Thin, female, early 30s - how to improve appearance of double chin? (Photo)

Question

Could I receive some advice on how to improve appearance of double chin? I am healthy thin woman in early 30's.

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Given your age and photos I would recommend skilled, safe, conservative liposuction to this area to improve the contour and address your concerns. This can be done through very small incisions with a relatively short recovery. Best of luck.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Hi @sam327. Thank you for sharing your photos. I recommend an in-person evaluation and consultation to determine if you would be a good candidate for submental liposuction.

Best of luck,

Dr. Nima

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

"For a double chin, InMode FaceTite with VASERlipo would give you the best result.

With significant neck sagging you would need a facelift / neck lift with muscle tightening (platysmaplasty). At the same time, I would recommend lasers (Fraxel, CO2, Halo, or Erbium) and microneedling RF (Fractora, Morpheus8, PiXel8, Intensif) to improve the crepey skin and wrinkles. Overall, the neck can be treated with a combination approach:

1. Microneedling and laser treatments for texture
2. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin or Jeuveau to help platysmal bands
3. Intensif, Fractora, PiXel8, or Morpheus8 microneedling RF for crepey skin and lifting
4. Injectable fillers like Belotero, Restylane Silk, Versa, and Juvederm Volbella to improve lines and folds
5. Face/neck lifting if sagging is prominent or premature, with or without platysmaplasty (muscle tightening)
6. Renuvion (J-Plasma), ThermiRF, and InMode FaceTite/AccuTite for internal tightening
7. Ultherapy and Thermage for external tightening
8. Regular Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra, or InMode Forma treatments with facials to maintain tightness
9. PDO NovaThreads or Silhouette InstaLift cone threads for lifting and long-term collagen production

See an expert for a formal evaluation and to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your individual situation and goals. Best, Dr. Emer"

Jeffrey Lisiecki, MD · Answer

You should be seen in person for your concerns, and to see if the fullness is superficial or deep to your platysma muscle. This will help determine if you would be better treated with submental liposuction and skin tightening versus a limited necklift procedure.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear sam327,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photo, it looks like you would benefit from chin liposuction. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nilay Shah, MD · Answer

Hi! Based on your photo it seems that you would benefit from chin liposuction. However, I would suggest that you seek an in-person consultation from a board-certified plastic surgeon for a thorough examination to get specific recommendations and information.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

As long as you're quite thin with a BMI less than 30, those fat deposits are going to be located above and below the platysma muscle. Liposuction will only be minimally effective because it can only remove the fat above the muscle. A surgical neck lift is required to remove the fat deposits below the muscle which is quite evident when you put your chin down. A platysma plasty is also performed once the sub platysma fat is removed which significantly improves the jawline. No skin removal is required.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Start with non surgical KyBella injections sessions over 3 months at least 3 sessions vs one local anesthesia surgical chin liposuction. Fees approx. same in $3,000 ranges. If still not 100% happy than mini neck lift with muscle plication.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Your chin and neck are not the easiest to work with but you should definitely be able to have some improvements.

People who have an underdeveloped Mandible in comparison to the Maxilla typically get more of an oblique draping of the underlying platysma muscle of their neck.  this also presents with a dental occlusion overbite because the upper teeth sit further forward than the lower teeth.  likewise on a profile picture of the upper lip will have more forward projection than the lower lip.  The chin itself can be pointed neutral or sloping backwards.  and your kids you have a combination of an underdeveloped mandible with a very pointed chin.

It’s a bit like having a Mandible that is both too big and too small but in different areas.

Obviously augmenting your chin would be undesirable since you already have substantial chin projection horizontally.

Even so procedures to augment the chin does not move the origin of the platysma muscle.

Liposuction works well for those who have fat to remove.  Your pictures shows someone who is relatively slim so the amount of change from fat removal procedures may be somewhat limited.

Jaw advancement surgery is probably more than most people are willing to go through.

Especially a jaw advancement with a chin reduction.  this may seem very counterintuitive but that’s what it looks like from your picture.
With age patients Candidse for liposuction decreases and patients begin to become better candidates for a neck lift or facelift(A facelift treats the lower one third of the face and neck).

Everything mentioned so far with the exception of augmentation are possible treatments you could consider.

Your anatomy it’s a little bit unusual so expect to get different opinions from different providers.

I’m guessing most providers  are going to recommend a necklift or platysmaplasty.   That in fact may be a reasonable approach but I suggest you have a few consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons to see what each of them has to say.

Expect to get different opinions from different providers because there is no one single easy procedure for what you’re trying to achieve.

The primary problem stems from bone structure and dealing with cranel facial surgery and something most people stay away from.  I think it’s worthwhile getting an oral surgeons opinion because it doesn’t hurt to have a clear understanding of what the problem is so you know all treatment options regardless of what you choose to do.