Dr. MorrissettePeople don’t like the excess fat under their chins. In fact, 67% of the more than 7,300 respondents to the 2015 The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Consumer Survey said they were somewhat to extremely bothered by the extra fat under their chins and necks. Two popular, yet different, solutions are Kybella [Allergan] and liposuction. To help cosmetic surgeons choose the best option for their practice and patients, Michael P. Morrissette, D.D.S., a cosmetic facial surgeon in Ventura, Calif., compared the procedures in his presentation, “Comparison of techniques for Removal of Submental Fat: Closed liposuction vs. Kybella,” yesterday at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS’s) 2017 annual scientific meeting in San Diego, Calif.
Dr. Morrissette tells Cosmetic Surgery Times his comparison revealed four key findings:
- Anesthesia for Kybella can be accomplished with ice or topical or local anesthesia. With closed liposuction, it requires local anesthesia, IV anesthesia or tumescent anesthesia.
- The number of treatments differ between the two treatments. Kybella requires two to four treatments, while liposuction requires only one treatment.
- Anticipated results from Kybella take from four weeks to several months. Results from liposuction are apparent immediately or within a week.
- Finally, the cost for Kybella varies according to the number of treatments needed. Liposuction costs are fixed, and there are no expendables.
Dr. Morrissette says that deciding which treatment to use or offering both depends on the surgeon’s training, practice type, as well as one’s willingness to invest in equipment for liposuction. Practices that want to keep their setup costs down, while offering an immediate service might lean toward Kybella. “… familiarity with Kybella may be advantageous to all cosmetic surgeons because of its anticipated use in other areas of the body,” Dr. Morrissette says.
Disclosure: Dr. Morrissette reports no relevant disclosures.
