Double chin muscle tightening

A double chin forms when there is a lot of fat under the chin, or when the muscle at the front of the neck has loosened and separated. The two can overlap.

There are broadly three causes of a bulky look under the chin.

Directly beneath the skin at the front of the neck lies a single wide, thin layer of muscle. In medical terms, it is called the platysma. This muscle supports the tissue under the chin from below.

If you lose weight or reduce fat, the fat decreases. But the loosened, separated muscle remains as it is. This is why a double chin can remain regardless of weight.

Besides the three, there are other things that make the area under the chin look bulky: loose skin, a small or recessed lower jawbone, and a prominent submandibular gland. The position of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (the front part of the digastric muscle) and the hyoid bone also affects the shape under the chin.

That is why at the consultation we first distinguish the cause. The suitable method differs depending on the cause.

A Word from the Doctor

"What determines the skeleton of our face is, broadly, 1. bone, 2. muscle, 3. fat, and 4. skin. So if there is a lot of bone, the bone should be reduced, and if there is a lot of the rest, whether muscle, fat, or skin, a procedure that reduces each of them can be done."

Double chin muscle tightening is surgery in which an incision is made under the chin and the separated muscle at the front of the neck is gathered to the center and tied.

In a word, it is surgery that brings the separated muscle back together in the middle.

In medical terms, it is called platysmaplasty. The edges of the platysma that have separated to the left and right are sutured together in the middle to gather them again.

It is similar to closing a garment whose front panels have come apart and sewing it together in the middle.

The layer it addresses differs from that of procedures that remove fat. It is also not surgery that trims away excess skin. This distinction is explained below in Differences from Other Methods.

If there is also a lot of fat under the chin, liposuction is often done together. If necessary, fat is also removed directly. A procedure to remove the submandibular gland (the salivary gland under the chin) is rarely done.

We discuss it when the area under the chin is bulky even after losing weight, or when a double chin remains even after liposuction.

As you read the list, picture the area under your own chin in the mirror. If any of the following apply, we check at the consultation whether double chin muscle tightening is right for you.

• The area under my chin looks bulky regardless of my weight
• My double chin was not resolved even though I had liposuction
• When I lower my head, flesh bunches up under my chin
• In profile, the boundary between my jawline and neck is blurred

Even among double chins, the cause differs from person to person. This surgery is considered when separated muscle is the main cause.

Meeting one of these does not mean we will immediately recommend surgery. The first of our treatment principles is "We never recommend unreasonable surgery." If surgery is not needed in your case, we will tell you so.

Liposuction addresses fat, while double chin muscle tightening addresses the muscle in the center under the chin. Surgery that pulls the neck and jawline upward from the outside (the side and back direction) is a neck lift.

From the names alone, it is natural to be confused about what differs and how.

Anesthesia, time, and hospital stay are as follows.

The areas addressed and the incisions are as follows.

When Another Method Suits You Better

• If the area under the chin is bulky because of fat and the muscle has not separated much: look first at methods that reduce fat (liposuction).
• If a lot of neck skin remains or the sagging extends to the sides of the neck: see Neck Lift surgery information, which pulls the neck and jawline upward from the outside (the side and back direction). For vertical bands (neck bands), whether to consider double chin muscle tightening or a neck lift is decided at the consultation according to how much skin remains.
• If your main concern is cheeks that have descended and a jawline that has lost definition: see Facelift surgery information. If the sagging is less, see Mini Facelift surgery information.
• If sagging is at an early stage and incisional surgery is still too early: look first at Thread Lift procedure information.

After anesthesia, an incision is made under the chin, and the separated neck muscle is gathered to the center and tied. It takes 1 hour.

Since it may feel vague the first time, we have laid it out step by step.

1. A consultation is held and the cause is distinguished

We look at which of fat, muscle, and skin is making the double chin. Whether a neck lift or facelift would be a better fit is also decided at this time. Please tell us about all medications you take and illnesses you have. Even things that seem trivial are fine.

2. Anesthesia is given

Sedation or general anesthesia is used.

3. An incision is made under the chin

The incision under the chin gives access to the muscle in the center of the neck.

4. The platysma is gathered to the center and tied

The edges of the muscle that have separated to the left and right are gathered to the center and sutured.

5. The incision is sutured

The skin is sutured along the incision line.

6. You go home the same day

A hospital stay is not required.

If there is also a lot of fat under the chin, liposuction is often done together, and if necessary, fat is also removed directly. A procedure to remove the submandibular gland (the salivary gland under the chin) is rarely done.

Whether a drain (a thin tube that removes collected blood and fluid) and a compression band are used after surgery, and when they are removed:

The incision line is placed near the crease under the chin, in a spot hidden by the chin when viewed from the front. After recovery, it is not easily noticeable.

The incision line is red at first. Over time, it comes closer to the color of the surrounding skin.

Depending on your constitution, a hypertrophic scar (a thick, raised scar) may form. If you have ever had a large scar from a previous surgery or injury, please tell us at the consultation.

Most people can resume daily activities to some degree 1–2 weeks after surgery. It is surgery after which you go home the same day without a hospital stay, but the time swelling and bruising take to subside should be considered separately.

If you have work or an important appointment coming up, this is probably what you are most curious about.

The recovery schedule (when swelling and bruising are at their worst, how long a compression band is worn, when stitches are removed, and when the final shape is checked):

The speed of recovery differs from person to person. If you have an important event coming up, please tell us in advance at the consultation.

So that you do not have to endure recovery alone, the doctor and the nursing team check your swelling, pain, and condition together. The third of our treatment principles is “We see patients more frequently after surgery.”

A Word from the Doctor

"Careful treatment and follow-up after surgery are essential to avoid major problems."

Precautions after surgery

You do not necessarily need to use cold or hot compresses.

Sleeping position and lowering or turning the head, when to start face washing, shampooing, makeup, and shaving, when to resume exercise, drinking, and saunas, and the schedule of visits to the clinic after surgery:

When a facelift is done, double chin muscle tightening is almost always done together.

First, a brief note on which area each of the two surgeries addresses.

A facelift is surgery that pulls the cheeks and jawline upward, and double chin muscle tightening is surgery that gathers the separated muscle in the center under the chin. Other surgeries done together with a facelift (facial fat grafting, facial liposuction) and the facelift process are explained in Facelift surgery information.

When Done Together with a Neck Lift

If the neck also sags, we discuss doing it together with a neck lift. If the only problem is separated muscle under the chin, only double chin muscle tightening is done. If a lot of neck skin remains or the sagging extends to the sides of the neck, a neck lift is considered together. A neck lift is explained in Neck Lift surgery information.

Doing them together makes the overall surgery time longer.

The anesthesia method, whether a hospital stay is needed, and the overall surgery time when done together with a neck lift or facelift:

You can call our main number, 02-541-8500, or apply through Consultation & Booking information.

If you still have questions after reading this, please feel free to ask them at your consultation.

The clinic is located on the 4th floor of Vorati Al Building, 480 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station.

At the consultation, please tell us about any previous procedures and surgeries (including liposuction under the chin), the medications you take, and whether you smoke.