FDA Approves Drug to Treat Chin Fat

An injectable drug that targets fat below the chin is now FDA-approved.

Kybella is described as “a treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe fat below the chin known as submental fat” (aka a double chin), according to the FDA’s site. The drug works by mimicking actual body fat; once injected (they say) it effectively kills fat cells. Treatment caps out at 50 injections per session:

…with up to six single treatments administered no less than one month apart. Kybella is being provided in single patient use vials and should not be diluted or mixed with any other compounds.

One caveat:

…it can also destroy other types of cells, such as skin cells, if it is inadvertently injected into the skin.

Also:

Kybella can cause serious side effects, including nerve injury in the jaw that can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness, and trouble swallowing. The most common side effects of Kybella include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and areas of hardness in the treatment area.

Prior to the FDA’s approval, two successful clinical trials were performed with a placebo. A director at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research advises, “It is important to remember that Kybella is only approved for the treatment of fat occurring below the chin, and it is not known if Kybella is safe or effective for treatment outside of this area.”