Real Talk About Kybella — With Someone Who Had It
Hey A-list! It’s Jordan, director of marketing here at Aesthetics 360°. We thought we’d switch things up a bit on the blog this week so I could share a personal story about my Kybella journey. I hope you enjoy it!
Before I began my career with A360, I spent the better part of the last decade as a fashion show host and fashion blogger for a variety of retailers. But, true confession time: I have never felt comfortable in front of the camera.
For years it was my nose. I have had a hate-hate relationship with my nose since the first time I looked in a mirror. I’ve debated rhinosplasty for decades now but there’s some little voice inside of me that keeps telling me “no.” There was never any such voice, however, when it comes to the other reason I disliked being photographed — my chin and jawline.
No matter my weight, I have always had extra skin around my chin and jawline. It drove me crazy. I refused to be photographed in profile and — gasp! — if I dared to lower my chin, it was another photo in the deleted folder. Ugh!
Then I heard about Kybella. An in-office treatment for submental fullness or “double chin,” Kybella is an FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment that improves the appearance of fullness under the chin. Kybella destroys fat cells with the active ingredient deoxycholic acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of fat. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat — which means once you achieve your desired results (typically after two-to-three treatments), the fat will not return.
When I decided to make an appointment for a Kybella consultation, I was more than ready. When I met with the aesthetic nurse specialist, she took a look at my chin area and talked about what the procedure would entail — essentially several injections into my chin/neck area and jawline. We decide two treatments would be best for me because I didn’t have a lot of extra skin, just enough hereditary fat to give the appearance of a small double chin.
After marking up the area (essentially creating a map as to where to inject) and administering a numbing cream, she got to work. The needle going in wasn’t that painful (I do get Botox, after all!). The only painful part, however, is Kybella starts to burn once injected (that means it’s working, woo hoo!). It’s an odd pain — my injector described it as similar to menstrual cramping — and that was an excellent way to put it! Luckily, I had mini ice packs to place over each injection, and she would break so I would have time to apply it. I had my procedure done in the morning, and by the afternoon I had very little pain. In fact, I never even took an Advil — I just iced a lot. Like, a lot lot.
The next day after the procedure, and for about 10 days after that, my chin got larger. In fact, I looked like a puffer fish (which was SUPER attractive, lol!). In addition to swelling, the area also felt very loose. My injector explained this was all normal and it would take a while for the swelling to go down (it took about a week to return to normal for me; it takes at least six weeks to see full results). A few months later, I returned for round two. And today, I never worry about my photographs because I now have a defined jawline that I adore.
Although the difference is fairly minimal, it is EVERYTHING to me. In fact, I told my injector when I went in for my final consultation that for the first time in my life I am happy to be photographed in profile.
Kybella treatments start at $500 for one vial (most people will need two-to-three vials, so expect around $1,000-$1,500.) Like any medical procedure, it’s vital to talk through all the pros and cons with your injector and make an educated decision based on that consultation. Maybe CoolSculpting is a better option for you? It all depends on you, your face and jaw structure, and what you want to achieve.
I truly believe the self-confidence I have gained during this process is worth every penny. If you want to try it for yourself, I highly recommend scheduling a complimentary consultation. To learn more about Kybella and CoolSculpting for your jawline and chin, contact us today for a personalized consultation with one of our talented A360 aesthetic nurse specialists. It might just be the first step on your journey toward a whole new level of confidence and happiness!
To learn more about Kybella, contact us today for a personalized consultation with one of our A360 aesthetic nurse specialists.
