Double Chin & Jawline Guide
How to Get Rid of Chin Fat
A double chin can come from submental fat, loose skin, facial anatomy, or a combination of all three. The right treatment depends on what is actually creating the fullness, not on choosing one device or injection for everyone.
If the fullness is truly submental fat under the chin, options include weight loss when overall body fat is a factor, Kybella injections, selected noninvasive fat-reduction devices, or chin liposuction. If the main issue is loose skin or limited chin projection, fat reduction alone may not give the result you want.
Important 2026 FDA update:
Kybella is approved for submental fat in adults. The FDA now specifically warns against injecting it outside the submental region because serious adverse reactions have been reported with unapproved use.
The first question is not “Which treatment removes chin fat?” It is “What is causing the contour I see?” Fat, skin laxity, neck muscle anatomy and chin projection can create a similar profile but need different solutions.
What Causes a Double Chin?
Submental fullness is the medical term for fullness under the chin. Genetics often play a major role. Some people carry fat under the chin even at a healthy and stable weight.
Weight gain can increase fullness, but it is not the only cause. Aging can loosen the skin and soften the jawline. The platysma muscle, chin projection and the natural shape of the neck also affect how the area looks.
This matters because removing fat from someone whose main issue is loose skin can leave the area looking emptier without creating a sharper jawline.
Can Chin Exercises Get Rid of Chin Fat?
No exercise can reliably spot-reduce fat from one small area of the body. Exercises that move the jaw and neck can work the muscles, but they have not been shown to selectively burn submental fat.
The old version of this article listed “sky kisses,” jaw pushes, chewing gum and several other exercises as ways to burn chin fat. That should be removed. If body-fat reduction is appropriate, nutrition and regular exercise can reduce overall fat, but where your body loses fat first is largely determined by biology and genetics.
What Actually Works for Chin Fat?
| Option | Best suited for | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | Fullness that tracks with higher overall body fat | May reduce facial fat while improving overall health | Cannot target only the chin |
| Kybella | Moderate submental fat in adults who prefer an injectable option | No surgery; treated fat cells are destroyed | Swelling is common and multiple sessions may be needed |
| Noninvasive fat reduction | Selected patients wanting gradual change | Low downtime | Results are usually more modest and device-specific |
| Chin liposuction | More substantial accessible fat with good skin quality | Direct removal in one procedure | Surgery; does not correct major laxity by itself |
| Skin tightening | Loose skin with little to moderate fat | Targets laxity rather than removing more fat | Does not replace liposuction when fat is the main issue |
How Does Kybella Work?
Kybella contains deoxycholic acid, a cytolytic drug that disrupts fat-cell membranes. The body then clears the damaged cells over time.
The current FDA label approves Kybella for adults with moderate to severe fullness caused by submental fat. The label allows up to six treatment sessions, with at least one month between sessions. The number actually needed varies with anatomy, the amount of fat and treatment goals.
Swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and firmness are common. More serious risks include marginal mandibular nerve injury, trouble swallowing, ulceration, tissue necrosis, infection and injection-site nodules or masses.
What Changed in the Kybella FDA Warning in 2026?
On September 15, 2026, the FDA announced an updated Kybella warning after reviewing adverse-event reports and medical literature. The agency emphasized that Kybella is not approved for fat outside the submental region and recommends against such use.
This is particularly important for an article about “chin and neck fat.” The approved treatment area is the fat beneath the chin. Fullness farther down the neck should not automatically be treated with deoxycholic acid.
If fullness extends beyond the submental region, the anatomy should be evaluated first. The correct option may be skin tightening, surgery, another contouring method, or no treatment at all.
Are Kybella Results Permanent?
The treated fat cells are destroyed and do not regenerate in the same way. That makes the fat reduction long lasting.
However, “permanent” should not mean “your neck can never change again.” Remaining fat cells can enlarge with future weight gain, and aging can create new skin laxity or changes in jawline definition.
For a deeper explanation, see our Kybella longevity guide.
When Is Chin Liposuction a Better Option?
Chin liposuction, also called submental liposuction, directly removes accessible fat through a small cannula. It is often considered when a patient wants a larger correction in one procedure and has skin that can redrape well after fat removal.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that skin quality, fat distribution and facial anatomy all matter when deciding whether liposuction is appropriate. Poor skin elasticity can limit the result because liposuction removes fat but does not automatically tighten loose skin.
For patients considering surgery in the South Bay, Adonis Plastic Surgery’s chin liposuction guide explains candidacy, recovery and what the procedure can and cannot correct.
What If the Problem Is Loose Skin, Not Fat?
If the tissue feels thin and loose rather than soft and fatty, removing more fat may make the contour worse.
Skin Works offers ultrasound-based tightening options such as Ultherapy and HIFU for selected patients with skin laxity. These are different from Kybella. Their main purpose is tightening and collagen remodeling, not direct removal of a large fat pocket.
More advanced laxity may require a surgical neck lift or another surgical plan rather than repeated nonsurgical treatments.
Can a Small Chin Make a Double Chin Look Worse?
Yes. Limited chin projection can make the neck and jawline look less defined even when there is only a modest amount of submental fat.
In those cases, removing fat alone may not create the profile the patient expects. A qualified clinician should assess the relationship between the chin, jawline, skin and neck before recommending treatment.
What About Noninvasive Fat-Reduction Devices?
Noninvasive approaches such as cryolipolysis and selected energy-based devices can reduce submental fat in appropriately selected patients. The evidence is strongest for specific devices and protocols rather than for a generic category such as “fat melting.”
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of submental cryolipolysis found measurable reductions in fat thickness and volume across eight studies involving 206 patients. Results were gradual and generally less dramatic than surgical liposuction.
Skin Works’ double chin treatment guide compares the clinic’s current nonsurgical and surgical pathways in one place.
How Do You Choose Between Kybella and Chin Lipo?
Kybella makes more sense when the concern is a localized submental fat pocket, surgery is not desired, and the patient accepts swelling and a series of treatments.
Chin liposuction may make more sense when there is more fat to remove, the patient wants a larger change in one procedure, and skin quality is good enough to redrape.
Neither is automatically the right choice when loose skin or facial structure is the main issue.
When Should a Double Chin Be Medically Evaluated?
Most double-chin concerns are cosmetic. But a new or one-sided neck mass, a firm lump, pain, trouble swallowing, voice changes, enlarged lymph nodes or rapidly changing swelling should be medically evaluated rather than assumed to be fat.
A cosmetic treatment should never be used to mask an unexplained neck mass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lose chin fat naturally?
If the fullness is related to overall body fat, weight loss may reduce it. You cannot control exactly where fat comes off first, and some people retain submental fullness even at a healthy weight.
Do jaw exercises get rid of a double chin?
No good evidence shows that jaw or neck exercises selectively burn submental fat. They may exercise muscles, but spot fat reduction does not work that way.
Is Kybella FDA-approved for neck fat?
Kybella is FDA-approved for moderate to severe submental fat in adults. The FDA specifically recommends against using it for subcutaneous fat outside the submental region.
How many Kybella treatments can you have?
The FDA label permits up to six treatment sessions at least one month apart. Your actual plan may require fewer sessions depending on anatomy and response.
Is chin liposuction permanent?
Removed fat cells do not grow back, but remaining cells can enlarge with weight gain and the neck continues to age. Skin laxity can also change the result over time.
What works best if I have both fat and loose skin?
A combined plan may be needed. Removing fat alone can leave lax skin more obvious, while tightening alone may not be enough if there is substantial fat.
Sources & Medical References
- U.S. FDA: Kybella Prescribing Information, Revised September 2026
- U.S. FDA: 2026 Safety Communication on Unapproved Kybella Use
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Injection Lipolysis
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Double Chin Liposuction
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Deoxycholic Acid for Submental Fat Reduction
- 2025 Review: Deoxycholate for Subcutaneous Fat Reduction
- 2025 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Cryolipolysis for Submental Fat
This article is educational and does not replace medical evaluation. Treatment choice depends on whether the concern is fat, skin laxity, anatomy or another neck condition. Kybella should be used only according to current prescribing information and by a qualified healthcare professional.