The double chin is a facial feature that greatly vexes many people. While it’s not dangerous or painful, it can cause people a lot of anxiety and make them uncomfortable leaving the house and attending normal social events. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do at home to help prevent, and potentially remedy, the dreaded double chin.
When we say “double chin,” we’re referring to the layer of tissue under the chin, which may sag in some people, sometimes significantly. While genetics can play a role in the development of a double chin, in the majority of cases, underlying factors are the aging process, and/or carrying around extra weight. When the muscle under the chin decreases in elasticity, a double chin can be the result.
Surgery is a painful and potentially dangerous solution
Some people who sport a double chin consider surgical procedures to “tuck it” back into place. However, any surgical procedure can have complications, which are sometimes severe. One such procedure is a chin liposuction. On this surgery, some plastic surgeons have reported that it can actually worsen skin elasticity, an unsightly scar may show under the neck, that skin can pucker, and nerve damage can occur.
This surgery may also be ineffective for people over the age of 30 who do not have good skin elasticity. Since worsening skin elasticity is one primary factor behind double chins, this surgery may do absolutely nothing in these cases, while exposing patients to unnecessary risks.
Other surgeries that people sometimes undergo to remedy double chins include face-lifts and neck-lifts. These surgeries also have some pretty disturbing risk factors. While they are categorized as “infrequent,” these risks may include bleeding and bruising, loss of muscle function, hair loss and loss of skin as a result of tissue death. There is also the risk of an infection, as with any surgery.
If you hate your double chin but want to tackle the problem the natural way, without all the cutting and scary potential side effects, try the following seven home remedies.
Evaluate your diet
When you are carrying around extra weight, or when you notice your flesh sagging in certain areas, the first step is always to take a good, hard look at what you are putting into your body. To a large extent, we are what we eat, so make sure that you’re eating for health. If you’re eating a bunch of junk and processed food, you are contributing to a double chin, excess weight, sagging skin in other areas and a host of chronic illnesses.
It may be beneficial to keep a food journal and write down everything that you eat for seven days. At the end of the week, take a look at what you wrote and evaluate it. Are you eating processed foods? It’s time to stop. Are you eating foods or drinking beverages that contain added sugars? That’s definitely something to cut out. Are you eating enough vegetables? These are certainly something to include.
The key to healthy eating — and to look and feel your best — is to cut out the processed and sugary junk and stick to whole, natural foods from the Earth. Lots of fruits and vegetables, along with healthy proteins and natural fats, are essential. Replacing all unhealthy, processed oils in your meals with organic, extra-virgin coconut oil is one very beneficial step.
Be sure to drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated, and consider drinking a cup or two of green tea each day to aid in your weight loss goals. Keeping your entire body healthy is the best way to ensure that your chin stays where it should. This step alone may help significantly with the sag.
Make sure you’re moving
Along with a healthy diet, getting consistent exercise is essential to keeping your body toned and taught. Plus, a sedentary lifestyle is a primary risk factor in all sorts of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and more.
Strive to walk for at least half an hour every day. Try to walk briskly as much as you can. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs whenever possible. Instead of binge-watching Netflix or surfing the internet for a couple hours in the evening, head outside and play some backyard sports with your family or friends.
The more you move, the better off your body will be — chin included.
Check your posture
Good posture is important for a number of reasons, such as keeping your spine aligned and keeping your joints and muscles from tensing up and hurting. It can also help to prevent a double chin. Pay attention to how you’re holding your face and neck throughout the day. Try sitting and standing up as straight as you can. Don’t scrunch up your neck too much when you’re looking down at things.
Also, don’t hold your phone using your neck and ear — it’s not doing any favors for your chin.
Stretch your face and neck
There are a number of stretches that may help to reduce your double chin. One is a neck roll, which helps to tone those muscles in your chin, neck and jaw. Sit up straight or stand. Start with your head straight and your eyes looking forward. Lean your head to one side and make a gentle, slow circle with your chin, keeping your back straight and your shoulders pulled back. Repeat on the other side.
Another exercise is a chin lift. Start by sitting or standing up straight. Look up towards the ceiling and pucker your lips upward. Hold for a few seconds, and go back to a relaxed position. Repeat about 15 times.
Give yoga a try
For any sort of sagging skin or muscle, yoga may work wonders. This ancient practice helps to tone your muscles and improve elasticity in the skin throughout your body. Look for a class in your area, and before you sign up, ask the instructor specifically about your double chin concerns. If the type of yoga you find does not address your concerns, keep looking — numerous styles may help.
There is also a practice called “Face Yoga Method” that may help alleviate a double chin. Check out this video below.
Egg white mask
Eggs are full of nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, E (essential to skin health) and a range of B-vitamins. They also contain an array of minerals, including iodine, phosphorus and selenium, plus a lot of healthy, skin-nourishing fats. On top of that, egg whites can help to tighten your skin when used as a mask treatment.
To make an egg white mask, whip up an egg white or two and smooth over your chin, neck and face. Leave this on until it is completely dry, then rinse. You can do this weekly or bi-weekly. If your skin feels a bit dry after this treatment, moisturize with a light layer of organic, extra virgin coconut oil.
Speaking of eggs, eating them can do a lot for your health as well. As we have previously reported, eggs have been linked to both lowering blood sugar and raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. In moderation, these can make a wonderful addition to a healthy, whole food diet.
Cocoa butter massage
Cocoa butter is an ultra-rich moisturizer that can help to improve the skin’s elasticity over time. It also contains plenty of antioxidants, which nourish your skin and may help to reduce signs of aging. Start with a tablespoon or so of cocoa butter, warm it up a little and apply it to your chin, neck and face. Then, massage the cocoa butter into your face for about ten minutes with your thumbs. Move in upward motions toward your chin. You can do this nightly or weekly, depending on your preference.
Final thoughts
It’s important to remember that while certain remedies, such as the stretches and masks described above, may help to specifically reduce your double chin, getting your entire body healthy and toned is the key to reducing such problem areas.
Instead of just focusing on your chin, focus on getting yourself — as a whole — as healthy as possible through a clean diet, plenty of water, regular exercise, quality sleep and stress management techniques. If you work on your entire lifestyle as a whole, you’ll likely see problem areas melting away as you become more radiant both inside and out.
This is important for prevention as well as getting back to a healthy state, so whether you have a double chin or not, make the choice to get healthy today and start seeing the positive results in all areas of your life!
— Tanya Rakhmilevich
