CHOOSE YOUR CLINIC
For anyone seeking submental fat reduction, liposuction and Belkyra are two of the most probable procedures. But what are they? How does one treatment differ from another? This article evaluates both of these procedures to identify which one is the better choice for submental fat reduction.
Double chin is quite a common occurrence in people across the world, yet no one gets accustomed to it and are often known to suffer from low confidence. Medically known submental fat, double chin is mostly the result of obesity and genetic disorders, and may even happen due to increasing age.
Both Belkyra and liposuction can be used to reduce this fat under the chin and make you look sharper, and improve your self-image. Belkyra, also known as Kybella, is a non-invasive procedure where an injectable is used to reduce the excessive fat. On the other hand, liposuction is a surgical method where a thin tube is used to suction the excess fat through smaller incisions.
However, the general confusion among customers regarding the better choice to reduce submental fat. In this blog, we will dive deeper to understand both processes in detail. But first, let’s look at what submental fat is and why it is so hard to remove.
Submental fat is one of the main reasons behind many people’s lack of confidence and self-belief. People who are well aware of their appearance can also feel low because of it.
Let’s look into more detail.
Fat getting accumulated in the chin results in double chin, or submental fat. Your body stores extra calories as fat and forms a double chin. Plus, genetics and aging history can also act as a key factor behind a double chin.
It is generally hard to remove submental fat because of the aging skin, which can become saggy over time. Furthermore, increased body weight can also be another reason behind the double chin. Over time, skin laxity reduces, so it becomes difficult to remove fat from the area.
Belkyra, also referred to as Kybella in the United States, is a compound utilizing deoxycholic acid, which helps to absorb the extra fat. Injection of Belkyra is commonly preferred by people who prefer a non-invasive procedure to reduce the submental fat.
Belkyra treatment is planned basically to break down and absorb the excess fat. It mainly consists of Deoxycholic acid, which helps in the process. When it is injected under your chin, it helps break down the fat cells, and the body can take care of the excess fat.
Liposuction is a process that needs surgical intervention for removing the submental fat.
It has a straightforward procedure. Although it is minimally invasive, it requires some small incisions on the patient’s chin. An expert plastic surgeon can easily perform this and extract the excess fat and refine the patient’s chin area.
The entire procedure is done when the patient is under local anesthesia. However, the patient can stay awake throughout the procedure, and the recovery process starts in just about 3 to 5 days.
You can find clinics that use Belkyra in Montreal for reducing chin fat.
Let’s understand the difference between the characteristics of Belkyra treatment and Liposuction Surgery:
| Features | Belkyra | Liposuction |
| Type of Procedure | Non-surgical and non-invasive | Surgical yet minimally invasive |
| Target Areas | Small Areas (Commonly under the chin) | In many areas like the chin, abdomen, and arms |
| Mechanism | Dissolves fat using deoxycholic acid | Physically removes fat using suction |
| Anesthesia Required | Not necessarily | Yes (Local anesthesia) |
| Downtime | Minimal | 1-2 weeks |
| Number of Treatments | Multiple Sessions | Usually one procedure |
| Results Timeline | Gradual (Weeks to months) | Immediate |
| Scarring | No scars | Small scars from incision |
Table 1: Comparison between Belkyra and Liposuction
Both of these treatment options are considered effective for reducing a double chin and managing excessive fat. But who are the ideal candidates for each type of treatment? Let’s understand that.
Belkyra works best for people who have comparatively improved skin flexibility. This helps in following the growth in managing the contours after the fat reduction process. Furthermore, people who are reluctant to surgically remove the fat are the right candidates for Belkyra.
However, it needs to be understood by the patients looking to use Belkyra that it is not a method to reduce weight. It is used to reduce the targeted fat under the chin.
Ideal Liposuction candidates who have localized fat deposits. It is also ideal that the patient has a reduced body weight compared to their ideal body weight. The patient’s BMI should be between 18.5 to 30 to comfortably conduct liposcopy treatment.
For both Belkyra and Liposuction, the patient experience and recovery expectations can be different.
For Belkyra, before and after the procedure, there can be some differences in patient experience. After the Belkyra treatment, patients can experience swelling in the injection site. However, that wears off within a day or two.
Patients can expect a substantial reduction in submental fat within 4 to 6 weeks of the Belkyra injection.
After liposuction treatment, patients can return to their normal activities within a week of the surgery. However, this recovery timeline varies greatly. Immediately after the liposuction surgery, there can be symptoms like swelling, redness, and pain. For pain management, doctors provide patients with effective pain medication.
Furthermore, doctors suggest that patients wear compression garments, which favor the healing process and reduce swelling.
There are some potential side effects of Belkyra and Liposuction.
Common Belkyra side effects include:
After injection, the area will become swollen and bruised. It happens because the body starts the process of breaking down the fat.
You can experience a feeling like burning in the site of injection. If the pain increases, consult your physician before starting any medication.
Similar to any surgery, liposuction does have some key risks. These side effects include:
Your chin may look wavy and bumpy if the fat removal process is unevenly done or if you lack skin elasticity.
Temporary fluid pockets can form under the skin. These pockets need to be cleared with a syringe.
You can expect numbness after the surgical process.
Skin infections are rare, but they can also happen. Considering the severity of this infection, you might need inspection by doctors.
In some rare cases, liposuction and Belkyra can be combined for improved contouring in the chin area.
Choosing between Belkyra and liposuction is a conscious choice among patients. Patients who have high skin elasticity and who do not want to reduce the fat surgically can use Belkyra injections. On the other hand, for patients who want to permanently eliminate the double chin in one session, liposuction surgery is an ideal way to solve this issue.
Want to have a Belkyra procedure or Liposuction for a sharper and elegant look? Consult with an expert clinic that will help you get the right treatment as per your preference.
