Wednesday, December 2, 2015

What is a wattle, and why do I care?

     What is a wattle?  It's the fleshy piece of soft tissue that hangs down from a turkey's chin.  As we have just finally finished our Thanksgiving leftovers, we turn from turkey wattles to the equivalent in humans, the dreaded double chin.  Anyone who's taken a selfie in the last ten years knows this is a problem area for many adults and not easily fixed once it develops. 
     In this season of gratitude, I am thankful for many things, and one of them is Kybella, the new permanent fix for double chins.  Kybella is a non-invasive, in-office injectable that dissolves fat cells and permanently gets rid of them.  It is FDA approved for the area under the chin where the so-called "double chin" occurs.  Most people need two to four treatments total, one month apart, and after that, the result is expected to be permanent. 
     Side effects are generally well-tolerated and include swelling, bruising, and tenderness in most patients.  A rare side effect that was described in the original trial included nerve damage that resulted in a droopy smile, but this effect was temporary and did self-resolve. 
     It is important to assess whether a patient is a good Kybella candidate.  Patients with too much loose skin may need different therapies such as face lift or neck lift.  If there is only subtle skin laxity, Kybella could be combined with skin tightening (Ultherapy) of the lower face and neck, performed on separate visits, for maximum effect.
     Trinity Vista Dermatology is ready to answer any and all questions you may have regarding Kybella.  Don't let your wattle get in the way.  Call us today at 817-885-8222.