Count the course, not just the session.

The study#

Design

Pooled treatment-session analysis of phase III trials

Population

REFINE participants with submental fat

Follow-up / endpoint

Response assessed over repeated sessions

Source

Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2018

What the authors found#

A majority of treated participants achieved at least one-grade improvement within two to four sessions, depending on the observer and endpoint.[1]

Editorial interpretation

Why it is interesting#

Course-level outcomes give a more realistic account than a single-session promise.

Discuss the treatment course and assessment method alongside expected response.

What it cannot tell us#

• Pooled secondary analysis; clinician and patient ratings are different endpoints.
• Submental-fat results cannot be extrapolated to other fat compartments or mixtures.

Selection for this library reflects educational interest. It is not a systematic search, formal certainty grade, or complete account of the literature.

Funding & commercial context#

REFINE was sponsored by Kythera, an Allergan affiliate; see the full publication for the analysis disclosures.

Continue with the product

Source & citation#

Checked 2026-09-06 · Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2018. Cite the original publication when discussing its results; this page is an interpretation.

Aesthetic Pass. Count the course, not just the session. Product Atlas research interpretation 2026.09.06.1. https://aestheticpass.com/products/studies/kybella-treatment-course/