Kybella

Kybella is a prescription medication used as a treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe fat below the chin, known as submental fat. Kybella belongs to a group of drugs called cytolytics. These work by destroying fat cells when injected into fat. 

Kybella is available as an injection and is injected into the fat below the chin. Patients may receive up to 50 injections in a single treatment.

Common side effects of Kybella include swelling, bruising, pain, and numbness. 

Kybella is a prescription medication used as a treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe fat below the chin, known as submental fat. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Kybella. See the “Kybella Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Kybella include the following in the treatment area:

• swelling
• bruising
• pain
• numbness
• redness
• areas of hardness

This is not a complete list of Kybella side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are  continually being reported.

Kybella can cause serious side effects, including:

• Nerve injury in the jaw that can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness.
• Trouble swallowing

Do not receive Kybella if:

• you are allergic to Kybella or any of its ingredients
• if you have an infection in the treatment area

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Kybella, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.  

Before taking Kybella, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Kybella or to any of its ingredients
• have had or plan to have surgery on your face, neck, or chin
• have had cosmetic treatments on your face, neck, or chin
• have had or have medical conditions in or near the neck area
• have had or have trouble swallowing
• have bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Kybella will harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Kybella passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive Kybella. 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women.  Kybella should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweights the possible risk to the unborn baby.

It is not known if Kybella crosses into human milk.  Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Kybella.

Kybella is available in an injectable form to be administered into fat tissue under the chin, by a healthcare professional.

Kybella injections will be given at least 1 month apart. You and your healthcare provider will decide how many treatments you need.

A single treatment consists of up to a maximum of 50 injections.  Up to 6 single treatments may be administered at intervals no less than 1 month apart.

Injection of excessive doses/volumes of Kybella may increase the risk of adverse reactions.