Belkyra in Calgary

Belkyraat Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South.

Belkyra is an injectable that dissolves fat under the chin. It is the only injectable approved in Canada for this purpose, and once the fat cells are gone they do not return. Treatment is a course of sessions, each with a week or two of swelling. At Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South, Dr. Paul Kuzel, a board-certified dermatologist, assesses whether fat is the problem and performs every injection himself.

14Years of training FRCPCRoyal College certified VPAlberta Society of Dermatologists
What it is

Deoxycholic acid, and how it dissolves fat.

Belkyra is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, a bile acid the body makes to break down dietary fat. Injected into the fat under the chin, it does the same thing there. It has been approved in Canada since 2015.

MechanismDeoxycholic acid disrupts the membrane of fat cells it contacts. The cells break down and their contents are cleared by the body's normal processes over the following weeks. The cells themselves do not regrow.
A courseEach session treats a fraction of the fat. Most patients need two to four sessions, six weeks apart, to reach their result. Each session involves a series of small injections in a grid across the area.
Fat, not skinBelkyra removes fat. It does not tighten skin, and in patients whose fullness is loose skin or a low-set muscle rather than fat, it does nothing useful. The assessment at consultation decides.
Belkyra, CoolSculpting or liposuction

Three ways to remove fat under the chin.

Each removes fat permanently. They differ in how they do it, how many visits are needed and what the recovery looks like.

Belkyra

Injection

Two to four sessions six weeks apart, each with a week or two of swelling. Suits small to moderate fullness and patients who prefer an injection to a device or a procedure. Precise control over which areas are treated.

CoolSculpting

Freezing

One or two sessions with a small applicator that freezes the fat through the skin. Less swelling, some numbness for weeks. Suits a discrete, pinchable pad of fat that fits the applicator.

CoolSculpting
Liposuction

Surgery

A larger submental pocket, or loose skin over it, is a surgical question. Where liposuction or a neck lift is the honest answer, Dr. Kuzel says so and refers.

Skin laxity
Not fat

Loose skin or a low neck

Where the problem is skin laxity, a retruded chin or the position of the neck muscles, fat removal makes it worse. Skin tightening, chin filler or a surgical opinion are discussed instead.

Skin tightening
Why a dermatologist

The nerve under the jaw, and patient selection.

Belkyra is simple to inject and easy to inject badly. The two things that matter are choosing the right patient and staying clear of the nerve that runs along the jaw.

Is it fat?Dr. Kuzel examines the neck, pinches the fullness and assesses the skin and the muscle beneath. Belkyra is offered only where fat is the cause and the skin will retract once it is gone.
The marginal mandibular nerveA branch of the facial nerve runs along the lower edge of the jaw. Belkyra injected too close to it causes a temporary weakness of the lower lip and an uneven smile that can last weeks. Dr. Kuzel maps the treatment area to stay below the safe boundary.
Dose and spacingThe amount injected, the spacing of the grid and the number of sessions are set to the volume of fat. Too much in one session means more swelling; too little means more sessions. Both are avoidable.
CoverageBelkyra is cosmetic and not covered by Alberta Health Care. Pricing is per session and as a course and is quoted at consultation.
Who it suits

Fat, not loose skin.

Belkyra is approved for fat under the chin. Off-label use in other small, well-defined areas is possible and is discussed at consultation.

Good candidate

Moderate fullness, good skin

A pinchable pad of fat under the chin with skin that springs back. The most common patient, and the one the approval studies were done on.

Good candidate

Fullness that diet does not shift

Submental fat is often genetic and persists at a healthy weight. Belkyra removes it regardless of weight, though it is best done at a stable weight.

Consider alternatives

Larger volume

A large pad may need four or more sessions. Liposuction removes it in one visit and is often the better choice.

Not a candidate

Loose skin, a weak chin, or a low neck

Where skin has lost its elasticity, the chin is recessed, or the neck muscles sit low, fat removal exposes the problem rather than solving it. Other treatments are discussed.

Double chin treatments
Your visit

A course of two to four sessions.

Each Belkyra session takes about twenty minutes. The first usually follows consultation at the same visit.

ConsultationWhat bothers you about the neck, your weight history, and whether you would prefer injection, a device or surgery.
AssessmentDr. Kuzel examines the neck and confirms that fat is the cause, that the skin will retract, and that Belkyra is the right tool.
Plan and consentNumber of sessions, expected swelling and numbness, and the risk to the smile. The price is confirmed before treatment.
InjectionThe area is marked with a grid and anaesthetised. Twenty to thirty small injections, ten to fifteen minutes. Ice afterward.
Repeat and reviewSessions six weeks apart until the result is reached; review at three months after the last.
Aftercare and safety

Swelling, numbness and the smile.

Belkyra causes more swelling than other injectables. That is the fat breaking down, and it is expected. Plan the first session for a week without important events.

After treatment

  • Swelling under the chin for one to two weeks after each session, most in the first three days; a scarf or high collar hides it
  • Tenderness, firmness and bruising for one to two weeks
  • Numbness of the skin under the chin for several weeks, resolving on its own
  • Ice and sleep with the head raised for the first two days; avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours
  • Temporary weakness of the lower lip or an uneven smile is uncommon and resolves within weeks; report it to the clinic
  • Difficulty swallowing from swelling is rare and brief; report it to the clinic
  • Not used in pregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection, or with a history of surgery or a nerve problem in the area

Booking and fees

No referral is needed. Belkyra is priced per session and as a course and quoted at consultation, and the price is confirmed before anything is injected.

Call (403) 286-6888 for current pricing.

What to expect

Expected outcomes.

Nothing improves in the first two weeks; the area is swollen and looks fuller. The fat then reduces over the following four to six weeks as the body clears it, and the change is assessed before the next session. Most patients see a clear difference after two sessions and reach their result after three or four.

In the approval studies, about two thirds of patients who completed a course were satisfied with the reduction, and the result held over years of follow-up because the fat cells are gone. Weight gain can add fat to the remaining cells, so the result is best maintained at a stable weight.

Belkyra does not tighten skin and does not change the position of the chin or the neck muscles. Where those contribute, they are treated separately.

2 to 4Sessions in a course 6Weeks between sessions PermanentFat cells do not return
Questions

Questions about Belkyra, answered.

How much does Belkyra cost in Calgary?

Belkyra is priced per session and as a course and quoted at consultation. The number of vials per session depends on the volume of fat. Call (403) 286-6888 for current pricing.

How many sessions do I need?

Two to four, six weeks apart, depending on the amount of fat. Dr. Kuzel estimates the number at consultation and confirms it as the result develops.

Is the result permanent?

Yes. The fat cells Belkyra destroys do not regrow. Significant weight gain can enlarge the cells that remain, so the result is best maintained at a stable weight.

How much swelling will there be?

More than other injectables. The area is visibly swollen for one to two weeks after each session, most in the first three days. It is the fat breaking down. A scarf or collar hides it, and most patients schedule the first session before a quiet week.

Does it hurt?

The area is anaesthetised before injection. Most patients describe stinging and a burning sensation for a few minutes afterward, then tenderness for a week or two.

Can it affect my smile?

Rarely. A nerve along the jaw controls the lower lip, and Belkyra too close to it causes a temporary weakness and an uneven smile that resolves over weeks. Dr. Kuzel maps the treatment area to stay below the nerve. Report any change in the smile to the clinic.

Belkyra or CoolSculpting?

Both remove fat under the chin permanently. Belkyra is an injection with more swelling and more sessions; CoolSculpting is a device with less swelling and more numbness. The choice depends on the shape of the fat and your preference. Dr. Kuzel offers both.

Belkyra or liposuction?

Liposuction removes more fat in a single procedure and is the better choice for larger volumes. Belkyra suits smaller volumes and patients who prefer to avoid a procedure. Both are permanent.

Will my skin be loose afterward?

In patients with good skin elasticity, which is assessed at consultation, the skin retracts as the fat reduces and Belkyra itself produces some mild tightening. Where elasticity is poor, Belkyra is not recommended and skin tightening is discussed instead.

Who performs the injections?

Dr. Paul Kuzel, MD FRCPC, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder and Medical Director of Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South, performs all injections personally. He sees patients in English and Czech.

Begin here

Book a consultation.

Book a consultation with Dr. Kuzel. No referral is needed, and the first session is usually performed at the first visit.

Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South
10201 Southport Rd SW #102
Calgary, AB T2W 4X9
Two blocks west of the Delta Hotel

(403) 286-6888
Referrals by fax: (403) 225-2914

Open seven days a week, with early mornings and evenings on weekdays.

Contact Rejuvenation Dermatology

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