Double Chin
A double chin is a collection of fat or excess skin that forms below the chin, creating a sagging appearance. It can be caused by genetics, aging, weight gain, or lifestyle factors. A double chin can make a person feel self-conscious or dissatisfied with their appearance.
See all treatments
Non-surgical submental correction for fat, skin laxity, and structural contributors — physician-led in Scottsdale.
Find Your Treatment
When the Bulge Under Your Chin Won’t Budge
A double chin — submental fullness — is one of the most common aesthetic concerns that resists diet and exercise, because submental fat cells behave differently from the ones elsewhere in the body. Genetics load the disposition; weight gain and aging amplify it; loose skin over the years drapes across the result.
Dr. Natalya Borakowski, NMD treats submental fullness as two separate problems sharing the same space: excess fat under the chin and loose skin over it. The first task in any consultation is a palpation test that determines the fat-to-laxity ratio — because the right treatment plan depends entirely on which component is doing the most work.
A close sibling of Weak Chin (structural projection deficit) and Jowling (lower-face descent) — each handled differently.
At a Glance
Scope. Non-surgical double chin treatment at Desert Bloom spans mesotherapy (deoxycholic acid fat dissolution), PDO neck thread lift (skin repositioning), RF microneedling (surface tightening), and chin filler when bone structure amplifies the perception. Which path leads depends entirely on whether fat, laxity, or both are dominant.
Provider & candidacy. Dr. Borakowski leads all injection and thread procedures. Best candidates are weight-stable adults bothered by a submental bulge that persists at healthy weight, or patients post-weight-loss managing loose neck skin. Active weight gain in progress is not the right time — we recommend waiting until weight has been stable for several months.
Downtime. Mesotherapy: swelling 2–4 days. PDO threads: bruising up to one week. RF microneedling: redness 24–48 hours. None require time off work for most patients. The consultation is always the first step.
What Causes a Double Chin?
Submental fullness develops when the space between the chin and the upper neck fills with fat, loose skin, or both. Most patients have some combination — but the ratio matters, because the correction pathway depends entirely on which component is dominant. The four drivers below are almost always involved to some degree.
Submental Fat Accumulation
Strongly heritable — genetics explain why people with healthy weight and active lifestyles can develop a visible double chin. Submental fat cells resist diet and exercise; weight gain amplifies the pocket but weight loss alone rarely eliminates it. Poor posture and chronic downward neck positioning (phones, desks) can worsen appearance over time.
Treatment direction: Mesotherapy (deoxycholic acid fat dissolution)Platysmal Banding
The platysma muscle runs from the collarbone to the jaw. With age, these bands become more visible and can separate, creating vertical neck cords and contributing to soft tissue pooling under the chin. Neck skin is thinner than facial skin — it has less structural support — and the platysmal changes show earlier and more visibly here than anywhere else on the face.
Treatment direction: PDO threads for banding and tissue repositioningSkin Laxity
Collagen declines approximately 1% per year from the mid-30s. Neck skin sits in Arizona’s high-UV environment, and photo-aging accelerates laxity significantly here. The same submental fat volume that was invisible at 30 becomes visible at 50 because the skin above it has lost the structural ceiling that held everything in place. Skin that used to snap back now drapes.
Treatment direction: PDO threads for repositioning; RF microneedling for surface tighteningBone Structure (Chin Projection)
A recessed lower jaw or weak chin (retrognathia / microgenia) doesn’t cause a fat-based double chin, but it makes the submental area look fuller in profile than fat volume alone would explain. The bone structure shortens the chin-to-neck distance and exaggerates any softness in the submental zone — especially in photos. This is a structural issue, not a fat issue, and it has a different correction path.
Treatment direction: Chin filler (structural correction) — see Weak Chin for full pageDouble Chin Treatment Options at Desert Bloom
Non-surgical double chin treatment works in layers: fat reduction addresses the volume component, thread lifting repositions loose skin, and surface tightening refines skin quality. Which layer comes first — and whether others join the plan — is determined by your anatomy at the consultation, not a fixed protocol.
Related reading: our blog post on double chin reduction covers the full non-surgical treatment spectrum in detail.
Two Paths In — Which One Is Yours?
Most double chin plans start with one question Dr. Borakowski answers in the first five minutes of the consult: is this fat, laxity, or both? The palpation test determines the starting point. The grid below maps each path.
Choose Fat Reduction First
Weight-stable anatomy, firm elastic skin, isolated submental pocket
Choose Tightening / Lift First
Laxity-dominant, post-weight-loss, or after fat reduction is complete
Compare All Treatment Options
| Feature | Mesotherapy | PDO Thread Lift | RF Microneedling | Chin Filler | Aesthetic Facial Balancing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use-case | Submental fat dissolution | Laxity + tissue repositioning | Surface skin tightening | Structural projection correction | Multi-zone lower-face plan |
| Mechanism | Deoxycholic acid adipocytolysis | PDO sutures lift + stimulate collagen | RF heat stimulates collagen + contracts fibers | HA filler builds chin projection | Combined sequenced plan (fat + threads + RF) |
| Sessions | 3–6, spaced 4–6 weeks | 1 session | Series of 3 | 1 | 1–2 in year 1 |
| Longevity | Permanent (fat cells destroyed) | 12–18 months | 6–9 months | 9–12 months | 12–18 months maintained |
| Best candidate | Fat-dominant, weight-stable, firm skin | Laxity-dominant or post-fat reduction | Adjunct to fat or thread work | Recessed chin amplifying submental fullness | Double chin + jowling + broader descent |
When to See a Surgeon or a Physician First
Non-surgical double chin treatment is the right answer for the vast majority of patients. There are specific situations where a referral or a medical evaluation comes first.
When surgery is the honest answer: Significant excess skin requiring a neck lift cannot be addressed non-surgically — thread lifts reposition tissue, not remove it. Very large fat deposits that would require an impractical number of mesotherapy sessions are also better served by submental liposuction. Desert Bloom does not perform either procedure. Dr. Borakowski will say so directly if your anatomy is in surgical territory and can refer to a trusted plastic surgeon.
Medical differential — seek evaluation first: Sudden swelling under the chin or in the neck that appears rapidly — especially if firm, tender, or accompanied by other symptoms — may indicate a thyroid nodule, salivary gland enlargement, or lymph node change. These require a physician evaluation before any cosmetic treatment is considered. Cosmetic correction follows after medical clearance.
Frequently asked questions
“With double chin, the consultation is the treatment plan. Palpation takes two minutes — is this fat, laxity, or both? That answer changes everything downstream. Starting in the right place means fewer sessions and a cleaner result.”
Book Your Double Chin Consultation in Scottsdale
Dr. Borakowski assesses submental anatomy at the first visit — palpation, profile review, and fat-to-laxity ratio determination. You leave with a specific plan: which treatment leads, in what order, and what results look like for your anatomy.
Complimentary. No obligation. Honest referral to a plastic surgeon if non-surgical scope doesn’t apply to your anatomy.
References
- “The influence of age and sex on skin thickness, skin collagen and density.” British Journal of Dermatology. 1975. DOI(Foundational collagen-decline-with-age data supporting skin laxity framing.)
- “Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin — roles of age-dependent alteration in fibroblast function and defective mechanical stimulation.” American Journal of Pathology. 2006. DOI(Supports ~1% per year collagen decline and elasticity loss framing.)
- “Improvements in submental contour up to 3 years after ATX-101: efficacy and safety follow-up of the phase 3 REFINE trials.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021. DOI(Long-term efficacy data supporting submental fat reduction treatment claims.)
- “REFINE-1, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial with ATX-101, an injectable drug for submental fat reduction.” Dermatologic Surgery. 2016. DOI(Phase 3 RCT for deoxycholic acid submental fat treatment — supports mesotherapy mechanism framing.)
Treatments
- Chin Filler$72045–60 min
- Jawline Filler$600+45 min
- Neck Thread Lift$1800 and up60 and up
- Non-Surgical Facelift$250060 and up
- PDO Thread Lift$118015 minutes and up
- RF Microneedling$80090 and up
Consultation in skin care clinic
Desert Bloom Skincare Center offers personalized skincare consultation to help you achieve a flawless and radiant complexion. Book your appointment today and let our expert team of skincare professionals address your specific concerns and help you reach your skincare goals.
Visit Our Scottsdale Aesthetic Center
Address
10752 N 89th Place, Suite 122B,Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Phone:(480) 567-8180
E-mail:info@desertbloomskincare.com
Get Directions →Location & Directions
Desert Bloom Skincare is conveniently located in the Shea Corridor of North Scottsdale, within Edwards Professional Park I — minutes from HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Campus.
Areas We Serve
We proudly provide expert non-surgical rhinoplasty and PDO thread lifts to patients across the Southwest:
- ScottsdaleNorth Scottsdale · McCormick Ranch · Gainey Ranch
- Paradise Valley
- PhoenixArcadia · Biltmore · North Phoenix
- Fountain Hills
- Cave Creek & Carefree