As we come to the halfway point of this year, I am impressed with the impact that both Kybella and CoolMini have had on my practice. It seems that the combination of new treatments for the chin, plus the advertising and word of mouth have led to significant increases in patient interest.
We last saw this effect when Latisse was introduced, but it continues to amaze me that new procedures are able to take hold so quickly. Also, a pleasant surprise is the spillover benefits to other procedures, namely tumescent liposuction and other facial procedures.
Our clinic offers both Kybella and CoolMini for the chin. We have offered tumescent liposuction for over 20 years and it has been waning in recent years. With the advent of these new options, tumescent liposuction has had a resurgence as well, as patients coming in for the chin find new areas to treat. Additionally, our Ultherapy treatments for the face and neck are having a good year, due to this increased awareness. Truly, this shows the power of marketing when combined with availability of new procedures.
In addition, the market seems to be opening to men, as well. We have had consults (and treatments) for many men who are interested in treatment of chin fat and other areas, but have never shown any interest in treatment in the past. I have always felt that the male cosmetic surgery market is one that is tougher to crack, but the chin seems to be the gateway, and if there were a gateway “drug,” it would be Kybella!
Clearly, this may be a trend that disappears, but for this year it seems to be solid and lasting, which is great. I would encourage any of our readers who haven’t considered these treatments to look into them for their practice. They are easy to perform with adequate instruction and provide most patients with a positive experience. Additionally, they are a good place to start if you are just learning about cosmetics and want to dip your toe in the cosmetic waters. It should be noted that there are side effects of both of these options (edema, potential transient nerve damage and bruising for Kybella and edema, pain and bruising for CoolMini); these are easily managed with good instruction to the patient.
 
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Time and space running out! Southeast Medical Spa Regulatory Workshop: June 6, 2016
How to Successfully Open a Medical Spa--Northwest: September 19-20, 2016
How to Successfully Open a Medical Spa--Texas: November 6-7, 2016
Southwest Medical Spa Regulatory Workshop: December 5, 2016