Even though, medically speaking, a double chin isn’t usually a sign of a health problem, many people consider them unsightly, and can harm your self-image. Often, double chins are associated with weight gain, although there are myriad potential causes. That’s why some people can have a double chin even if they are already at a healthy weight or in the process of losing weight. And the people of Metro Atlanta are not immune to this reality.
For that reason, it’s important to figure out what causes a ‘double chin’ first if you want to lose one.
Common Causes of a Double Chin
A double chin seems straightforward; just a little bit of extra fat around the jaw. But its causes can get surprisingly complex. Here are all of the most common reasons why people tend to find themselves with a little extra padding under the jawline.
Excess Fat
Probably the most common cause of a double chin is simply a general excess of fat. When you gain weight, the tendency is to see fat deposited all across the body, and unfortunately, that includes in the face and under the chin. And depending on your body type, it can be particularly easy for weight gain in your face to sneak up on you. For instance, if you just have a larger frame, a few extra pounds on the hips or belly might escape your notice. Then one day you go to take a selfie and find an unpleasant surprise. And when someone struggles with their weight, a double chin can be a particular source of self-consciousness. After all, you can conceal certain things with baggier clothing, but not so much an extra chin.
Aging Skin
The other most common cause that often goes overlooked is simply the effect that age has on our skin. Part of this is just a natural part of aging. Around our mid-20s, the amount of collagen our skin produces begins to decline. When this happens, skin starts to lose its elasticity and begins to sag. The more we age the less collagen we have and the more pronounced the effect becomes. And when the skin under our jaw begins to sag, it creates the same effect as if we were carrying extra fat in the same space. And further, we also tend to lose muscular definition with age, which accentuates the effect. While skin aging is a natural part of getting older, there are certain factors that can hasten the process. Things like smoking, poor diet, and sun exposure can all have deleterious effects on the health of our skin. At the same time, practicing good skincare habits and leading a generally healthier lifestyle can help to stave off the effects of aging.
Poor Posture
You wouldn’t happen to be reading this post on a smartphone or a laptop right now, would you? Because if you are, that may be a part of the problem. When we use either, we tend to crane our necks over to see what we’re doing. And adopting that posture is one of the worse things that we could be doing. Aside from potentially causing neck pain, this posture is bad news for the platysma muscle, which connects the neck to the chin. When this muscle weakens, it results in reduced elasticity around the jowls and the sagging effect that goes with it.
Facial Structure
Some factors associated with double chins are outside of our control. Chief among them is the basic shapes of our faces. Just as certain body types allow people some people to wear weight more flatteringly than others, certain facial shapes are more forgiving than others, and vice versa. In particular, people with recessive chins and weak jawlines will find themselves more susceptible to developing a double chin. This is simply because, for these individuals, the skin is stretched over a smaller area. And as it is less tightly drawn over the face, it only takes a relatively small increase in fat or a decrease in skin elasticity to cause a double chin. This is probably the chief reason why some people can be very slim but still develop a double chin.
Genetics
If you look at members of your family and see that many of them tend towards plump chins, then the odds are good that you’ll be predisposed towards developing one as wellWhile there probably isn’t a specific gene for having a double chin, any number of traits could make you more likely to get one. Aside from bone structure being a genetic trait, you could be predisposed towards weight gain, having thinner or less elastic skin, or being more likely to store fat around your chin.
Age
The skin can start to lose its elasticity as the body ages, which can lead to the appearance of extra or saggy skin that may contribute to a double chin.
Diet and weight
While weight gain is not always the cause of a double chin, it can contribute to it. A diet high in calories, processed foods, and unhealthful fats may influence weight gain and a double chin as well.
Genetics
Genes may play a role in people developing a double chin. Anyone with a family history of skin with little elasticity or double chins might be more likely to develop one themselves.
Posture
Poor posture can weaken the muscles of the neck and chin. This may contribute to a double chin over time, as the surrounding skin loses its elasticity when the muscles are not used.
Exercises that target a double chin
While there’s no scientific evidence that chin exercises work to get rid of your double chin, there’s anecdotal evidence.
Here are six exercises that may help strengthen and tone the muscles and skin in the area of your double chin. Unless otherwise indicated, repeat each exercise daily 10 to 15 times.
1. Straight jaw jut
- Tilt your head back and look toward the ceiling.
- Push your lower jaw forward to feel a stretch under the chin.
- Hold the jaw jut for a 10 count.
- Relax your jaw and return your head to a neutral position.
2. Ball exercise
- Place a 9- to10-inch ball under your chin.
- Press your chin down against the ball.
- Repeat 25 times daily.
3. Pucker up
- With your head tilted back, look at the ceiling.
- Pucker your lips as if you’re kissing the ceiling to stretch the area beneath your chin.
- Stop puckering and bring your head back to its normal position.
4. Tongue stretch
- Looking straight ahead, stick your tongue out as far as you can.
- Lift your tongue upward and toward your nose.
- Hold for 10 seconds and release.
5. Neck stretch
- Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
- Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
- Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and release.
6. Bottom jaw jut
- Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
- Turn your head to the right.
- Slide your bottom jaw forward.
- Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and release.
- Repeat the process with your head turned to the left.
We hope that these tips may help you reduce your double chin. If you still have a double chin after attempting these therapies, visit a doctor before it's too late. Lamidas is a well-known care center with the greatest medical staff to handle Double chin reduction difficulties. At Lamidas you can make an appointment with one of our professionals. A little assistance from a doctor may allow you to go through this without incident.
