Double Chin: exercises, injections and contouring compared

Key takeaways

• Kybella is the only FDA-approved fat-dissolving injectable and is approved only for fat under the chin in adults; about 70% improved at least one grade versus 19% on placebo in Trial 1.^[1]
• Swelling (87%), bruising (72%), pain (70%) and numbness (66%) were common after Kybella; nerve injury causing an uneven smile occurred in 4%.^[1]
• Spot exercises do not burn fat in one area: six weeks of daily abdominal exercise did not reduce belly fat in a randomized trial.^[11]
• In 2024, ASPS gave surgeon's fee ranges of $3,000 to $5,500 for chin liposuction and $7,500 to $13,000 for a neck lift.^[8]

In short: A double chin (fullness under the chin, called submental fat) comes from a mix of genetics, body weight, aging and loose skin. Overall weight loss can make it smaller, but chin exercises have no good evidence for burning fat in that spot. In-office options include Kybella injections (the only FDA-approved fat-dissolving injectable, and only for this area), FDA-cleared fat-freezing devices, chin liposuction and, when skin is loose, a neck lift. A board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon can tell which, if any, suits you (checked on October 6, 2026).

Contouring is not weight loss, and none of these treatments is needed for health. InstaTuck does not sell treatments; this page compares the evidence so you can ask better questions.

What causes a double chin

• Fat under the chin. Some people store fat there even at a lower body weight; the area also grows with overall weight gain.
• Loose skin. With age or after large weight loss, skin under the jaw can sag. ASPS notes that Kybella is not a good choice for people with loose skin or poor tone.
• Neck muscle bands. Vertical bands (platysmal bands) and jowls can add fullness. A neck lift, according to ASPS, addresses fat under the chin, loose neck skin, muscle banding and the “turkey wattle” look.
• Jaw and chin shape. Bone structure changes how the area looks from the side.

Does weight loss help?

Often, yes, because the fat under the chin is part of overall body fat. You cannot choose where fat comes off, though, and very fast weight loss can leave looser skin in the face and neck; see “Ozempic face”. ASPS says Kybella results last as long as weight is maintained, and chin liposuction works best near a stable weight. If weight is your goal, start with how to lose weight and the BMI calculator.

Do chin exercises work?

Exercises like jaw jutting or chin lifts are popular online, but we found no good-quality trials showing they reduce fat under the chin. The idea behind them, “spot reduction,” has been tested elsewhere in the body: in a randomized trial of 24 adults, six weeks of daily abdominal exercises (five days a week) improved muscle endurance but did not reduce belly fat, waist size or body fat compared with a control group. Exercise is still valuable for health and for overall fat loss; it just cannot target one spot. Our exercise hub and strength training guide cover what does work.

Kybella injections

Kybella (deoxycholic acid) was approved by the FDA in 2015 for adults with moderate to severe fullness from fat under the chin. It destroys fat cells where it is injected. A clinician gives multiple small injections across the area; the label allows up to six sessions at least one month apart, and ASPS says most people have at least two, four to six weeks apart, with results usually visible by about eight weeks. The label states that Kybella is not approved for fat anywhere else on the body. Our Kybella page has the full label details.

• Kybella
• Placebo

At least 1-grade improvement, Trial 170%18.6%

At least 1-grade improvement, Trial 266.5%22.2%

At least 2-grade improvement, Trial 218.6%3%

At least 10% less fat on MRI (both trials)43%5%

Kybella trial results: share who improved (12 weeks after the last session)

Item	Kybella	Placebo
At least 1-grade improvement, Trial 1	70%	18.6%
At least 1-grade improvement, Trial 2	66.5%	22.2%
At least 2-grade improvement, Trial 2	18.6%	3%
At least 10% less fat on MRI (both trials)	43%	5%

Composite of clinician and patient ratings. In Trial 1, 2-grade improvement was 13.4% vs under 0.1%.

Source: Kybella prescribing information, section 14 (DailyMed, revised September 2026) (checked on October 6, 2026)

• Kybella
• Placebo

Swelling87%43%

Bruising72%70%

Pain70%32%

Numbness66%6%

Redness27%18%

Hardness (induration)23%3%

Tingling14%4%

Nodules13%3%

Nerve injury (uneven smile)4%1%

Trouble swallowing2%1%

Kybella side effects at the injection site (label trials)

Item	Kybella	Placebo
Swelling	87%	43%
Bruising	72%	70%
Pain	70%	32%
Numbness	66%	6%
Redness	27%	18%
Hardness (induration)	23%	3%
Tingling	14%	4%
Nodules	13%	3%
Nerve injury (uneven smile)	4%	1%
Trouble swallowing	2%	1%

Placebo nerve injury and trouble swallowing were under 1%, shown as 1.

Source: Kybella prescribing information, Table 1 (DailyMed) (checked on October 6, 2026)

The label’s warnings include injury to the nerve that controls the lower lip (an uneven smile, which resolved in the trials, median 44 days), trouble swallowing, bruising (more likely with blood thinners), skin ulcers, tissue death and infection. It should not be used where there is an infection at the injection site. Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding should not have nonsurgical fat reduction, according to ASPS.

Fat freezing (cryolipolysis) under the chin

Some cooling devices are FDA cleared for the area under the chin and jaw. The current CoolSculpting Elite clearance (510(k) K233732, September 2024) lists cold-assisted fat reduction of the submental and submandibular areas in people with a BMI up to 46.2, and describes the intended effect as affecting “the appearance of visible fat bulges.” Clearance means the FDA found the device substantially equivalent to earlier devices, which is a different process from drug approval. Our cryolipolysis page explains sessions, results and the rare complication called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, in which the treated area grows larger (ASPS puts it at under 1%).

Chin liposuction and neck lift

Chin (submental) liposuction removes fat through small incisions and suits people with good skin elasticity. When loose skin or muscle bands are the main issue, a neck lift tightens skin and muscle and can be combined with liposuction. These are surgical procedures with anesthesia, recovery time and surgical risks. ASPS member surgeons performed 24,000 chin liposuctions and 22,445 neck lifts in 2024; the 2025 report counts 18,842 chin liposuctions. See liposuction for how the operation works.

Neck lift, surgeon's fee (2024)$7,500–$13,000

Chin liposuction, surgeon's fee (2024)$3,000–$5,500

$0$6,500$13,000

What double chin treatments cost: published price ranges

Item	Low	High
Neck lift, surgeon's fee (2024)	$7,500	$13,000
Chin liposuction, surgeon's fee (2024)	$3,000	$5,500

Surgeon's fee only. ASPS's 2023 average fee for its noninvasive fat reduction category, which includes Kybella and CoolSculpting, was $1,157 per procedure; total cost depends on the number of sessions.

Source: ASPS 2024 Procedural Statistics Release, average surgeon/physician fees (p. 28; archived copy) (checked on October 6, 2026)

The options side by side

What recovery and results look like

• Kybella: swelling, bruising and numbness are expected; ASPS notes the area can look fuller than before while swollen, and that fat reduction is usually visible by about eight weeks. In the trials, numbness lasting more than 30 days was reported by 42% of people treated with Kybella, and swelling lasting that long by 20%.
• Fat freezing: no anesthesia and usually no activity limits, according to ASPS; soreness is common, and the body clears treated fat over about four to six months, with an average reduction of around 20% in the treated area.
• Chin liposuction and neck lift: surgery with anesthesia, a compression garment, swelling for weeks and time off work; your surgeon will give a personal timeline.

With any option, results depend on keeping a stable weight. People who plan more weight loss, a pregnancy or a GLP-1 medicine often wait, because later changes can alter the result; ask your clinician how long to wait.

Questions to ask before any treatment

Before you book, it helps to decide what result would make a treatment worth it to you, and how much downtime, cost and risk you would accept. Injections and devices usually need several visits and give gradual, moderate changes; surgery is one bigger event with a longer recovery. A good clinician will also tell you when no treatment is needed, or when waiting for a stable weight makes more sense.

• Is my fullness mostly fat, loose skin, muscle bands or jaw shape, and what would each option change?
• Have you checked for medical causes such as thyroid or lymph node swelling?
• For Kybella: how many sessions do you expect for me, and what is the total price?
• For devices: which device is it, is it FDA cleared for under the chin, and how many sessions?
• For surgery: are you board certified, where will it be done, and what is the recovery?
• What happens to the result if my weight changes?

Our guide to finding a board-certified plastic surgeon explains how to check credentials, and the body contouring hub and body and appearance hub cover other areas. If worries about your appearance are weighing on you, our body image guide may help.

Questions to ask a professional

• Is my fullness mostly fat, loose skin, muscle bands or jaw shape?
• Could a medical problem such as thyroid or lymph node swelling be involved?
• How many sessions or what procedure would you expect for me, and what is the total price?
• Is this product or device FDA approved or cleared for under the chin?
• What happens to the result if my weight changes?

Frequently asked questions

What causes a double chin?

A mix of fat under the chin, overall body weight, genetics, aging and loose skin, plus neck muscle bands and jaw shape. New or one-sided swelling should be checked by a doctor first.

Can you get rid of a double chin with exercise?

There is no good evidence that chin exercises burn fat under the chin. Exercise helps overall fat loss and health, but spot reduction does not work, as trials in other body areas have shown.

Does losing weight get rid of a double chin?

It often makes it smaller, because the fat there is part of overall body fat. Loose skin or muscle bands may remain, and fast weight loss can leave looser skin.

How many Kybella sessions are needed?

The label allows up to six sessions at least one month apart. ASPS says most people have at least two, four to six weeks apart, with results usually visible by about eight weeks.

Is Kybella permanent?

Kybella destroys fat cells in the treated area, and ASPS says results are long-lasting as long as weight is maintained.

What are the risks of Kybella?

Swelling, bruising, pain and numbness are very common. Less common but important: nerve injury causing an uneven smile (4% in trials, resolved), trouble swallowing, skin ulcers, tissue death and infection.

Does CoolSculpting work under the chin?

CoolSculpting Elite is FDA cleared for the submental and submandibular areas in people with a BMI up to 46.2, to affect the appearance of visible fat bulges. Several sessions may be needed; ask about the rare risk of paradoxical fat growth.

How much does chin liposuction cost?

ASPS's 2024 statistics give a surgeon's fee range of $3,000 to $5,500, before anesthesia and facility costs.

Are cheap fat-dissolving injections online safe?

No. The FDA warns that unapproved products such as Aqualyx, Lipodissolve, Lipo Lab and Kabelline have caused scars, serious infections and painful knots. Never self-inject products bought online.

References

1. KYBELLA (deoxycholic acid) injection: prescribing information. Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (AbbVie), via DailyMed, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Drug label
2. Drugs@FDA: Kybella, NDA 206333. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
3. Injection lipolysis. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
4. Nonsurgical Fat Reduction. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
5. Neck lift. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
6. Using Fat-Dissolving Injections That Are Not FDA Approved Can Be Harmful. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
7. 510(k) K233732: CoolSculpting Elite system (indications for use). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
8. 2024 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release (archived copy captured 2026-01-02). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2025. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement
9. 2025 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2026. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement
10. 2023 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release (archived copy). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2024. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement
11. Vispute SS, Smith JD, LeCheminant JD, Hurley KS. The effect of abdominal exercise on abdominal fat. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2011. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181fb4a46 · PMID 21804427 (accessed October 7, 2026) Randomized trial
12. Cryolipolysis. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement

Facts checked on October 6, 2026

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.