How You Can Reduce Your Double Chin

We’re often told to keep our chin up, but this can be difficult when there’s another one holding it down. A double chin isn’t necessarily a sign of poor health, but it can harm your self-esteem and social life. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce your double chin, if not eliminate it completely. Let’s go over how you can reduce your double chin and define that jawline a bit more.

What Leads to a Double Chin?

A double chin is merely an excess of fat in the submental space (the area underneath the chin). This submental fat may accumulate for a number of reasons. Those with a family history of sagging skin or stubborn fat are more likely to develop a double chin. Fluctuations in weight can also produce a double chin as the skin expands and contracts. Age is another factor in double chin formation as skin becomes less elastic over the years. It might be difficult to prevent the onset of a double chin, but at least it’s possible to reduce it once it’s there.

Natural Ways to Reduce Your Double Chin

Believe it or not, getting rid of your double chin can begin right away at home. Exercising is a natural way to burn fat in our bodies. So, by exercising the muscles around your double chin, you can gradually do away with this submental fat. Of course, you must perform these exercises regularly for the best results. Some of these facial exercises include:

• Slow neck rotations/rolls
• Stretching your tongue up and out for 10-second intervals
• Chin presses with or without the aid of a resistance ball
• Jutting out your lower jaw forward and holding it
• Puckering your lips while tilting your head backwards

Even chewing gum regularly can get your jaw muscles in motion, burning that stubborn double chin fat slowly but surely. Regular, full-body exercise (both cardio and strength training) will also help reduce your lower chin and promote your body’s overall health as a bonus.

Focusing on your body’s nutritional intake can also help you get rid of your extra chin. Try to consume more vegetables and fruits on a daily basis, and stay away from processed and fried food as well as those high in sugar and fat content. Some fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, however, can be beneficial for your skin and overall health. Avocados, nuts, olive oil, and fish contain these healthy fats. By focusing on your diet, you might lose weight as well as some of the submental fat responsible for your double chin.

Treatments for Your Double Chin

In some cases, no matter how healthy you are overall, your double chin will persist. This is where cosmetic dermatology treatments come in handy. These treatments will target stubborn fat that neither exercise nor diet can conquer.

Facial Moisturizers

Moisturizers containing certain vitamins and botanical extracts can help firm up your skin while also hydrating it and restoring its youthful appearance. Look for products specifically labeled for neck firming or tightening. These often contain Vitamin C, green tea extracts, collagen, and other products.

Applicators, Straps, and Mouthpieces

A number of devices can be used to reduce your double chin, too. Chin applicators adhere to the skin and are infused with substances like collagen, caffeine, and vitamins to help restore the skin’s elasticity. Facial straps or belts attach to the face and gently tighten the skin in the submental area. And mouthpieces aid in performing jaw exercises that stimulate muscle growth and burn fat.

Massaging Tools

Massagers designed for neck tightening can also be useful for reducing your double chin. These tools can stimulate collagen production for more elastic skin, burn fat, and help blood circulate more easily.

Lipolysis Treatments

If you want faster results, you might seek lipolysis treatments to get rid of your double chin. There are two main types of lipolysis treatments for double chin reduction: injection and laser.

Injection lipolysis involves the injection of a solution that digests fat cells, reducing the double chin. Patients must receive this treatment multiple times at 4-6 week intervals for the best results. Laser lipolysis also targets fat cells but is not invasive, melting fat via heat energy from a laser beam. Both procedures are relatively painless, though side effects such as swelling, bruising, and pain are possible afterward.

Mesotherapy (Kybella)

Mesotherapy is similar to injection lipolysis, as it also involves the targeted injection of a solution (deoxycholic acid known as Kybella) that eradicates stubborn fat cells. However, mesotherapy refers to injections into the mesoderm, whereas lipolysis injections are directed at subcutaneous fat.

Note that other cosmetic dermatology injections such as Botox and Juvederm are unrelated to these fat-dissolving injections.

Coolsculpting

Another option for reducing your double chin is via CoolSculpting®. In a way, CoolSculpting works somewhat like laser lipolysis, but instead of melting fat cells, it freezes them. These dead fat cells are eventually expelled by the body, leaving you with a more defined chin. CoolSculpting is also used for eliminating stubborn fat in other areas of the body, especially near the abdomen, thighs, and back.

If you’re sick of your chin’s fatty partner, any of these treatments, or some combination of them, can restore your chin’s single status. Certain methods might be more or less effective for your specific case, so speak with your doctor or dermatologist to find the best treatment for you. The professional cosmetic and medical dermatologists at Premier Dermatology are happy to point you in the right direction. To learn more about our providers and all the services we offer, contact us today.