We often see patients come in complaining of round faces, a lack of facial definition, and a double chin. So what are the causes of a double chin?
Causes of a double chin
Skin laxity occurs as we age — the softening of muscle tone, natural bone tissue losses and loosening of the skin — it creates the impression of excess skin or tissue around the chin and jaw area, giving the appearance of a double chin or chin fullness.
Secondly, lifestyle factors affect the rate of ageing, fat distribution, and so on, including smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and sun exposure.
Third, weight. Of course, as we gain weight, more fat accumulates, especially on the face and neck, leading to a double chin.
Often, patients wonder, “Why do I have a double chin, even though I am not overweight?” It’s because genetics plays a part. If you’re genetically prone to a fat bulge under the chin and jaw area, you’re likely to develop a double chin or appear to have fat around the face, even though you may not be overweight.
A medical condition or illness may lead to a double chin or facial fat accumulation around the face and neck, such as:
- Cushing’s disease
- Thyroid disorder
- Kidney disorder
- Salivary gland inflammation
- Prescribed medications or drugs
And last but not least, facial structure. For those with a wide neck, a recessive chin may appear to lack jaw definition or to form a double chin.
What can be done for patients who complain of a double chin?
There are various treatments, including non-surgical and surgical treatments.
Non-surgical treatment, such as weight loss and exercise. Change your lifestyle. For some, increased muscle tone and reduced body fat can improve the appearance of a double chin.
What we commonly hear about is injection, lipolysis, ultrasound, fat freezing, and so on. Non-surgical treatment is unpredictable in terms of results for patients with a double chin.
Some patients feel that a non-surgical treatment improved their condition, while others find that the treatment is not visible or that they do not respond at all. So for those who don’t respond or whose condition persists, they may want to consider surgical treatment, which is what we call liposuction.
How effective is liposuction treatment for a double chin?
Based on my experience, patients who come in to consult about a double chin often have excess fat in the submental area, around the jaw, and in the jowls.
Liposuction is an ideal treatment for patients with a double chin or facial accumulation because it helps from three perspectives. First of all, it allows us to remove excess fat from the chin, neck, and jawline. Secondly, for skilled, experienced doctors, we can use it to reshape or refine your face, jawline, neck, and so on.
And last but not least, if done correctly, liposuction can stimulate collagen growth and, in turn, tighten the skin and tissues around your face and jaw.
