Deoxycholic acid / Allergan Aesthetics · AbbVie
Kybella
Deoxycholic acid for submental fullness and what treatment-session analyses can tell us.
Product Atlas · September 2026
The exact product comes first
Scope of this monograph#
KYBELLA, US. BELKYRA is a regional brand record and must be verified against its own local label.
Clinical statements below summarize the attached documents. They are not a complete prescribing label. Match the exact local product and current instructions to the clinical decision.
Composition & formulation#
Deoxycholic acid, 10 mg/mL, supplied as a solution for subcutaneous injection.[2]
How it works#
Disrupts cell membranes, causing cell lysis. Its local cytolytic action requires careful distinction between fat and surrounding structures.[2]
Indications & treatment areas#
The US indication is improvement of moderate-to-severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults. Other body fat sites are not established uses.[2]
Application considerations#
Assess the cause of fullness, skin laxity and relevant neck anatomy. Use the product-specific subcutaneous protocol and documented treatment limits.[2]
Contraindications & precautions#
Infection at planned injection sites is a contraindication. History of dysphagia, altered neck anatomy and bleeding risk require assessment.[2]
Adverse effects & safety#
Swelling, bruising, pain and numbness are common. Marginal mandibular nerve injury, dysphagia and tissue injury are clinically important risks.[2]
Duration & follow-up#
REFINE analyses evaluated response across a treatment course. Number of sessions and durability are different questions and must not be collapsed into one number.[3]
Distinctions that matter#
Evidence for purified deoxycholic acid in submental fat cannot validate mesotherapy mixtures, another brand, or another anatomical area.[2][3]
Four markets. Separate evidence.#
Documents below identify what has been attached in this research edition. “Source needed” means unverified here; it is not a statement that a product is unapproved.
A current, exact-product local label or regulatory record has not yet been reconciled in this edition. Regulatory status is unverified here.
Contribute a local source ↗A current, exact-product local label or regulatory record has not yet been reconciled in this edition. Regulatory status is unverified here.
Contribute a local source ↗US prescription label attached; approvals elsewhere require BELKYRA-specific reconciliation.[2]
The 2017 Australian assessment records the submental-fat indication. Current availability and PI require a fresh local reconciliation.[1]
Studies worth a closer look.#
Count the course, not just the session.
Discuss the treatment course and assessment method alongside expected response.
Follow the evidence.#
Retrieved 6 September 2026. A retrieval date does not establish that an older document is the latest approved revision. Studies marked “abstract” have not completed full-text appraisal.
- [1] BELKYRA Australian public assessment report ↗Therapeutic Goods Administration · regulator · Document accessed · Document: April 2017 — historical assessment · Checked 2026-09-06
- [2] KYBELLA US prescribing information ↗Allergan / DailyMed · label · Document accessed · Checked 2026-09-06
- [3] REFINE trials — treatment-session pooled analysis ↗Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2018 · study · Abstract accessed · Checked 2026-09-06
Cite this monograph#
Aesthetic Pass. Kybella. Product Atlas research edition 2026.09.06.1. https://aestheticpass.com/products/monographs/kybella/