What causes a double chin?
Basically, a double chin is also known as submental fat which is a common condition that occurs when a layer of fat gets formed under the chin. This condition is generally associated with weight gain, but some people feel those how who have overweight have this condition which is completely false. It can happen to anyone who consumes a lot of fat but does not exercise on regular basis. Looser skin resulting from aging can also cause this condition.
So if you have a double chin and you want to get rid of it, there are many things you can do. I’ll be discussing, in brief, all the possible ways to get rid of it. Eating right and being active physically on a regular basis are a few examples of good habits one can inculcate to keep your body fit and strong, but this also works the same for facial muscles which tend to lose their firmness as we grow up.
Exercises that help to reduce double chin:
Here are five exercises that will help you to tone and strengthen the muscles in the area of your double chin. Try to follow these exercises on regular basis at least 5-10 times.
1) Warming up the muscles
As you have to warm up the muscles by doing some freehand exercises before working out in a gym, similarly you have to warm your facial muscles.
So for this warming up first move your lower jaw in forward and backward motion and then from one side to another side. All the movements must be done slowly and smoothly without any jerks. Repeat this exercise 6-8 times.
2) The scoop
In this exercise, first, open your mouth and roll your bottom lip over your lower teeth. Try to imagine that you have to scoop water with your lower jaw.
Slowly move your head in a scooping motion and while lifting your head, close your mouth. Always make sure while doing this exercise that the corner of your lips is in a relaxed condition, repeat this 4-5 times.
3) Touch your nose
One of the reasons for double chin is primarily due to the weakening of hyoid muscles, hence they need to strengthen. In this exercise stick out your tongue as far as possible and try to reach the tip of the nose with the tongue’s tip. Go on doing this for at least 5 time
Stick out your tongue as far as possible, and try to reach your nose with the tip of your tongue. Keep your lips relaxed. Repeat 5 times.
4) Imagine you are kissing a giraffe
In this exercise lift up your face and try to look at the ceiling. Slowly bring your lower jaw forward and pucker your lips as of you are going to kiss someone.
If you do this exercise in a proper fashion you will feel a strong tension near your neck. Hold this posture for 5-7 seconds and then let go. Keep on repeating this at least five times.
5) Resistance
Clench your teeth tightly with your mouth closed and try to stretch the corners of your lips as wide as possible, after doing this try to push your tongue against the hard palate, slowly increasing the pressing force.
If you suddenly feel a strong tension in your chin muscles then you have indeed done the exercise properly. When you feel that tension hold it for 4-5 seconds and then release it and relax for a few seconds and continue repeating it for 5-8 times.
Decreasing a double chin through a healthy diet :
If you have a double chin due to excessive weight gain, then the best way to get rid of a double chin is to lose weight. It will help in making it smaller gradually and eventually will be gone. The best way to lose weight is by following a healthy diet on regular basis.
Some healthy eating habits are:
1) Always avoid fried foods.
2) Try to eat green vegetables on a daily basis.
3) Eat three servings of fruit daily.
4) Eat lean proteins like chicken, and turkey on regular basis, and also have fish.
5) Try to eat avocados since they are healthy fats.
6) Gradually reduce your sugar intake.
7) Replace refined grains with whole grains.
8) Try to consume low-fat dairy products.
9) Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
10) Avoid processed food or refrigerated food, it is very dangerous for our body.
Medical treatments for a double chin
If the double chin you possess is caused by genetics, tightening up the area with the exercises mentioned above may help but weight loss will not help. In that case, you should seek doctors whole prescribe invasive measures like :
Lipolysis
This is also called liposculpture which uses liposuction or heat from a laser to melt away fat and contour the skin. In most cases, a local anesthetic is needed during the procedure of lipolysis to treat a double chin. This process helps to treat fat not completely but remove excess skin or increased the elasticity of the skin.
Side effects may include:-
1) Swelling
2) Bruising
3) Intense pain
Mesotherapy
This procedure involves small amounts of fat-dissolving compounds through a series of injections.
In the latter half of 2015, the Food and Drug Administration approved that kybella a deoxycholic acid be used in mesotherapy.
This drug helps your body to absorb fats. It requires almost twenty or more injections of deoxycholic acid per treatment to reduce double chin. There are around 5-6 treatments in total and each treatment is carried out by a month-long gap.