Losing weight can be a rewarding journey, but it can sometimes leave you with unexpected cosmetic side effects, such as loose skin under the chin. Sagging skin under the chin, whether caused by aging, weight changes, or genetics, can impact self-confidence. Fortunately, there are several strategies to address this issue, ranging from exercises and lifestyle adjustments to non-surgical and surgical procedures.
Understanding the Causes of a Double Chin
A double chin, also known as submental fat, is a common condition characterized by a layer of fat that forms below the chin. While often associated with weight gain, a double chin can also be caused by genetics, aging, or a recessed jaw. Factors such as aging, weight gain, and genetics can contribute to the development of submental fat, which accumulates under the chin and along the neck. Significant changes in weight, whether through weight loss or gain, can stretch the skin beyond its elastic limits. As we age, our skin naturally produces less collagen and elastin, which are proteins responsible for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness. Genetic factors also play a role in skin elasticity and collagen production.
Lifestyle Adjustments for Skin Tightening
Diet and Exercise
If your double chin is caused by weight gain, losing weight may reduce or eliminate it. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
- Eat more servings of fruit and vegetables per day.
- Replace refined grains with whole grains.
- Avoid processed foods.
- Eat lean protein, such as poultry and fish.
- Eat healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts.
- Eat low-fat dairy products.
- Stay within your daily calorie needs.
In addition to a healthy diet, increasing physical activity is essential for weight loss. As you lose weight, your face may become thinner, potentially reducing the appearance of a double chin.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent a double chin and offers additional benefits, such as reducing the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, certain cancers, and stroke.
Read also: Reducing Sagging Skin
Chin Exercises
While scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of chin exercises is limited, anecdotal evidence suggests they may help strengthen and tone the muscles and skin in the area of your double chin. Here are six exercises you can try:
- Straight Jaw Jut:
- Tilt your head back and look toward the ceiling.
- Push your lower jaw forward to feel a stretch under the chin.
- Hold for a count of 10.
- Relax your jaw and return your head to a neutral position.
- Repeat 10 times daily.
- Ball Exercise:
- Place a 9- to 10-inch ball under your chin.
- Press your chin down against the ball.
- Repeat several times daily, doing three sets of 8-10 repetitions each.
- Pucker Up:
- With your head tilted back, look at the ceiling.
- Pucker your lips as if you’re kissing the ceiling to stretch the area beneath your chin.
- Stop puckering and bring your head back to its normal position.
- Do three sets of 8-10 repetitions each.
- Tongue Stretch:
- Looking straight ahead, stick your tongue out as far as you can.
- Lift your tongue upward and toward your nose.
- Hold for 10 seconds and release.
- Repeat 10 times daily, doing three sets of 8-10 repetitions each.
- Neck Stretch:
- Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
- Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
- Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and release.
- Repeat 10 times.
- Bottom Jaw Jut:
- Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
- Turn your head to the right.
- Slide your bottom jaw forward.
- Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and release.
- Repeat with your head turned to the left.
- Repeat 10 times.
Other Remedies
- Hot Massage: Getting a hot massage can help repair wrinkles and dryness, as well as replenish the skin. It can leave your skin moisturized, soft, and supple, triggering collagen formation for cell renewal and repair.
- Cucumber Paste: Cucumber pastes are deeply moisturizing and hydrating agents that can condition worn and loose skin, revitalizing the cells.
- Almond Oil: Almond oil contains vitamin E, which is an important property for anti-aging.
- Wrinkle-Lift Skin Creams: Wrinkle-lift skin creams can help sagging skin because of the powerful skin revitalizing and firming vitamins and minerals they contain.
- Mineral Water: Mineral water can restore the chemical balance within your body, addressing hormonal and chemical imbalances that can cause premature aging.
- Balanced Diet: A balanced diet with fresh fruits, green leafy veggies, and salads can help restore the vitamins your body needs to produce healthier skin and body.
- Bananas: Bananas offer a boost of antioxidants and lutein, which makes cells elastic, more active, and stronger.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Skin Tightening
For individuals seeking less invasive options, several non-surgical treatments can help tighten the skin under the chin. These treatments generally work by using targeted energy to heat deeper layers of skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production and gradually improving skin tone and texture.
- Morpheus8: A top choice for tightening the neck and jawline, Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to stimulate deep collagen remodeling.
- Thermage: Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and tightening existing collagen fibers. This improves skin elasticity and reduces sagging, particularly around the jawline and chin area.
- Ultherapy: Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate deep structural support layers of the skin, triggering the production of new collagen and elastin, gradually lifting and tightening the skin under the chin and jawline.
- Microneedling: Microneedling involves creating controlled micro-injuries to the skin using fine needles. This stimulates the skin’s natural healing process, promoting collagen and elastin production, improving skin texture, reducing fine lines, and tightening loose skin over multiple treatment sessions.
- Forma: A gentle, non-invasive RF treatment that gradually firms the skin through heat-based collagen stimulation.
- Laser Facelift: A minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted laser energy to tighten the skin, stimulate collagen production, and reduce fine lines and laxity, especially in delicate areas like the neck and jawline. It offers a refined, natural-looking lift without the extended downtime of traditional surgery.
- Injectable Dermal Fillers: Injectable dermal fillers, such as those based on hyaluronic acid, can add volume and improve the contour of the chin area, enhancing chin projection and creating a more defined jawline.
- Retinol: Retinol, a form of vitamin A, increases cell turnover and stimulates collagen production in the skin, improving skin texture, reducing fine lines, and enhancing skin firmness under the chin over time.
- BTL Exilis: The BTL Exilis uses radio frequency and technology to penetrate the deep layers of your skin, tightening your skin using the natural elements within your body.
Surgical Options for Double Chin Reduction
When non-surgical methods are insufficient, surgical options can provide more dramatic results.
- Liposuction (Liposculpture): Also known as liposculpture, lipolysis uses liposuction or heat from a laser to melt away fat and contour the skin. Chin liposuction is suitable for individuals with stubborn excess fat under the chin that does not respond to diet or exercise. It’s particularly effective for refining jawline definition and improving facial contours, especially for those experiencing sagging or prominent jowls due to localized fat deposits in the lower face. In most cases, a local anesthetic is all that’s needed during lipolysis to treat a double chin. However, lipolysis only treats fat and does not remove excess skin or increase skin elasticity. Side effects may include swelling, bruising, and pain.
- Neck Lift: This surgery is typically reserved for those who have very loose skin around their chin. A neckband is placed around the chin to help support and lift the skin.
Other Medical Procedures
- Mesotherapy: Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers small amounts of fat-dissolving compounds through a series of injections. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration approved deoxycholic acid (Kybella), an injectable drug used in mesotherapy. Deoxycholic acid helps your body absorb fats. It may take 20 or more injections of deoxycholic acid per treatment to treat a double chin, with up to six treatments total, spaced at least 1 month apart. Potential side effects of deoxycholic acid and other mesotherapy injectables include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and redness. Deoxycholic acid may cause serious nerve damage if injected improperly, so only a dermatologist or a doctor with plastic surgery experience who is knowledgeable about the drug should perform these injections.
Important Considerations
- Patience is key: Unless you undergo liposuction or laser lipolysis, reducing a double chin takes time. It may take a few months before it becomes less noticeable.
- Consult a Professional: Before starting any diet, exercise program, or treatment, consult with your doctor or an experienced cosmetic surgeon. They can address any health concerns, help you set healthy weight loss goals, and determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific needs and goals. They can also assess the severity of skin laxity, your age, and how dramatic a result you want to achieve.
- Optimal Timing: The optimal time to consider skin tightening varies by individual. Some may notice loose skin around their chin and jawline in their 30s, while others may not experience this until their 40s or 50s.
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Read also: Weight Loss and Skin Elasticity