At The Herschthal Practice, we offer treatments and procedures that will help you look and feel your best. Every day, we have patients that come in who are looking to take better care of their skin as well as improve their appearance. A common request from patients is asking what can be done about fat that accumulates under the chin, often called a “double chin” when enough mass is present.
Today we’ll be discussing options the available for patients who wish to reduce a double chin. There are a variety of methods, some involving cosmetic surgery while others are less invasive.
Diet and Exercise
It may seem tongue in cheek to include this as an option, but we promise it’s in good faith. Diet and exercise are the first-line defense against unwanted fat gain. Many body sculpting procedures first recommend this because they are intended to get rid of remaining stubborn fat, not so much fat overall.
If you are carrying a great deal of extra weight, it is only natural that some of that will accrue under your chin.
However, if diet and exercise was all it took, there would be no procedures necessary. Unfortunately, the neck is prone to stubborn fat in some individuals, and no amount of diet and exercise will remove it sufficiently. Additionally, as we age, that area of the skin also loses elasticity and tends to hang more than it once did, making the issue more pronounced.
Submentoplasty
Submentoplasty refers to the area under the chin—called the submental space. A submentoplasty involves a surgeon making incisions in the area and then using liposuction to remove the fat. The process works exactly like liposuction as well. Fat cells are vacuumed out and the result is a reduced double chin.
Submentoplasty recovery can take in total 3-4 weeks of healing, with the first 3-4 days being spent with a dressing applied to the neck. Swelling and bruising will take an additional 7-10 days on average to go down, within the remainder of time people may experience itching, tightness, etc.
Submentoplasty is an invasive procedure and requires a time commitment to get done. For individuals who are looking to reduce their double chin but not go under the knife, Submentoplasty is not for them. It’s important to note that many people choose Submentoplasty as their procedure of choice when they need additional work as well, such as a neck lift or greater restructuring of the chin or jaw line through surgical means.
The truth is, if simply reducing neck fat is the goal, Kybella may be a much better option.
Kybella for Reduced Double Chin
Patients who are reluctant to get cosmetic surgery will find a great solution in Kybella. Kybella’s main ingredient is deoxycholic acid. This acid will target and destroy fat cells in the chin area—the best part? This ingredient is naturally occurring in the body, so you don’t have to worry about getting shot up with strange chemicals.
Because Kybella is injected, it is often lumped in with other injectables such as Botox or fillers like Restylane. However, Kybella is a different product altogether. The injected solution will work towards destroying unwanted fatty tissue in the area which is then metabolized by the body and removed.
Kybella has been shown to be effective at reducing submental fat with anywhere from 2-4 sessions depending on how dramatic of a change is needed.
Side effects of Kybella are typical of injection based procedures:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Numbness
A rare side effect of Kybella is an alteration of your smile due to loss of facial balance which occurs when the injection is performed too close to the marginal mandibular nerve. It fortunately resolves by itself in all cases but is still an important reminder that finding a qualified and experienced medical professional is crucial for getting the best results out of your aesthetic procedures.
Kybella Palm Beach County
Kybella is a great, less invasive option as compared to submentoplasty. Cost of Kybella treatment in Palm Beach County depends on a few different factors, such as how many treatments are necessary. Visit The Herschthal Practice for a consultation so that we can learn more about your aesthetic goals and how we can help you achieve them.
Contact us today!
