Loving how we look is an important part of our self-esteem and how we view ourselves in the world. If you look in the mirror and see imperfections, like a double chin, that distract you from completely loving what you see, you don’t have to grin and bear it. Call the experts at Satin Med Spa in Charlotte, NC and ask about the transformative treatment Kybella.
What Causes a Double Chin?
A double chin is caused by a layer of fat under the chin called submental fat. A recent study found that 47% of adults are bothered, to some extent, by the excess fat under their neck or chin. What makes this issue so frustrating is that even people who are meticulous about eating well and exercising can be plagued by this unflattering profile.
If you’re at your goal weight or are generally healthy and are still bothered by a diet- and exercise-resistant layer of fat giving you an undefined jawline, there are several factors that could be causing your double chin.
Age
Aging is a huge factor in the development of double chins. Remember, a double chin differs from sagging skin. If you don’t have a layer of fat under your chin and just the skin is sagging, your doctor may suggest a different treatment. Age wreaks havoc on our skin, and one of the biggest issues is our loss of elasticity.
Collagen
You’ll see collagen promoted everywhere skincare products are sold because it’s the building block of healthy and firm skin. When we’re young, this fibrous protein is in abundance, holding all of our skin cells together, keeping everything firm, smooth and tight. It forms a solid foundation in our middle layers of skin, called the dermis, that our skin lays firmly on top of.
As we age, our production of collagen declines and our skin doesn’t hold together as well. When the strong foundation of our skin weakens, gravity has a stronger effect on our faces, pulling everything downward. Unfortunately, collagen can’t be replenished from a cream. Your body has to produce it.
Elastin
You can probably guess what this protein does based on its name alone. Elastin helps our skin keep its elasticity. It’s another protein that works hand-in-hand with collagen to ensure that when our skin is pulled, it snaps back to place. As we age and our cells aren’t packed as tightly together, it becomes lax and can add to the effect of a double chin because it can no longer hold that layer of fat in place.
Genetics
If your mom and dad both have double chins, you have them to thank for yours. Double chins definitely run in families. Aside from age, a genetic disposition to submental fullness is the biggest determining factor in whether someone will develop their own double chin. You can also have a genetic disposition to low levels of collagen and elastin, which will contribute to the appearance of a double chin.
Just like aging, there’s nothing you can do about your genetics. Luckily, there are treatments that allow you to address this concern even if you can’t avoid it.
Posture
Doing a lot of leaning over and looking down can add to gravity pushing pockets of fat to the chin area. Because people spend so much time hunched over their smartphones, tablets, and laptops, we’re going to have a generation with more double chins than ever before. It helps to hold your devices at eye level or as elevated as you can.
Now that you know what factors may be causing your double chin, many of which you can do nothing about, we’re happy to tell you there is a solution.
What Is Kybella?
Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable being used to treat submental fullness or a double chin. It used to be that the only option for losing the unwanted fat under your chin was liposuction, which required an invasive procedure and a commitment to downtime. Kybella is a non-surgical treatment that requires no downtime and no preparation. After a 20-30 minute treatment, you can be on your way to a slimmer, more defined profile.
How Does Kybella Work?
The active ingredient in Kybella is a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in our bodies that helps with the breakdown and absorption of the fat in our diets. In our bodies, deoxycholic acid is found in our bile, where it goes to work on the dietary fats we consume.
When injected into the fat under the chin, this synthetic acid destroys fat cells, and that area cannot hold fat any longer. Once the fat cells are targeted and destroyed, that’s it. These cells can’t come back.
What Can I Expect?
The treatment process for Kybella is very simple because it’s non-surgical and only minimally invasive.
The Consultation
During the consultation with your specialist, a physical examination of your chin and neck area will be done to ensure your submental fullness can effectively be treated with Kybella. You and your specialist will go over your general health history, and you’ll ask any questions you might have. Once you decide this is the right treatment for you, you’ll make an appointment.
You’ll want to get the timing of this treatment right if you have a big event you’re planning for. Talk to your specialist, but allowing at least 4-6 weeks before an event for results to kick in is a good idea.
Pre-Treatment
Even though this is not a surgery, there are some easy pre-treatment instructions to follow to ensure you get the most out of your treatment and reduce the already low likelihood of bruising. You shouldn’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment. You’ll be asked to stop taking all over-the-counter blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements, including:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen like in Advil and Motrin
- Naproxen like in Aleve
- Fish oil
- Gingko biloba
- St. John’s wort
- High doses of vitamin E
You can take arnica 3-5 days before your treatment if you bruise easily and want to diminish that likelihood.
During Treatment
When you arrive for your appointment, your specialist will apply a numbing cream to the treatment area to ensure you’re comfortable throughout your short session. This treatment is highly customizable, so the dose used will be area-adjusted. Your specialist will then make a series of small injections over the treatment area.
Post-Treatment
When your treatment is finished, you can go back to your routine. There is no downtime. Many people have this treatment done during their lunch hour and return to the office afterward. The only variantion from your normal routine may be that you can’t apply makeup to the area for 24 hours.
When Will I See Results?
Each client is different, but most people start to see results in four to six weeks. It takes some time for your body to absorb those dying and dead fat cells.
Some clients will see the results they want after just one session, however, most clients will choose to have a series of treatments to maximize their results and the positive aesthetic effects. Most clients see all the results they want after three to four treatments. For severe cases of a double chin, a client may opt for up to six sessions. Each treatment needs to be spaced one month apart.
How Long Do Results Last?
Once those fat cells are destroyed, they cannot physically regenerate. However, clients need to stay within a healthy weight range to keep enjoying their results. If you gain a little weight, you won’t gain it in the chin because you simply don’t have those fat cells anymore. If you gain a lot of weight, however, the surrounding fat cells can grow larger, making it look like the fat has come back even though the original cells have not.
You can lose the gained weight and those cells will shrink, giving you back your profile again. It’s always best to monitor your weight for all health reasons and stay within a 10-15-pound range to keep enjoying your maximum results.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
If you are unhappy with the way a double chin is affecting your profile and want a slimmer, more youthful contour, this could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Only your specialist can determine who is ultimately a good fit for this treatment. The best candidates are adults over the age of 18 who suffer from moderate-to-severe fat under their chin.
Even if you have a mild amount of fat, you could still be a good candidate because of how customizable this treatment is. This might not be the treatment for you if you aren’t willing to have more than one treatment, simply because you won’t enjoy the full benefits it has to offer.
Other Injectables
Many comprehensive Med Spas will offer a variety of injectable treatments to help you meet all your aesthetic goals. Once you meet with your specialist to talk about your areas of concern, you can decide on the right treatment plan for you.
Neuromodulators
Even though you may not recognize it, this is the most requested and performed cosmetic treatment in the world. This family of injectables includes the brand names Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. All three are made of a unique ingredient called botulinum toxin type A. When Botox is injected under the skin, it binds to wrinkle-causing muscles. These are the muscles we use to make repeated expressions all throughout our lives, and these muscles eventually cause our skin to become etched with wrinkles.
When Botox binds to these muscles, it blocks the nerve receptors from making contact. This allows the muscles to immediately relax because they’re not receiving the signal to contract. When the muscles relax, the skin over them smooths and the wrinkles fade. This family of injectable works well on:
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Crow’s feet at the corner of the eyes
- Forehead lines
- Bunny lines on the side of the nose
- Marionette lines from your mouth to your chin
- Nasolabial folds from your nose to the corners of your mouth
Results
Results from these injectables can take a few days to appear and will last between 3-4 months for Botox and up to 6 months with Dysport.
Dermal Fillers
If you’re looking for an immediate boost to your appearance and your confidence, dermal fillers may be the way to go. Most of these injectables are made from hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar that helps keep our skin lubricated and supple.
Hyaluronic acid can hold up 1000 times its weight in water, so these smooth, pliable gels will actually help keep your skin moisturized. You can expect smooth and natural results no matter where you choose to get treatment.
Folds, Lines, and Wrinkles
Perhaps the most requested treatment area for these injectables is for moderate-to-severe lines and folds. These can have immediate volume added, drastically diminishing their appearance. You can walk into the office with deep smile and marionette lines and leave the office with a smoother, younger looking complexion.
Talk to your skincare specialist about the different fillers they offer and which they think would be the best match for your areas of concern. Fillers can address:
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Vertical or lipstick lines around the mouth
- Crow’s feet
- Forehead lines
- Frown lines
Lip Enhancement
Whether you’ve lost volume in your lips because of aging or you just want the fuller lips you’ve always envied, you can have a full set of lips and an enhanced shape. Fillers are great for non-surgical lip augmentation that will help you achieve a youthful pout and soft, plump lips.
These fillers also work to fill in the pesky vertical lipstick lines that cause lipstick and gloss to “bleed” and can contribute to an overall aged appearance. If you notice you have down-turned corners of your mouth, this can give your face a constant unhappy appearance. Fillers can be used to slightly turn the corners up, opening up your appearance and creating a softer, happier look.
Restoring Lost Volume
As we age and lose collagen, the fat pads that gave us our beautiful apple cheeks and prominent cheekbones can move downward, leaving the upper part of our face looking hollow and gaunt. There are dermal fillers designed to replace larger areas of lost volume, giving you back youthful contours and eliminating the bony look so many people can get as they lose fat and muscle.
Hand Rejuvenation
We often overlook the aesthetics of our hands, but it’s a mistake. Besides your face, nothing will betray your age faster than your hands. Aging can make the already thin skin on the hands even thinner, showing blue veins. Our lost fat can make our ligaments prominent and give our hands a feeble, bony appearance.
Talk to your specialist about dermal filler hand rejuvenation to replace lost volume and restore a youthful appearance to the back of your hands. This treatment can reduce the appearance of ligaments, veins, and bones, leaving you with a pleasing hand aesthetic.
Take Time for You
We encourage you to take time to address the areas of concern you have. Call Satin Med Spa in Charlotte, NC and schedule your complimentary consultation. We look forward to partnering with you and helping you achieve all your aesthetic goals so you can live your happiest and most fulfilling life!
