Excess skin and fat around your chin and neck (the submental region) can form due to aging, weight gain, or genetics. 

Often called a double chin, this feature can make you look older and heavier than you are. A double chin can be tough to reduce on your own. Many people wonder if there are cosmetic procedures to help shape this area.

There are many ways to reduce a double chin. These include lifestyle changes, nonsurgical treatments, and surgical options. Each method can help you look slimmer and more youthful. 

While some treatment options address stubborn fat, others sculpt the submental region by tightening loose skin. Some procedures, like Chin AirSculpt® and Renuvion®, can be done in one session. This helps reduce a double chin by removing fat and tightening the skin at the same time.

This post will explain how to remove a double chin. It will cover the causes, treatment options, and what to expect during and after each procedure.

It's not always easy, but there are some great methods to sculpt a chin you will love.

Understanding The Causes of a Double Chin

Medical Definition & Anatomy of Submental Fat

A double chin, also called submental fullness, occurs when excess fat builds up under the chin. When this fat pad gets bigger due to genetics, aging, weight gain, or loss of skin firmness, it causes a bulging look under the chin. This makes the jawline extend downward.

Submental fat, the medical term for chin fat, is different from other types of neck fat. It can show up in people of otherwise normal weight. This feature is rarely a medical concern, but many people feel self-conscious about their double chin and seek to remove it.

What Causes a Double Chin?

A double chin can develop for several reasons. Knowing these causes can help explain why some people are more likely to have a double chin and can guide treatment choices.

Here are the main factors that contribute to double chin formation:

1. Genetics

2. Aging

3. Weight gain

4. Muscle weakness

5. Posture 

6. Loss of facial volume

7. Hormonal changes

8. Medical conditions

At-Home vs. Professional Solutions

Choosing the best solution for a double chin depends on a few important factors. These include the cause of your submental fullness, skin quality, and treatment goals.

Understanding these factors will help you and your provider determine if lifestyle changes or non-surgical options will work. It will also show if surgery might be needed.

• Skin Elasticity: The firmer your skin snaps back after a pinch test, the more likely you’ll do well with injectables or cooling devices.

• Fat Volume: A visible bulge larger than a walnut often needs suction‑based removal rather than chemical or thermal shrinkage.

• Muscle Laxity: Visible vertical platysma bands signal that a neck‑lift or skin tightening add-on like AirSculpt+ should be done with any fat removal.

• Downtime Budget: Patients with no downtime budget lean toward nonsurgical options like Kybella or less invasive treatments like Chin AirSculpt. A two‑week recovery time opens the door to full surgery. 

• Budget: Non‑surgical programs can appear cheaper per session. However, if you need four or more sessions, they can cost more than liposuction.

Lifestyle Solutions For a Double Chin

While cosmetic procedures offer direct solutions for double chin removal, specific lifestyle changes can help reduce its appearance naturally. They may prove especially effective if weight gain or poor habits cause your double chin. 

These approaches are usually the first step your healthcare provider will suggest. They can often lead to clear improvements without needing medical treatment.

• Calorie balance & protein‑rich diet: gradual fat loss can show up quickly under the chin.  

• Targeted neck exercises: chin tucks, jaw‑jut drills and tongue‑presses strengthen supportive muscles.  

• Head‑up posture: feel as if a cord attached to the ceiling is pulling your head upward to avoid hunching.  

• Hydrate & limit sodium: too much salt intake can cause water puffiness that hides the jawline.  

• Daily SPF & retinol neck cream: A daily skincare routine can preserve collagen and tighten surface skin. 

Want a full workout plan and diet checklist? See our guide on double chin exercises and lifestyle strategies.

Non-Surgical Double Chin Treatments

Non-surgical treatments can reduce a double chin without surgery. However, they typically need several sessions and take longer to show results than surgery. These approaches work best if you have mild to moderate submental fat and good skin elasticity.

Injections: Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid)

Kybella treatments use deoxycholic acid injections to permanently destroy fat cells under your chin. You'll typically need 2-4 sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart, with results appearing over 2-3 months. 

You can expect swelling for 3 to 7 days after each session. The treatment may be somewhat painful, but you can return to normal activities right away.

Best for: Moderate submental fat with good skin elasticity 

Results: Permanent fat reduction, 20-25% improvement per treatment area

Energy-Based Fat Reduction

Laser lipolysis (SculpSure) and other treatments use heat or cold to eliminate fat cells non-invasively. These treatments require 3-5 sessions for optimal results and involve minimal downtime, though effects develop gradually over several months.

Best for: Mild to moderate fat deposits, busy schedules 

Results: Gradual fat reduction, less dramatic than injections

Skin Tightening Technologies

Ultrasound therapy (Ultherapy) and radiofrequency devices (Thermage, Morpheus8) stimulate collagen production to tighten loose skin under your chin. Results appear over 2-6 months as new collagen forms.

Best for: Skin laxity rather than extra fat, preventative anti-aging 

Results: Modest lifting and tightening, natural-looking improvement

What to Expect With Noninvasive Chin Sculpting

Non-surgical treatments typically achieve modest improvement and work best for maintenance rather than dramatic transformation. Most require little to no downtime, making them appealing to people with busy lifestyles. 

If you want a big change to your jawline or have a lot of extra skin and fat, surgery might be needed to reach your goals.

Many people try non-surgical double chin treatments, but find they fail to deliver sufficient results. In that case, it may be time to consult a plastic surgeon. This progression is normal and does not mean treatment has failed. Instead, your specific anatomy needs a stronger approach for best results.

Minimally Invasive Double Chin Removal

Chin AirSculpt

AirSculpt is a proprietary fat removal method. Using only local anesthesia, it uses a small cannula to extract fat through two-millimeter entry points. Unlike traditional chin liposuction, this approach doesn't require scalpels, stitches, or general anesthesia. This method bridges the gap between non-surgical treatments and traditional surgery.

Chin AirSculpt offers more substantial fat removal than injectables or energy-based devices. It also needs less recovery time than conventional liposuction. The treatment also permanently removes submental fat in a single treatment session. Patients skip the multiple appointments needed for non-surgical alternatives.

The small entry points typically heal with minimal scarring, leaving barely visible marks that fade over time. Most patients return to work within 1-2 days, wear a compression garment for two weeks, and see final results visible in 2-3 months.

Best for: Moderate to significant submental fat, desire for permanent results in one session, minimal downtime requirements 

Results: Permanent fat removal, 40-60% reduction in single treatment, modest skin tightening effects

Renuvion®

Renuvion combines radiofrequency energy with helium plasma to tighten loose skin from beneath the surface. This technology, offered as AirTite at AirSculpt centers, delivers controlled heat through a small wand inserted under the skin. This process causes immediate tissue contraction, stimulating long-term collagen production.

Unlike surface-based skin tightening treatments, Renuvion works from the inside out. It allows for more dramatic skin contraction in a single session. The procedure uses similarly small entry points as minimally invasive fat removal.

While AirSculpt alone provides modest skin tightening effects, significant chin laxity often requires Renuvion for meaningful improvement. 

Best for: Moderate to severe skin laxity, patients wanting dramatic chin skin tightening in a single session

Results: Immediate skin contraction with continued tightening over 3-6 months, 30-50% improvement in skin laxity

Chin AirSculpt+

Chin AirSculpt+ combines permanent fat removal with Renuvion skin tightening. This is done in one procedure using the same small entry points. This approach addresses both excess submental fat and loose skin, eliminating the need for separate treatments.

AirSculpt removes fat first, and then Renuvion technology tightens the remaining skin from underneath. This option costs more than non-surgical options and is available only at AirSculpt centers. However, it offers results that approach traditional neck lift surgery with less downtime.

Best for: Moderate fat deposits with loose skin, comprehensive single-session results, avoiding traditional neck lift surgery

Results: Permanent fat removal plus significant skin tightening, 40-60% fat reduction with 30-50% skin improvement

Surgical Double Chin Removal Options

If you have significant fat deposits or haven't seen results from diet and exercise, double chin surgery can help. They provide the most dramatic results for removing a double chin.

Traditional Chin Liposuction

For double chin fat unresponsive to less invasive treatments, surgical liposuction can provide significant results.

Liposuction uses a thin cannula to remove fat cells. It does so through 3-5 mm incisions, slightly larger than with Chin AirSculpt. Unlike Kybella and nonsurgical approaches, which gradually break down fat, liposuction directly extracts fat. Tumescent liposuction and VASER liposuction are two more common methods surgeons use to remove fat from a double chin. 

Chin liposuction costs $4,000 to $9,000. It requires one to two weeks of downtime, and compression garments are worn for four to six weeks. Candidates should have good overall health, stable weight, and realistic expectations about addressing loose skin concerns.

Best for: Large fat deposits, patients wanting maximum fat reduction in a single procedure, good skin elasticity 

Results: Permanent fat removal, dramatic contouring effects, most substantial single-session reduction available

Neck Lift

A neck lift is a surgery that helps patients with loose skin and muscle separation in the neck. It also addresses overall neck aging, not just fat deposits.

Neck lifts combine multiple approaches based on individual needs:

• Cervicoplasty removes excess sagging skin.

• Platysmaplasty tightens the underlying neck muscle.

• A chin tuck (submentoplasty) offers a focused approach for concerns only under the chin.

Some patients combine neck lifts with facelifts for comprehensive results. This approach addresses jowls, deep facial folds, and neck concerns simultaneously. 

Downtime requires 2-3 weeks off work for a neck lift alone, or 3-4 weeks for combined procedures. Costs vary significantly based on technique complexity and geographic location.

Best for: Significant skin laxity, visible neck bands, comprehensive aging concerns, patients wanting maximum rejuvenation 

Results: Dramatic skin tightening, restored neck contours, long-lasting improvement in overall neck definition

Chin Implant for Jawline Definition

Sometimes, a double chin can form or become more apparent due to a lack of jawline definition. Weak chin projection can improve with implants or other augmentation methods. These techniques reshape the face and create a stronger jawline. 

During the procedure, a plastic surgeon places a silicone chin implant over the bone through a small cut under the chin or inside the mouth. Even though the procedure is less extensive than neck lifts, weeks of recovery are still needed. Swelling may last for 2-3 weeks.

Other ways to enhance the chin and define the jawline include injectable dermal fillers like Juvederm. These provide temporary results and achieve less projection than implants. Fat transfer to the chin also offers a natural alternative. It uses tissue taken from another part of the body, though some fat may be absorbed at first.

Best for: Weak chin projection contributing to double chin, permanent jawline enhancement, facial balance improvement

Results: Permanent chin projection, improved facial proportions, enhanced jawline definition that makes existing double chin less noticeable

Combining Double Chin Treatments for Optimal Results

Pairing procedures often delivers the sharpest jawline and superior double chin improvement in one recovery period:  

• Kybella and radiofrequency tightening: Fat-dissolving injections (Kybella) reduce modest excess fat while nonsurgical RF energy tightens mild skin laxity.

• Chin liposuction and neck lift: Combining liposuction with a neck lift allows surgeons to remove significant fat deposits and tighten underlying structures for a complete neck transformation.

• Non-invasive fat reduction and skin tightening: Cold-based fat reduction is often followed by skin tightening treatments like ultrasound or RF therapy to help with loose skin.

• Chin implants and liposuction: Chin implants can enhance liposuction results by adding projection while thinning fat for a balanced profile.

• AirSculpt and Renuvion: AirSculpt can be combined with Renuvion (AirSculpt+) for comprehensive chin fat removal and skin tightening through the same entry points.

• Neck Lift and Face Lift: Combining neck and face lift provides complete rejuvenation in one surgery

Cost Comparisons & Recovery Times

Factors to Consider

Multiple Session Requirements & Total Investment

Non-surgical treatments often require multiple sessions to achieve optimal results. Thus, the total price is higher than the per-session cost. Surgical procedures may include additional fees for anesthesia, facility costs, and post-operative care.

Insurance & Financing Considerations

Double chin removal is considered cosmetic and is not covered by health insurance. Many providers offer financing options through companies like CareCredit that allow you to spread costs over many months.

Downtime & Return-to-Work Estimates

You should factor lost wages into the total treatment cost. More invasive procedures may require extended time away from work. Minimally invasive options like AirSculpt offer surgical-level results with minimal work disruption.

Risks and Side Effects

Non-Surgical Treatment Risks

• Injectable Fat Reduction (Kybella): temporary hardness under the chin, swelling and bruising, nerve injury (rare), painful injection process

• Energy-Based Treatment Risks: burns, swelling, redness, paradoxical fat growth (very rare)

Surgical Complications & Side Effects

• Liposuction and Minimally Invasive Surgery Risks: bleeding and infection at surgical sites, asymmetry or contour irregularities, adverse reactions to anesthesia (rare), nerve injury affecting facial expression (rare)

• Neck Lift and Comprehensive Surgery Risks: hematoma, seroma, skin necrosis, adverse reactions to anesthesia (rare)

Maintaining Your Results

Achieving optimal double chin reduction is only the first step. Maintaining your results requires ongoing commitment to proper care and healthy lifestyle choices.

Weight Management for Lasting Double Chin Reduction

You must maintain a normal weight to preserve fat reduction outcomes. Significant weight gain can cause remaining fat cells to enlarge and recreate a double chin appearance.

Even surgical fat removal cannot prevent new fat accumulation if caloric intake consistently exceeds expenditure.

Sun Protection

Sun protection maintains skin elasticity by preventing UV damage, which breaks down collagen and elastin fibers essential for firmness. Daily use of sunscreen, protective clothing, and avoiding peak sun hours helps preserve skin-tightening benefits.

Skincare Routine 

A comprehensive skincare routine supports double chin treatment outcomes. Using ingredients like vitamin C, moisturizers, retinoids, peptides, and hyaluronic acid can enhance skin-tightening results. This applies to both surgical and non-surgical treatments.