How to: Reduce a Double Chin Without Surgery

With our never ending uploading of social media selfies, more time spent on zoom conference calls and ritual Facetime catch ups with family and friends – how to remove my double chin is one of the most common questions we get in our clinics, with people often asking; what is the best way to treat this? and why on earth do I still have one after weight loss?

In this article we offer some modern non surgical ways to reduce the double chin, we also explain the reasons as to why certain people develop a double chin – and we will explain the different treatment methods used to reduce the appearance of the double chin.

In short there are several reasons; a double chin may be genetic, you might always have one, or it may form later on in life. Either way, it’s pretty common and perfectly natural. For some people, it’s just their natural shape.

Next to consider is, 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 fluid retention – this can stick around even after giving birth.

And finally 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 (submental 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.

There are four ways you can help reduce the appearance of a double chin.  The first two non-invasive treatment options that help to permanently reduce the number of fat cells in the double chin – these include fat freezing and HIFU ultrasound fat reduction. These are non surgical and like the surgical option they permanently reduce the number of fat cells in the treated areas – helping with localised fat deposits, without the need to go under the knife.

Fat Freezing, also known as Cryolipolysis, uses medical grade cooling technology to freeze the fat cells beneath your skin, without disrupting the surface layer. Freezing essentially destroys the cells, and our Medical Cristal 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.

Cristal is a genuine medical device and is registered on the TGA  with an ATRG inclusion number of 243432.  This is important to understand as there are currently only two devices that are registered and approved for permanent fat reduction in Australia. These have been subjected to clinical studies and have had the efficacy tested in clinical trials.

Fat reduction with ultrasound uses the same principle, but instead of cooling technology, it uses HIFU ultrasound energy to safely heat and destroy fat cells in the subcutaneous layer between 4.5 millimetres beneath your skin.

The extra benefit with ultrasound is, once you start to remove the pockets of fat, you get further skin tightening results. The focused heat accumulated during treatment stimulates your own collagen fibres, causing them to contract and regenerate, which can tighten up the chin area even 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.

Sometimes, patients who have a softer jawline and, or recessive chin will have the appearance of a ‘double chin’ and can be further  accentuated with additional fat deposits under the chin and jawline.

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 for a more pronounced jawline and chin you will require more than 1 treatment to achieve your desired results.

We use a specially formulated structural dermal filler that is long lasting and mimics the structure of bone to help create structure which has been designed with jawline in mind, for both male patients and female patients.

Having a consultation with an experienced cosmetic injector is really important so you can discuss your individual goals, and the associated risks and benefits. This will help you make an informed decision with realistic expectations and all of the right information as results vary from individual to individual. 

While dermal fillers can help restore structure and volume and mimic the shape of bone – often a double chin can also be age related, by which the fat deposits redistribute under the skin also known as Ptosis.  This not only gives the appearance of a double chin but also it can accentuate the skin laxity in the area – or what is known as tech neck or turkey neck.

APTOS threads are a very powerful non surgical alternatives to (step before) a face and neck lift, APTOS threads are one of the only anchoring threads available that are designed for lifting.  “APTOS threads provide longer lasting results as they resist breakdown due to the unique combination of poly L-lactic acid and caprolactone. It takes up to 2 years for threads to dissolve but the effects of collagen production provide strength and structure to the tissues long after the threads have dissolved. They have bidirectional  and multidirectional barbs which fixate on tissue and provide better and longer lasting lift and results,” explains Dr. Tiwari. 

APTOS Thread is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure to lift the saggy skin  and tissues and is also used for contouring various body parts. They also offer natural results and keep the facial muscular dynamics intact.

As with any medical procedure having a consultation with an experienced APTOS Threads Doctor is really important so you can discuss your individual goals, and the associated risks and benefits. This will help you make an informed decision with realistic expectations and all of the right information as results vary from individual to individual. Please note this is a Doctors only procedure.

Professional Tip: See our previous article about “Everything you need to know about Threads”.

There are a number of modern, clinically advanced procedures to help you remove the appearance of your double chin on the market – without the need for invasive surgery.

Often the best results are obtained from an multi modal approach, meaning there is no one fix it solution out there and treatment plans are individualists and bespoke – arming yourself with the best information out there is always the best way to approach these types of concerns so you can make a fully informed decision about your treatments plan.  Whether it’s simply fat freezing, or a combination of fat freezing and dermal fillers – or HIFU with APTOS threads?

We recommend coming into one of our clinics and speaking with the experts that can help guide you on the best path forward that not only works towards your aesthetic goals but also your budget.

Book a face to face or virtual complimentary consultation with one of our team today and take the next step forward to learning what is the best solution for you.