Everyone has their fair share of trouble spots that won’t go away no matter how many lifestyle changes you make. A double chin, also known as submental fat, is a common condition many people experience. It’s often associated with weight gain, but you don’t need to be overweight to have a double chin. While you can hide many trouble spots under clothing, there is no hiding a double chin. So, if you’re bothered by a double chin, various double chin treatments may help to eliminate the troublesome area.
What Causes a Double Chin?
A double chin is common and can affect men and women, both young and old. You don’t have to be overweight to have a double chin. There are several causes of a double chin, including:
Genetics
Family history can contribute to a double chin. If most of your family members have plump chins, the chances are that you are also predisposed to developing a double chin too. While there isn’t a specific gene that leaves you prone to developing a double chin, certain factors contribute to a plump chin.
For instance, bone structure, less elastic or thinner skin and fat storage around the chin will leave you prone to conditions like a double chin. At the same time, if you come from a family where almost everyone is predisposed to weight gain, you too may develop a double chin.
Posture
Poor posture can weaken the neck and chin muscles over time, causing the elasticity to weaken under the chin. Poor posture is caused by harmful habits like craning your neck too much, especially if you are always on your phone. Besides weakening the muscle that connects the chin to the neck, poor posture can also lead to chronic neck pain.
Age
As you get older, your collagen depletes, and your skin can start to sag. It’s all part of ageing. In your mid-20s, collagen production in the body begins to decline. When that happens, the skin starts losing elasticity and begins to sag. When skin under your jaw begins to sag, it creates the effect of a double chin, much the same as if you were carrying extra fat under the chin. You are also likely to lose muscular definition as you age, accentuating the double chin effect.
Loose Skin
Even with the best skincare regime, ageing finally catches up to all of us. One of the effects of ageing is loss of skin laxity, which leads to loose and sagging skin. Loose skin is significantly more pronounced on the chin, creating a drooping and heavier chin effect.
Excessive Neck Fat
Excess fat is the most common cause of the double chin effect in most people. When you gain weight, fat gets deposited in different body areas, including the face and under the chin. Weight gain is affected by genetics and body type. Some people are more prone to weight gain than others. And for people who struggle with weight, a double chin can make them feel even more self-conscious.
Having a double chin is common. While excess weight can cause a double chin, often it comes down to age or genetics. Unfortunately, no one has found a way to avoid the ageing process altogether. Treating this area usually means dealing with stubborn fat and sagging skin, which can be challenging to tackle with diet and lifestyle alone.
Submental adiposity is the scientific term for a double chin. Like any type of fat on the body, the first step to treatment is initially diet and exercise. Annoyingly, fat in this area can be stubborn and continue despite a healthy diet and exercise regime.
How To Get Rid Of A Double Chin
There are various ways that you can get rid of a double chin. If you’re overweight and have excess fat under the chin, your doctor may suggest exercise and a healthy diet. Cosmetic surgery is not a solution for weight loss, and you need to be at a healthy weight for most procedures.
When trying to get rid of a double chin, you will likely come across both surgical and non-surgical procedures. The best option depends on your case, overall health, and the results you’re looking to achieve. For stubborn fat and to get rid of a double chin, here are four double chin treatments to consider.
Vaser Liposuction
One way to get rid of a double chin is Vaser liposuction. This is a precise way to target fat cells using ultrasound technology to redefine the jawline and chin. This type of liposuction can often deliver dramatic results to the lower face. If you have good skin, Vaser liposuction could be an excellent option to remove stubborn fat under the chin.
Traditional Liposuction
Liposuction remains one of the top 10 cosmetic surgery procedures for men and women in the UK. Chin liposuction removes excess fat from under the chin using small cannula tubes. Your surgeon removes small amounts of fat from the area using gentle suction. The result is a smoother, more defined neck, chin, and jawline.
Submental liposuction is a one-time double chin treatment. This procedure involves a small incision that is carefully concealed in the creases of the skin. After your surgeon makes a small incision, the skin is separated from the fat, and the suction device will remove the fat. The incision will then be closed. There will be a slight skin tightening effect from the procedure as the skin heals. But if you have significant skin sagging and excess skin around the chin and neck area, you may need a slightly different approach.
Aqualyx Fat Dissolving Injections
Aqualyx is a type of fat dissolving injection. It’s a non-invasive procedure and an alternative to liposuction. The injection works by liquefying and destroying fat cells within a specific area.
Aqualyx can be used throughout the body and work well on the face in areas like:
- Double chin
- Armpits
- Waist
- Hips
- Knees
- Saddlebags
Most patients see results within 6 weeks. Generally, you’ll have several treatments at intervals depending on your target area. Aqualyx is suitable for people with stubborn areas of fat but with good skin elasticity.
You may notice that you start to read about skin elasticity more and more when researching cosmetic procedures. This is because your skin elasticity plays a significant role in whether you’re a suitable candidate for specific procedures. Skin elasticity refers to the skin’s ability to stretch and snap back into place. Collagen is essential for skin elasticity. As you get older, your body produces less collagen.
If you have stubborn pockets of fat but good skin elasticity, when that fat is removed, your skin will snap back into place. If you have excess skin or bad skin elasticity, your skin won’t snap back into place after fat removal.
Neck Lift
One procedure that can specifically target the neck region is a neck lift. A neck lift is performed simultaneously with a facelift or as a standalone surgery. The surgery can correct a double and target sagging or loose skin around the neck. It can also remove jowls and reshape the skin around the neck. If you want to remove a double chin and reduce signs of ageing on the neck, a neck lift is the best double chin treatment.
You may want to consider combining a neck lift with a facelift if you want to tackle both the neck and lower face area. If you have excess skin, it won’t be easy to get rid of it without surgery. A lower face and neck lift targets and removes excess skin while tightening the remaining skin. The result is a much younger-looking appearance and double chin removal.
Facelift
A facelift helps remove excess skin and tighten the muscles and underlying tissues for a more youthful appearance. A full facelift might work for you if you have a double chin that won’t go away with diet or exercise. The procedure eliminates drooping skin and improves skin laxity in the neck area, eliminating a double chin. A facelift will also help address other troublesome areas of your face making it one of the best comprehensive procedures to get rid of ageing signs.
What are the Other Double Chin Treatment Options?
If you don’t want to undergo a cosmetic procedure to eliminate your double chin, you might want to consider other treatment options. They include:
Firming Creams
Most people who use firming creams use them as part of their morning routine. Specialised skin treatment and firming creams can hydrate and boost the skin. Unfortunately, the effects of firming creams will only go so far.
Chin Exercises
You might benefit from chin exercises if you only have a small amount of excess skin and tissue. If your double chin is due to weight gain, doing specific exercises multiple times a day might help slim down the fat.
Massaging
You can reduce the appearance of loose skin around the jawline by massaging your neck and face regularly. Massaging helps relieve tension, increases blood circulation and helps lift the muscles to reduce the double chin appearance over time. Usually, there are several lymph nodes around the jawline. Massaging the lower jaw upwards towards the ears helps reduce fluid retention, which may enhance a double chin. While massage can’t reduce a double chin, it may help to relieve tension and help the skin appear more lifted.
Healthy Eating and Exercise
Following a healthy diet with regular exercise is a great place to start. Unfortunately, a double chin isn’t necessarily the result of weight gain. But being healthy is important if you’re considering any type of cosmetic procedure.
What Can You Expect After a Double Chin Procedure?
As you can see, there are various double chin treatment options for getting rid of a double chin for good. Liposuction and neck lift procedures work wonders on a double chin.
So, what happens after the procedure?
You will experience some discomfort and swelling, and the skin on the neck may feel tight. If you had an invasive procedure, your doctor may place drains at the incision site to reduce fluid and blood build-up. The drains, in most cases, are taken out after a day or two.
The doctor might recommend applying an antibiotic ointment on the surgical site to reduce the risk of infection. As you are recovering, you need to avoid exposing your chin to the sun and soaking in pools or bathtubs.
Your recovery time will depend on the specific double chin treatment. Depending on how much fat was removed, you can expect downtime of a few days to a week for liposuction. If you had a neck lift, you may return to work and normal activities after about two weeks but avoid strenuous activities until your doctor gives you the clear.
Most people are okay to go home the same day after the procedure but make sure you have someone to drive you home. It would be best if you also have someone stay with you for the first night.
What Are The Risks And Complications Of Double Chin Removal Procedures?
All cosmetic procedures come with a degree of risk. Depending on the procedure, you can expect certain risks like:
- Facial asymmetry where both sides don’t look the same
- Blood clots and excessive bleeding
- Anaesthesia complications
- Damage to the blood vessels, nerves, organs and surrounding muscles
- Haematoma or a pocket of blood under the skin which may need to be drained
- Incisions not healing properly
- Infections
- Swelling and pain that lasts longer than expected
- Skin rippling, discolouration, and scarring
- Undesirable results forcing you to have another procedure
How To Maintain Your New Look After Double Chin Treatment
Once your double chin is gone, you will likely feel like a whole new person. However, it’s a long road ahead, and your concern should be how to maintain the new look in the future. Liposuction reduces the amount of fat in the chin area, but you can still add or lose weight in the future.
Following your double chin procedure, your plastic surgeon will give you instructions on maintaining your new, sculpted appearance. To ensure that your results look contoured for years, ensure that you stay within 5 – 10 pounds of your weight during your procedure.
You also want to ensure that you maintain a regular skin care regimen – moisturising, cleansing and nourishing the skin. Doing so will go a long way in enhancing the procedure’s outcome, especially if you go the surgical route to reduce the signs of ageing. When going out, always ensure you wear sunscreen. Lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, exercising and remaining hydrated will help maintain the results.
Switching to a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help minimise weight fluctuations, ultimately affecting your double chin procedure results. Finally, monitor your hormone levels since persistent hormonal fluctuations can negatively impact your general health, skin quality, and body contours.
Double Chin Treatment UK at the Harley Clinic
Seeing a double chin in the mirror can make you feel self-conscious. Interestingly, a double chin doesn’t necessarily mean you’re overweight. If fat under the chin is no longer responding to diet and exercise, a treatment to get rid of your double chin may be a suitable option. With several options for double chin removal, it’s important to speak to an expert plastic surgeon who can help guide you.
Are you looking for the best double chin treatment in London?
Book a consultation today at the Harley Clinic on Harley Street to discuss your double chin treatment options and determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.
