As many people approach middle age and beyond, they develop the dreaded double chin that can include sagging, excess skin or fat, or a receding profile. While this is a common issue, it is not one that needs to be lived with. There are procedures and surgeries available today that can improve the appearance of your chin, define your profile, and make you look years younger. The two procedures that Dr. Josh Waltzman recommends are Kybella and the neck lift. Determining which one is right for you is based on a number of factors including desired results, preferred recovery time, and your physical health.
A neck lift is a surgery similar to a facelift, only performed solely on the neck. Dr. Waltzman removes excess skin and fat and lifts and tightens the neckbands, resulting in a smoother profile and slimmer appearance. The surgery is performed with general anesthesia or IV sedation and involves an incision above the sideburn area that extends to the hairline behind the ear. Sagging neck skin is lifted, and the neckband muscles are tightened while fatty deposits in the neck and jowl area are redistributed. Once the tissues are lifted, the surgeon will remove excess skin and repair the neck muscles as well as remove any excess fat that remains.
As opposed to a neck lift, Kybella is a non-surgical, non-invasive outpatient treatment that involves injecting deoxycholic acid into the chin or neck area. This acid mimics a substance made by the body that absorbs fat. When injected into the chin area, it decreases the appearance of fat that hangs in that area and improves the appearance of the chin.
In some cases, it’s necessary to have a neck lift to get the results you want. If you have an excess amount of loose skin in your chin area, Kybella will likely not produce the appearance you’re after. One way to describe excess skin that has lost its elasticity is that it resembles a turkey wattle. If your skin in the neck area has this appearance, it’s likely you’ll need a neck lift to remove the excess skin and tighten the neckband muscles. Though a neck lift is a much more involved procedure than Kybella and will result in more recovery time, it does produce more dramatic results, especially in those whose skin has lost elasticity due to aging, weight loss, or other factors.
If your neck and chin skin is still fairly elastic and you have isolated fat deposits in the area, Kybella may be a viable option. Because it is non-invasive, virtually painless, and requires little to no recovery time, Kybella is usually the better choice if it will produce the desired results for a patient. The only recovery involved in a Kybella treatment is minimal swelling which usually peaks within a day after your procedure. A neck lift, on the other hand, is a major surgery that is similar to a facelift and requires anesthesia, incisions, and a week or more of recovery time. It will also result in scarring, though Dr. Waltzman will strive to keep this to a minimum.
If you’re not sure which procedure is right for you or if you’d like more detailed information on both procedures before making your decision, you need to choose a reputable, experienced plastic surgeon and schedule a consultation. If you live in the Long Beach, California area, you can schedule an appointment to see Dr. Josh Waltzman. Dr. Waltzman is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is committed to listening to his patients with compassion and developing a treatment plan that works best for their individual needs and lifestyle. He will always recommend the least invasive treatment for your desired results and will walk you through the pros and cons of each treatment he recommends.
There is no reason why you need to continue to live with a double chin. A neck lift or Kybella procedure can take care of the excess fat and skin in the neck and chin area and strengthen your profile while making you look years younger. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Waltzman today to find out which treatment is right for you!
