Markham, Ontario · Physician-performed

Belkyra in Markham

Belkyra® is a Health Canada-approved injectable treatment that permanently destroys unwanted fat cells beneath the chin and in select small areas of stubborn fat. This non-surgical treatment improves facial contour and definition with gradual, natural-looking results and little to no downtime.

Price

from $300

Appointment

35 minutes

Performed by

Dr. Mazzuca, MD

Location

Markham, ON

Book a Consultation   Book Belkyra (Double Chin) directly

Quick answer

Belkyra® in Markham at Dr. Monique Mazzuca Aesthetics is from $300, injected personally by a licensed physician (MD, CCFP) at 200 Cachet Woods Court, Suite 309, in a 35-minute appointment. It is an injectable form of deoxycholic acid that breaks down fat cells under the chin, so the treated cells are gone for good. Most patients need 2 to 4 sessions spaced at least a month apart, and results build gradually over the weeks after each one. Expect swelling, tenderness and some numbness for several days after each session. New patients start with a $50 consultation.

What Belkyra is

Belkyra® is a prescription injectable made of synthetic deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is a bile acid that your body already makes to help break down dietary fat in the gut. Injected in small, measured amounts into the fat under the chin, it disrupts the walls of fat cells so that the body can clear them away. Its approved use in Canada is improving the appearance of moderate to severe fullness under the chin (submental fat) in adults.

It is a medication, not a cosmetic cream or a device, and it acts on any fat cell it touches. That is why the assessment, the choice of exactly where to inject and the depth of each injection matter as much as the product itself. Dr. Mazzuca will also tell you honestly if the fullness under your chin is not fat at all, or if another treatment would serve you better.

How Belkyra works

A "double chin" is often a small pocket of fat that sits above the platysma muscle in the neck. It can be stubborn even in people who are fit and at a healthy weight, because its size is strongly influenced by genetics and by the shape of the jaw and neck. Diet and exercise shrink fat cells, but they do not reduce how many fat cells you have in a particular spot.

Belkyra works differently. When it is injected into that pocket, it breaks down the membranes of the fat cells it reaches (a process called adipocytolysis). The body responds with a controlled inflammatory reaction, which is why the area swells, and over the following weeks the cell debris and released fat are cleared through normal metabolism. Because the treated cells are destroyed, they do not grow back. The remaining fat cells in the area can still enlarge if you gain weight, so the result holds best when your weight is stable.

Each session removes a portion of the fat. Results are built up over a series of sessions rather than in one visit, which keeps the change gradual and lets Dr. Mazzuca reassess the contour each time.

Belkyra in Markham: what it treats

Belkyra is used to reduce:

• Fullness under the chin (submental fat), the soft pad of fat that blurs the angle between the chin and the neck. This is the use it is approved and best studied for.
• A "genetic" double chin in people who are otherwise slim and find the area does not change with diet or exercise.
• A softened jawline, where removing fat under the chin helps the jaw and neck read as two separate lines again, especially in profile and in photos.
• Select small pockets of stubborn fat elsewhere, only where Dr. Mazzuca judges it appropriate after an in-person assessment. Treatment outside the chin area is a physician decision made case by case.

Belkyra is not a weight-loss treatment, and it does not tighten loose skin or relax neck bands. Those concerns are covered in the comparison below.

Who Belkyra suits, and who should wait

The best candidates are healthy adults with a moderate, pinchable pocket of fat under the chin, reasonably good skin elasticity and a stable weight. Many are in their twenties to fifties and describe the same thing: a profile that looks heavier than the rest of their face and body, and a chin that seems to disappear in photos.

Belkyra is usually not the right choice when the fullness is mainly loose skin rather than fat, when the main concern is vertical neck bands, or when the jaw is set back so that the neck looks short even with very little fat. In those cases skin tightening, a neuromodulator, chin or jawline filler, or a surgical opinion may serve you better. Fullness from enlarged salivary glands, the thyroid or lymph nodes is a medical finding, not a cosmetic one, and Dr. Mazzuca will check for it before recommending anything.

Dr. Mazzuca will review your health history and may postpone or advise against treatment if you:

• are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding;
• have an infection, rash or open skin at or near the injection site;
• have had surgery, radiation or other medical procedures in the neck or chin area, or have difficulty swallowing;
• have a thyroid condition, an enlarged thyroid or other swelling in the neck that has not been assessed;
• have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, which increase the risk of bruising and bleeding;
• are planning significant weight loss in the coming months (it can be better to wait and see what remains).

Bring a list of all medications and supplements to your consultation.

How many sessions you need

Most patients need two to four sessions, spaced at least one month apart, although some see the result they want after fewer and patients with more fullness may need more. The product information allows up to six sessions. Dr. Mazzuca reassesses before every session and stops when the contour looks right, not when a package runs out.

Starting point	Typical plan	What to expect
Mild fullness	1 to 2 sessions	A cleaner chin-to-neck angle with modest swelling after each visit
Moderate fullness	2 to 4 sessions	Gradual reduction, most noticeable after the second session
More significant fullness	3 or more sessions	Visible improvement; loose skin may need a tightening treatment as well

These are typical ranges, not promises. How much fat you have, how your skin responds and your goals all change the plan.

What the appointment is like

1. Assessment. Dr. Mazzuca examines the area with your head in different positions, pinches the fat to judge its depth, checks skin quality and neck structures, and takes photographs so progress can be compared fairly.
2. Marking. The treatment zone is outlined and a small grid is marked on the skin so that each injection is evenly spaced and stays within safe boundaries, away from the nerve that controls the corner of the mouth.
3. Comfort. The skin is cleansed and cooled. Ice and, where appropriate, numbing are used to take the edge off.
4. Injection. A series of small, shallow injections is placed across the grid with a very fine needle. This part takes only a few minutes. Most patients feel a warm, stinging or burning sensation that builds over several minutes and then fades.
5. After. Ice is applied, you receive written aftercare instructions, and your next session is planned for at least a month later.

The visit is booked for 35 minutes. You can drive yourself home and return to most normal activities the same day, although swelling means many patients prefer not to book important meetings, events or photos for the following few days.

When you see results and how long they last

For the first several days the area looks fuller, not smaller, because of swelling. As that settles, usually over one to two weeks, the change begins to show, and it continues to improve for several weeks after each session. Many patients notice a clear difference after the second session. The final result is typically judged one to two months after the last session.

Because the treated fat cells are destroyed, the result is long-lasting, and further sessions are not normally needed once the goal is reached. Significant weight gain can enlarge the fat cells that remain, and natural ageing continues to change the skin and jawline, so a stable weight and good skin care help protect the result.

Downtime, side effects and risks

Belkyra has meaningful "social downtime" even though you can go about your day. Expected effects after each session include:

• Swelling under the chin, often obvious for several days and sometimes longer after the first session. It usually becomes milder with later sessions.
• Tenderness, redness and bruising at the injection sites.
• Numbness of the skin in the area, which can last a few weeks.
• Firmness or small lumps under the skin, which soften over the following weeks.

Less common risks include temporary weakness of the nerve to the lower lip, which can make the smile look uneven for a period of weeks before it recovers on its own; temporary difficulty swallowing; and hair loss in the treated area in people with beard hair. Skin injury, including ulceration, is rare and is related to injection technique, which is one reason the procedure should be performed by an experienced physician. Allergic reactions are rare.

Contact the clinic promptly if you notice an uneven smile, trouble swallowing, open sores, or pain or swelling that is getting worse rather than better. Dr. Mazzuca manages any concern herself.

Aftercare

• Apply a cold compress, wrapped in a cloth, for short periods during the first day to ease swelling and discomfort.
• Sleep with your head slightly raised for the first night or two.
• Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, hot yoga and alcohol for about 24 to 48 hours.
• Do not massage the area unless Dr. Mazzuca asks you to, and avoid tight collars, scarves or chin straps that press on it.
• For discomfort, acetaminophen is usually preferred over anti-inflammatory pain relievers, unless your physician advises otherwise.
• Keep the skin clean and avoid facials, waxing or other treatments to the area until it has settled.

To reduce bruising, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo and alcohol for a few days beforehand unless a physician has prescribed them. Plan sessions at least two weeks before important events.

Belkyra vs other options for the chin and neck

	Belkyra	Skin tightening	Chin or jawline filler	Neuromodulator
What it does	Permanently removes fat cells	Heats deeper skin to stimulate collagen	Adds structure to chin and jaw	Relaxes neck bands and jaw muscles
Best for	Pinchable fat under the chin	Mild laxity and crepey skin	A recessed chin or soft jaw angle	Visible neck bands, a heavy lower face
Results	Gradual, over sessions	Gradual, over a series	Immediate	Within about 2 weeks
Downtime	Swelling for several days	Minimal	Mild swelling or bruising	Minimal

Many patients get the most natural result from a combination. Belkyra removes the fat, and Forma skin tightening or Morpheus8 can firm the skin afterward. Filler can project a recessed chin so the neck looks longer, and a neuromodulator can soften neck bands. Dr. Mazzuca's neck and jawline plans bring these together. When there is a large amount of fat or very loose skin, liposuction or a surgical lift may be more effective, and she will say so.

Why patients choose a physician

At this clinic the person assessing you and the person treating you are the same person, and that person is a licensed physician. Dr. Mazzuca is an MD with CCFP certification in family medicine and additional training in cosmetic medicine, facial anatomy, women's health, and longevity medicine. Treatment is not delegated.

Her stated approach is to emphasise "subtle, elegant results that refresh rather than transform, using the least invasive treatments necessary to achieve safe, natural, and lasting outcomes."

For Belkyra this matters in a practical way. The fat under the chin sits close to the nerve that moves the lower lip, the salivary glands and the structures of the neck. Deciding whether fullness is fat, skin or something that needs medical attention, and placing each injection at the right depth within safe boundaries, is physician-level work. If anything unexpected happens, the same doctor who treated you assesses and manages it.

Booking, pricing and what happens next

Step	What it involves	Cost
1. Consultation	Facial and skin assessment, discussion of goals, customized plan	$50 (30 min)
2. Virtual option	Video consult if you are outside the Markham area	$20 (15 min)
3. Belkyra (Double Chin)	Treatment performed by Dr. Mazzuca	from $300 (35 minutes)

All appointments are booked online through the clinic's booking system, where current availability and pricing are shown before you confirm.

Belkyra is from $300 at the clinic. The cost of each session depends on the size of the area and how much product it needs, which Dr. Mazzuca confirms before treatment. Because most people need more than one session, it helps to think about the total plan: as an illustration only, if each session were at the starting price of $300, a two- to four-session plan would begin at about $600 to $1,200. Your actual quote is given at your assessment. Belkyra is a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by OHIP.

Serving Markham and the Greater Toronto Area

The clinic is located at 200 Cachet Woods Court, Suite 309 in the Cachet Woods area of Markham, near Woodbine Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive, with parking on site. Patients travel from Unionville, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora, Stouffville, Thornhill, North York, Scarborough and the wider GTA. If you are outside the area, a virtual consultation is available before you commit to an in-person visit.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• Belkyra (deoxycholic acid injection) Canadian Product Monograph: indication, dosing, sessions and adverse reactions.
• Clinical trials of deoxycholic acid for submental fat (the REFINE program), as summarized in the product information.
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, public register, for verification of Dr. Mazzuca's registration.

Every treatment on this page is booked through Dr. Mazzuca's secure online system. New patients begin with a consultation; returning patients can book the treatment directly.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Monique Mazzuca, MD, CCFP. Last reviewed 2026-08-07.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for an in-person assessment. Results vary between patients, and every treatment carries risks that are reviewed with you before you consent. Suitability is determined by Dr. Mazzuca at your consultation.

Other treatments at the clinic