Buhbye, Double Chins: FDA Approves Wattle-Reducing Injections
A new injection called ATX-101 for the first time targets the fat cells in the neck area to smooth away double chins.(Photo: Getty Images)
We
can freeze our wrinkles, smooth our fine lines and zap away our skin
imperfections. But the biggest cosmetic complaint of many — the double
chin — has been neglected in the world of noninvasive cosmetic surgery
advances. Until now.
An injection called ATX-101,
which targets double chins was approved on Wednesday by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). ATX-101 consists of deoxycholic acid
that’s injected into skin to target and eliminate fat cells under the
chin without spreading to surrounding tissue. Its maker, Kythera
Biopharmaceuticals Inc., hopes to make the injections available in the
back half of 2015.
“This drug is going to be a game changer – no question about it,” Nashville dermatologist, Michael Gold,
MD, tells Yahoo Health; Gold participated in clinical studies of the
drug. “It worked incredibly well in patients who were treated, as shown
by results versus placebo. It’s indicated for the neck, but I won’t be
surprised if people use this off-label with other areas of the body,
like we saw with Botox,” he adds.
While
double chins may be caused by natural genetics, advancing age and
weight gain, experts say ATX-101 currently works best on a certain case
type. “The ideal candidate is a younger individual with good skin
elasticity and a milder double chin — it’s not going to replace a lift
yet,” says New York facial plastic surgeon and president-elect of the Facial Plastic Surgery & Reconstructive Surgery Academy(AAFPRS), Edwin Williams, MD.
Related: Is Stress Really Bad For Your Skin?
The
full treatment will be a series of injections spaced no less than a
month apart. “Many patients experienced meaningful improvement in two to
four treatments,” says San Diego dermatologist Sabrina Guillen Fabi,
MD, who was a principal investigator in the Phase II clinical trial of
the drug, which saw 68.2 percent of patients respond positively, as
compared to a 20.5 percent placebo rate.
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