How to get rid of your double chin

Double chins generally stem from one of two reasons – being overweight or having sagging skin due to ageing. No matter what the reason, having a double chin doesn’t look or feel great and will have you trying to hide it at every turn. However, wearing a turtleneck top or tilting our heads at certain angles are only short-term results to a long-term problem. The best way of getting rid of a double chin is to lose weight or have surgery. While there are surgical procedures that help to eliminate a double chin, they are usually expensive and relatively painful. There are other easier, less costly and less painful ways to get rid of your double chin, so try these first before setting off on the surgical route.

What causes a double chin?

1. Excess Weight- The most common cause of a double chin is that of having excess weight or extra body fat. Carrying excess body fat or being overweight will naturally lead to the creation of a double chin as the fat layers beneath the skin increase to store more fat.

2. Age- Many people begin forming a double chin as they get older. Ageing causes the skin to lose its elasticity and together with muscle loss, which is also a side-effect of ageing, can cause the chin to sag. Once the muscles in the jaw begin to slacken, and the skin around the chin begins to loosen, this in turn will cause the chin to sag.

3. Genetics- A double chin can also be caused by hereditary factors. Similar to the color of your hair or eyes, if other family members tend to have double chins, there might be a chance that you have inherited the genetics that create the double chin and will therefore naturally form one. This, however, is not set in stone – even if you have a genetic predisposition to a double chin, a change in lifestyle and diet can improve your physical condition. 

How to reduce your double chin

There are a number of ways to get rid of a double chin, ranging from exercise and diet to surgical procedures. We take a look at some of the treatments to help you lose those unwanted layers.

1. Exercise and Diet- The best way to get rid of excess fat in your chin is to lose weight and the only way to do this efficiently is through a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Eat a healthy, low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

Exercise at least 4-5 times a week for at least 30-45 minutes each time, making sure your heart rate increases (meaning you break into a sweat). If vigorous exercise is difficult for you due to injury, do gentle exercise every day of the week, such as a walk, or swim. Making sure you are moving every day increases your blood flow and metabolism,  which in turn, burns fat and soon you will see that double chin disappearing!

Expert Tip! Drink a full glass of water before each meal – this will make you feel fuller and help you to eat less at each mealtime.

2. Chew Gum- Chewing gum is a very way to give your jaw and facial muscles a workout, which not only helps burn any excess fat from around your face and chin, reducing that double chin, but also keeps your facial skin firm and flexible.

3. Perform Double Chin Exercises- Special double chin exercises target the muscles of the face and jaw to tone and firm them to get rid of the double chin. Performing these exercises regularly can go a long way towards keeping skin from sagging, getting rid of excess chin fat and keeping facial skin firm and supple.

The best double chin exercise works on the platysma, the muscle that runs from the jawline all the way down to your shoulder. Follow these simple steps to exercise the platysma muscle:

• Open your mouth wide and pull your bottom lip tight over your bottom teeth
• Move your lower jaw up and down slowly
• Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times at first, adding repetitions as you can feel your facial muscles getting stronger

Once you feel your facial muscles getting stronger, add these other chin exercises to the routine to stretch and tone the muscles of the jaw, neck and face.

• Assume a standing or seated position and tilt your head back until you’re looking upward
• Pucker your lips, as if for a kiss. Hold the pucker for five seconds
• Try to keep the other muscles in your face relaxed as you’re doing this exercise