Help For Double Chins

Are you wondering if you’re seeing double when it comes to your chin?

Double chins are a common occurrence- and a common concern. A recent survey of consumers, conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, found people just as bothered by double chins as they were by the lines and wrinkles around their eyes. Just as those can make you look older, so can a double chin.

And many people, despite their best efforts at a health diet and exercise, are plagued with this extra layer of fat beneath their chin. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to rid yourself of your chin, it may remain stubbornly present. Or, you may already been slim and fit and still have a double chin, which makes you look heavier than you really are.

Just take a look at your mother or father: Your double chin could be a function of simple genetics. Or, look at the scale: Weight gain can be to blame. Another culprit? Aging.

There are various things you can try to treat a double chin. Some are within your reach, and don’t require spending money or visiting a professional. The most obvious choice is visiting a plastic surgeon, such as the ones at carolinafacialplasticsurgery.com, or whoever you choose to deplete your double chin.

A good friend of mine from Birmingham recently had a facelift and I have to say the results look fantastic. Not only has her double chin vanished, but she looks, and feels, so much younger and fresher. She told me that when looking for a surgeon to perform her facelift Birmingham turned out to be home to some fantastic cosmetic surgeons.

My friend actually met with a few different surgeons prior to her procedure to ensure that she got the best possible results at the most affordable price. Needless to say, if you are considering undergoing any kind of surgery, doing your research is vital.

Furthermore, sometimes, losing weight can help, if extra weight is the cause of your double chin. And if you don’t mind sticking your tongue out as far as you can while looking straight ahead, then lifting it up toward your nose and holding it there – there’s some anecdotal evidence that certain chin exercises (of which there are many) may help.

And of course, there’s always the turtleneck, although you might not be a turtleneck fan, (especially in warmer climates).

And then, there are always more invasive procedures that can be done by a cosmetic surgeon, like liposuction or liposculpture, which uses heat to melt away fat and contour the skin.

The newest procedure on the market, which got FDA approval in 2015, is an injectable called Kybella. It’s a minimally invasive, in-office simple procedure for people with moderate to severe fat under their chin using deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat, explains board certified plastic surgeon Stafford R. Broumand, MD. (It can also be injected by a board certified dermatologist).

A friend of mine recently had a Kybella treatment and it seems to have boosted her confidence. It feels like just yesterday that she told me that she had been researching plastic surgeons such as Dr. Sachin Shridharani online. Above all, if you are considering undergoing any cosmetic procedures then it is fundamental that you do as much research as possible and that you only go to a surgeon that you know you can trust.

Anyway, I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Broumand last week, when I was invited to his office to watch a live procedure.

Dr. Broumand, who is also an associate clinical professor at Mount Sinai in New York City, told me that while results are evident after just one treatment (usually after about two to four weeks), it typically takes between two and three treatments (sometimes more, depending on the severity of the double chin) to achieve optimal results. Side effects which are usually temporary, and resolve on their own can include swelling or bruising, pain, redness, numbness or areas of hardness.

But once the fat is gone it’s gone. No more double chin, and a sleeker, better defined profile.

I watched as he injected his patient, a young man in his late 20s, who, though being fit and thin, had inherited his double chin from dear old dad.

Here’s the patient’s account:

Dr. Broumand started with a thorough examination of my neck and underneath my chin, determining that I would be a candidate for Kybella. The procedure would be done right there and then about 15-20 minutes in all. First, he cleaned the injection sites and his nurse then applied ice to numb the area. Then, he “tattooed” the area to be treated with a sticky ink pad he called “The Grid” an array of black dots that would act as his roadmap of sorts for where to inject the Kybella. Dr. Broumand showed me several areas of my neck that he’d avoid nerves that could trigger uneven facial expressions if they received the injection.

Once the ink dried, another ice application followed when the nurse removed the ice the second time, my neck and the area under my chin was very numb.

I was confident that the procedure would be virtually pain free, as Dr. Broumand promised. He then began making the injections 20 in total, using four syringes. I felt a slight pinch with each prick… and as the injections continued, mild pain and some stinging. When he was finished with the injections, I received another application of ice. A short while after, the nurse then removed the ice, cleaned the remnants of the grid off my neck, and I was free to go. It would be another seven weeks until my next (and most likely last) round.

The area felt very numb and fairly sore in the days following the procedure, which is not to be unexpected, and is still fairly swollen ironically making the appearance of a double chin more pronounced (I guess it has to get worse before it gets better!); Dr. Broumand said to expect the area to remain swollen for a couple of weeks.

(Gentlemen beware since the area under the chin is numb and swollen, it’s hard to feel the pressure you apply with a razor when shaving, so definitely go easy!)

You may not be a candidate for Kybella. Or you might not choose to go this route. But isn’t it nice to know there are options? In the meantime, you can minimize the look of your double chin in photographs by making sure the lens is at your eye level or above when you pose for the camera. If the lens is below your eye level, experts say, it can give you the appearance of an extra chin – even if one doesn’t exist.