Are you bothered by a double chin? In this blog, I will cover submental (under chin) contouring options offered at Aesthetica. I’ll explain the confusing terminology describing this anatomy and your treatment options. At Aesthetica, we treat this area with various effective solutions, including CoolSculpting, liposuction, a neck lift, or fillers.
What Is the Submental Area?
There is some confusion about what the submental area is because most patients do not think of it as “submental.” They either call it their chin, their neck, or their double chin. But it is a distinct anatomical area that is actually under—thus the “sub” prefix—the chin or mentum. It is not strictly considered a part of the neck, but rather a part of the head, which is even more confusing. And to make matters even more complex, the area is between the chin and neck. Yikes. So when patients call and ask about chin liposuction—we know they actually are referring to the submental fat.
What Causes Submental Puffiness?
It is important for patients to understand that sometimes the contour deformity is a smaller or receding chin and mandible. Or other times it is an anatomical variant called a low hyoid. With so many different anatomical situations, it is no wonder that patients are perplexed about what they are looking for—they first have to understand their own unique anatomy before they can progress to treatment options.
To keep things straightforward, we’re primarily going to focus on these areas:
- Fat of the submental and side neck area
- The bony structure
- The deeper structures and how they impact the entire contour of the submental and neck areas
How Do You Lose A Double Chin?
When submental fat is present (with or without side neck fat), the treatment options include medical spa procedures such as KYBELLA and CoolScultping, and surgical liposuction. These three methods all permanently remove under chin fat.
KYBELLA
A KYBELLA treatment is an injection of an acid that destroys fat cells through an inflammatory process. The injections cause significant swelling that can last 1 to 2 weeks. Then, the dead fat cells are absorbed by the body, resulting in a smaller amount of remaining fat.
The biggest downside to KYBELLA treatment is the temporary residual swelling. The other downside is that it takes a number of consecutive treatments, about a month apart. Given these drawbacks, I typically recommend CoolSculpting and submental liposuction instead of KYBELLA.
CoolSculpting
Let’s cover the process of CoolSculpting. This is the method in which the fat cells are frozen to the point in which they die, and the body flushes out the by-products in the urine. It is important to keep in mind that this process takes time, so repeat treatments are scheduled 4 to 6 weeks apart. The submental area usually takes between 2 to 4 treatments to reach the desired goal, depending on the amount of fat that is present.
- The Treatment: The first 2 treatments are done in a single session, which takes about 35 to 45 minutes. The applicator is placed diagonally under the chin on one side and then the other so that the middle section overlaps and receives a double amount of freezing. During treatment, most patients relax by reading, sleeping, watching TV, scrolling videos, or doing any other activity in which they keep their head still so the applicator does not pop off. When the applicator is first applied it feels cold, but there is no discomfort.
- After Treatment: The area will be sore but not too swollen. You can resume daily activities. About a month to 6 weeks later, some patients require a second treatment session to remove additional fat.
- CoolSculpting Cost: The cost for this treatment typically ranges from $2,500 to $3,500, depending on the number of treatments.
- Benefits: The best thing about CoolSculpting is that it is an effective option for patients who prefer a less invasive option to surgery.
- Candidacy: Ideal CoolSculpting candidates have a small amount of submental fat—about an inch to pinch in the submental area only.
Liposuction
When under chin fat extends around the side neck toward the earlobe and along the underside of the mandible or lower jawbone, then it is usually better to consider liposuction. Liposuction of the submental area (with or without the side neck) is a surgical procedure.
- The Treatment: The procedure requires numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Then, fat is suctioned out with small tubes called cannulas. We use twilight anesthesia with oral valium to ensure your comfort. The actual procedure takes about an hour.
- After Treatment: You are sent home with an ACE wrap on; this helps manage swelling and is required to stay on for the first 5 to 7 days. So while liposuction is a “one and done” situation, it requires more downtime than CoolSculpting and less invasive options.
- Results: After chin or neck lipo, the contour is immediately better and continues to improve as the swelling resolves over 6 weeks. It does take 6 months for skin to “shrink back,” revaling your final results.
You can see the difference submental liposuction makes in my patients’ before and after photos below:
Will I Have Loose Skin After Submental Liposuction?
For patients with a large amount of submental and neck fat, the next question is whether or not the skin will need a tuck after the lipo. It is impossible to predict perfectly, but in general, the more fat that is removed, the looser the skin will be. And as we all age, skin elasticity diminishes. Therefore, the older the patient, the less the skin will shrink. This is a consideration for patients over 40—often it is better to do the lipo and neck lift at the same time to get the best contour.
The older the patient, the more likely they will need the procedure to tighten the skin and the muscle underneath. Many patients also benefit by addressing the jowls and cheeks. This is a procedure we call the Smartlift; you can learn more about it in our related blog post and the video below:
How Do You Fix a Receding Chin?
I finally want to address how we treat a small jaw or receding chin. We will often use temporary chin fillers to help you visualize the contour that aligns with your aesthetic vision. Once we have determined the desired amount of chin projection, we discuss adding a permanent chin implant.
What’s Next?
If you are bothered by the contour of your submental area or chin, we offer effective options to help diminish a double chin and make lovely, natural-looking improvements. Just contact the A-team at Aesthetica, and we will guide you on your next steps. Get started by requesting a consultation using our online form or calling us at (614) 569-2649.
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