Morgan Cohen, 27, had Kybella done in May 2024.

For Morgan Cohen, the decision to try Kybella — an FDA-approved injectable treatment that helps the body break down the fat cells under the chin — came easily.

When she posted a TikTok showing her recovery process to her 1.5M followers, a debate ensued in the comment section. Some users warned each other about the risks of Kybella, others said Cohen didn’t look any different, and a handful praised her transformation. The top comment received nearly 30,000 likes: “You just changed my life.”

But everyone could agree on one thing: The recovery process was jarring. Before seeing results, patients who undergo Kybella treatments can experience extreme swelling under the chin, resulting in the “Kybella bullfrog effect.”

“You will go through a phase where you’re like, ‘Why did I do this to myself?’ For three weeks, my face was swollen. I looked like Quagmire from ‘Family Guy,’” Cohen says. “But then when the swelling goes down, your face starts to look the most snatched it’s ever looked in your life.”

What is 'Kybella' and is it right for you?

Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is the only injectable treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that destroys fat cells in the treatment area under the chin. Kybella can be used as an alternative to surgery for patients who are unhappy with fat under their chin, also known as submental fullness, and have not seen improvement with diet and exercise, according to the manufacturers.

The injection process takes 15 to 20 minutes. Unlike Botox, Kybella is a permanent treatment, but the number of treatment sessions depends on the amount of fat under the chin and the patient's desired profile.

Dr. Dina Strachan, a New York-based dermatologist, says Kybella is not suitable for patients without submental fat or those seeking treatments for skin laxity. For patients with excessive skin laxity (loose, sagging skin), the use of Kybella can result in an "aesthetically undesirable outcome," according to the FDA.

Strachan says the swelling during the recovery period is normal, even if "people want more drama for TikTok." The main risks are pain, swelling, and, in some cases, patients may have a "constant smile," as there is a nerve near the injection site.

The FDA has only evaluated this drug for use under the chin; it is not approved or recommended for use in any other areas of the body. But Cohen, who targeted her buccal fat and the "stubborn fat” in her underarm area, was satisfied after one session at Minimale Skin in Lower Manhattan.

"The thing that I was so insecure about is now gone," Cohen says. "Now, when I wear spaghetti straps, I don't have to think about my little fat pouch there. It's gotten me to have a little more confidence with what I want to wear when I go out."

Honesty is more important than ever in the 'undetectable plastic surgery' era

Cosmetic procedures and fillers are no longer obvious on celebrities’ faces, and more stars look like they simply haven’t aged. And, with more celebrities on GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the beauty standard seems to be swinging away from body acceptance and back towards thinness. The undetectable era may bring less transparency — making it more crucial than ever for people to stop comparing their looks to what they see online.

With 83% of her following being women, Cohen says she feels a responsibility to disclose her procedures.

"I don't like the false beauty standard," she says. "I think transparency is key. There are so many young girls out there who think there is this huge beauty standard that they need to meet."

Cohen doesn't want to promote the procedure; she wants people to know that they have options.

"When I look good, I feel good," she says. "I feel like a lot of people get really nervous to do procedures like this, not realizing that sometimes it makes you feel the most confident you'll ever feel."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This procedure is changing people's faces. What is Kybella and why is the recovery so extreme?

Reporting by Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect