Double Chin
Addressing Submental Fullness in Toronto
A study conducted a few years ago in the medical journal, SkinMed, found that 77% of patients visiting a dermatologist or plastic surgeon had issues with the fat under their chin (submental fat), and 61% wanted to do something about it.
Refine Your Chin Contour
Your chin is the defining feature of your lower face, distinguishing it from your neck. Redefining the chin for a smoother and sleeker contour will give you a boost in self confidence — and something to celebrate everytime you look in the mirror! Double chin treatments reshape the chin, eliminating unnecessary bulkiness for a sleeker profile. Treatments can achieve dramatic results that typically appear within a few days to months.
Excess fat and loose skin collecting under the chin are the primary causes of a double chin. You may find that the bulky shape of your chin makes you look overweight and older than your actual age.
Our board-certified dermatologists can assess your double chin to determine whether targeting the fat or loose skin will help you eliminate your double chin. In some cases, both need to be addressed to full resolve this troubling aesthetic issue.
Double chin removal can be safely and effectively performed with the non-invasive options we offer at our dermatology practice. However, finding the most suitable treatment plan is essential if you want a satisfying improvement. One or more treatment modalities may be recommended for the best results.
What Causes a Double Chin
A double chin, medically termed submental fullness, develops through multiple contributing factors that often work in combination rather than isolation.
Genetics and Family History: Your genetics have a significant influence on where your body stores fat and how your facial structure ages. If your parents or siblings have submental fullness, you're predisposed to developing it regardless of your overall body weight. Some people inherit a naturally recessed chin or weak jawline anatomy that makes even small amounts of submental fat more visually prominent.
Weight Gain and Fat Distribution: Excessive body weight contributes to the accumulation of submental fat. However, weight gain alone doesn't explain why some thin individuals develop double chins while heavier individuals maintain defined jawlines. Your body's preferential fat storage patterns are genetically programmed. That means some people store excess calories in their abdomen, others in their thighs, and others beneath their chin.
Aging and Collagen Loss: As skin ages and loses collagen, it becomes less elastic and begins to sag. The platysma muscle (the broad, thin muscle covering the neck) weakens and separates over time, allowing fat to protrude forward and downward. This combination of skin laxity and muscle weakness can give you a double chin even without significant fat accumulation.
Posture and "Tech Neck": Chronic forward head posture from computer work, smartphone use, and poor ergonomics weakens neck muscles and stretches skin. Years of looking downward at devices creates persistent skin folding beneath the chin, eventually causing permanent creasing and weakening of supporting tissue.
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Fat vs. Skin Laxity: Determining Your Specific Issue
Understanding whether your double chin stems primarily from fat accumulation, skin laxity, or both is crucial for selecting the most effective treatment approach.
During your consultation at Compass Dermatology, we conduct a thorough evaluation that examines the texture, elasticity, and volume of your submental area. This assessment determines the primary contributor to your double chin.
Pure Fat Accumulation: If your double chin consists primarily of excess fat with good skin quality, you'll notice firm, full tissue beneath the chin that maintains its position when you tilt your head back. The skin appears relatively smooth and tight, and the platysma muscle shows minimal banding or separation. These cases respond excellently to fat reduction treatments like Belkyra or CoolSculpting.
Pure Skin Laxity: Some patients, particularly those who've lost significant weight naturally or with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, have minimal submental fat but significant loose skin. This issue can also develop from age-related collagen degradation. The tissue feels loose, hangs downward, and shows visible platysmal bands (vertical cords) when you contract your neck muscles. These cases require skin tightening approaches, such as Ultherapy, rather than fat reduction.
Combined Fat and Laxity: Many patients have both excess submental fat and compromised skin quality. Treating only the fat might leave loose skin; treating only laxity without addressing fat won't create the desired contour improvement. For this reason, a combination of treatments would be more effective to resolve both issues.
Double Chin Treatment FAQ
How do I get rid of the fat under my chin?
Fat under the chin can be removed with Deoxycholic Acid Injectable or Cryolipolysis Non-Invasive Fat Removal. Deoxycholic Acid Injectable is an injectable treatment that dissolves fat while Cryolipolysis Non-Invasive Fat Removal freezes it away. Often a staged combination approach is the best for optimal results.
What is the best treatment for double chin?
How much does it cost to get rid of a double chin?
Can double chins go away?
A double chin may go away with exercise and diet, however it is not guaranteed and the improvement is unpredictable. Aging and weight fluctuations can make it even more difficult to get rid of a double chin naturally. In most cases, a double chin is permanent.
Non-surgical aesthetic medical options can help eliminate a double chin without extensive risks or lengthy recovery period.
Why do I have a double chin when I'm skinny?
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Toronto, ON M4S 2N5, Canada
Phone: 647-351-9277
Fax: 647-351-9077
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