Double Chin Removal and Treatment
Double chin, also known as submental fat is when excess fat or loose skin forms under our chins. This is more obvious when we bend our necks down. From the side profile, the jawline appears heavy and lack definition. This accumulation of fat and loose skin can also be seen in slimmer individuals, usually due to an inherent distribution of fat.
What causes it?
Double chin is also known as submental fat. It is the excess fat or loose skin that we can see or pinch underneath our chin, this becomes especially obvious when we bend our necks down. Also, when you look at your sideview from the mirror, there may be a lack of definition of your jawline, or a blunted angle between your chin and your neck.
There are many reasons why you have a double chin. It can affect young and old alike, and both males and females. This is because various factors cause a double chin to form.
Some are hereditary and are present even when you are young and healthy, this usually occurs as a result of structural anatomy. Often, people with smaller retruded chins offer less support to the deep structures, thus making the double chin appear more prominently.
Next key factor is aging, we start losing collagen at a rate of 1-1.5% per year starting from our late 20s, resulting in skin that becomes less firm and gradually start sagging.
Diet and lifestyle also play a part, with increased body weight, fat can also accumulate under the chin region. Often, even when you have lost fat, the accumulated fat or loose skin under the chin does not resolve.
Who is suitable for Double Chin Treatment or Removal?
Almost anyone is suitable for management of their double chin, as this is generally a simple procedure done in the clinic. If you are concerned and bothered by your double chin, do contact us for a consultation to assess which type of treatment is the most suitable for you.
Consultation and Planning
An in-depth discussion will be held at the initial consultation, to understand your general health, to find out about your concerns with the double chin. Your double chin will be assessed for the amount of fat. During this visit, 3D pictures using Quantificare 3D camera will be taken to aid with the evaluation and discussion. Management options will then be discussed with you, the individual pros and cons explained, so you can decide which double chin management option is most acceptable to you.
Are there any limitations?
Yes, for patients with extremely sizable double chin with a significant amount of loose skin, this procedure may not be suitable to provide you with the desired results. For this group of patients, we would generally offer a neck lift surgery.
Are there any other methods?
Yes, there are other methods to provide you with the appearance of a sharper chin, but these do not remove the fat or the loose skin, they help by improving the underlying bony structure or provide some lifting effect via heat contraction or supporting the tissues within. The effect of these modalities often lasts for a shorter period of time, in the range of 6 to 12 months.
Chin fillers or Chin implants can improve and enhance the shape of the chin, and by doing so, it will help support some of the loose skin and stretch it out.
Energy based devices like HIFU which will focus heat to the area to shrink tissue as well as to stimulate collagen growth.
Neck threadlifts will help to support some of the saggy or droopy tissue with the threads, furthermore the threads will also help stimulate some collagen.
These procedures can also be done concurrently or sequentially to improve the overall results.
What is Recovery like?
After the procedure, you can expect swelling that may last for about 2 to 3 weeks, this swelling gradually improves over time. To help reduce the swelling, you will be provided with adequate anti-swelling medications. We also advice for you to keep the neck strap on to help support and reduce the swelling.
Pain is generally minimal, but you will be provided with adequate analgesia (pain relieving medication).
Frequently Asked Questions about Double Chin Removal
For the most permanent results, I would recommend for the absolute number of adipose tissues to be removed in a single setting through neck liposuction. The results of this are enhanced with the use of RFAL technology (radiofrequency assisted lipolysis) where the Facetite probe will not only further breakdown remaining adipose tissue and tighten the overlying skin at the same setting. Unless you gain weight again, this result should last you a good 5 to 10 years.
As mentioned above, the fastest procedure is a single surgical of neck liposuction combined with RFAL technology (radiofrequency assisted lipolysis) using Facetite. The excess adipose tissue is removed and skin is tighten in less than 2 hours. This is definitely the fastest procedure when compared to repeated sessions of external fat freeze technology which also does not remove the fat completely nor treat excess loose skin.
Most people are suitable for this combined treatment of neck liposuction and RFAL technology using Facetite. Unless there is a significant amount of excessively loose skin that will need to be resected. It is best to have a formal assessment done in the clinic.
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Double chin removal surgery’s risk and complications can include
- Bruising and swelling, this generally settles down over the next 4-6 weeks.
- Temporary chin or lower lip sensory disturbances
- Scars are generally well camouflaged, however there may be the risk of hypertrophic or keloidal scars if you are genetically prone to them
- Infection
A smooth recovery is aided by the reduction in swelling and bruising after surgery. This can be easily achieved with oral anti-swelling medications that will be provided as well as consistency in wearing the post-surgical compression garment.
Yes, you can. It would be ideal to hold off exercises for a two week period during the initial recovery period.