Double-Chin Cure: FDA Approves Drug Kybella To Get Rid Of Double-Chin

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug that could get rid of a double chin on Wednesday, April 29.

Kybella Approved By FDA

The drug, Kybella (deoxycholic acid), is an injection only approved for use to treat fat under the chin (or ‘submental fat’). According to the FDA, Kybella is a deoxycholic acid, a natural acid produced by the body to help absorb fats. “When properly injected into submental fat, the drug destroys fat cells,” reads the FDA press release.

Kybella, also known as ATX-101, has already been used in two clinical trials with 1,022 adults “with moderate or severe submental fat.” The adults were separated into two groups – one received the drug, the other a placebo – and those who were in fact treated with Kybella saw a greater reduction in submental fat.

Dermatologist, Dr. Susan Weinkle, has been working on the trials since 2007, and she believes the injection could be a great alternative to surgery. “Options at the moment for submental fat are [to] cut it out or suck it out. However, this is going to be a noninvasive in-the-office procedure that can be performed by your dermatologist and [gets] excellent results,” Weinkle told ABC News.

Kybella is expected to become available in June by Kythera Pharmaceuticals Inc. and is rumored to cost over $2,000. “For the first time, people have access to an FDA-approved, non-surgical treatment for submental fullness, a condition that can negatively impact the overall appearance of the face and can result in a person feeling older and heavier,” said Kythera CEO Keith Leonard.

Side effects of the drug include swelling, bruising and pain in the treatment area, and serious side effects include “nerve injury in the jaw that can cause an uneven smile, or facial muscle weakness, and trouble swallowing.”

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.