A double chin comes from weight gain, aging, genetics, or posture.
Common causes
- Weight gain.
- Aging and skin laxity.
- Genetics.
- Posture (“tech neck”).
- Thyroid conditions (rare).
What helps
- Weight loss.
- Chin and neck exercises (limited evidence).
- Good posture.
Medical options
Kybella injections (deoxycholic acid), liposuction or neck lift.
Note
Spot fat reduction through exercise is a myth.
Fat under the chin
A double chin (submental fullness) is a pocket of fat beneath the chin. It’s mainly related to genetics and body fat, but also to age, loss of skin elasticity, posture and jaw structure.
Common causes
- Weight gain and body fat distribution.
- Aging, as collagen and elastin decline and skin sags.
- Genetics, including a naturally recessed chin or the shape of the neck.
- Poor posture, such as “tech neck”, which can accentuate the area.
- Thyroid or other medical issues causing neck swelling.
- Medications such as steroids.
Thin people
Even people with low body weight can have a double chin due to genetics or anatomy.
What helps
- Weight loss through diet and exercise can reduce fat all over the body, including under the chin. Spot reduction exercises do not target fat in one area, though facial exercises may strengthen muscles. Studies on facial exercises show limited evidence.
- Good posture.
- Sleeping with the head slightly elevated.
Medical and cosmetic options
- Deoxycholic acid injections (Kybella), FDA-approved for submental fat, given in multiple sessions with swelling and bruising as side effects.
- Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting).
- Liposuction, which provides immediate results.
- Radiofrequency, ultrasound and laser treatments tighten the skin.
- Neck lift or platysmaplasty for loose skin and bands.
Costs
Kybella costs about 1,200 to 2,400 per treatment course, and more for multiple sessions. Liposuction costs about 2,000 to 5,000 dollars.
Note
A double chin is common and not harmful. Talk to a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon about options and risks.
Why it forms
A double chin, medically submental fullness, is caused by fat under the chin, weight gain, aging with loss of skin elasticity, genetics and posture, and sometimes enlarged muscle or neck structures. It can occur in people of normal weight because of inherited fat distribution or a shorter jaw. Losing body fat overall helps, but spot reduction of facial fat through exercises is not supported by strong evidence.
Procedures
Deoxycholic acid injections (Kybella) were FDA approved in 2015 to reduce submental fat. A treatment course commonly uses 2 to 4 sessions and costs several thousand dollars, with swelling and bruising common after injection. Cryolipolysis, laser lipolysis, radiofrequency and liposuction are other options. A doctor should rule out thyroid enlargement or other causes if swelling is sudden or one sided.
Based on data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the US Food and Drug Administration
