How To Prevent The Dreaded Double Chin!

We’re no strangers to the fact that as we get older gravity takes over and then it’s bye bye pert tightness, hello saggy everything. From drooping spaniel ear boobs (I blame pregnancy and children!) to flapping bingo wings and saggy turkey necks, yep we’ve all got those delights to look forward to. And whilst nature will of course takes its path regardless, there are some things you can do to certainly help minimise the aging process and to truly defy gravity.

In this article we’re focusing on the area of the body that in my opinion ages women the most; the chin and neck. It’s pretty much always on show right? I mean unless you permanently wear a high neck jumper, there’s really no disguising it. Whether you have a double chin through carrying too much extra weight around your face, or if you have excess saggy skin that creates the illusion of a double chin, I’ve put together some top tips to help you learn more and create a leaner, tighter and more youthful profile.

You Are What You Eat

Right, there’s no easy way to put this…if you’re overweight then chances are you’re gonna have a double chin and one of the most effective ways of getting rid of that extra layer of fatty tissue is to lose a couple of pounds. It’s not rocket science; if you want to lose weight you must eat fewer calories than you are burning.

Try to…

  • Avoid processed foods.
  • Replace refined ‘white’ foods with wholemeal versions instead.
  • Eat lean protein – chicken, fish etc.
  • Avoid fried and fast foods.
  • Reduce sugar intake.
  • Be sensible about portion sizes.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a 100% guarantee that if you lose weight it will come of your chin (jeez if only it was that easy, oh for the weight to come off of my thighs when I diet!), but the facial area is usually one of the first places people notice weightloss.

Just remember, that some weight is a good thing though and be careful not to lose too much, because as you age it is very easy to look gaunt and this can be even more aging. You may also notice that where your double chin was previously filled with fat, it is now an empty saggy sack, not a good look. So look, here’s the bottom line, if you are carrying a bit of extra weight then yes by all means go on a diet to do something about it (your whole body and health will benefit from it not just the appearance of your chin!) but don’t have a preconceived image of what you’ll look like. Weightloss is one solution to getting rid of a double chin, but it’s not for everyone and chances are you’ll need to incorporate it alongside one or more of the other tips below.

Facial Exercises

Did you know that you can exercise your face in exactly the same way as your body? There are 43 muscles in the face as well as 18 in the neck, and you can give them their own mini workout to help tighten and strengthen and therefore reduce sagginess and signs of premature aging.

Exercises that specifically target a double chin often work on the platysma muscle that runs down from the jawline and connects to the shoulder. There are various different exercises you can do and of course a quick YouTube search will bring up tons of videos helping to explain how and what to do.

There are also products available that can assist with these exercises, such as the Paul Younane Neckline Trainer. This handy device applies targeted resistance to the neck and jaw, slowly building up muscle strength, whilst toning and defining in the process. For more information read my review of the Paul Younane Neckline Trainer here.

There is also a lot to be said for smiling and laughing regularly too as these use a lot of muscle power. Quite simply the happier you are, the tighter your jawline. Plus, you’ve got to admit that by default a smiling person always looks better than one with a frown!

One other tip in connection with exercising the jaw is to try chewing gum. The act of chewing uses 4 main muscles and it’s an all round workout for your jaw. Just remember to only chew sugar free gum and don’t swallow it or it’ll get caught in all your organs…well, that’s what my mum told me when I was a kid anyway! 😉

Lotions and Potions

The anti-aging beauty market is absolutely huge and with so many products on the shelves promising to tighten, lift prevent wrinkles, stop aging, restore, renew etc. etc. it’s no wonder we’re all left feeling a bit confused by it all. And let’s be honest, its pricey stuff, so the last thing you want is to spend a small fortune on the latest serum only to discover it only actually brings you out in spots! If you ignore all the hyped up lingo, you’re basically looking for something that contains collagen and vitamin E.

You can also try a few homemade concoctions that have the added benefit of not breaking the bank. Oils such as wheat germ and even olive oil are great for locking in moisture and smoothing fine lines. Or you could try using egg white as face mask; the protein in the egg helps to tighten the skin.

Of course there is always the option to use make up to contour your face to reduce the appearance of and to draw attention away from a double chin. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there to help assist you, or you could visit the make up counter of a department store to get advice about the best types of products and how to use them. One word of warning however, if you already have a few fine lines and wrinkles, try to resist the urge to use powder or anything too heavy, as this will sit in the lines and end up making you look older than you are.

Cosmetic Surgery

And finally, if all else fails and if you are feeling really self-conscious of your double chin you may decide to head down the path of cosmetic surgery. There are a couple of different surgical procedures that can eliminate a double chin, however they can be expensive and must only be carried out under the advice and practice of a professional.

Yep, chin liposuction really is a thing, it literally breaks the fat down, sucks it away and leaves the skin tighter and…bruised. But hey, bruises fade, although because treatment often need to be repeated, your bank balance is likely to fade too!

Lipolysis (or liposculpture) only treats fat, so if you’re looking for skin removal or an increase in your skins elasticity then this won’t give you what you’re after. You may also consider a form of Botox to help tighten up the jawline area or another option is Mesotherapy, which is a series of injections of deoxycholic acid that helps to dissolve fat. Please always seek advice from your doctor first and make sure you are aware of the risks and possible side effects involved.

Growing old is inevitable, but as you can see from the advice above there is absolutely no need for our necks to give away our age!


Have You Got Any Top Tips To Help Get Rid Of A Double Chin?

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