What is a double chin?
Double chins are a result of excess skin around the chin and neck area. While some people have a genetic predisposition to accumulate more fat in this area, double chins can also appear as a natural part of the aging process. The older we get, our skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag.
It’s true that a double chin, or submental fat, can affect both men and women, young and old. Excess fat under the chin is a common problem for many people. It can be genetic or related to weight gain, and it often becomes more noticeable as we age. Fortunately, there are various ways to reduce or eliminate double chins that range from simple diet changes to surgical procedures.
1. Targeted Chin Exercises
If your double chin is caused by weight gain, losing weight may make it smaller or get rid of it. However, if your double chin is due to genetics, you may need to try other methods to change its appearance.
Exercise is a great place to start. Some exercises can target a double chin by toning the neck and jaw muscles. Here are some exercises that may help improve the appearance of a double chin:
Blow balloon
Blow balloon exercise helps strengthen the muscles in your neck and jaw. You’ll need an inflated balloon for this exercise. Complete the following steps: Move your head upward as you blow air into the balloon. You should feel resistance in your neck and jaw muscles. Maintain this stance for 10 seconds, then release the air out of the balloon slowly. Repeat 20 times per session, with two to three sessions per day.
Pout
The pout exercise helps stretch the muscles in your neck and jawline. It’s similar to blowing a balloon but doesn’t require any equipment. To perform this exercise: To stretch your chin, push your lower jaw forward. Hold it there for a count of 10, then relax. Perform sets of 10 repetitions three times every day.
Punching Bag
The best-known exercise is called the “punching bag”: You sit up straight and open your mouth as wide as possible, then move your lower jaw forward until you feel a stretch under the chin. Hold for 10 seconds, release, and repeat as often as desired.
Neck wrap
Usually made from elastic fabric or cloth, a neck wrap covers the neck and chin during workouts to help increase sweat and temporarily reduce water retention. It’s not clear whether this can make a difference in reducing fat deposits in the neck area, so consider it a temporary fix at best.
2. Correct Your Posture
One of the easiest ways to reduce your double chin is to correct your posture. Not only will this help get rid of the second chin in your profile picture, but it will also help prevent back pain while working on a computer or sitting at a desk. Maintaining good posture can help make your facial and neck muscles seem tauter and less saggy.
Start by sitting on a chair with good lumbar support and with your back straight against the chair’s backrest. Next, tilt your head back as far as possible without straining yourself and hold it there for 15 seconds. Repeat this exercise three times in two sets per day, once in the morning and again in the evening.
3. Dieting and weight loss
If your double chin is caused by excess body fat (as opposed to loose skin), losing weight can make it less noticeable.
It’s impossible to target a spot on your body for weight loss, but losing fat, in general, can make double chins less noticeable. Losing weight usually means eating fewer calories than you burn each day. To do that, you need to be active, eat healthy foods and avoid processed foods high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
That said, even if you do lose a lot of weight, it’s not clear how much improvement you’ll see. In some cases, people lose significant amounts of weight but don’t see any improvement in their double chin.
4. Cosmetic creams and rubs
There are many cosmetic creams and rubs on the market that claim to get rid of a double chin. Some of these creams and rubs include special “toning” ingredients that supposedly help firm the skin beneath your chin.
Cosmetic creams and rubs contain ingredients that claim to break down fat cells when massaged into the skin. While these creams may have some effect, they will not get rid of a double chin.
These cosmetic treatments can temporarily hide or reduce the appearance of any extra fat beneath your chin. They won’t remove the fat entirely, but they may offer some temporary relief from its appearance.
5. Cosmetic Procedures
If you want a longer-term solution, go for cosmetic surgery.
Liposuction
If you don’t like needles, try chin liposuction. It’s a simple procedure where the extra fat is vacuumed out of your chin area. You’ll look better immediately after the surgery, but it will take about four to six weeks to really see the results.
Chin Implant
If you don’t mind needles and want something that will last longer than liposuction, consider a chin implant. The implant will give you a stronger jawline and reshape your face. You can choose from an implant made of silicone or Medpor, a synthetic material that won’t harden over time or break down in your body.
Injectables
If you’re looking for a more natural solution than surgery, or if you’re not ready to go under the knife, try using injectables to reduce fat around your chin. It’s like liposuction without the incision. Lipolysis injections use deoxycholic acid to break down fat cells in targeted areas of your body — in this case, your chin and neck.
Conclusion
Natural remedies can be a great option in terms of safety and cost-effectiveness. Whether or not they’ll give you the desired results is another matter. Most likely, it’s going to be a combination of approaches that will help your particular body. What works best for one double chin may not work for you.
For more information please contact Skin Deep today!
