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Double Chin Reduction: Which Treatment Is Best?

The appearance of a double chin is one of the most common aesthetic complaints among both women and men. Ten years ago, the only treatment was neck liposuction. With the introduction of nonsurgical treatments such as KYBELLA® and CoolSculpting®—both offered at my Pasadena plastic surgery practice—patients now have options.

Even though many of my patients express dissatisfaction with the appearance of their necks during consultations, not all of them need surgery. “Less is more” appears to be the current trend in neck and facial rejuvenation. Using nonsurgical devices to tighten skin, lessen the fatty layers or the injection of neurotoxins such as BOTOX® Cosmetic to reduce platysmal muscle band activity is especially useful for younger men and women. Those approaches, however, have limited benefits for patients with more advanced signs of aging.

Before recommending a specific procedure, I make a careful and detailed analysis to create a logical and effective treatment strategy. An accurate analysis leads to safe and effective techniques that are realistically customized to satisfy patients’ needs.

Let’s look at the advantages and drawbacks of each procedure designed to reduce the appearance of a double chin.

CoolSculpting

By targeting fat with cold temperatures, CoolSculpting can produce a slimmer neck.

Pros

  • Nonsurgical (no incisions)
  • No injections
  • Short treatment time
  • Minimal and temporary side effects
  • Dead treated fat cells; no recurrence

Cons

  • More than one treatment
  • Gradual and less dramatic fat reduction than liposuction
  • Deflation of lax skin
  • Unveiling of separated neck bands (muscle relaxants have temporary effects)
  • Treatment limited to subcutaneous fat, not deeper central submuscular fat pad

KYBELLA

Injecting deoxycholic acid (a bile salt compound found naturally in the body) gradually kills fat cells.

Pros

  • Nonsurgical (no incisions)
  • Multiple points of injection
  • Short treatment time
  • Temporary side effects
  • Dead treated fat cells; no recurrence

Cons

  • More than one treatment
  • Gradual and less dramatic fat reduction than liposuction
  • Deflation of lax skin
  • Variable degree of swelling, redness, and pain
  • Unveiling of separated neck bands (muscle relaxants have temporary effects)

Neck Liposuction

Liposuction removes fat using a small tube called a cannula, which I insert through a short incision.

Pros

  • Surgical (one incision)
  • Short treatment time
  • Temporary side effects
  • Fat cells permanently removed
  • More dramatic and immediate result than after CoolSculpting/KYBELLA
  • Scheduled surgical procedures to remove excess skin, suction deeper submuscular fat pad, and bring together the separated platysmal muscle bands after liposuction

Cons

  • Operating Room
  • Tumescent local anesthesia
  • Variable degrees of swelling, pain, and skin staining
  • Risk associated with any surgical procedure (infection, bleeding)
  • Unveiling of separated platysmal neck bands (muscle relaxants have temporary effects)

I consider it an important as a plastic surgeon to provide patients with accurate information about what I believe to be the best treatment to achieve their cosmetic goals, considering the pros and cons of each option. If you’re not satisfied with the appearance of your neck, you can contact our office using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (626) 268-4524 to schedule an appointment.

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