If you’re sick and tired of seeing a double chin hangin’ out in your selfies and reflection in the mirror, sis, you’re not alone. We, too, have been searching for double chin remedies that exist outside of the gua sha realm. We chatted with one of Dubai’s most popular aesthetic doctors, Dr. Jaffer Khan, Founder of The Nova Clinic by Aesthetics, to get the deets on treatment options for the chin chub.
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Cosmo ME: Can you use dermal fillers to get rid of a double chin?
Dr. Jaffer Khan: Dermal fillers are essentially volumizers. They’re used at the level of the bone, subcutaneous tissue (fat), or skin to create a projection and improvement in skin quality. When used to increase the projection of the chin and the anterior jawline, a visual reduction in this so-called double chin is possible. While it doesn’t actually get rid of the double chin, it creates an illusion of reduction. You could call it a perceptual change.
C: If so, what is the process like and how long do the results last?
DJK: We can enhance the chin with dermal fillers strategically placed against the bone, and sometimes in the subcutaneous tissue. The process takes about 20 minutes and offers an instantaneous improvement in the appearance, and the illusion of a reduced double chin. Results will last as long as the filler lasts – which could be anywhere from eight to 12 months, but will require topping up.
C: Are there any other ways to get rid of a double chin that do not require liposuction or Coolsculpting?
DJK: If the double chin is caused by what is essentially an excess of subcutaneous tissue, then of course this will need to be removed. This procedure will also require the skin to be tightened in patients who are over forty, since the skin’s ability to retract decreases with age.
Another option is Ultherapy. This is an energy-based device delivering ultrasonic energy to the platysma muscle – essentially the same muscle targeted during a facelift. As the energy is delivered to the platysma, it needs to pass through the subcutaneous tissue, causing a reduction in this fat. This lifting of skin, fat tissue, and muscle can improve the appearance of the double chin.
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C: Is Kybella a good option?
DJK: Kybella is a reasonable option and has been used in the past because of its active ingredient – a deoxycholic acid. This bile acid is naturally produced by the body to help absorb fat. In Kybella, the injections destroy fat cells beneath the chin so the area can no longer store fat.
The process involves the use of equally distanced injections into the subcutaneous tissue. This will require a couple of sessions and does cause more swelling and pain than alternative methods. After a few weeks however, the results may become apparent.
In my opinion, since results are difficult to control and because of the long downtime, I don’t consider this treatment to be the best option – although some good results have been reported. While uncommon, the patient should be aware of the serious side effects that have been known to occur, including facial muscle weakness, an uneven smile, trouble swallowing, or even nerve damage in the jaw.
With such an array of other treatments available, I don’t consider Kybella to be my first choice. Most patients seem to have swelling for about four weeks, and if excessive amounts are used, then a severe reduction of subcutaneous fat can, in extreme cases, cause scarring.
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C: Can fillers be used to define the jawline?
DJK: Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have expanded our usage of hyaluronic acid fillers in the jawline, particularly the anterior jawline. The anterior jawline consists of the chin and the area we call the prejowl sulcus – something patients become a lot more conscious of as they get older. It is also possible to enhance the posterior jawline in patients who are concerned about having a less prominent angle of the jaw, and wish to create more definition.
C: If so, can you explain the process?
DJK: We use a needle or cannula placed in the subcutaneous tissue along the lower border of the jaw bone. These injections must be done with care and with an accurately measured volume, delivered precisely so as to avoid lumps and an uneven texture.
There is always a chance of a little bit of swelling for a day or two, but generally, bruising is the main issue in patients where needles are used. It’s always better to underfill and complete the process in two sessions, for enhanced accuracy and less chances of undesired results.
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Fillers placed along the jawline can be made to look very natural, but with the sensationalization of procedures, people often request enhancement of the jawline when they don’t actually need it. It’s the profile which is important and this is predominantly fixed through chin projection. A number of patients experience under-projection, and so all they need is added volume in this area to create a much more defined profile. This process is called Profiloplasty.
In fact, the in-depth consultation and assessment of a patient’s needs is what I perform during my custom-designed Face Art treatment. Face Art is essentially facial contouring, with the ability to transform your appearance in just a short period of time, with zero downtime. Botox and filler are used to restore volume in the cheeks, areas around the eyes, lips and chin in a tailor-made package, subject to what the client is looking for.
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C: Which treatment do you prefer?
DJK: A defined jawline is most definitely a sign of youthfulness and a positive aesthetic attribute – as long as proportions are kept in mind. As we age, the subcutaneous fat reduction, along with the bone reduction, causes the soft tissues to gravitate downwards. The subsequent loss of definition can be reversed through treatments such as facelifts, thread lifts, or energy-based procedures. A combination of these treatments is most effective but it should be noted that the downtime is directly proportional to the degree of invasiveness of the procedure.
As a surgeon, the preferred method for me would be liposuction, along with a mini-facelift. And with many other factors potentially at work, such as the laxity of the muscle and the laxity of the salivary glands – both of which constitute a double chin-like effect – it is important to study the patient as well as the patient’s requirements, budget, and available downtime in order to deliver the best possible treatment.