Double Chin

What causes a double chin

A double chin, also known as submental fat, is a common condition that occurs when a layer of fat forms below your chin. A double chin is often associated with weight gain, but you don’t have to be overweight to have one. Genetics or looser skin resulting from aging may also cause a double chin.

Treatments for a double chin

If your double chin is caused by genetics, tightening up the area with exercise may help. It’s unclear whether weight loss will help. In this case, your doctor may recommend an invasive procedure such as:

Lipolysis

Also known as liposculpture, lipolysis uses liposuction or heat from a laser to melt away fat and contour the skin. In most cases, a local anesthetic is all that’s needed during lipolysis to treat a double chin.

Lipolysis only treats fat. It doesn’t remove excess skin or increase skin’s elasticity. Side effects of lipolysis may include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers small amounts of fat-dissolving compounds through a series of injections. In 2015, the U. S. 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. You can have up to six treatments total. You must wait at least one month between treatments.Deoxycholic acid may cause serious nerve damage if injected improperly. Only a dermatologist or a doctor with plastic surgery experience who is knowledgeable about the drug should perform these injections.

Potential side effects of deoxycholic acid and other mesotherapy injectables include:

• swelling
• bruising
• pain
• numbness
• redness