Double chin: what causes it, and what actually helps
A double chin comes from fat, genetics or loose skin, at any weight. Why chin exercises fall short and what treatments actually remove it.
The short answer
A double chin comes from fat under the chin, genetics, loose skin, or a mix, and can happen at any weight. Chin exercises tone muscle but do not remove fat; you cannot choose where your body loses fat. Kybella injections, chin liposuction and neck lifts treat it directly; most are elective and not covered by insurance.
- Camera angle and posture change how a double chin looks without changing the chin.
A double chin is a soft fullness under the jaw, and it is caused by fat, loose skin, or both, with genetics playing a large part. You can have one at a healthy weight. Chin exercises do not remove it, and you cannot choose where your body loses fat. What does work depends on the cause, from weight change to injections and surgery.
What causes a double chin?
The Cleveland Clinic lists three main causes in its guide to getting rid of a double chin.
- Excess fat under the chin and around the face, often linked to carrying extra weight.
- Genetics. Some people inherit a softer jawline or more fat under the chin even without extra weight.
- Loose skin, which creates the look of a double chin when the fat is not the main issue.
Ageing contributes, since skin loses firmness over time, and so can the structure of the jaw and chin. If the main trouble is sagging along the jawline rather than fullness under the chin, see our guide to jowls.
| Approach | Works on | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss through diet and exercise | Fat, if excess weight is the cause | You cannot pick where fat comes off; may not help if genetics drive it |
| Chin and jaw exercises | Muscle tone | Do not remove fat; overdoing them can strain jaw and neck |
| Posture changes | How the area looks day to day | Do not change the underlying fat or skin |
| Deoxycholic acid injections (Kybella) | Small amounts of fat in firm skin | Several sessions, swelling and bruising, a clinician must inject |
| Chin liposuction | Fat | Surgery, cost, recovery; may be combined with a neck lift |
| Neck lift | Loose skin and muscle | The most extensive option; scarring and downtime |
Source: Cleveland Clinic, how to get rid of a double chin.
Do chin exercises get rid of a double chin?
No. The Cleveland Clinic says plainly that chin exercises strengthen muscles but cannot fully reduce chin fat, and that it found no research supporting a natural way to lose a double chin beyond diet and exercise. The exercises it lists, such as the chin tuck and the “ceiling kiss”, tone the muscles under the jaw. Overdoing them can strain the jaw and neck or aggravate TMJ problems. Treat them as optional, and stop if they hurt.
Can you lose a double chin by losing weight?
If excess weight is the cause, yes, over time. Bodies lose fat everywhere, not on request, so the chin changes as the rest of you does. The Cleveland Clinic advises eating for nutrition rather than restriction, avoiding diets below 1,200 calories a day, and starting gently, such as a walk of ten to fifteen minutes a day. Weight loss will not help much if the cause is genetics or loose skin, and rapid loss can leave looser skin; the same applies to turkey neck, described in our guide to turkey neck.
Do neck wands and massage tools help?
They can relieve puffiness and jaw tension for a few hours, and our guide to facial massage tools explains the size of that effect. None has been shown to remove fat from under the chin. SBLA, a SOUL partner, sells a Neck, Chin and Jawline Sculpting Wand; its site names the product but does not state how it works or what result to expect, so judge it by that. We earn a commission if you buy through our link.
What medical treatments remove a double chin?
- Kybella injections break down small amounts of fat in areas where skin is firm, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A clinician needs to give them, and treatment usually takes several sessions.
- Chin liposuction removes fat from under the chin and neck.
- A chin tuck or neck lift tightens skin and muscle as well as removing fat, and suits people whose main issue is looseness.
Most of these are elective and cosmetic, so insurance does not usually cover them. After surgery most patients go home the same day, and pain, bruising and swelling should improve within about two weeks, though incisions can take months to heal. A board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon can tell you which fits your cause.
Why do you look worse in some photos?
Angle and posture change the look of the area a great deal. A camera held low, a head tilted down or a slouch pushes the skin under the chin forward and creates a fold. Raising the camera and lengthening the back of your neck makes a difference at no cost, and it explains why the same face can look quite different in two photos. It does not mean your chin has changed.
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor or dermatologist about any lump, swelling or change in your neck that is new or does not go away.
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Questions people ask about this
What causes a double chin?
Excess fat under the chin, genetics and loose skin. It can happen at a healthy weight.
How do you get rid of a double chin?
Weight loss helps if excess weight is the cause. Kybella injections, chin liposuction and neck lifts treat it directly, and a clinician can advise which suits you.
Do chin exercises work?
They tone muscle but do not remove chin fat, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and overdoing them can strain the jaw and neck.
Can you get a double chin at a healthy weight?
Yes. Genetics, loose skin and jaw structure all contribute, so thin people can have one.
Does insurance cover double chin treatment?
Usually not, because treatments are elective and cosmetic.
