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For most people, conscious about their appearance, having a double chin is equivalent to adding some weight. However, you don’t have to be obese to have a double chin. Several factors can as well as lead to its development.
The development of submental fat, as some circles refer to it, is not something that anyone would wish to have. But sometimes it is in the genes, or your skin under the chin grows more prominent with age.
Regardless, there’s something you can do about it and restore your previous attractive version of yourself.
Table of Contents
The Main Causes of Double Chin
Out of the blue, an extra layer of fat can decide to develop under your chin. It may be as a result of adding some extra pounds or even because of other factors like genes and age. Let’s look at some of the causes.
Diet and Weight
We are in an age where high-calorie foods are more popular and affordable than healthier diets. It’s easier to grab a hotdog and some hot coffee in your way to school or work. The lack of a balanced diet in our dishes leads to obesity. And even though a high-fat diet and obesity may not be the primary cause for the development of a double chin, it has a significant role to play.
Genetics
Your family line may have a hand in the development of particular conditions like a double chin. Therefore, if your mother and grandmother have a double chin, you might as well start finding ways to prevent the condition.
Age
So many changes happen to your body as you age. For example, your skin loses its elasticity and muscles decline. As a result, the skin can sag under your chin and, voila! You find yourself with a double chin.
Posture
It is common for people to adopt a poor posture as they try to get some work done. Leaning over a desk can weaken your chin and neck muscles, and some fat might displace them. Your skin may also lose elasticity under reduced use. You see, a poor posture leaves the skin unused and sagging becomes a possibility.
The Main Exercises to Reduce the Double Chin
Exercising has always been the primary way of burning fat and losing weight. The same principle applies to your neck and chin – what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. You don’t need scientific proof to know that exercising a section of your body will burn fat in that area. The following are some of the exercises.
1. Kiss the Sky
As the name suggests, the exercise looks similar to blowing a kiss to the skies. Typically, you tilt the head backward and look upwards. Puckering your lips, you kiss the skies and hold the position for a few seconds. You then relax from the position and repeat the exercise ten times.
2. Sticking Out
Face forward and open your mouth wide, sticking your tongue out gradually in a count of up to five. Stick it out as far as possible and return for another five-second’ count.
3. The Neck Roll
In a standing position, drop the chin to your chest, and rotate the head rightward for a five seconds count. Rotate it back to its original position, gradually and the same for the left side.
4. The Ball Under the Chin Exercise
Put a ten-inch ball under your chin and press against it. Repeat the exercise for up to 25 times and rest.
5. Jaw Jut
Like the kiss in the sky, tilt your head backward and look upwards. You then gradually move the lower jaw forward to stretch the chin and hold the position for ten seconds. Relax and repeat the activity for up to ten times.
Exercising and Dieting
As mentioned earlier, a double chin can happen as a result of weight gain. Typically, cutting weight through exercise and dieting can shrink or remove the double chin.
The recommended diet is four servings of veggies. Consume four servings of fruits as well. It is also a good idea to switch to whole grains and stay away from processed foods. Consume lean proteins such as fish and poultry. Red meat should be once in a while.
Choose low-fat dairy products and avoid fried foods as much as possible.
Reduce your sugar intake, and exercise portion control. Typically, don’t eat as much as you can.
To complement the healthy diet, including the moderate physical activity of at least 45 minutes on a daily basis. You can also include strength training for about two times in a week. Don’t shy away from physical activity such as carrying the groceries and mowing the lawn. A little sweat is not too bad.
Medical Treatment for the Double Chin
If your double chin is a family thing, exercises may help tighten the skin around the area and cut it to size. Weight loss may also help, but not always. However, there are invasive procedures that you can undertake to get rid of the fat deposit beneath the chin.
Mesotherapy
The procedure is among the least invasive and involves injecting fat-dissolving injections such as deoxycholic acid. It will take about 20 injections to dissolve the double chin completely.
Injecting deoxycholic acid improperly can result in nerve damage. Therefore, only a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with adequate mesotherapy experience should handle it.
Its side effects include pain, swelling, bruising, and numbness.
Lipolysis
The procedure employs laser heat to melt away the fat deposits and mold the skin. All you need is a local anesthetic for a quick and successful lipolysis procedure.
Please note that lipolysis will not enhance the skin’s elasticity. It only deals with the fat. The side effects include pain, bruising and swelling.