Kybella Swelling Day by Day; Kybella is a prescription medication administered to the area under the chin, known as submental fat. It works by destroying the fat cells in order to eliminate the double chin and contour your jawline.
Kybella swelling is often described as feeling like a sunburn for up to two days after treatment, but can last for up to 10 days post-treatment. The treatment also causes bruising and redness in the treated area, especially for those who are not used to injectables.
Kybella is an effective option for adults with moderate to severe submental fat. If you’ve been considering Kybella, we will help you determine if it’s right for you during your consultation.
You will likely experience some swelling after receiving KYBELLA®. The amount of swelling can vary from person to person and treatment to treatment. During the first week, you may see the most swelling. Then, as time passes, you may see the swelling go down.
Here’s what to expect for your first 7 days:
- Day 1: Swelling is generally mild and will resolve on its own within a few hours or days.
- Day 2: Swelling may continue to increase and be more noticeable around your chin.
- Day 3: Swelling will likely be more pronounced and visible.
- Day 4: Swelling should begin to subside but may still be very noticeable.
- Day 5: Most of the swelling should start to decrease, but you may still have some lingering swelling in the area beneath your chin.
- Day 6+: Swelling should continue to decrease each day until it returns to normal. If you have any questions or concerns about your swelling throughout the process, speak with your healthcare provider.
Many people can have Kybella injections to reduce a double chin without complications. Swelling may be the most common side effect after a Kybella treatment, but this is temporary and lasts for only a few days
Swelling is the most common side effect after a Kybella treatment. It typically starts 2–3 days after the injection and can last up to 2 weeks. Swelling may occur around the injection site or in other areas of the face, such as the eyes
Treatment with Kybella usually takes place over a series of sessions. People will usually see swelling after each session. In some cases, it can take several months for results to become noticeable
Anyone who experiences severe pain or trouble breathing should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention after having Kybella injections
While Kybella is generally safe and well tolerated, it does have some risks. These include:
swelling
bruising
redness
numbness
Swelling is a common side effect after Kybella, and it takes time to subside.
The amount of swelling you experience will vary depending on the number of Kybella treatments you have received and your body’s ability to heal.
You may notice some bruising, redness or tenderness at injection sites, but these symptoms should disappear within three to seven days.
In rare cases, patients may experience nerve injury in their necks resulting in an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness. You can reduce your risk of nerve injury by avoiding massage, manipulation, application of ice or heat to the treatment area, and alcoholic beverages for one week after treatment.
You should also avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours after treatment. This can help speed up recovery and reduce swelling.
If you have more questions about Kybella or other injectable fillers like BOTOX®, contact Dr. Brian Maloney for more information
I had Kybella for the first time at age 43. I had a minor problem with neck fat and it bothered me. I did not want to go through lipo or plastic surgery. My doctor told me I was an excellent candidate for Kybella, so I scheduled the procedure.
I had three treatments in my neck area with a month in between. During the process, I did not have any pain – just slight discomfort. The results were perfect! No one could tell anything was done – just that I looked great! It took about 2 weeks to see the results – and now everyone is asking what I’m doing to look so well rested!
I’m thrilled by this treatment and would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a slimmer neckline without surgery.
- Day 1-2: After treatment, small amounts of swelling are common, which may last up to two (2) weeks.
- Day 3-4: Swelling at the injection site(s) is expected and can be minimized by applying cold compresses. Some patients will see an initial improvement in the appearance of their double chin.
- Day 5-7: Swelling should continue to improve, and some patients may experience numbness and a burning sensation at the injection sites that can last up to three (3) months.
- Day 8-14: Continued improvement in swelling and the appearance of your double chin is expected.
- Day 1: Immediately after injection, the area is swollen and bruised. The swelling will persist through the day and into Day 2.
- Day 2: Swelling continues and is more prominent. The area feels tight and the skin may be sensitive to touch at this point.
- Day 3: Swelling subsides a bit; however, patients can still feel the treatment area is slightly swollen. Bruising becomes more noticeable.
- Day 4: Most of the swelling has subsided, but bruising may be apparent. Bruising may be dark or light depending on individual tolerance to treatm
How Long do You Stay Swollen After Kybella?
How long do you stay swollen after Kybella?
Clinically the average time to see results is 6 weeks post treatment. You can expect to have swelling for up to 2 weeks after your treatment.
Patients can expect swelling to last anywhere from one to two weeks. Swelling will be most noticeable in the lower part of the face, especially around the chin and jawline. This is because these areas have the best blood flow and lymphatic drainage to allow the body to naturally remove the destroyed fat cells
The swelling usually starts on day 2 or 3, after the body has had its first chance to digest all of that extra fluid that it was holding onto during the treatment. The swelling will continue for a week or so, and slowly subside over this time. It’s important to note that you’re swollen not just because your body is holding onto more fluid than usual (this is called “edema”), but also because there are extra fat cells in your body now. These cells are very large and leaky, so they require a lot of fluid to stay alive.
Kybella is an injectable made up of deoxycholic acid that dissolves fat cells. It was approved by the FDA for usage in 2015. Kybella is a nonsurgical treatment for submental fullness, or what we know as double chin. Double chin is caused by excess fat under the neckline, which makes us look heavier and older than we actually are even if we are not overweight. Although it is a serious condition, Kybella addresses it effectively.
How does Kybella work?
Kybella involves injecting deoxycholic acid into the subcutaneous fat under the chin. Deoxycholic acid acts like bile acids that help break down fat in our food. The body naturally produces this acid to absorb fats, but in this case, it destroys fat cells when injected into the skin. This results in a slimmer and younger-looking face
Kybella is a prescription medicine used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called “double chin.” It is not known if Kybella is safe and effective for use outside of the submental area or in children under 18 years of age.
The most common side effects of KYBELLA® include:
- swelling
- bruising
- pain
- numbness
- redness
The most common side effect is swelling and bruising. This may last up to 2 weeks after the treatment. As the fat cells are destroyed, your body may need to use its lymphatic system to eliminate the dead cells, which may also result in swelling.
You will notice swelling for about 2 to 4 weeks. The swelling will be more noticeable during the first week, but you can resume your regular activities immediately after treatment. You may apply makeup and wear any clothing style you like, as long as it does not irritate the injection sites. To help minimize the itching and discomfort from swelling, we recommend applying an ice pack to the area for 10 minutes at a time.
What causes neck fat?
As with other types of fat deposits on the body, a combination of diet, genetics and lifestyle choices is usually responsible for excess fat under the chin. In many cases, however, neck fat is caused by a significant loss or gain of weight.
What Day is Kybella Swelling the Worst?
For those of you who have had Kybella, what day was the worst? When did you look the most swollen and bruised? How long did it take for the swelling to go down?
I can tell that I’m swollen today but I’m wondering if it gets worse, or if it’s as bad as it will get. Does anyone remember?
The best time to get Kybella injections is right before a long weekend or holiday. If you’re using Kybella to smooth out a double chin, the injection will swell a bit in the first week, and you’ll want to minimize your social obligations until this swelling passes.
Most people notice the most swelling on days 2-3 after their treatment. That’s why it’s ideal to schedule your appointment on a Thursday or Friday if possible, so that you can relax over the next couple of days and not be tempted to go out with friends.
It depends on how much fat was injected. If it is a small amount, you may not have a lot of swelling. You can ice and use arnica gel to decrease the swelling. If you have a lot of fat injected, the day after may be the worst. This is why I tell patients to plan their week – don’t do it before an important event. Also, get massages at the injection site – this will help break up the nodules
How long does it take to see results from Kybella?
It takes about 3 weeks for the swelling to go down and for the dead fat cells to be cleared out of your system. The swelling after Kybella can make it look like nothing happened, but once the swelling is gone most people see a nice result from Kybella.
I had Kybella injections for the first time about 2 weeks ago. I had a total of eight shots under my chin and I was told to expect swelling and bruising after the procedure. My bruise went away in about 10 days, but I am still experiencing some swelling. Is it normal to still have this much swelling after 2 weeks?
Swelling is at its worst the day after treatment. Icing is vitally important to minimize swelling and pain. Icing 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for the first day after the treatment will greatly reduce discomfort and swelling. This is one of those procedures where you need to ice like crazy! The swelling will go down by about 50% after about two days, and should be almost completely resolved by 7-10 days.
Kybella is injected into the fat under the chin. The active ingredient in Kybella is deoxycholic acid, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the body to help absorb fats. When injected into the fat beneath your chin, Kybella causes the destruction of fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat.
About 60 percent of patients experience significant swelling for about two to three weeks after each treatment session.
The day that you get your injections, you may experience some swelling for about 24 hours. For some patients, the swelling could last up to 3 days. Most of the swelling can be reduced with ice packs and plenty of rest, but if you want to avoid a social event after your treatment, plan on being off from work or school for at least 1-2 days.