Comparison guide. Reviewed by Alina McCann, MSN, APRN, AGNP. Updated October 13, 2026.
Kybella dissolves fat under the chin with a series of injections, no anaesthetic and no scar, for roughly $1,100 to $3,300 in total. Liposuction or a neck lift gives a bigger, faster change for several times the cost and a real recovery. The honest comparison.
A double chin is usually fat, sometimes loose skin, often both. Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is an injection that destroys fat cells under the chin over a series of sessions. It does nothing for loose skin. Submental liposuction removes the fat in one procedure; a neck lift removes fat and tightens skin and muscle. We offer Kybella and not surgery, and Alina McCann, NP, will tell you at a consultation if your neck is a surgical problem.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Kybella | Liposuction | Neck lift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our price | $550 per vial ($500 Beauty Bank); 2 to 4 vials per session, 1 to 3 sessions | not offered; typically $3,000 to $6,000 in St. Louis | not offered; typically $8,000 to $15,000 |
| Anaesthesia | none (topical and ice) | local or general | general |
| Time | 20 minutes per session | 1 to 2 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Downtime | swelling for 1 to 2 weeks, no restrictions | 1 week off, compression garment for weeks | 2 weeks off, several weeks of swelling |
| Scar | none | tiny, under the chin | behind the ears and under the chin |
| Treats loose skin | no | no (can worsen it) | yes |
| Result | gradual, over 2 to 4 months | immediate, settles over months | immediate, settles over months |
| Permanent | yes | yes | yes, though ageing continues |
For a patient under about 50 with good skin and a pocket of fat under the chin, Kybella gives a result most people cannot tell from liposuction, with no scar, no anaesthesia and no time off. In the pivotal trials, 79% of patients treated were satisfied with their appearance and the improvement held at three years. The catch is the swelling: the area balloons for a week or two after each session, and it takes two or three sessions. Read the Kybella page for how we do it.
Loose skin. If you can pinch a fold of slack skin under the chin, or the problem is a soft jawline rather than fullness, removing fat with Kybella can leave the skin emptier. A neck lift addresses skin and the platysma muscle together and is the only real fix for a "turkey neck." Liposuction is quicker than Kybella for a large amount of fat in a patient with tight skin, and some patients would rather have one procedure than three visits.
Two sessions of three vials of Kybella is $3,300 at list price, or $3,000 for Beauty Bank members. That is close to the low end of liposuction and well under a neck lift, with no facility or anaesthesia fees. Surgery remains the better value per unit of change for a large correction.
Kybella for a moderate fat pocket, good skin, no appetite for surgery or time off, and patience for a gradual result.
Liposuction for a larger fat pocket in a younger patient with tight skin who wants it done in one go.
Neck lift for loose skin, banding or a significant jowl, usually over 50.
If Alina thinks you are a surgical candidate she will say so at the consultation, which is complimentary. If you are a Kybella candidate, prices are on the price list and we can start the same day.
Prices are our list prices as of October 13, 2026 and are shown in full on the price list. Trial figures are averages from the cited studies; individual results vary. This guide is written by the provider who performs the treatments, so it reflects what we offer as well as what we do not.
Yes. The fat cells it destroys do not come back. Significant weight gain can enlarge the remaining cells.
Most patients need two to three, four to six weeks apart, using two to four vials each. Some need only one.
No. We are a non-surgical practice. If Alina thinks surgery is the right answer for your neck, she will say so.
A double chin can hang on no matter how healthy you are, since the fat beneath the chin often has more to do with genetics than weight.
Non-Surgical Double Chin Treatment at 4Ever Young STL MedSpa
Firm hyaluronic acid filler such as Juvederm Volux along the jaw and at the angle of the jaw, for a sharper, more defined jawline and a cleaner line between face and neck.
More comparisons: Botox vs Daxxify, Botox vs Dysport, Sculptra vs Radiesse vs hyaluronic acid filler, Semaglutide vs tirzepatide, Lip flip vs lip filler.
Book online in about a minute, or call and we will talk it through first. Either way you will know the price before anything starts.
