Correction of double chin with lipolysis injection
- Sal
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 6
What is double chin?
Within the neck region, the part below chin is the area most affected by aging and fat accumulation and is the main reason of “Double Chin” appearance from different angles.
Fat tissue within this region is organized into 2 distinct compartments separated by the platysma muscle. The fat compartment over the platysma muscle is the target area for lipolysis injection.
What is Belkyra?
Belkyra is the drug used for fat dissolving in Canada which was approved by FDA for double chin correction in 2015 .It contains externally developed deoxycholic acid which is an essential component of bile for digestion of fat in our intestine. Belkyra is marketed as 2 ml vial containing 20 my of deoxycholic acid .
Mechanism of action
Following injection of Belkyra, the fat cell wall is destroyed, resulting in the cascade of inflammatory cell death and reduction in the size of fat tissue. Inflammatory cascade also results in fibroblast (a kind of skin cell ) migration and stimulation, resulting in buildup of more collagen
Steps during Belkyra injection:
1. After consent and accurate photography, the injection area is marked .
2. The injection area is treated with alcohol solution to kill harmful bacteria on the skin. The area is then applied with anesthetic cream to create a painless experience.
3. Deoxycholic acid is then injected into the fat region with the help of a 1-mL tuberculin syringe and thin needle (usually 30 G and 13mm) at multiple injection points marked at a distance of 1cm away from each other in a gridlike manner.
Posttreatment Care
As an indicator of inflammation , patients may experience mild swelling, discomfort, and pain from 2 days to 2 weeks after injection.
Cold compresses can be effectively used to alleviate discomfort.
Usually, the patients can be followed up after 4 weeks to assess the results and also to plan further sessions as per their requirement.
Typically three to five sessions are required with an interval of 4 weeks between two sessions.
Complications
1. Discomfort, pain, and swelling.
2. Bruising.
3. Asymmetrical smile can be due to injecting a lot of deoxycholic acid close to the nerve.
4. Skin ulceration.
5. Rarely inability to swallow (dysphasia) can occur.