Got a Double Chin? The FDA Approves a New Treatment That Will Erase Them

If you are one of the many people out there battling the appearance of a double chin, then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has good news for you. The FDA said Wednesday it approved an injection designed to melt away double-chin fat.

The agency has given the green light for a new drug called Kybella for adults with moderate or severe fat below the chin, or submental fat. It's the first approved drug for Kythera Biopharmaceuticals.

According to a statement, Kybella is administered by injections into the fat under the chin, tailored to the treatment goals of the patient and the physician. Each in-office treatment session is typically 15-20 minutes. Many patients experienced visible results in two to four treatments. Up to six treatments may be administered. Once the aesthetic response is achieved, retreatment is not expected.

However, the FDA warned that Kybella was not approved for use outside of the area under the chin, where "pre-platismal fat" accumulates in pockets that are just under the skin. That means that Kybella may not be used on other pockets of fat on the body such as the belly or the buttocks.

Kybella will be available to buy in the second half of 2015 and according to regulatory filings, the company believes it will make more than $500 million in annual sales.

The cost of the injections were not announced. A downside is that insurance companies will not cover the cost of having Kybella injections.