Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved deoxycholic acid (Kybella, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals) to help reduce double chins.
The approval follows a unanimous vote on March 9 by the FDA's Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee in favor of deoxycholic acid injection for improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults.
Kybella is a patented formulation of a pure, non animal-derived version of deoxycholic acid, which is an endogenous molecule that aids in the breakdown of dietary fat. Once injected, Kybella physically disrupts the cell membrane, causing the destruction of fat cells. However, it can also destroy other types of cells, such as skin cells, if it is inadvertently injected into the skin, according to a news release from the FDA.
"Treatment with Kybella should only be provided by a licensed health care professional, and patients should fully understand the risks associated with use of the drug before considering treatment," Amy G. Egan, MD, MPH, deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, advised.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843937
