doesn’t always fix the problem. It can be distressing to achieve your goal weight, only to find that you still don’t appear thin and fit because of a double chin. The distribution of fat around the body also changes during the aging process, which can cause a double chin to appear as a person gets older.

If aging and/or genetics have given you a double chin, what can you do? We offer two treatment options that can help you get rid of that double chin and feel good about your appearance.

Liposuction

One option to remove excess fat under the chin is liposuction. This is a minor surgical procedure, performed in our office. The incisions are tiny, as they only need to be large enough to insert a cannula under the skin. This is a small, flexible tube, which gently moves with a reciprocating motion to facilitate its movement through the tissues. Excess fat tissue is sucked out through the tube.

The results of liposuction are immediate, although the swelling from the procedure may take a few days to resolve. The removal of fat tissue is permanent, so you won’t need additional treatments to maintain your results. If you gain a significant amount of weight, then your double chin may return; however, it will still be smaller than if you hadn’t had the treatment.

Although liposuction is a minor procedure with a fairly easy recovery, there are some people who prefer to avoid surgery altogether. For these patients, we offer a nonsurgical treatment called Kybella.

Kybella

Kybella is the first injectable treatment to be FDA-approved for submental fullness. The treatment uses deoxycholic acid, which is a natural substance that your body uses to break down fat. When it’s injected, Kybella causes the destruction of fat cells in the area.

Because only very small amounts of Kybella are injected, there is minimal discomfort associated with the procedure. To ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible, Dr. Miles will offer a local anesthetic to numb the area prior to your Kybella injections. The procedure takes only a few minutes. There is usually some swelling afterward, which can mask the results at first. However, most patients report seeing results in two to three weeks, which may continue to improve for a month or even longer after the injections are performed.

Many patients require more than one Kybella treatment in order to reach their desired results, with most people reaching their goal in two to three treatments. Some patients need more or fewer treatments in order to get the appearance that they desire. Like with liposuction, the results of treatment with Kybella are expected to be permanent, and maintenance treatments will not be necessary once the treatment goal has been reached.

How can I choose between liposuction and Kybella Charlotte?

If you’re bothered by the appearance of a double chin, you’re probably considering either liposuction or Kybella. How can you decide which one is right for you? A variety of factors can go into this decision. For example, previous surgery in the neck area can affect the results of Kybella, and liposuction may be preferred in this case. Additionally, your personal preferences regarding treatment will influence your decision. Liposuction generally achieves the desired effect in just one treatment, while Kybella may take a few treatments. However, liposuction is a surgical procedure (although it’s a minor one). Some patients prefer one surgical treatment, while others prefer multiple nonsurgical treatments.

In general, most people want the personalized advice of a professional to make a decision like this. When you come for your consultation appointment, Dr. Erik Miles will make recommendations based on your personal situation. He believes that every patient should be empowered with knowledge. Rather than pressure you to make a particular choice, he will empower you with all of the information you need to make your own decision.

Serving the greater Charlotte area, our office is convenient for patients from Charlotte, Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville, Denver, Lake Norman, and surrounding cities. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Miles, please contact our office.