CoolSculpting® vs. KYBELLA®: Which Is the Best Double Chin Treatment?

A young woman's side profile (model)

One of the most significant developments in the aesthetics field during the past decade has been the emergence of nonsurgical fat reduction treatments. Various technologies promise to freeze away fat, melt away fat, or, in the case of KYBELLA, destroy fat cells with a naturally occurring molecule.

A popular nonsurgical option is CoolSculpting, initially used for body contouring. CoolSculpting designed the CoolMini™ applicator specifically to target the fat that causes the appearance of a double chin.

Which is the better option for you? In this blog post, I’ll explain how each nonsurgical treatment works, discuss its benefits and drawbacks, and outline some surgical options.

Which Is Better, CoolSculpting or KYBELLA?

Fat accumulates below the chin for various reasons. Even though weight gain can lead to a double chin, some people in good physical condition may inherit a trait that causes fat tissue to gather around the neck. Aging may also be responsible for a double chin, and looking down at electronic devices (“tech neck”) can also weaken neck and chin muscles and create a double chin.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting reduces fat by “freezing” the cells for an extended period. The controlled cooling, using a process called cryolipolysis, works because fat cells are more vulnerable to cold than other kinds of cells. The skin’s surface and the tissue surrounding fat cells remain undamaged by the treatment. Results emerge gradually as the body naturally removes the fat cells.

Patients who get CoolSculpting need at least 2 treatments scheduled 1 to 3 months apart for the best results. Depending on the patient and how they carry their weight in the chin area, they may require 2 applicator cycles for each treatment.

KYBELLA

KYBELLA, which came on the market in 2015, is an injectable treatment whose active ingredient is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid. The body naturally contains deoxycholic acid to aid in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. The FDA approved KYBELLA to reduce the appearance of fat under the chin.

If you choose KYBELLA injections, you need to plan for at least 2 or 3 treatment sessions. During a KYBELLA procedure, the provider marks specific injection locations before performing the injections. The number of injection sites varies depending on your needs; each treatment is customized.

So, is one treatment better than the other? Not necessarily. For example, even though the CoolMini applicator is designed to fit snugly under the chin, it doesn’t always fit well enough to be an effective procedure. KYBELLA injections result in temporary significant swelling, causing a “bullfrog” look that may make you self-conscious unless you wear a turtleneck sweater or scarf. KYBELLA always requires more than a single treatment.

What About Surgical Options?

Neck liposuction is a surgical alternative to CoolSculpting and KYBELLA, although I think the nonsurgical options are better than liposuction. Surgically tightening neck muscles combined with fat reduction is another option to reduce the appearance of a double chin. In some cases, the fat that causes that appearance may be under the neck muscles rather than the skin and needs to be removed surgically.

It’s important that patients who are getting CoolSculpting or KYBELLA have good skin elasticity so that reducing the fat doesn’t result in sagging skin.

Let’s Talk

The best way to determine which double chin treatment is right for you is by requesting a consultation at our practice. You can do that using the online form or by calling our Toledo, Ohio, office at (419) 534-6551.

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