Under-Chin Fat Reduction

By examination, and it is the first thing we check. Fat under the chin feels like a discrete pocket that can be gently gathered; laxity behaves differently when the skin is moved, and muscle bands become visible when you tense the neck. Many people have some combination. Getting this right determines whether fat reduction will help you at all.

The cooling device, clearly. Most people return to normal activity the same day with redness and numbness as the main after-effects. Injectable treatment produces swelling that can be conspicuous for a week or two, which is worth planning around. Recovery is often the deciding factor for people with fixed social or work commitments.

The nerve that controls the lower lip runs close to the treated area, and irritation or injury to it can weaken one corner of the mouth, giving an asymmetric smile. It is uncommon, usually temporary, and can take weeks to months to settle. Report it to us promptly if it happens so it can be documented and followed.

It is an uncommon reaction to cooling treatment in which the treated fat becomes larger and firmer rather than smaller, typically showing up several months later. Unlike most side effects it does not resolve by itself, and correcting it generally means surgery. It is rare, but you should know it exists before choosing the device route.

Fat cells cleared from the treated area do not regenerate there. However, the fat cells that remain can still enlarge, so significant weight gain can restore fullness under the chin. Keeping your weight reasonably stable is what protects the result.

Sometimes. The area can also be considered alongside treatments aimed at skin quality or laxity, since fat reduction and skin tightening address different problems. Sequencing matters, and treating an area that is still swollen or numb from a previous session is not sensible, so any combination is planned rather than improvised.

The injectable stings or burns during the session and the area is often sore afterwards, though topical anaesthetic and ice help. The cooling device is intensely cold for the first minutes before numbness sets in, and the post-treatment massage is briefly uncomfortable. A minority of people develop significant pain days after cooling treatment, which we can help manage.

Longer than most people expect — weeks rather than days is common after either approach, and it often outlasts the swelling. It is usually described as an odd, muffled sensation rather than something painful, and it resolves gradually. Numbness that persists well beyond that should be reviewed.

It depends which of the two routes you have, and the difference comes down to whether a needle is involved. The injectable is performed by one of our physicians — Dr. Gidon Frame, Dr. Sarina Govindasamy or Dr. Teri Fisher — because placement relative to the nerves under the chin is what keeps the treatment safe. The cooling device uses no needles, and those sessions are delivered by our experienced laser technicians and estheticians, working directly under the guidance of those same physicians. Your assessment, and the decision about which route suits you, is made by a physician either way.

That appointment is complimentary as a consultation — there is no fee for the examination or for the discussion of injectable versus cooling. A booking fee is charged to hold the slot in the diary, which accounts for the physician's time and helps reduce no-shows.