A double chin is an anatomical abnormality characterized by a visible distortion of the tissue beneath the chin. Many people consider a double chin to be a flaw. However, there are ways to get rid of a double chin.
Here you’ll find more information and specialists who focus on double chin removal.
The face has a major impact on a person’s overall appearance. Most people’s first glance goes from the shoulders up to the eyes. For this reason, the shape of the chin has an enormous influence on how attractive a person is perceived to be. That is why a double chin is considered very unattractive.
A double chin consists of folds of skin under the chin that look like a second chin. They are caused by increasing sagging of the skin in the chin area as well as by the formation of fatty deposits.
A skin fold forms between the actual chin and the double chin. It can sometimes sweat profusely and is therefore easily irritated. For this reason, those affected perceive a pronounced double chin as more than just a psychological burden.
However, thanks to modern cosmetic surgery, a double chin can be effectively removed.
How does a double chin develop?
Essentially, a double chin consists of excess tissue beneath the chin. In addition to an above-average accumulation of fat, excess skin tissue is also necessary for the formation of a double chin.
Excess skin tissue usually results from the natural aging process or significant weight loss. Excess fat tissue, however, is most often caused by an unhealthy diet.
In over 90% of all cases, severe obesity is the cause of a double chin. As weight steadily increases without muscle development, fat tissue accumulates throughout the body. This gradually leads to the formation of a so-called “fat fold” on the chin.
Due to the resulting stretching of the skin and the associated formation of skin tissue, the double chin becomes increasingly noticeable. It is usually accompanied by a thick neck and a round, stocky face.
In addition to morbid obesity, a genetic predisposition can also cause a double chin. If slim people have a double chin, the cause is genetic. Essentially, this is a genetic defect that causes excessive fat accumulation under the chin.
If one parent has a double chin despite a slim figure, there is a very high probability that a child will also inherit a genetically determined double chin.
Ultimately, a double chin can also develop with advancing age. As we age, the elasticity of the tissue decreases and it becomes saggy.
Other possible causes of a double chin include:
- excessive drug use,
- tobacco use, and
- significant weight loss over the course of one’s life.
What can be done about a double chin?
Mild cases of this condition can be visibly reduced through strict weight loss. However, a pronounced double chin must be surgically removed.
What procedures are available for removing a double chin?
Double chin removal is generally performed exclusively by plastic surgeons.
Aesthetic medicine generally recognizes three different procedures for the effective treatment of a double chin. However, at least two of the three procedures must usually be used to completely remove the double chin.
The first procedure is standard liposuction in the area under the chin. During this procedure, fat is suctioned out of the face and neck through several small incisions behind the earlobes. This minor procedure usually yields promising results. The fine cannulas penetrate beneath the skin to the affected area and remove the stored fat without leaving any residue.
Alternatively, a fat-dissolving injection can be used to remove the excess fat. This involves a special solution that breaks down the fat through a natural process and allows it to be eliminated via the lymphatic system. The procedure using this injection is both gentle and leaves no scars.
After fat reduction, the excess skin must always be tightened. The treating physician therefore makes a small incision below the chin and carefully removes the excess skin.
This creates a smoothing effect. As a rule, the double chin disappears completely as a result.
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Sabine Schneider
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Sabine Schneider – medical author: Explore expert articles and medical expertise in the Leading Medicine Guide.
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