Double Chin

When looking at a photo of yourself, does your focus go to your jawline? Many people feel self-conscious about a double chin, especially in pictures, which may make it more noticeable. A double chin often makes someone look older than they really are. We tend to associate a strong, defined jawline with attractive youthfulness. Submental fat, the fat under the chin, can weaken your jawline or obscure it altogether.

If a double chin frustrates you, you’re not alone. In a survey by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, 67% of people said they were bothered by submental fat. At Capital Laser & Skin Care, we aim to help you feel confident and comfortable in your body. We offer effective double chin treatment options to help restore your jawline and slim neck profile.

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Learn More About Double Chin

Fat under the chin is called submental fat. Too much submental fullness creates a double chin, making your neck look thicker and diminishes your jawline. Submental fullness is often related to weight gain or obesity. However, people can also have a double chin at a healthy weight. Sometimes, stubborn fat clings to small areas, like the jawline, even if the person loses weight overall. Many factors affect fat distribution, including genetics. Submental fullness may run in the family for some people.

While a double chin is typically related to submental fat, skin laxity can sometimes worsen or create the appearance of a double chin, too. This is why a double chin typically appears and progresses with age. As skin loses elasticity and sags, your jawline may droop, contributing to a double chin.

If you have a double chin, chances are you would like to reduce it. Unfortunately, this is difficult to do without treatment. Weight loss can reduce submental fat, but our bodies tend to lose weight evenly, so the difference in a small area like the neck is often minimal. If you’re already near a healthy weight and still have submental fullness, weight loss may not get rid of your double chin.

Many people turn to exercises for the neck area to shed fat and tone the jawline. While these exercises cannot reduce fat in the submental area, strengthening the neck and jaw muscles may slightly improve the appearance of a double chin. Similarly, treatments or skincare products that tighten the skin can help.

Whether or not you can reduce your double chin naturally will depend on its cause and your overall condition. Someone already healthy and fit probably won’t notice much difference between exercise and diet since their submental fullness may be genetic.

If your at-home efforts haven’t worked or you want dramatic, lasting double chin reduction, our board-certified dermatologists can help. We offer two effective treatments to target submental fat.

Kybella®

Did you know your double chin treatment could be as simple as a few injections? This revolutionary injectable is FDA-approved to reduce submental fat. It’s made with synthetic deoxycholic acid, a bile enzyme in the gut that breaks down fat. With a series of injections, patients can expect lasting or even permanent double chin removal. 

CoolSculpting®

The popular CoolSculpting® technology uses cryolipolysis to freeze unwanted fat. Your body naturally flushes out the crystalized fat cells, leaving the area with up to 25% less fat.  With the CoolMini applicator, we can use CoolSculpting® to target fat in small areas like the neck and chin. Most people only need one or two treatments for long-lasting results.

Take the First Step

Interested in learning more about our double chin solutions? We would love to speak with you. Please fill out the form on this page to request a consultation or call our Chevy Chase, MD office today at (301) 798-9699 to schedule your private consultation at our laser and cosmetic dermatology center, located just blocks away from Washington, D.C.

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