Belkyra in Toronto, What the Deoxycholic acid Actually Does and How We Use It at Bar Beauty Medical
By Basil Russo, Founder, Bar Beauty Medical, 46 Fort York Blvd, CityPlace Toronto Clinically reviewed by Shahram Mafazi, IMG, PDD, Aesthetic Injector and Trainer at Bar Beauty Medical
Belkyra is the only Health Canada approved injection for sub-mental (under-chin) fat. It’s made by Allergan AbbVie. At Bar Beauty Medical we carry it because it earns its place in our cabinet, not because the rep brought us pastries. This page explains what’s in the syringe, what we use it for, what it costs, and why it might or might not be the right choice for your face.
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What exactly is Belkyra and what is it made of?
Belkyra is built around deoxycholic acid, a molecule identical to one your body already makes to break down dietary fat. It is the only Health Canada approved injectable for moderate to severe sub-mental (under-chin) fat, and it works by permanently destroying fat cells in the treated area so they can no longer store fat.
Here’s the part most clinics skip: Belkyra is right for some chins and wrong for others. Whether it is the best choice for you depends on the amount and position of sub-mental fat, your skin laxity, and your goals. Your injector assesses all of this at consult.
When does Belkyra make sense compared to other options at our clinic?
Belkyra is in our cabinet alongside Stylage, Stylage, Stylage, Radiesse, and Sculptra. Each has a personality. Shahram, our Master Injector, will pick Belkyra when:
- You have a distinct pocket of fat under the chin that is bothering you
- You prefer a non-surgical option to reduce sub-mental fullness
- Your skin has enough elasticity to retract well as the fat reduces
- You want a result that does not require ongoing maintenance once the series is complete
We don’t push one brand over another based on margin. We pick the product that fits.
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How much does Belkyra cost at Bar Beauty Medical?
Belkyra at Bar Beauty Medical is $850 per session. Most patients need a short series of sessions spaced about a month apart; the number depends on the amount of sub-mental fat and is mapped at your consult. Current pricing for every treatment is published on our price list. We don’t negotiate at the chair. The price you see online is the price you pay.
What does a Belkyra appointment look like at Bar Beauty?
- Online intake through Jane before you arrive
- Free consult with Shahram or Jasmine, twenty minutes, photo documentation, treatment plan in writing
- Numbing if you want it, topical, 15 minutes
- Injection, needle for some areas, cannula for others. Injector choice based on what’s safest for the anatomy
- Aftercare card in your hand, follow-up text at 48 hours
Standard appointments run 30-45 minutes including numbing.
How long does Belkyra actually last?
Belkyra results are permanent. Once the fat cells in the treated area are destroyed and cleared by your body, they do not come back. After you complete your series, the reduction in sub-mental fullness is lasting, provided your overall weight stays stable. Significant weight gain can still enlarge any remaining fat cells, so a steady weight helps protect your result.
Are there any reasons not to choose Belkyra?
Yes, and we’ll tell you at consult.
- Active herpes outbreak on the treatment area
- Pregnancy or active breastfeeding
- Allergy to lidocaine or any ingredient in the carrier
- Active autoimmune flare
- Recent dental work in the area within 2 weeks
- Recent vaccination within 2 weeks
- History of granuloma formation
- Recent course of isotretinoin (Accutane) within 6 months
If any of these apply we either wait or recommend a different product.
Who actually injects at Bar Beauty Medical?
Shahram, our Master Injector, advanced injector, non-physician, never addressed as “Dr.” He has trained extensively on Belkyra and across the filler categories. Jasmine, our RN injector, runs lip and lower-face filler appointments. All filler decisions and emergency protocols operate under Dr. Henneberry-Fudge’s standing orders. If a vascular event happens, the hyaluronidase protocol is on the counter and the MD is reachable on a dedicated line.
Will Belkyra make me look “done” or obvious?
Not if we do it right. The Bar Beauty house style is conservative, small volumes, anatomical respect, natural movement preserved. The compliment most of our patients hear is “you look rested” or “your skin looks great,” not “you look like you had work done.”
We will turn you away if you ask for volume your face doesn’t support. This happens enough that it’s worth saying out loud.
How is Belkyra different from the fillers at your clinic?
Belkyra is not a filler. Dermal fillers add volume by placing gel under the skin; Belkyra does the opposite, it removes unwanted fat by destroying fat cells under the chin. That is why we reach for it in a very specific situation, sub-mental fullness, rather than for adding shape or volume elsewhere on the face.
Because it removes fat rather than adding gel, Belkyra is not reversible the way an HA filler is, and it is not dissolved with hyaluronidase. Its result is permanent once the series is complete, which is exactly why careful patient selection at consult matters.
What Should I Ask at My Consult?
The free consult is twenty minutes. Most patients waste fifteen of those minutes on questions Google could have answered, and then run out of time before getting to the ones that actually predict their outcome. Here’s the list we wish every patient brought in.
About the person treating you
- “How many of this exact treatment have you personally done in the last twelve months?” Volume tracks skill more reliably than years in practice.
- “Who supervises your work, and can I verify their CPSO number?” Dr. Henneberry-Fudge is CPSO #95972, verifiable on the public register in 30 seconds.
- “Are you the person who will treat me on the day, or will I be handed off?” At Bar Beauty, the injector you consult with is the injector who treats you.
About the product or device
- “What exact product are you using on me, and why that one over the alternatives?” If the answer is “this is what we stock,” that’s a margin answer, not a clinical one.
- “Can I see the box and the lot number before you draw it up?” Any clinic should say yes without hesitation. We do this by default on every appointment.
- “What’s the manufacturer training certification for this device or product?” Real certifications are checkable.
About what happens if things go wrong
- “What’s your protocol for a vascular event with filler?” The answer should include hyaluronidase on the counter, not in a drawer down the hall.
- “Who do I call at 11pm if something feels off?” We have a 24/7 patient line, many clinics do not.
- “What happens if I need additional sessions?” Belkyra is typically done as a short series; we map the plan and total cost at your consult.
About the result you want
- “Is the result I’m describing anatomically realistic for my face?” Patients who don’t ask this end up disappointed.
- “What’s the maintenance schedule and total annual cost if I commit?” The single-session price is the start of the conversation, not the end.
- “What would you say no to today?” An injector who can’t name something they’d refuse is an injector you should leave.
Bring this list. Read it off your phone if you have to. The patients with the best long-term outcomes are the patients who acted like consumers, not patients.
How do I book?
Book online on Jane anytime. Or call 416-923-1200. Free consults, no obligation, written treatment plan in your hand before any injection.
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FAQ, Patient Questions We Hear Most Often
How much does Belkyra cost at Bar Beauty?
$850 per session. Most patients need a short series spaced about a month apart; we map the number of sessions at your consult. Full price list at /price-list/.
How long does Belkyra last?
Permanent. Once the treated fat cells are cleared by your body after the series, they do not return, as long as your weight stays stable.
Does Belkyra hurt?
There is a brief stinging or burning sensation during the injections and some swelling afterward. Topical numbing and a cold pack make it very manageable for most patients.
Can Belkyra be dissolved if I don’t like the result?
No. Belkyra is not a hyaluronic acid filler, so it cannot be reversed with hyaluronidase. Its effect is permanent, which is why we are careful about patient selection and conservative dosing.
How soon can I see Belkyra results?
Belkyra works gradually as your body clears the destroyed fat cells. Most patients see visible reduction over several weeks, building across the series.
What’s the swelling like after Belkyra?
Swelling under the chin is expected and is part of how Belkyra works. It is usually most noticeable for the first few days and settles over the following days to weeks. Some patients prefer to schedule around social events.
Can I exercise after my Belkyra appointment?
Light activity yes, hot yoga or heavy cardio no for 24-48 hours.
Will Belkyra migrate?
Belkyra is not a filler and does not migrate. It acts locally on the fat cells in the treated area. Precise, trained injection technique keeps the effect confined to the intended sub-mental zone.
How does Belkyra compare to Botox?
Different category. Belkyra removes sub-mental fat. Botox relaxes muscles to soften dynamic lines. They solve different problems and some patients use both.
Is Belkyra permanent?
Yes. Belkyra permanently destroys the treated fat cells, so the reduction lasts once your series is complete and your weight is stable.
Can I combine Belkyra with Aerolase or Morpheus 8?
Yes, with timing. We sequence energy-based treatments and Belkyra so the area has time to settle between sessions. We map the calendar at your consult.
Do you offer Belkyra consultations at no cost?
Yes. Book a free consult on Jane or call 416-923-1200.
What does long-term use of Belkyra look like in our chair?
We don’t sell single appointments. Patients who do well with Belkyra long-term are on a 12-month programme that combines this product with sensible maintenance and the right combination of other modalities. A typical Bar Beauty Belkyra patient’s year:
- Months 1-2: First treatment with photographs, then the next session at about the 4-week mark
- Months 3-6: Settled result, optional pairing with Aerolase or Morpheus 8 for skin quality
- Months 9-12: Maintenance dose to extend the result, mapped at consult
- Daily: Medical-grade skincare, mineral SPF 50, no over-the-counter “filler-dissolving” gimmicks
- Quarterly: Photo review with Shahram or Jasmine
The patients who treat aesthetic medicine as a continuous practice rather than a series of emergencies get visibly better results.
How does Belkyra fit alongside the other treatments at Bar Beauty?
The whole point of a multi-product cabinet is that one product is rarely the answer for a real face. The Bar Beauty house approach combines:
- Belkyra for the specific anatomical role it’s best at
- An HA filler line for adding volume or shape, which Belkyra does not do
- Botox / Dysport / Nuceiva for the dynamic component
- A biostimulator (Sculptra or Radiesse) for collagen scaffolding
- Aerolase and Morpheus 8 for skin quality
- Medical-grade skincare and daily mineral SPF
Most Bar Beauty patients use three to five of these in combination across a year. The consult is where we plan the calendar.
What does the Belkyra clinical research actually support?
Each Belkyra product is Health Canada approved with documented safety and efficacy data in its on-label indication. The peer-reviewed literature consistently supports the molecule in the use cases we offer at Bar Beauty. Dr. Henneberry-Fudge reviews new clinical evidence as it emerges and our protocols update when warranted.
We will not use Belkyra in an off-label indication unless the evidence base supports it and your consent is explicit. Common off-label uses (e.g. tear-trough work) are discussed in detail at consult, and we’ll tell you when the on-label choice is better.
Is this treatment safe for darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV-VI)?
For most of what we offer, yes. Aerolase NeoElit at 1064 nm is genuinely safe across all phototypes and is our default for vascular and pigment work in darker skin. Injectables (toxin and HA filler) are equally safe across phototypes. Morpheus 8 carries a small post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk in Fitzpatrick V-VI that we mitigate with conservative energy settings and prophylactic topical lightening under Dr. Henneberry-Fudge’s prescription where appropriate.
Can I do this while breastfeeding?
Generally no for injectables, with rare exceptions discussed with Dr. Henneberry-Fudge. The published safety data in breastfeeding is sparse, and the Canadian medical aesthetic community defaults to deferral. Most patients return to treatment three to six months after weaning. Laser treatments and most facials are fine throughout nursing.
How does this compare to Yorkville pricing at twice the price?
In most cases the product is identical, the training is comparable, and the differential is rent, location, and brand premium, not clinical skill. We’ve corrected enough work from Yorkville addresses to know that price does not track outcome reliably. We publish prices because the patient deserves to know what they’re paying for.
Can I get this treatment if I’m on Ozempic or another GLP-1 medication?
Yes, but planning matters. Significant weight loss redistributes facial fat over six to twelve months. We tend to stage filler and biostimulator decisions for patients in active weight loss and revisit at every visit. Toxin and laser work are unaffected by GLP-1 status.
Will I look “done” when I go back to work the next day?
Not if we do it right. The Bar Beauty house style is restrained, small doses, conservative volumes, natural movement preserved. The most common compliment patients hear at the office the next day is “you look rested” or “did you sleep well this weekend.” Visible swelling on day one is normal; visible artifice in week two means the dose was wrong.