How to Reduce Double Chin without Surgery

Seeing a double chin with age is quite common, though it is not exactly ideal. The problem can be attributed by many factors. Some of the main ones are loosening skin, age factor, weight gain, and even sometimes genetics. There are a number of treatments to reduce double chin — and surgery probably is the most effective, quick way to get rid of the problem. But since surgical procedure is going without risk, many people are also looking for ways without surgery for their double chin reduction.

Kybella injections

Kybella is one of common non-invasive procedures to help improve the appearance of submental fullness. When it’s injected to the area of the chin, it targets the fat beneath the chin. As a result, you may see a significant reduction in fullness. This procedure has been approved by the FDA [1].

The injection is given after applying topical /local anesthesia. Your specialist may choose 10-15 sites in the neck area for injections. The shots probably are quite uncomfortable, and they may cause redness, tenderness, swelling, or pain for several days.

When Kybella is injected, it destroys fat cells. Then this process is followed with the natural healing mechanism of your body to restore the treatment area. Typically, the excess fat beneath the chin will disappear within 4-6 weeks.

You may need to repeat the procedure for 2-3 times or more to get your best results, depending on your chin profile (the distribution and amount of your double-fat chin) and your treatment goals. Each treatment session is about 20-25 minutes, which should be given at least a month apart.

What you need to remember, it doesn’t provide results as instantly dramatic as liposuction (a cosmetic surgery), but it has fewer severe risks. Also, sometimes the cost of taking a series of injections could be as expensive as surgery.

However, it is one of good ways to help improve moderate to severe submental fullness for people who are unwilling to consider invasive procedures. Just make sure to only choose and use board-cosmetic dermatologists /medical professionals who understand your condition most.

The underlying cause of your double chin matters, too. If the problem is caused by something else other than fat (e.g. loose neck skin or bone condition), this non-invasive procedure is likely useless. Plastic surgery is probably more recommended if you have severe double chin caused by sagging muscle, weak chin, or excess skin.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a surgery-free micro lift that uses ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen and elastin. As a result, the treatment area is likely to become firmer and tighter. It has FDA approval, but does it really work?

There are always pros and cons, the same goes for Ultherapy. It might not be effective enough for a significant submental fullness. In general, the stimulation of more collagen production from ultrasound energy will work best for mild to moderate double chin.

Cons

The results take time to appear, it’s not a quick solution to fix the problem overnight. Even sometimes it may take several months to see the optimal results. But the first improvements could be noticed within a few days.

As long as the body continues to produce new collagen, the improvements continue until the natural aging process of your body takes over again. That’s why you may need additional sessions (if necessary).

And just because it’s non-invasive procedure, it’s not always much more affordable than surgery. This is dependent on how many sessions you take.

Pros

What makes it worth a try, there is no downtime and the results could be long-lasting. It could also be one of your best options if you’re looking a ‘needles-free’ approach, and the results are not derived from the injection of chemicals or fillers of any kind!

Discomforts and side effects from the therapy are tolerable. Plus, a new machine with ’friendly’ intensity of focused ultrasound is available to minimize discomforts during therapy. Side effects, if any, are usually mild. The most common ones are redness and swelling. But since they are temporary, this should be a relatively small price to pay.

The procedure is safe since it has FDA approval, as mentioned earlier. But it’s important to hire a certified, experienced professional to do this therapy. If possible, work only with a professional who has adequate experience with successful cases of this therapy on record. Also, make sure your provider uses genuine Ultherapy machines, and follow all protocols of the treatment as well!

Cryolipolysis

It can target areas of fat that are difficult to melt away with lifestyle measures (such as exercise or diet). Also called as CoolSculpting (the trade name for Cryolipolysis), it is a non-invasive procedure that involves cold temperatures to remove excess fats of the treatment area without hurting the overlying skin.

With appropriate setting, the cold is focused to chill and destroy excess fat tissue – and at the same time, it’s designed to not affect surrounding skin, nearby blood vessels, nerves, or muscle tissues. The dead cells of fat will be naturally absorbed and removed by the body over the following weeks.

Actually, this technique was purposed for treating large areas of the body (e.g. thighs and stomach) with a relatively big, large applicator. But nowadays, smaller applicators are available for smaller areas such as on underarms and double chin.

Does it work? In an analysis of the study’s data, this therapy is effective to reduce fat in the treated areas by about 25 percent on average [2]. Side effects are usually no more than temporary numbness, redness, bruising, and sorness (relatively tolerable).

You might need more than one session to acquire the desired improvement. The cost of each session is around $900-$1000. The therapy takes about 45-60 minutes. You usually will see the results over the subsequent eight weeks or probably longer.

How to reduce double chin with exercise?

While there are several non-invasive procedures to choose from, certain exercises may also help ease wobbly bits on the chin. These chin and neck exercises may also help the results of non-invasive procedures mentioned earlier become long-lasting.

Although the following exercises are practical and light (safe for most people), make sure your neck and chin are ready enough before attempting any if you have just had a double chin reduction therapy. Also, do a warm up to keep safe – move the head forward and down, then rotate the neck carefully in a clockwise (do this for a few rotations and then turn opposite).

Pout selfie

This is so practical and fun. Simply make a pouting face (stick your bottom lip out as maximum as you can, as if you’re taking a selfie with a pouting face), hold for 3-5 seconds. Then tilt your head and chin toward the chest area while keeping your lower lip out, hold again for 3-5 seconds.

Repeat this exercise 10-20 times to help improve the strength of your neck and jaw muscles. You can do this while standing or seated.

Pucker while looking up

This simply exercise is a good way to help strengthen the neck and chin muscles.  Tilt your head back and look at the sky. Then pucker the lips, stretch them as far as you can. You should feel a stretch, flexed but comfortable (not painful) on your neck and chin muscles; hold for 10-20 seconds.

Repeat this technique for 10-15 times. It can be done while standing or seated.

Whistle at the sky

Sit with your back straight. Relax your shoulders and simply look at the sky by tilting your head back. Then drive your lips as if you’re in whistling position, hold for a few seconds (probably about 10-20 seconds) then release.

Repeat for about 10 times in one sitting. This technique can help train the neck muscles, so can the chin muscles.

Ball squeeze exercise

To acquire the most of your exercise, do it with a 5-10 inches ball (make sure it’s easy to squeeze). Do this exercise while seated (more recommended than standing).

Take a seated position with relaxed shoulders and straight back. Put the ball under your chin, then move your chin to press against the ball (do this in a steady, firm motion). You can repeat the exercise 10-30 times.

Keeping the ball on hand is good idea to help you remember to do the exercise. Place it somewhere you can find easily. Keep it near your office desk or bed, for example.

Yawning with open mouth and tongue stretch

Here you need to open your mouth wide, followed with sticking your tongue out as maximum as you can (much similar to the lion’s yawn). It should be helpful a lot to train muscles of your face, neck, and chin.

You can do the exercise while seated or standing.  In a relaxed posture, look straight ahead. Now open your mouth, then extend your tongue out as far as possible (hold this for 10 seconds, and release). Repeat this lion’s yawn exercise 10 times!

What’s more?