Original Article By Danielle Fontana. It’s become second nature to stop and stare in the mirror at any amount of excess fat hiding out under the chin. You can pull it tight with your hands or conceal it under a turtleneck, but no amount of camouflaging can hide the extra pocket of fat forever. Fortunately, there are multiple options available that are designed to target and eliminate the fat that’s deep beneath the surface and likely tacking years onto your appearance. Here, three experts sound off on the most effective ways to get rid of an unwelcome “double chin” once and for all.
If your fat is just enough to pinch, the high-tech route might be for you.
“Microcurrent and radio-frequency treatments work well to reduce fat under the chin,” says New York celebrity aesthetician Ildi Pekar, explaining that Microcurrent technology utilizes electrical currents on the skin’s surface to stimulate and temporarily shorten muscles by lifting and tightening them, creating more refined muscle tone around the chin for a firmer look before you leave the office. “Radio-frequency treatments work differently, as the energy surpasses the skin (a handpiece is applied to the surface) to target fat cells.” How does it work? The energy heats up the cells to liquefy and drain them via the lymphatic system while boosting the production of collagen and elastin to tighten the skin. “Both treatments deliver results safely and naturally with zero downtime, regardless of how much fat is under the chin—the only difference lies in the number of treatments required and how quickly the skin responds to them,” says Pekar.
Treatment time: One hour each (multiple sessions may be needed)
For a more substantial amount of fat that won’t budge, injectables and fat-freezers can be used.
Fresno, CA, dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD, says that for patients with mild to moderate amounts of fat, she like to treat the area with Kybella. “Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable that uses deoxycholic acid, a fat-digesting molecule our bodies naturally produce, to kill fat cells almost immediately [the cells are dispelled over the course of a few months, so the results aren’t instant]. For patients with more fat in the area, I suggest one application of CoolMini, a special applicator for the CoolSculpting device, on each side of their chin about six weeks before we inject Kybella. When used together, the treatments deliver incredible results. The CoolMini helps debulk the fat in patients with more fullness, while Kybella allows me to precisely sculpt the remaining fat for a contoured result.”
Price: Kybella (approximately $1,200 per treatment*); CoolMini (around $1,000 per treatment)
Treatment Time: Kybella: 15 minutes; CoolMini: 35 minutes per application. *Prices vary by region.
If the skin under your chin is loose, and you have a larger amount of fat in the area, surgery may be your best bet.
“When taut, youthful skin is coupled with a decent amount of fat, liposuction is the best choice for long-term fat removal,” New York plastic surgeon Douglas M. Monasebian, MD, says, explaining that the procedure can take as little as 30 minutes and delivers immediate results. However, for older patients who have fat under their chin, as well as very loose skin, Dr. Monasebian warns that liposuction alone may not do the trick. “Although we can totally remove the fat with liposuction, it’s likely the skin won’t snap back well. To address both the fat and loose skin, a necklift in conjunction with liposuction under the chin should be performed to eliminate the fat entirely while also lifting and tightening the skin for an overall firmer, more youthful appearance.”
Price: Liposuction (starts at around $2,500); Necklift (starts at approximately $4,300)
Treatment Time: Liposuction: 30–40 minutes; Necklift: 60–90 minutes when performed alone (some doctors also combine the procedures with a facelift).