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Kybella · Pleasanton & Sunnyvale
Kybella in Pleasanton
In short
Kybella permanently reduces fat under the chin. Deoxycholic acid is injected into the pocket, the fat cells break down, and the body clears them over the following weeks.
It takes more than one session and it swells considerably afterwards. Once the fat is gone it does not return, which is what distinguishes it from treatments that need maintaining.
What to expect
The swelling is the part people are not warned about often enough. The area is visibly fuller for several days to a week after each session, and it is worth planning the appointment around that rather than around the result.
Sessions are spaced several weeks apart. How many you need depends on how much fat is there, which we can estimate at consultation but not promise in advance.
When we recommend it
- A defined pocket of fat under the chin rather than general heaviness
- Skin that still has reasonable elasticity, so it retracts as the fat reduces
- Someone who would rather not have surgery and can accommodate the swelling
When we would choose something else
If the fullness is loose skin rather than fat, removing fat will make it looser. Tightening is the relevant treatment there.
If a recessed chin is creating the profile rather than fat, filler along the chin usually does more than Kybella would.
Infection in the area, pregnancy and breastfeeding are reasons to postpone.
Common questions
Does Kybella work permanently?
The treated fat cells are destroyed and do not return. Significant weight gain can still enlarge the fat cells that remain in the area.
How many Kybella treatments will I need?
More than one in almost every case, spaced several weeks apart. The number depends on the volume of fat present, which we assess in person.
How bad is the swelling?
Noticeable, and it is the main reason to plan around the appointment. The area is visibly fuller for several days to about a week after each session.
Medically reviewed by Seth Eberlin, MD, Medical Director at Essential Bella. Last reviewed 20 September 2026. General information, not a substitute for an in-person assessment.