What is Kybella? Injectable treatment going viral for transforming people's faces

A beautiful jawline without any sign of a double chin, is a lifelong dream for some people. From hitting the gym to chewing gum, many have tried various ways to get that chiselled jawline.

And as is the way, when nothing natural seems to work, a treatment is the best option.Case in point, Kybella, an FDA-approved injectable treatment that is going viral on the internet for transforming people's faces. Morgan Cohen, an influencer, went viral on TikTok after she posted a video showing her recovery process. The 1.5M followers in the comment sections then engaged in a debate arguing about the risks of the treatment, about its effectiveness and how the influencer's face really looked transformed.However, there was a major consensus on one thing, the recovery process looked jarring as the video featured the influencer with extreme swelling under the chin, an effect of the treatment known as the "Kybella bullfrog effect."“You will go through a phase where you’re like, ‘Why did I do this to myself?’ For three weeks, my face was swollen. I looked like Quagmire from ‘Family Guy,’” Cohen said to USA TODAY. “But then when the swelling goes down, your face starts to look the most snatched it’s ever looked in your life.”

What is Kybella?

Kybella (deoxycholic acid), is the only injectable treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It works by melting the fat cells in the treatment area under the chin. It is propagated for people who are struggling with the fat under the chin, known as submental fullness and are unable to deal with it through diet and exercise, according to the manufacturers.Unlike Botox, Kybella is a permanent treatment that takes about 15-20 minutes.

However, the number of sessions depends on the amount of fat under the chin and the patient's desired profile. The FDA has approved the treatment for use only under the chin and not any other part of the body. However, Cohen targeted her buccal fat and stubborn fat in her underarm area and was satisfied with one session.While she does feel the treatment made her feel confident, she wants her followers, 83% of whom are women, to know they have options and be transparent about the procedures behind the looks that end up becoming beauty standards for young girls.