Are you bothered by a double chin but don’t want to treat it with liposuction or surgery?

Belkyra is an FDA approved injectable treatment that destroys fat cells. Made from deoxycholic acid, a component of your own natural bile, Belkyra is injected under the skin to reduce your double chin without surgery.

A course of two to six simple treatments is all you need – walk-in, walk-out, with no bandages or stitches.

Belkyra - Before Treatment
Before Treatment
Belkyra - After 5 Treatments
After 5 Belkyra Treatments

Frequently asked questions about Belkyra

What is Belkyra made from?

Belkyra is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, identical to your body’s own natural bile acid. Bile is released by your liver in order to digest a fatty meal. Belkyra is a non-human, non-animal, plant-based source.

How does it work?

Belkyra targets fat by dissolving the outer covering of the fat cell, bursting it like a tiny balloon. The fat from the cells is released into the bloodstream and excreted by the body.

Does it really work?

Yes, Belkyra reliably removes fat. It is a well-researched treatment with many excellent studies. It is now being researched for use in other body areas.

However, not all double chins are caused only by the fat sitting under the skin, so it may not be the correct treatment for you. See ‘Who is suitable for treatment?’ below.

If you have a lot of fat under your chin, you’d need a lot of Belkyra. That could end up being more expensive than liposuction, and results would take longer. Surgery may still be a better option for some people.

Who is suitable for treatment?

Belkyra treats moderate to severe double chins. Belkyra is not suitable for people with very large double chins, or a lot of sagging skin.

Your double chin may also be caused by things that Belkyra can’t treat, like fat lying deep in your neck, or a large neck or jaw muscle. To know for sure, I’ll need to see and feel your neck before deciding.

I won’t treat you if you’re pregnant, breast feeding, or have an infection in the area.

Belkyra - who is suitable for treatment

What happens during treatment?

Once I’ve determined you’re a suitable candidate, I’ll take a series of photos, so we can follow your transformation.

I mark your double chin area with a grid of dots using a temporary tattoo. This shows me how much Belkyra to use.

I numb the area with local anaesthetic before injecting the Belkyra, one injection per dot.

Most people have 20-30 tiny injections. That’s it, you’re done. You’ll need a course of two to six treatments, each spaced six weeks apart, to get your final result.

Does it hurt?

The fat cell destruction causes a burning feeling under your chin for a couple of minutes. I use local anaesthetic and cold packs to make sure you don’t feel this. Once the burn is gone, it feels sensitive to touch, like a bruise.

What do I look like afterwards?

Immediately afterwards your double chin will swell up. The swelling is a sign that your fat cells have died. We love swelling!

The swelling peaks at day 2 and lasts up to two weeks. You might also have a bruise or needle mark that lasts about a week.

The area will feel firm, numb and lumpy, and could feel like a wobbly jelly when you move. It will be sensitive to touch. This is all part of the healing process. It usually takes 6-8 weeks to settle, and once it’s gone we do the next treatment.

Belkyra - Before Treatement
Before Treatment
Belkyra - Immediately After Treatment
Immediately After
Belkyra - Peak Swelling Day 2
Peak Swelling Day 2

When do I see results?

It’s a gradual process that takes 6 – 12 months. You’ll need two to six treatments spaced two months apart. Each treatment removes some fat.

The swelling after each treatment temporarily increases your double chin. This needs to settle, and your body needs to tidy away the fat cell debris, before you see the improvement in your jawline contour.

Some lucky people see a change just two months after their first treatment. Most people will need to wait at least four months after starting treatment, and some will need to wait twelve months.

Belkyra - Before Treatement
Before Treatment
After 2 Treatments
Belkyra - After 5 Treatments
After 5 Treatments

What are the side effects of Belkyra?

Afterwards, you should expect to be red and swollen, and you might be bruised. Swelling usually lasts two weeks but very rarely can last up to four weeks.

Many people get areas of hardness that usually take 6 – 8 weeks to resolve. Numbness of the treated area is also common and gradually recovers over months. Most people aren’t bothered by it.

Rarely, Belkyra can temporarily affect a nerve in your jaw, giving you an uneven smile for an average of 42 days. Studies show there’s a 2% chance of this occurring, and that the nerve always recovers, taking between 4 – 298 days.

Very rarely, trouble swallowing, skin ulcers and damage to deeper structures have been reported.

How long does it last?

Once Belkyra removes your fat cells, they’re gone forever, but your remaining fat cells could get bigger if you put on weight.

Let’s say you started with 1,000 fat cells, and that each treatment removes 200 fat cells.
After four treatments, you’d have 200 fat cells left.

Those 200 fat cells can grow bigger, storing more fat, if you put on weight.

However, with fewer fat cells, you’ll always store less fat under your chin than you would have without Belkyra treatment.

As the years go by, your skin under your chin will continue to age. Belkyra can’t stop that.

If you’re interested in finding out if Belkyra is right for you, make an appointment with me.