Kybella®

Principal Investigator

Dr. Kavali was an Principal Investigator in the clinical trials in 2012-2013. This means that Dr. Kavali was one of a few select doctors in the US chosen to perform Kybella® injections in order to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of Kybella®. These trial results were ultimately used by the FDA to approve Kybella® for more widespread use in 2015.

Physician Trainer

Dr. Kavali is honored to have been chosen to be a Physician Trainer for Kybella®, which means she teaches other doctors how to use Kybella® before they can bring it into their practices

Kybella treatment limits and risks

Kybella is approved for moderate to severe fat-related fullness under the chin in adults, not for other body areas. The treatment plan may include up to six sessions at least one month apart. Risks include bruising, swelling, nerve injury that can affect the smile, difficulty swallowing, and tissue injury. The FDA has warned about serious adverse events associated with use in unapproved body areas.

Source: FDA Kybella labeling and safety update.

Editorial update, October 2, 2026: AI-assisted edits use the linked sources to clarify patient information. This is not a clinician medical review or individual treatment advice.

What is Kybella?

• Kybella is deoxycholic acid, a naturally-occurring compound in our bodies whose job is to dissolve fat. Kybella is the FIRST AND ONLY FDA-APPROVED injectable drug to reduce submental fullness. That’s a long way of saying that Kybella is a nonsurgical way to treat a double-chin.

How does Kybella work?

• Kybella works by dissolving the fat cells in the treatment area. The fatty contents are processed through your body like any other fat.

What is the Kybella treatment like?

• Kybella is in injectable drug, meaning a tiny needle is used to place the drug exactly where it’s needed. Once you have your consultation, and you and Dr. Kavali agree that Kybella is an appropriate option for you, Dr. Kavali will mark the treatment area with a skin pencil. Then she will numb the area with ice or with a bit of lidocaine (local anesthesia). The next step is having the temporary tattoo grid applied to the treatment area. This is just like a child’s tattoo and is easily removed. Finally, Dr. Kavali will use a tiny needle to inject the Kybella into specific points in the treatment area. Since the area is numb, this part isn’t painful. The tattoo is then washed off, and you are ready to go about your day.

What can I expect after my Kybella treatment?

• Most people will have swelling, redness, numbness, and tenderness to touch for a few days after their Kybella treatment. You can also expect to feel some firmness in the treatment area. Each additional treatment tends to have less swelling, redness, and tenderness. You will start to see results in about 3-4 weeks.

How many Kybella treatments will I need?

• Most people will need 2-4 Kybella treatments to get to full correction. Dr. Kavali will be able to let you know how many treatments you will likely need. Treatments are spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

Can I use Kybella in other areas of my body?

• At this time, Kybella is only FDA-approved for double-chins.