A double chin is a problem many people feel is impossible to get rid of no matter how much they exercise or diet. The truth is, the fat in this area is particularly stubborn. That's why people are paying so much attention to it these days. "Injection to reduce double chin" Injections are becoming much more popular, but this also raises questions like, "What kind of injection should I get? How many types are there? Which one is really effective?" This article compiles five of the most popular options used by most clinics in Thailand to help you make an easier decision before making an appointment.
Main Idea
- A double chin is when skin becomes more saggy than normal and fat accumulates in the area under the chin and upper neck. This results in a visible fold of excess skin or fat when looking down or even at normal times.
- A double chin appears as a layer or sac of tissue under the chin and around the neck. Additionally, when viewed from the side, the jawline becomes less defined. This affects more than just aesthetics; it can lead to decreased self-confidence, social interaction, health, stress related to social situations and photos.
- 5 options for reducing a double chin: Meso fat, CoolSculpting Mini, Botox, Chin filler, HIFU / Ultraformer / Ulthera.
Where exactly is a double chin?
A double chin, or medically known as submental fat, is abnormal skin sagging and fat accumulation under the chin and upper neck. This causes a visible fold of excess skin or fat when looking down or even at normal positions, resulting in the appearance of a double chin. A double chin can be caused by several factors, including:
- Age and sagging skin. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin under the skin, causing the skin and muscles to weaken. This results in sagging skin around the chin and neck due to gravity, giving the appearance of a double chin or a "turkey's neck" shape.
- The accumulation of excess fat. This is the most common cause, resulting from consuming a high-fat diet, processed foods, or behaviors that impair metabolism. This leads to excess fat accumulating under the chin, creating a clearly visible lump.
- Facial structure and genetics. Some people may have a short chin, a receding chin, or an indistinct jawline, making a double chin more prominent than usual. Because the chin and neck are continuous, a double chin can easily appear when the head is bent down or when taking side photos, even if the person doesn't weigh much.
- Daily life For example, staying up late, eating late at night, lack of exercise, drinking alcohol, or accumulated stress can all lead to a decreased metabolism, resulting in fat accumulation or increased swelling in the face and neck.
- Behavior and body posture. For example, hunching over to use a phone or tablet, or sitting with slumped shoulders while working at a computer for long periods, weakens the muscles in the neck and under the chin. Furthermore, frequently hunching over repeatedly compresses the skin under the chin, causing it to fold and leading to permanent sagging.
What are the consequences of having a double chin?
A double chin appears as a layer or pouch of tissue under the chin and around the neck. Additionally, when viewed from the side, the jawline becomes less defined because the fat or sagging skin obscures the jawline, making the chin and neck appear seamless. When bending over, smiling, or turning to the side, this tissue accumulates, creating a noticeably thicker layer. This has impacts beyond just aesthetics, such as:
- Loss of confidence A double chin often makes the face look less defined, fuller, or older than it actually is, causing many people to feel self-conscious when looking in the mirror or constantly needing to dress in ways that conceal their neck.
- Stress from social interaction and photography. When taking photos from the side or from below, people feel self-conscious because their double chin becomes clearly visible. Some even avoid taking videos or socializing due to concerns about their appearance.
- Health This may be a warning sign of abdominal obesity and increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes snoring, sudden awakenings, oxygen deprivation, leading to chronic daytime fatigue, and may also cause itchy, moist rashes in skin folds and chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain from incorrect posture.
5 options for chin reduction injections.
For individuals looking to get rid of a double chin, injections are not the only method to achieve a slimmer face and sharper jawline. The cause of a double chin varies from person to person; some may have accumulated fat, others may have sagging skin, and some may have issues with facial structure. Therefore, combining skin tightening technologies with injections is a complementary option for achieving more noticeable and longer-lasting results.
Meso Fat
Meso fat reduction for double chin. (Meso fat) is a non-surgical technique for reducing localized fat and cellulite. A doctor injects a fat-dissolving substance into the skin layer where fat is present. After injection, the fat breaks down and is eliminated through excretion, resulting in a reduction of fat in the injected area and a firmer appearance.
The drugs that have properties to help accelerate fat burning and reduce the formation of new fat cells are as follows:
- L-carnitine It has the ability to help convert fat cells into energy, including breaking down excess fat under the skin.
- Tyrosine It has properties that help accelerate the burning of fat in the body to be more efficient.
- Mesostabyl It has the property of stimulating the work of the lipase enzyme and reducing the production of fat, including stopping the production of cholesterol in tissues.
- Artichoke extract It has properties that help reduce the production of fatty acids and reduce fat levels in specific areas.
Therefore, mesotherapy helps reduce excess fat accumulated in various areas of the body, such as the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, hips, or chin. In addition, it helps reduce cellulite, minimizes dimples caused by subcutaneous fat, resulting in smoother skin and tighter skin in the injected areas. It can also help to slim the face, address sagging cheeks, reduce under-eye fat, and boost self-confidence in one's appearance.
CoolSculpting Mini
CoolSculpting Mini is a highly popular innovation for breaking down fat in the chin area, or reducing a double chin. It's a needle-free, non-surgical technology that uses a specially designed, small applicator head that conforms to the curve of the chin area.
The CoolSculpting Mini works on the principle of cryolipolysis (fat freezing). The device delivers sub-zero temperatures, approximately -11 to -13 degrees Celsius, deep into the skin to freeze fat cells under the chin for about 45 minutes per area. The fat cells are shocked by the extreme cold and die permanently. The surrounding skin, blood vessels, and tissues are not damaged. The body then gradually eliminates the dead fat cells naturally through the lymphatic system and excretion.
CoolSculpting Mini can destroy approximately 20% – 25% of fat cells in the treated area. The results are not immediate like liposuction, but you will begin to see a reduction in double chin within 3-4 weeks, and noticeable results will be visible approximately 1-3 months after treatment. This method is therefore suitable for individuals with thick, noticeable double chin fat.
Botox (Botox Nefertiti Lift)
Botox for double chin reduction is a technique designed specifically to lift and tighten the lower face, chin, and neck. Botox involves injecting botulinum toxin into the platysma muscle under the chin. This muscle pulls the skin around the jawline and neck, causing sagging. Typically, doctors will inject at 3-5 points under the chin. The botulinum toxin inhibits muscle function, temporarily weakening the muscle. When the downward-pulling muscle stops working, the upward-pulling muscle can function fully, preventing the skin under the chin from sagging. This results in a reduced double chin and a more defined jawline. This method is suitable for individuals aged 30 and older who are experiencing mild to moderate sagging.
Botox (Nefertiti Lift) will begin to show signs of tightening and facial contouring within 5-7 days, with noticeable results within 14 days. The effects last approximately 3-6 months.
HIFU / Ultraformer / Ulthera
HIFU, Ultraformer, and Ulthera are not injection-based procedures, but rather technologies for skin tightening from within without needles. All three procedures utilize high-intensity, high-frequency sound waves to penetrate deep into the SMAS layer, the connective tissue layer that tightens the facial and neck muscles. After the sound waves are emitted, they are converted into heat energy. This heat, delivered to the fat layer, causes some fat cells to atrophy and die, reducing the amount of fat under the chin. In addition, the heat stimulates the body to produce new collagen and elastin, resulting in firmer, tighter, and smoother skin under the chin.
HIFU/Ultraformer/Ulthera shows immediate results of approximately 20-30% after treatment, with more noticeable results within 2-3 months, as this is the period when new collagen is most completely produced to replace the old.
Chin filler
Chin filler (Filler) This procedure is similar to facial contouring with fillers, but focuses on the chin area. The doctor injects hyaluronic acid (HA) into the subcutaneous tissue of the chin. The filler immediately pushes the surrounding tissue and skin upwards. In addition, HA effectively retains water, making the filler flexible. For the chin area, doctors usually choose a firm filler to ensure good shape retention, withstand pressure from the muscles around the lips, and prevent sagging.
Chin fillers can define the facial contour and reduce the appearance of a double chin. They can help correct short, receding, indented, or crooked chins, and create a more dimensional and proportionate V-shaped face without surgery. The results typically last 12-24 months.
summarize
For addressing double chin and undefined jawlines, which are often caused by excess fat and sagging skin, most dermatologists recommend a combination of procedures such as Meso Fat with HIFU or Botox for jawline lifting to achieve optimal results. Meso Fat involves injecting a solution to break down accumulated fat cells under the chin, causing them to shrink and be naturally eliminated. Then, HIFU uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to deliver heat deep into the SMAS layer to tighten sagging skin and improve facial contours. Alternatively, Botox can be combined with jawline lifting, which relaxes the Platysma muscle that pulls the skin down, allowing the upper muscles to lift the jawline more effectively. This results in reduced fat, firmer and smoother skin, and a more defined jawline.
