Priorities
Double chin
Fullness under the chin that often stays put, even after weight loss.
A double chin is fullness under the chin that’s most noticeable in profile. It’s usually a fat pad, and it often runs in families, showing up in some people as early as their 20s and persisting in others after weight loss. Fat pads don’t respond much to dieting.
A pinch test helps tell the difference. If it’s soft and you can lift it, that’s fat. If it’s loose skin that doesn’t fill your fingers, that’s a different concern with its own treatment options.
What we'd want you to know
Fat and loose skin each need their own approach
If you can pinch a soft pad and the skin over it snaps back, we typically recommend Kybella. It’s deoxycholic acid, approved by the FDA for moderate to severe fullness under the chin, and it’s injected in a grid by our nurse practitioner. Plan on two to four sessions at least a month apart, with one to two weeks of swelling after each.
If the fat goes but the skin over it stays loose, Morpheus8 on the neck can tighten it from underneath once the Kybella swelling has fully cleared.
How we decide
We’ll take a profile photo, do a quick pinch test, and then look at your neck with your head tilted back. That tells us how much is fat, how much is skin, and whether there are muscle bands, which nothing on our menu treats.
A discrete pad with decent skin is a good fit for Kybella. In its trials, 70 percent of people had at least a one-grade improvement after up to six treatments, versus 18.6 percent on placebo, per the Kybella prescribing information. The label also notes that swelling lasted past 30 days for 20 percent of people and numbness for 42 percent, so it’s best booked when you have a few weeks without major events.
If you have fat plus loosening skin, we’ll start with Kybella, then move on to Morpheus8 or Forma on the neck. If it’s only loose skin, Kybella isn’t needed. Individual results vary.
People also ask whether semaglutide or tirzepatide would help. We do offer medical weight loss here, and if weight is your larger goal, we can discuss it at your consult. Keep in mind that a GLP-1 lowers total body weight and doesn’t target the chin specifically.
Your questions, answered
Will losing weight get rid of my double chin?
Sometimes, but often not, because some people carry chin fat at any weight. If you’ve lost weight and it’s still there, you may be a good Kybella candidate. If you have a lot of weight to lose, we’d suggest focusing on that first and then reassessing together, because loose skin after weight loss changes the plan.
How long is the swelling after Kybella?
Swelling is greatest for the first three days and settles over two weeks, with numbness and firmness that can linger for weeks. That’s expected, but it’s worth planning around, so avoid booking it in the weeks before an event or photos.
Do you offer CoolSculpting for the chin?
We don’t. There’s no CoolSculpting or other body-contouring device at Arlington Heights. For a double chin, Kybella is what we offer, and we put together a Kybella vs CoolSculpting comparison to explain why.
Related treatments
From the clinic
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Kybella vs CoolSculpting for a double chin: we only offer one, here’s why
Kybella is injected deoxycholic acid that breaks down a small pocket of chin fat over 2 to 4 sessions. CoolSculpting is a device that cools fat…
Compare and decide · 6 min read
Morpheus8 vs microneedling: which one you actually need
Many people who ask about Morpheus8 are better suited to microneedling with PRP. The choice usually comes down to your main concern. Loose skin (jowls, neck,…