Sagging chin skin can be hereditary or result from age, weight loss, or weight gain. You may have a bulging fat pocket under your chin, drooping skin at your jawline, or loose skin on your neck.
Whatever your chief complaint, we can address it at Robert A. Guida, MD.
Dr. Guida is a double-board certified plastic surgeon with offices in New York and Staten Island, New York, and years of experience artfully sculpting facial features to bring out our patients’ naturally stunning beauty. He offers a wide range of evidence-based treatments and procedures; the one that’s right for you depends on several factors, including the issue causing your sagging chin. Here’s a look at the different causes and effects of sagging chin and neck skin and what you can do about them.
When you look in the mirror, you may feel dissatisfied with your profile because the skin under your chin seems to sag, but several conditions can cause this laxity, and each one calls for a different treatment. Dr. Guida examines your neck and chin, goes over your health history and talks with you at length about your aesthetic goals before recommending a particular treatment or procedure.
Here are the most common chin complaints and the treatments that address them.
Some people are born with extra submental fat pockets, giving the appearance of two folds of flesh — hence the name “double chin.” However, the additional tissue isn’t part of the chin; it’s tissue that settles under the chin and between the lower jawbones.
Although being overweight or obese can worsen the appearance of a double chin, traditional efforts, such as diet and exercise, may not melt away the fat you store in this area. If you’re having trouble losing fat under your chin, Dr. Guida may recommend SmartLipo®, a laser treatment that gently heats the tissue under your chin and destroys the fat cells. He follows the laser treatment with a traditional liposuction procedure to get rid of the fat for good.
You have to wear a large elastic bandage under your chin for about a week, but the results are dramatic and lasting. This option is best if you have minimal or moderate fullness under your chin.
You can’t stop getting older, but you can do something about how your skin responds to the aging process. If the skin under your chin and on your neck has begun to sag due to aging, we can help.
Over time, your skin loses the natural fat layer that once gave it its youthful, plump appearance and smooth contours. You also slow down your production of the protein collagen, which is responsible for the structure and resilience of your skin. Without fat and collagen, gravity can easily pull your thin skin downward.
Dr. Guida can replace the lost volume and stimulate new collagen production with dermal filler injections. These quick and painless shots contain hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already makes, so there are few to no side effects. The results are instant and last for 6-9 months.
For more severe skin laxity, Dr. Guida may recommend a neck lift or face-lift to remove excess skin and reattach loose muscles.
You have two vertical platysmal muscles on either side of your neck. While you’re young, your fat and skin cover them well, and you may only notice them when you strain your neck. But these muscles can become prominent as you age and your skin thins, a condition commonly called neck banding.
If your visible platysmal muscles make you look older than you are, Botox® injections may help. By relaxing the contracted bands, Botox helps the muscles recede into the background, making them less noticeable.
Dermal filler injections can also help by adding volume between your tight muscles and thin skin.
Severe cases of neck banding may require a more assertive approach, such as a lower face-lift or neck lift to remove excess tissue and reposition your muscles.
If your face, chin, and neck could all use some anti-aging help, you may be a good candidate for Dr. Guida’s trademarked 3-in-1 Facelift™, a comprehensive, customized procedure that addresses all your concerns at once.
To find out which procedure or treatment is best for you, call or click to schedule a consultation with Dr. Guida.
