Kybella for Double Chin in Rapid City, SD
At LiveWell Medical Aesthetics in Rapid City, SD, Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment specifically designed to permanently destroy fat cells beneath the chin. Performed by Courtney Vesely, FNP-C, MSN, RN, and our licensed team, Kybella uses deoxycholic acid — a molecule your body already produces to break down dietary fat — to dissolve submental fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat again.
Kybella is a surgical alternative for patients who want a slimmer, more defined chin profile without general anesthesia, incisions, or extended recovery time. Results are permanent once the full treatment series is complete.
Is Kybella Right for You?
Kybella works best for patients whose chin fullness is primarily caused by submental fat; not by loose skin, jowl tissue, or genetics affecting the bone structure. During your consultation, Courtney will assess whether Kybella is the right treatment for your specific anatomy.
Kybella tends to be a strong fit for patients who:
Deoxycholic acid permanently destroys fat cells, but it only works on fat. If your chin fullness is caused by something other than fat, Kybella will not produce the result you are expecting.
As the fat is reduced, the overlying skin needs to retract. Patients with significant skin laxity in the neck or chin area may need skin-tightening treatment (such as Sofwave) in addition to or instead of Kybella. Your provider will assess this at your consultation.
Kybella is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Prior surgery in this area may affect candidacy. Disclose any previous procedures at your consultation.
Kybella is not a weight-loss treatment. It is a targeted fat-reduction procedure for a specific anatomical area. The best way to determine whether it is right for you is a consultation with one of our licensed providers.
How Kybella Works
Kybella contains synthetic deoxycholic acid, a molecule your body produces naturally to absorb dietary fat. When injected into the layer of fat beneath the chin, deoxycholic acid disrupts the cell membrane of fat cells, causing them to break down.
Your body then clears the destroyed fat cells through its normal metabolic processes over the following weeks. The cells are gone permanently, they cannot regenerate or accumulate fat again. This is what makes Kybella a permanent treatment for submental fat, not a temporary reduction.
The result is a gradual, natural-looking reduction in chin fullness that develops over several weeks following each session. Most patients require 2 to 4 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart to achieve their goal.
Kybella was FDA-approved in 2015 and remains the only injectable treatment approved specifically for submental fat reduction.
Your Kybella Treatment Plan
Most patients at LiveWell complete 2 to 4 Kybella sessions. The number depends on the amount of submental fat present and the degree of reduction you are looking for. Sessions are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart to allow the treated area to recover and for the fat breakdown process to progress between visits.
The treatment area is numbed with a topical anesthetic. Your provider marks the injection points across the chin area and administers a series of small injections. Each session typically takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Swelling, bruising, and temporary numbness in the treated area are normal and expected. Swelling typically peaks in the first 1 to 2 days and resolves over 1 to 2 weeks. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two.
Visible reduction in chin fat typically begins to appear 4 to 6 weeks after each session. Full results are usually visible 3 to 6 months after the last session, once all swelling has resolved and the body has cleared the destroyed fat cells.
Prior surgery in this area may affect candidacy. Disclose any previous procedures at your consultation.
For a full day-by-day account of the Kybella recovery experience, visit our Kybella Recovery Guide.
Meet Your Provider
Kybella treatments at LiveWell Medical Aesthetics are performed by Courtney Vesely, FNP-C, MSN, RN, Founder and Lead Injector, and our licensed nursing team. Courtney is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over eight ten of experience in aesthetic medicine.
South Dakota grants Nurse Practitioners full practice authority, meaning Courtney leads the practice independently and is fully licensed to perform all injectable treatments at LiveWell.
How Does Kybella Compare to Other Options?
Patients often ask how Kybella compares to liposuction, CoolSculpting, and at-home devices. The key differences worth knowing before your consultation:
Both permanently remove submental fat. Liposuction is faster and requires a single procedure, but involves incisions, anesthesia, and a more significant recovery period. Kybella is non-surgical with no anesthesia, no incisions, and a recovery measured in days rather than weeks.
Both are non-surgical. CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to destroy fat cells. Kybella uses an injectable. Neither is definitively superior — the right choice depends on anatomy, treatment area, and patient preference. LiveWell offers Kybella. Your provider will tell you honestly if they think a different approach is better for your situation.
Yes, with an important qualifier. Kybella permanently destroys the treated fat cells, which cannot regenerate. However, if you gain significant weight after your treatment series, remaining fat cells in adjacent areas can expand, which may affect the overall appearance of the chin. Kybella is not a substitute for a healthy weight.
The best way to know whether Kybella is right for your situation is a consultation. Your provider will give you an honest assessment.
Kybella Frequently Asked Questions
Swelling is the most common side effect of Kybella and is a sign that the treatment is working. It typically peaks in the first 1 to 2 days after each session and largely resolves within 1 to 2 weeks. Some mild firmness or numbness can persist for several weeks. For a full day-by-day account of the swelling and recovery experience, see our Kybella Recovery Guide. (link: /blog/kybella-recovery-guide/)
The treatment area is numbed before injections begin. Most patients experience a burning or stinging sensation during and briefly after the injections, which subsides within a few minutes. Soreness, swelling, and numbness in the days following treatment are normal. Most patients find the treatment tolerable and return to normal activities within 1 to 2 days.
Yes. Kybella permanently destroys the targeted fat cells, which cannot regenerate. Results from a completed treatment series are permanent, provided your weight remains stable. Significant weight gain after treatment can cause remaining fat cells in adjacent areas to expand, which may affect the appearance of the chin and jaw over time.
Good candidates typically have submental fat that has not responded to diet and exercise, good skin elasticity in the chin and neck area, and no prior surgery in the treatment zone. Kybella is not recommended for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The best way to confirm candidacy is a consultation, your provider will assess your anatomy and give you an honest recommendation.
Kybella is FDA-approved specifically for submental fat reduction. While some providers use it off-label in adjacent areas such as jowls or bra fat, at LiveWell we will discuss the appropriate treatment areas for your goals at your consultation and provide an honest assessment of where Kybella is and is not appropriate.
Related Treatments
Sofwave
Non-surgical ultrasound skin tightening for the jaw, neck, and brow. A common complement to Kybella for patients who want to tighten the skin above the treated area.
Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify
Neuromodulators for dynamic wrinkles and the lip flip.
Microglow
Advanced microchanneling treatment that includes Botox in the infusion
Dermal Fillers
Volume restoration for cheeks, jawline, and nasolabial folds. Patients pursuing overall jaw definition may benefit from filler in combination with Kybella.
