A double chin, known medically as submental fat, is one of the most common aesthetic concerns we see. It can make the face look heavier and the jawline less defined, and it often stays put even when weight elsewhere changes.
Double chin fat freezing (cryolipolysis) uses a dedicated chin applicator to cool the fat under the chin without surgery. Here is how it works, how many sessions it usually takes, what it costs and what to expect.
Why a Double Chin Can Be Hard to Shift
Submental fat sits beneath the chin and along the upper neck. Even people who are slim elsewhere can carry it, for reasons that include:
- Genetics: the tendency to store fat under the chin often runs in families
- Age and hormones: fat distribution changes over time
- Skin laxity: as skin under the chin loses elasticity, even a small amount of fat becomes more visible
- Weight changes: repeated gain and loss can leave fullness in this area
Neck exercises and face yoga are unlikely to shift submental fat, because exercise does not reduce fat in one specific spot.
How Double Chin Fat Freezing Works
We use a chin applicator that is smaller and more targeted than the applicators used on the body. Gentle suction draws the tissue under the chin between controlled cooling panels, which are designed to cool the fat cells enough that the body gradually breaks them down and clears them, while protecting the skin above.
The cleared fat cells are removed naturally over the following weeks, which is why the change is gradual rather than immediate. Results can be long-lasting if your weight stays stable.
The Treatment Experience
The applicator is placed under the chin. The first few minutes feel cold and firm, with some pressure, and this usually fades to numbness as the area cools. A chin session takes about 45 minutes.
No anaesthetic is needed and most clients return to normal activities straight away. Mild redness, numbness or tenderness in the treated area can last a few days.
How Many Sessions?
Most clients have one or two sessions. If a second session would help, it is usually around 8 weeks after the first, and we assess the full result at around 12 weeks. We will tell you honestly at consultation whether fat freezing suits you, and how many sessions we would expect.
Results Timeline
Changes are gradual. Initial changes usually start to show from around 4 to 8 weeks after treatment, and we assess the full result at around 12 weeks. How much difference you see varies from person to person, and no particular result can be guaranteed.
Fat freezing is not the right treatment if the fullness under your chin is mainly loose skin rather than fat. In that case skin tightening may be more appropriate, and we will assess this at your consultation.
Price
Double chin fat freezing (Chin Head Cryo) is £350 per session. If you pre-pay, two sessions save 20% and three save 30%, which brings it to £245 per session. See our pricing page for every fat freezing area, or read more on our main fat freezing page.
Combining Treatments
For jawline definition, double chin fat freezing can be combined with:
- Skin tightening: to address laxity alongside the fat reduction
- HIFU: to work on the jowl and neck area
- Muscle toning: to work on the muscles of the jaw and neck
Book your free consultation at Skin Health Practice, our women-only clinic in Hounslow: call 020 3886 1313 or visit 65-73 Staines Road, Hounslow, TW3 3HW.