What Is Kybella?

June 30, 2023

Many people associate a double chin with being overweight, but that’s often not the case. Submental fullness results from excess fat cells around the jaw and below the chin, and it can affect some of the fittest individuals. At Bel Viso Medical Spa in East Greenwich, RI, we offer Kybella, an effective cosmetic injectable that destroys the fat cells causing your double chin to help you achieve a sculpted and more aesthetically pleasing chin profile.


What Is Kybella?

Kybella is the only FDA-approved cosmetic injectable designed to permanently reduce submental fullness beneath the chin, or what is also known as the double chin. This injectable helps slim the jawline by destroying stubborn fat cells below the chin and in the jawline region to help you achieve your aesthetic goals in a way that diet, weight loss, and fitness simply cannot.

What Causes a Double Chin?

Many factors can lead to the development of a double chin. For some, submental fullness is simply genetic. Despite being at a healthy weight, some people cannot get rid of their double chin because that double chin has been genetically predetermined. For others, submental fullness can result from age or weight gain.


As you age, the fat distribution in your face and neck begins to shift, which can lead to the formation of a double chin. If you gain weight, that weight gain may be most evident in some specific areas, the chin included. Whatever the case, Kybella is a powerful cosmetic injectable that can defy genetics, the aging process, and the results of weight gain.

What Are the Benefits?

This treatment is growing in popularity among men and women who lived some or most of their lives with submental fullness that has affected their appearance and confidence. This treatment delivers gradual results, so never at any point during treatment will you look as though you went and had something done to address your double chin. You will slowly develop a more contoured and sculpted chin profile.


No one will know about your Kybella injections unless you want them to. Another benefit is that treatments are quick and only take a few minutes to complete. While you may need more than one treatment to achieve your goals, these treatments will not monopolize your day, and you won’t have to rearrange your entire schedule to attend appointments.

How It Works

Deoxycholic acid is the primary ingredient in this injectable that helps dissolve the fat beneath the chin. Deoxycholic acid occurs in the body naturally, and its primary role is to help the body both break down and absorb the fat you eat on a daily basis.


However, the creators of Kybella realized that deoxycholic acid could be used to do more than break down fat in the body; it could also destroy fat below the chin when administered in injection form. Deoxycholic acid is so effective because it destroys fat cells below the chin to help slim and contour the entire area.

Frequently asked questions

  • What Happens During a Treatment?

    This injectable will be administered into strategic locations below the chin to help target and destroy stubborn fat cells during treatment. Our skilled injector will make a series of small injections below the chin, and the entire process will take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The total number of injections necessary for results will vary among patients based on the total amount of fat beneath their chins and the type of results they hope to achieve.


    Once administered, Kybella will immediately begin to target and destroy the fat cells in the area, and the body will slowly and naturally eliminate them over the next few months.

  • Is the Injection Process Painful?

    When you choose Bel Viso Medical Spa for all of your aesthetic needs, you can rest assured that you will be treated by skilled and experienced professionals who are fully trained in administering cosmetic injectables. Your injector will take every possible step to ensure your comfort throughout the entirety of the treatment.

  • How Many Treatments Will I Need?

    Most patients achieve the best results after undergoing a series of two to four sessions. Patients can undergo a maximum of six treatment sessions with one month between each. During your consultation, we will customize your treatment plan to include the total number of sessions you need to achieve your desired results. Our experienced injector will administer small injections below your chin to target your fat cells at each session.

  • When Will I See Results?

    This treatment delivers gradual results. Once you are injected with Kybella, your body must eliminate the fat cells, which takes time. Most patients begin to notice a positive change in the appearance of their chin profile within several weeks of their first injection.


    When you schedule and attend the recommended number of treatments, you can ensure that you will see positive changes. Our experienced injector can give you a better idea of when you will begin to notice results at your initial consultation.

  • Are the Results Permanent?

    One of the most exciting things about the treatment is that it does deliver permanent results. This injectable destroys fat cells, and once your body removes the dead cells from the area through the lymphatic system, those cells will be gone for good. Your body has a predetermined number of fat cells, and they all form by early adolescence; your body will not make new fat cells as an adult.


    When you treat the fat cells below your chin, your body cannot grow new ones, but if you do gain weight, it can affect your results. Any remaining fat cells below your chin may expand, which can lead to the appearance of a double chin once again.

  • How To Maintain Your Results

    The best way to ensure permanent results is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle inclusive of a clean diet define by moderation and a consistent exercise routine. Living a healthy lifestyle can help ensure that you do not gain weight and develop a double chin once again.

  • Who Is a Candidate?

    Before beginning this treatment, we will schedule an initial consultation to determine if you are a candidate for this injectable. It’s important that you provide us with accurate information about any medical conditions you have experienced in the past, as well as any that are currently affecting you. It’s important that you tell us if:


    • You have a bleeding disorder
    • You are currently taking blood thinners or other medications
    • You are or plan on becoming pregnant
    • You have or plan on undergoing face, neck, or chin surgery
    • You have undergone cosmetic treatments that have affected your face, neck, or chin

    The best candidates are adults over 18 who have submental fullness beneath their chin, impacting their appearance and confidence. If you have unsuccessfully tried to address your double chin with lifestyle, exercise, and diet changes, this injectable can do what your lifestyle has been unable to. Once we determine that you are a candidate at your initial consultation, we will move forward and schedule your first treatment.

  • Will It Work for Me?

    If you have tried everything to address stubborn fat beneath your chin and around your jawline but have been unable to achieve your desired results, you may feel as though you are destined to live with a double chin forever. However, Kybella knows differently. This injectable is an effective solution for submental fullness that has helped thousands of men and women achieve a more sculpted and aesthetically pleasing chin profile.


    If you’ve lived most of your life with a double chin, despite being in great shape, this treatment can deliver some life-changing results. It will finally give you that sculpted appearance that you’ve always wanted but have been able to achieve on your own.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

Thanks to Kybella, there is a solution for your double chin, and it’s a permanent one. If you want to improve your chin profile and increase your confidence in your appearance, our experienced and skilled injectors are here and ready to help you meet all of your aesthetic goals. Contact us today at Bel Viso Medical Spa in Greenwich, RI, and schedule your initial consultation.

Our Recent News & Articles

August 14, 2025
Laser treatments for facial rejuvenation harness concentrated light energy to create controlled micro-injuries that remodel collagen and elastin, resulting in smoother lines, firmer tone, and an even complexion. This article explores five key themes: the core benefits of laser therapy, the main laser types and their uses, candidate selection criteria, the patient journey from procedure to recovery, and cost versus long-term value. Readers will gain actionable insights for selecting and maintaining non-surgical laser solutions. What Are the Key Benefits of Laser Treatments for Facial Rejuvenation? Laser therapy for facial rejuvenation delivers photothermal energy that achieves targeted collagen remodeling while removing damaged surface layers, producing firmer skin, reduced lines, and improved radiance. Key Benefits of Laser Treatments Laser treatments for facial rejuvenation deliver photothermal energy that achieves targeted collagen remodeling while removing damaged surface layers, producing firmer skin, reduced lines, and improved radiance. This source provides context for the benefits of laser therapy, which is further explored in the article. The following benefits illustrate how laser energy addresses common aging and damage signs: Wrinkle Reduction → Fine Lines → Smoother Complexion Collagen Stimulation → Neocollagenesis → Firmer Skin Pigmentation Correction → Sun Spots → Even Skin Tone Together, these advantages lay the foundation for choosing the optimal laser modality to match individual skin goals and downtime preferences. How Do Laser Treatments Reduce Wrinkles and Fine Lines? Laser resurfacing reduces wrinkles by delivering focused thermal energy that breaks down aged collagen fibers and stimulates neocollagenesis, resulting in visibly smoother lines. Controlled ablation removes superficial irregularities while new collagen formation refines surface contours, setting the stage for deeper textural improvements. In What Ways Do Lasers Stimulate Collagen and Improve Skin Texture? Non-ablative lasers stimulate collagen through fractional photothermolysis, creating microthermal zones that activate dermal fibroblasts for enhanced structure and elasticity. Key collagen responses include: Fibroblast Activation → Structural Protein Synthesis Extracellular Matrix Remodeling → Improved Tone Enhanced Elastin Deposition → Resilient Skin These texture improvements complement wrinkle smoothing by reinforcing skin strength from within. How Effective Are Laser Treatments for Sun Damage and Pigmentation? Lasers treat sun damage and hyperpigmentation by targeting melanin within epidermal lesions, fragmenting pigment clusters for natural clearance and uniform tone. Common applications include: Solar Lentigines (Sun Spots) → Lightening of age spots Melasma → Reduction of patchy discoloration Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation → Smoother pigment distribution By correcting pigment irregularities, lasers restore clarity and evenness that boost overall skin harmony. Which Types of Laser Treatments Are Used for Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation? Several laser platforms deliver distinct wavelengths and pulse durations optimized for specific skin concerns, from aggressive CO₂ resurfacing to gentle collagen-stimulating devices.
August 14, 2025
Visible signs of skin aging—such as fine lines, loss of elasticity, and uneven tone—often emerge in your 30s and accelerate over time. This guide to anti-aging creams for rejuvenation explains how topical formulations harness ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to restore firmness, boost hydration, and minimize wrinkles. You will learn about anti-aging creams, which actives deliver the best results, how to choose formulations for your skin type, top product recommendations, and step-by-step routines for morning, night, and complementary care. What Are Anti-Aging Creams and How Do They Promote Youthful Skin? Anti-aging creams are topical formulations designed to support collagen synthesis, accelerate cellular turnover, and protect against environmental damage. By delivering targeted actives into the epidermis, these creams improve skin elasticity, daily moisture retention, and overall texture, laying the groundwork for visible rejuvenation. What key benefits do anti-aging creams provide for skin rejuvenation? Anti-aging creams provide essential rejuvenation benefits such as: Enhanced hydration to restore plumpness and smooth fine lines Stimulated collagen production for firmer, more elastic skin Antioxidant protection to prevent UV-induced damage and discoloration Improved tone and resilience set the stage for exploring the mechanisms behind wrinkle reduction. How do anti-aging creams work to reduce wrinkles and fine lines? Anti-aging creams work by stimulating dermal renewal and reinforcing structural proteins: Retinol accelerates cell turnover and collagen synthesis. Peptides signal fibroblasts to rebuild the extracellular matrix. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that degrade elastin fibers. Targeting these mechanisms yields a smoother surface and reduced fine lines, pointing toward the key actives you need. Which active ingredients are essential in anti-aging creams?
Sculptra or traditional dermal fillers
August 11, 2025
Not sure whether to choose Sculptra or traditional dermal fillers to restore lost volume? Learn the key differences, benefits, longevity, and ideal use cases for each injectable treatment.
Botox Really Lasts
August 11, 2025
Wondering how long Botox really lasts? Learn about the typical duration of results, when to expect effects to fade, and expert tips to make your Botox last longer.
More Posts