Double trouble

When layers of subcutaneous fat get deposited below the chin, they start looking like a second chin. This is a condition commonly known as double chin. Many factors contribute to this condition including diet, age, weight, exercise, genetics or loose skin. This is a more aesthetic concern in individuals than a medical concern, and can be easily treated with multiple procedure.

There are many non-invasive treatments for reducing the fat, including milder ones like diet and exercise. Injection lipolysis is also a common treatment where the specific formula is injected into the subcutaneous fat to dissolve the fat cells. Non-surgical procedures like HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound energy) and RF (radio frequency) are used to effectively tighten the skin under the chin. But the most popular non-invasive technique that is done is cryolipolysis. Or one could even go for an invasive surgical procedure.

How does cryolipolysis work?
Cryolipolysis involves controlled cooling of the localised fat cells within the temperature range of -11 to +5 °C. This  exposure causes the fat cells to die and are then naturally removed by the body’s lymphatic system. This provides for a long-term fat loss solution as compared to other fat reduction procedures that work on reducing the fat cells. CoolSculpting is the first and only non-surgical fat reduction technology to be FDA-cleared for double chin reduction.

Important points to note
Cryolipolysis should be done only with a US FDA approved technology.
There is little to almost no recovery time in this procedure, and you can resume normal activity within a short period of time. You will be able to see visible reduction in your double chin bulge usually within one to three months following your treatment. After a CoolSculpting procedure it’s advisable to also do a HIFU or a RF skin tightening for that perfect looking chin.

— The writer is a dermatologist