Double Chin Reduction: Which Treatment Is Best?

The appearance of a double chin is one of the most common aesthetic complaints among both women and men. Nonsurgical options such as KYBELLA® and CoolSculpting® at my Boston practice give patients options without significant downtime, but they can’t match the dramatic results produced by neck liposuction.

It’s important that patients understand the options and have realistic expectations about the potential results of each procedure. In this blog post, I’ll briefly explain each treatment and outline the benefits and limitations of each.

CoolSculpting

Many people associate CoolSculpting with fat reduction in the midsection and thighs only. But several specialized CoolSculpting applicators are designed to fit other areas of the body. One of these is the CoolMini™, which fits snugly under the chin and is cleared by the FDA to minimize submental fat—the fat that accumulates in the neck below the chin. As with other CoolSculpting treatments, the CoolMini delivers carefully controlled cooling to the treatment area.

The cold temperatures destroy fat cells without damaging the skin or surrounding tissue.

Pros:

• Nonsurgical, so there’s no downtime
• No incisions, no injections
• Quick treatment time
• Minimal, if any, side effects

Cons:

• Typically, more than 1 treatment is needed
• Results can take a few months to appear
• Less dramatic fat reduction than liposuction

KYBELLA

This injectable treatment uses a synthetic form of a substance the body naturally produces to help absorb fat. When it’s injected into the neck below the chin, Kybella gradually destroys fat cells. As with CoolSculpting, the body naturally removes the dead fat cells, and they are gone for good. A KYBELLA treatment involves marking several precise injection sites and then making the injections. You can see my patients’ results in these photos.

Pros:

• Nonsurgical (no incisions)
• Quick treatment time

Cons:

• More than 1 treatment is needed
• Less dramatic fat reduction than lipo
• Post-treatment swelling

Neck Liposuction

This is the technique I prefer for reducing fat that causes the appearance of a double chin. Even though it’s a surgical procedure, it requires very small incisions, and the results are much more dramatic and predictable than what can be produced by nonsurgical procedures. Neck liposuction results in a much more well-defined chin and jawline, which is the primary goal of our patients. You can see the types of results you can expect in before-and-after photos of actual patients.

Pros:

• One-time procedure with immediate results
• More dramatic results than nonsurgical treatments

Cons:

• Surgical treatment that requires some downtime
• Risks associated with any surgical procedure, such as infection.

A double chin isn’t necessarily linked to being overweight. It can be an inherited condition, and many men and women believe it detracts from their overall appearance. If you’re considering a procedure to reduce fat below your chin, you can contact our office using the online form to request a consultation or give us a call at (781) 237-7700 to schedule an appointment.