“I have what I like to call a ‘chinneck.’ My chin just flows rather easily into my neck.”- Matthew Perry
His portrayal of Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom, Friends is unforgettable. He might have been able to wing his double chin but it’s not that easy for women. Having a double chin can lower your confidence. In fact, Missy Elliot (the rapper queen) has once said that “the double chin is not good for the red carpet”.
Let’s face it! A double chin is never greeted with enthusiasm. It is a sign of ageing or a mere manifestation of hereditary problems. A double chin may be caused by excessive weight gain or sagging skin due to ageing. Some body parts are more prone to storing fat compared to the others. The chin area is one of them. Therefore, too much body fat being deposited under the jaw causes double chin, which may be embarrassing.
Though plastic surgery is the easiest way to hide a double chin, it is quite an expensive process. If you want to get rid of a double chin fast without opting for surgery, then working out is the perfect option. Though it is a time consuming process, it works and it is definitely more economical. Here are some of the causes of the sagging chin:
There are some people who naturally inherit a double chin. Unfortunately, it may be in your genes. A double chin will be more prominent in a round face. Our genes decide the shape of our face and the areas of fat deposits.
As your metabolism slows down, you lose muscle mass and the bones become weaker; your skin loses elasticity leading to a double chin.
When there is excessive fat storage in the body, then a double chin is the obvious result. A sudden decrease in the body weight may result in excessive loose skin too.
Here are some of the best and definite solutions on how to get rid of a double chin.
a. Open your mouth wide and move your lower jaw in an up and down movement as if you are trying to scoop out something with your lower jaw. You will notice your lower teeth touching your lower lip. Repeat this exercise 15 times and do it several times a day.
b. Raise your chin up and open and close your mouth as if you are chewing a gum. You will feel the jaw line tightening.
c. Stand up with your head at a natural angle. Bring your lower lip up as much as possible and do this for 20 seconds. Repeat several times a day.
d. Raise your head towards the ceiling and open your mouth as wide as you can. Now, pucker your lips as much as you can and count till ten. This exercise will help you tighten your jaw line.
e. Sit up with your back straight on a chair and slowly tilt your head as far as you can. Close your mouth as tightly as you can and stay still for around 10 to 15 seconds. You will feel your neck muscles tightening.
f. Another double chin exercise is by lying with a pillow. Start tilting your head back, stretching your neck as far as you can. This will make your chin firmer, which will eventually help in making that double chin go away.
g. With the back of your hand, slowly slap underneath the chin. Start slowly and increase the pace gradually. Repeat this exercise several times a day.
Double chin reduction gets easier when these exercises become a part of your day.
Maintaining a good, healthy and well-balanced diet can also help you get rid of double chin. If you are following a weight loss program, double chin exercises are important, because your facial muscle will sag once you have lost weight. This will result in a double chin.
Most of the time, double chins are caused due to weight gain. With a sedentary lifestyle, the importance of low calorie balanced diet is often ignored. Cutting back on junk foods and aerated beverages and even legumes will aid in the disintegration of the fat content. Studies show that with growing age, the consumption of junk foods only speeds up the ageing process. Investing in a healthy diet will not only reduce the double chin but also aid in the overall well-being and your intake of calories. Cutting back on your caloric intake will not only help you reduce double chin but also lose fat from other body parts as well.
Decreasing your intake of calories is another good way to reduce a double chin. You need to watch what you are eating. Follow a diet that is high in fiber and low in calories. Aim to drop at least 60-70% of your daily caloric intake. Diet is the key to get rid of a double chin.
Having a good posture is another way to reduce a double chin.
[ Read: Exercises For Slimming Your Face ]
The surgical answer is mentoplasty or lumpectomy. This surgery is relatively simple as it involves fat removal and muscle shortening by making a small cut underneath the chin. Surgery should be your last option. Try to reduce the double chin through exercise and proper diet only.
You can also change your personal style to decrease the appearance of the double chin. One way is through makeup.
Doing away with double chin is not as difficult as it seems. Just follow the above mentioned steps regularly and you will see your double chin disappearing. If all else fails and you still have a double chin, you can see a doctor to rule out fluid retention.