A new injection called ATX-101 is nearing FDA approval which, for the first time, targets the fat cells in the neck area to smooth away double chins.
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. The traditional way to treat a double chin has been with a full-on face lift. But that may be about change.
An injection called ATX-101, which targets double chins, is nearing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Monday the drug was backed by an independent panel to the FDA, which brings it one step closer to full approval. 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.
