What a double chin is
Cleveland Clinic describes submental fullness as excess fat under the chin. It is common in men and women, and many people who have it are not overweight.
Besides fat, the jawline also depends on how firm the skin is. These are two different things, and it helps to know which one predominates in your case.
Why it appears
The same source mentions genetics, ageing and weight gain as possible causes. Some people keep this fat despite diet and exercise.
With age, skin can also loosen. When there is a lot of excess skin, a treatment aimed only at fat is not suitable, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Daily habits that help
Keeping a steady weight, protecting neck skin from the sun and keeping it moisturised are reasonable steps. Watching your posture when you look at a phone or computer, avoiding a head pushed far forward, may help the area look more defined, although the sources cited do not quantify this.
If a double chin appears suddenly, mention it to a doctor, because it can sometimes have other causes.
What technology can do, and its limits
A review of non-surgical skin tightening describes radiofrequency as effective for tightening facial and neck skin, with mild to moderate improvement. It explains that heat reorganises existing collagen fibres and encourages new ones, and that results build gradually, over three to six months with clinical devices.
The same review says younger patients with mild to moderate laxity do better than older patients with severe laxity, and that many devices have not lived up to expectations. In other words, very loose skin has clear limits.
A randomised trial of 108 women tested facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation and it was associated with a thicker zygomaticus major muscle, in the cheek. It did not study the area under the chin. In cosmetic terms, these devices may help improve the look of the contour. They do not remove fat or replace a clinical procedure.
Using a device at home safely
Apply the device to clean skin, with the recommended cream, moving it slowly and keeping to time and intensity. Radiofrequency devices need care on the neck: if you feel excessive heat, stop the session.
Avoid use if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker or another implanted device, have open wounds, or have a history of skin cancer in the area.
When to see a professional
If the double chin or laxity worries you, a plastic surgeon or dermatologist can assess whether fat, skin or both predominate. Cleveland Clinic notes, for example, that an injectable treatment for fat under the chin suits people with mild to moderate excess skin.
Also seek advice if a lump, pain or swelling appears in the neck, or if there is a sudden change.
Realistic expectations
Fat under the chin is partly genetic, and skin changes with the years. A home device can accompany a care routine, but the evidence cited comes from clinical equipment or from studies on other areas.
If you want a marked change, talk to a specialist and compare options realistically.
Sources
- Cleveland ClinicKybella Cosmetic Injection: Plastic Surgery
- Plastic and Aesthetic ResearchNon-surgical skin tightening
- Journal of Cosmetic DermatologyUse of a neuromuscular electrical stimulation device for facial muscle toning: A randomized, controlled trial
Informational content. It does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Images are illustrative, not customer results.
