Kybella: what it is, what the label says, what to ask

MedSpaGrades editorial teamUpdated 22 Oct 20263 sources checkedHow we write

Kybella is a brand name of deoxycholic acid, a prescription medicine injected into the fat under the chin. This page says what the FDA-approved label says about it. It does not say whether you should have it.

What it is

The label describes Kybella as a cytolytic drug. When injected into fat under the chin (called submental fat), it physically destroys the fat cell membrane, causing the cells to break down. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), a society of dermatologists who do surgery, describes deoxycholic acid as a bile acid found naturally in the body that breaks down and absorbs dietary fat.

What it is approved for

The label says Kybella is indicated for improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults. It says Kybella is not approved for fat outside the area under the chin, and that such use is not recommended. The Patient Information says it is not known whether Kybella is safe and effective in children under 18.

How many treatments

The Patient Information says Kybella is injected into the fat under the chin by your healthcare provider, with injections that may be given at least one month apart, and that you and your provider decide how many treatments you need. In the label's two placebo-controlled trials, people received up to six treatments at least one month apart, and 59% of the people treated received all six.

What the studies showed

The label reports two trials of adults aged 19 to 65 with moderate or severe fullness under the chin. About 514 people were treated with Kybella and about 508 with placebo. Twelve weeks after the final treatment, the label measured how many people improved by at least one grade, and by at least two grades, on both the clinician's rating and the person's own rating.

In the two trials, 13.4% and 18.6% of Kybella-treated people had a two-grade improvement, against under 0.1% and 3.0% on placebo. A one-grade improvement was seen in 70.0% and 66.5% of Kybella-treated people, against 18.6% and 22.2% on placebo. So most people in the trials improved by at least one grade on both ratings, and a smaller share improved by two grades.

This is what happened in two trials, under trial conditions. It is not a promise about your results.

Risks and side effects

The label says nearly everyone treated had some injection site reaction (96% of Kybella-treated people, against 81% on placebo). Common ones include swelling (87%), bruising (72%), pain (70%), numbness (66%), redness (27%) and hardness (23%). The label says adverse reactions that lasted more than 30 days and that occurred in more than 10% of treated people included injection site numbness (42%), swelling (20%) and pain (16%).

The Patient Information lists serious side effects: nerve injury in the jaw that can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, and injection site problems, including damage to an artery or vein if it is injected there, hair loss, open sores, tissue death, and nodules or masses. It says some nodules and masses may not resolve and medical treatment may be required. In the label's trials, nerve injury affected 20 of 513 treated people (4%) and trouble swallowing 10 (2%). The label says all the nerve injuries reported in the trials resolved without additional treatment, with a median of 44 days (range 1 to 298 days).

The label says Kybella is contraindicated when there is an infection in the injection area. It says to use caution in people with bleeding abnormalities, such as those taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicines, and to avoid use in people with a current or past history of trouble swallowing.

The Patient Information also says Kybella can cause serious side effects when injected into other areas of the body, including blurred or reduced vision when injected around the eyes. This is one reason the label says it is not approved outside the area under the chin.

What to tell your provider

The Patient Information asks you to tell your provider if you have had or plan to have surgery on the face, neck or chin; have had cosmetic treatments on the face, neck or chin; have conditions in or near the neck; have had trouble swallowing; have bleeding problems; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; or are breastfeeding. It asks you to list the medicines you take, especially any that prevent blood clotting.

Who gives it

Kybella is a prescription medicine. Which licensed professionals may inject it, and under whose supervision, depends on the state. See our guide to who may inject. The questions in our guide to questions to ask before you book apply here too.

What it costs

We do not give prices on this page. Our cost guide covers how clinics quote prices for Kybella.

Common questions