Double Chin

Double Chin Issue?

Whether it is a product of genetics or gravity, a double chin is rarely a welcome addition to your face. More than two-thirds of people have said they are bothered by excess skin and fat beneath the chin, according to a recent survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. For many people, a double chin can be just as concerning as lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Jowls are another issue that can develop over time and exacerbate the look of a double chin. Loose skin may begin to hang from the jawline and significantly change the definition of your lower face. Like the second chin, jowls can be a byproduct of genetics or gravity. Which means you may not have a choice as to whether they form. The good news is that, like the double chin, you do have options to improve or even eliminate this feature. Morpheus Medical Aesthetics offers a variety of treatment options to restore definition to your jawline.

What Causes Jowls?

The most common culprit in jowl formation is the loss of collagen and elastin. These essential proteins make up the connective tissue in the dermal structure, giving skin its smooth, supple look. Almost as soon as we hit adulthood, collagen and elastin levels begin to decline. As these critical proteins diminish, skin becomes loose and starts to hang in areas like the midface and along the jawline.

Other factors can contribute to jowls, making them increasingly prominent in some people. These factors include genetics, too much sun and cigarette smoking. Once the jowls form, they can't be reversed without professional intervention.

Why Do I Have a Double Chin?

Submental fat, that pocket that appears under the chin, is a very different issue. In some cases, the double chin forms by the time you hit adulthood, while others develop over time. The problem can be linked to submental fat alone or exacerbated by loose skin.

Like jowls, a double chin may have several different causes. Weight gain can be one, although some people get the extra chin without having gained any weight. Genetics is another factor, and the simple passage of time is the third. No matter what the reason for your submental fat, it isn't something you have to live with.

You Can Reduce and Eliminate Submental Fat

Submental fat is no match for a revolutionary injectable treatment known as Kybella. This medication contains deoxycholic acid, a natural molecule found in the body that helps to break down dietary fat. When it is injected into the chin area, deoxycholic acid breaks down the fat cells so they can be flushed out of the body. The process occurs in the weeks and months following treatment, and the results are long-lasting.

Kybella injections are performed in our office with topical numbing to keep you comfortable during your treatment. Your appointment shouldn't last more than about 30 minutes, and you will be back to your routine immediately after treatment. There is some swelling and soreness after Kybella, but it usually doesn't last more than a few days.

Skin Tightening to Improve Jowls

To minimize the appearance of jowls, you need effective skin tightening and rejuvenation. We offer a variety of treatments to help in this area, including:

Microneedling with PRP

Microneedling using platelet-rich plasma or PRP is a great way to reverse the effects of time on the skin. This procedure creates micro-channels in the skin that stimulate the body to produce more collagen. At the same time, growth factors in the PRP promote cell renewal for skin refreshment from the inside out. The PRP is taken from you during a regular blood draw and then processed for application during the microneedling process. The entire procedure is comfortable and has few side effects.

Radiofrequency Skin Tightening

Radiofrequency energy can penetrate deep into the dermal layers to tighten the skin without damaging the outer dermis or surrounding tissue. At Morpheus Medical Aesthetics, we use the innovative Sublime device. This machine can be used to tighten and firm any area of the face, from the delicate skin around the eyes to the jowl formation that occurs along the jawline. The procedure is comfortable and requires no numbing in most cases. There is no downtime, and your results will appear in the weeks following. A series of treatments is usually needed to achieve an optimal outcome.

Non-Surgical Facelift

Reducing jowls and sculpting the jawline does not require surgery in all cases. With the Profound RF microneedling device, we can simulate the effects of a facelift without incisions, anesthesia or a recovery process. This treatment works deep within the dermal structure without disrupting the outer dermis or surrounding tissue. In addition to immediate constriction of tissue, the device triggers additional collagen and elastin production for results that will continue to develop and last for many months.

This treatment is more intense than the others, so it is performed using a local anesthetic. The procedures usually take less than one hour to complete; however, you will be able to relax throughout your session. After your treatment, you may be slightly red and swollen. You may also notice some skin shedding in the days following your procedure, but most patients are able to resume all their normal daily activities immediately after their treatment. Results usually appear within two weeks and continue to improve for up to six months.