Concern

Treatment for Double Chin

A double chin, medically known as submental fullness, is excess fat beneath the chin in the submental region. This common aesthetic concern can reflect weight gain, genetic predisposition, aging, or a combination of factors, and it can affect facial profile and self-perception regardless of overall body weight. Submental fat may also resist diet and exercise. Yet fat is only one of three things that can create the same silhouette. Skin and platysma muscle that have loosened with age can cast a similar shadow, as can a chin that sits far back relative to the neck even when no excess tissue is present. We treat all three, but first we examine the fat distribution, skin, muscle, and facial profile to identify what is actually producing the fullness.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kamakshi R. Zeidler, MD, FACS · Updated May 2026

At a Glance

A survey of 7,322 respondents found that approximately 73% were bothered by excess fat under the chin or neck^[1]

Deoxycholic acid (Kybella) was FDA-approved in 2015 as the first injectable treatment for moderate to severe submental fullness^[2]

Clinical trials demonstrated that 43% of Kybella-treated subjects had at least a 10% reduction in submental fat volume compared to 5% with placebo^[2]

Submental fat accumulation can be influenced by genetics and may be resistant to reduction through diet and exercise alone

Even slight amounts of submental fat can be associated with negative self-perception and reduced confidence^[1]

Signs & symptoms

Visible fullness or convexity beneath the chin
Loss of jawline definition
Soft tissue laxity in the neck and chin area
Skin redundancy under the chin with aging
Increased submental volume that may not respond to weight loss

What causes Double Chin

Weight gain and increased body fat percentage
Genetic predisposition to submental fat accumulation
Age-related skin laxity and loss of tissue elasticity
Weakening of the platysma muscle over time

Risk factors

Family history of submental fullness or double chin
Higher body mass index (BMI) or overall weight gain
Aging and associated loss of skin elasticity
Sedentary lifestyle

How it's assessed

Visual assessment of the submental area
Physical examination to evaluate skin quality, fat distribution, and muscle tone
Use of validated clinical assessment scales such as the Clinician-Reported SMF Rating Scale
Evaluation of overall facial profile and neck anatomy

How is Double Chin treated

Several approaches can address double chin:

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Recovery & outlook

Many patients experience visible improvement with appropriate treatment
Injectable treatments typically require multiple sessions for optimal results
Surgical interventions generally provide more immediate and dramatic results
Maintaining a stable weight can help sustain treatment outcomes
Results may vary based on skin elasticity, age, and amount of submental fat

Frequently Asked Questions

A double chin, or submental fullness, is excess fat beneath the chin. Weight gain, genetics, aging, or a combination of factors can contribute, and genetic predisposition means some people develop submental fat even at a healthy weight.
Common causes include weight gain, a genetic tendency to store fat beneath the chin, age-related skin laxity, and weakening of the platysma muscle. Submental fullness can therefore appear regardless of overall body weight, and not every double chin is caused by excess fat alone.
See a dermatologist or plastic surgeon if fullness beneath the chin persists despite diet and exercise or affects your self-confidence. A specialist can assess skin quality, fat distribution, and the overall facial anatomy to identify appropriate treatment options.
Treatment ranges from nonsurgical deoxycholic acid injections such as Kybella, cryolipolysis, and radiofrequency skin tightening to submental liposuction, chin augmentation, and neck lift surgery. The appropriate approach depends on the amount of fat, the quality of the skin, and your individual goals.
Yes. Kybella uses injectable deoxycholic acid to reduce submental fat over multiple treatment sessions, while cryolipolysis uses controlled cooling to reduce fat cells. Radiofrequency and ultrasound treatments can help tighten skin in the chin and neck area.
Genetic predisposition cannot be prevented, but maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular exercise may reduce the likelihood of submental fat accumulation. Targeted neck exercises and posture changes do not reduce or prevent submental fat. They may improve neck muscle tone, but they leave the underlying fat tissue unchanged.
They suit different amounts of the same problem. Kybella is deoxycholic acid injected into the fat, where it disrupts the cell membranes. Treatment is given as a tailored course of sessions spaced at least a month apart, with noticeable swelling for about a week after each session. It suits a modest pocket of fat. Submental liposuction removes a larger volume in a single procedure under local anesthesia or light sedation, followed by a compression garment. Neither treatment corrects loose skin. In an older neck, removing the fat that was filling the area can make existing laxity more visible. A neck lift addresses that laxity, and when the anatomy calls for one, that is the recommendation we make.
Often, fat was not the only thing creating it. Submental fat is one of the deposits that responds poorly to overall weight reduction, so even substantial weight loss can leave the area looking much the same. Among people who have lost weight successfully, the explanation more often lies in skin that no longer retracts, which weight loss tends to make more apparent, or in jaw projection, where a chin set back from the neck creates the appearance of fullness without excess tissue. A neck lift addresses lax skin. Chin augmentation with an implant or structural filler corrects the recessed chin, and we publish that as its own procedure. An examination separates these causes quickly.