The aging process can be tough. We watch our once taut, smooth and defined faces develop wrinkles and fine lines, and the structure we had sags while gravity pulls everything downward. There are innovative solutions that can successfully combat the double chin age or genetics can bring. To restore a more contoured profile, call the talented and compassionate people at ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD to talk to their specialists about Kybella.
What Causes a Double Chin?
Submental fat, or a double chin, is an unwanted layer of fat right below the chin. It tends to be exercise and diet-resistant so even people at their ideal weight can experience this discouraging issue. So, what causes it, and can we can prevent it?
In most cases of a double chin on people of a healthy weight, it can’t be prevented. The preventable double chin is that which results from weight gain, but there are other factors completely out of our control that can cause a double chin to plague people their whole lives or develop over time.
Genetics
There are some people whose genetics predispose them to develop a double chin. Even with diet and regular exercise, if your family members who are a healthy weight have to battle double chins, you’re more likely to develop one. Having a family history of poor skin elasticity can also increase your chance of developing submental fat because the structure of your skin can’t hold up to gravity as well.
Posture
In the age of computers, smartphones and tablets, more people are developing double chins because their heads are in a constant state of looking down. Keeping our heads bent down, over time, can shorten the neck muscles, increasing the pull on our skin and causing it to lose elasticity.
Age
Nobody can escape the aging process even with a great diet, a committed exercise routine and a lifetime of maintaining a healthy weight. During the aging process, our muscles and skin lose definition and structure, so our skin becomes thinner, which leads to sagging and the appearance of a double chin.
Why Do We Show Signs of Aging?
Our skin loses many components over time that keep us looking young. Collage, elastin and hyaluronic acid production decline at a steady rate after we turn 18, wreaking havoc on our once firm facial structure. Collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid work together to keep our skin voluminous, supple, smooth and hydrated. Each plays a key role in keeping our skin elastic, hydrated, supple and dewy.
As we age, our production of collagen breaks down—about 1% per year after we turn 18. When this breakdown happens, the structure of our faces and skin becomes compromised and weakens. Areas that used to be plump with youthful contours form small voids, and our loosening skin collapses into those gaps, forming wrinkles and hollows. Skin loses its grip on our muscles and pulls downward, our mouth can become downturned, and the loose skin gathers at the bottom of our faces, forming marionette lines, jowls, and a double chin.
There are many treatments to trigger the production of collagen to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles. BOTOX and dermal fillers can softly and naturally fill in deep line and folds, plump lips, and restore volume to hollow areas. But there are very few treatments to address a double chin. One treatment goes beyond addressing submental fat and eliminates it—Kybella.
What Is Kybella?
Kybella is an FDA-approved, injectable, synthetic form of deoxycholic acid—a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps to break down and absorb digestive fats. It is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment that works by destroying the targeted fat cells. Once the fat cells are destabilized and destroyed, they’re gone for good.
As the fat cells are destroyed, they are naturally metabolized and expelled by the body. Results are permanent, with a caveat. Extreme weight gain won’t trigger those specific cells again, but others can grow to accommodate the excessive weight. Yet even with moderate weight gain, that area is still free of those fat cells, so it won’t be the first place you see a few extra pounds.
What to Expect
Once you and your doctor have determined Kybella is right for you and your areas of concern, there is no preparation involved. You may be asked to pause taking any blood-thinning supplements or over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin to further reduce the likelihood of minimal bruising.
On the day of the treatment, your healthcare specialist will apply a topical numbing agent to maximize your comfort during your session. Sometimes ice packs or local anesthetics are used instead. Your doctor will decide the best option for you. A series of small injections will be made into the treatment site. You can expect sessions to last between 20-30 minutes depending on the area to be treated.
Afterward, because this is non-surgical treatment, there is no downtime. You can resume your normal routine immediately after with just a few short-term restrictions. Your doctor may recommend you refrain from strenuous activity and direct sunlight for a few days. Some clients go right to work from the office after their session.
Results
Deoxycholic acid goes to work on the fat cells over the next few weeks, targeting and destroying them. Some clients achieve their desired results after one or two treatments while others may opt for up to six to maximize their results. Each session will be scheduled about a month apart so you can see gradual results before the next session.
Once the fat cells are destroyed, they can no longer store fat, so follow-up treatments aren’t necessary—the results are permanent. Clients are amazed to see their youthful jawline profile return or to have the silhouette they’ve always wanted. Many report an increase in self-esteem and a higher comfort level with having pictures taken: no more angling for the position that will hide a double chin.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Only your doctor can determine if this is the right treatment for you. Adults 18 and older, in good health, and who are bothered by the look of a double chin tend to be ideal candidates. Consider this treatment if:
- You are self-conscious and unhappy with the look of fat deposits under your chin
- Your double chin is dragging your face down or making you look heavier and older
- You’re not ready or interested in surgery
- You’ve had surgery and want control over minor adjustments to that area
- You eat well and exercise but still struggle with submental fat
Talk to your healthcare and aesthetic specialist about all your concerns and expected outcomes. They’ll be able to walk you through the entire process and help you achieve your desired results.
A Comprehensive Treatment Plan
A double chin may not be the only sign of aging you’d like to address. When you’re consulting with your doctor, be sure to point out any other areas of concern that may be discouraging or disheartening to you. A well-rounded treatment plan can address multiple issues with effective, safe and popular treatments.
Injectables
Kybella isn’t the only injectable created to fight the signs of aging and address imperfections. Your skincare specialist may recommend several treatments to restore a youthful structure and appearance.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are extremely popular and there are many to choose from. People can be overwhelmed by the array of different fillers, which is why choosing an office with expertise in dermal fillers is crucial. Each filler is designed to do different things, treat different areas and provide different results.
Age not only brings deep wrinkles and folds to our skin, but it creates areas of hollowness where we’ve lost volume. You may not realize when you look in the mirror that it is lost volume that’s contributing to a tired and aged appearance. Areas like the cheeks, cheekbones, under the eyes, and the temporal region, lose youthful structure and can change the shape of our faces in a way that ages us.
Your doctor will do a full examination of your face and make recommendations based on your regions of concern and the outcome you’d like to achieve. Based on those data points, a recommendation of one or several dermal fillers will be made. There is a filler to address areas of concern like:
- Moderate-to-deep nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Thinning lips
- Vertical lip lines
- Down-turned corners of the mouth
- Lost volume and structure to cheeks and cheekbones
- Hollows under the eyes
- Lost volume in the temporal area
Results
What makes dermal fillers so popular is the immediacy and longevity of the results. Some fillers can produce results for up to five years, with the majority of them giving you 1-2 years of results. Many fillers are made with a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid so, when injected, they will continue to attract moisture, leaving your skin more hydrated; and the results will continue to improve.
The smooth gel form of hyaluronic acid means the results will be noticeable but natural-looking.
BOTOX
BOTOX is the most requested cosmetic treatment in the world. Considered a neuromodulator, BOTOX is FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe lines. We make repeated facial expressions our whole lives using the same muscles. The skin over our muscles follows those movements, eventually causing wrinkles which can make us look unhappy or tired when we’re not. BOTOX and a similar injectable, Dysport, treat the muscle to reduce the wrinkle.
These treatments work by blocking the signal of the nerve from reaching the targeted muscle. When the movement of these muscles stops or diminishes, they relax. This causes the skin over those muscles to smooth out, diminishing lines and wrinkles.
Results can take between 3-7 days to see and last between 3-4 months. Following a recommended follow-up schedule, results can be nearly seamless. The longer the muscle is relaxed, the smoother the skin will be. BOTOX and Dysport work well on these areas of concern:
- Frown lines
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet
- Bunny lines
- Excessive gingival display or “gummy smile”
- Lip lines
- Jaw lift
- Hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweating
Call for a Consultation
Once you’ve decided to take control of your aging process, you’ll want to partner with experts who will take time to understand the whole you so they can recommend a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.
Call ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD and schedule an appointment with a member of their highly trained team. A more youthful, self-assured and confident you can be a reality when you partner with the right qualified team.
