Chins come in all shapes and sizes. Contrary to popular belief, people who are skinny can be just as likely to have a double chin as those who are curvier. Some people are born with a double chin, but others develop one later on in life. Reasons as to why certain people develop a double chin may vary, this blog will explain different treatment methods used to reduce the appearance of the double chin.
Why might you get a double chin?
A double may be genetic, you might always have one, or it may form later on in life. Either way, it’s fairly common and perfectly natural. For some people, it’s their natural shape.
Sometimes, as we get older, our bodies redistribute where they store certain pockets of fat. You may develop a double chin through weight gain, or you may get one as weight is redistributed. Towards the end of pregnancy, double chins generally develop due to the fluid retention – this can stick around even after giving birth.
As we age, our skin also loses collagen, which can make it more lax. Some people get more laxity around the mouth, others may experience it under their chin or on their neck. This can make the pocket of fat underneath your chin hang down a little more and create the appearance of a double chin.
Lax skin or redistribution of fat can explain why some people get a double chin even though they’re considered to be otherwise skinny.
Are there any health concerns with a double chin?
Whether genetic or acquired, double chins are fairly common and perfectly natural.
In some cases, a double chin can contribute to snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) because it puts pressure on the neck during sleep. In the long run, snoring and sleep apnoea can cause heart disease and other problems as you’re not getting enough oxygen during sleep.
If you’re not prone to snoring or sleep apnoea, the concerns with double chin are mostly cosmetic.
Are Double chin exercises effective?
Exercise can help tighten up and strengthen the muscles around your neck, chin and jaw. Unfortunately, they don’t necessarily reduce fat. Muscle and fat are different tissues, so you can exercise targeted areas to build muscle where you want more muscle, but you cannot choose where your body burns off fat.
If your double chin has formed from weight gain, there is a chance that it will shrink with healthy diet and exercise. This isn’t guaranteed, but it never hurts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How to reduce a double chin
Non-Invasive Fat Freezing
Non-invasive treatment options include fat freezing and ultrasound fat reduction.
Fat Freezing, also known as CoolSculpting or CoolTech, uses cooling technology to freeze the fat cells beneath your skin, without disrupting the surface layer. Freezing essentially destroys the cells, and our CoolTech technology has a special applicator made for the submental fat beneath the chin.
Once the fat cells are destroyed, your body removes them naturally. This treatment is comfortable and very popular. You may require a few sessions (depending on the size of the area) to achieve your desired result. This will all be discussed during your consultation.
Non-Invasive Fat Reduction With Ultrasound
Fat reduction with ultrasound uses the same principle, but instead of cooling technology, it uses ultrasound energy to safely heat and destroy fat cells in the subcutaneous layer 4.5 millimetres beneath your skin.
The extra benefit with ultrasound is, once the fat atrophy occurs, you get further skin tightening results. The heat accumulated during treatment stimulates your own collagen fibres, causing them to contract and regenerate, which can tighten up the chin area further. It helps create a more defined and tightened appearance under the skin. Fat Reduction with Ultrasound is an excellent option for someone who has moderate laxity under the chin.
Injectable Treatments
There is an injectable treatment that is used to dissolve fat underneath your chin. It’s made from a naturally occurring substance that your body uses to break down dietary fat. When administered to the fat pocket under your chin, this substance breaks down the fat cells for natural removal by your body. Because this treatment is classified as a prescription-only procedure in Australia, we’re not allowed to publish the name on our website, but you’re welcome to contact us to for further information.
Local Lipo
A less invasive version of liposuction, known as Tumescent Lipo or LipoSculpture, this procedure uses a fine microccannula, only 1mm in diameter, to break up and suction out the fat in a specific area. The area being treated is thoroughly numbed and there’s no general anaesthesia, so patients can walk out of the clinic after treatment (although you are required to have someone escort you home). For specific pockets and rolls of fat, such as under the chin, it’s an easier, less invasive option than traditional liposuction and it has less recovery time.
According to Nurse Jenny, assistant to our LipoSculpture expert Dr Michael Rich, people of all sizes come in to treat their double chins. They don’t like the way it looks, and they simply want to get rid of it.
It’s important to note that any invasive or surgical procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you must consult with our liposuction doctor and nurse, and you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Dermal Filler
Sometimes, we have patients who don’t have a double chin, but their jawline blends softly in with their neck.
Dermal fillers cannot remove fat, but they are often used to add contour and definition to the chin and jawline. This is a very popular treatment for our male patients who want more structure in their face. The results are subtle, so if you’re seeking a dramatic effect, this may not be the right treatment for you.
Regardless of which procedure you’re interested in, you should always consult a doctor or other qualified professional about your goals, and the associated risks and benefits, so that you can make a decision with realistic expectations and all of the right information.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is how you feel about yourself, so chin up and get in touch if you’d like to come in for a complimentary consultation.
