Firming up a double chin the non-invasive way

Facial yoga is the beauty trend of the moment, but most of the people recommending it are not dermatologists. In fact, some dermatologists have warned that exercising your face by doing a bizarre contortion can cause your muscles to spasm and leave permanent damage. And as you might already know, repetitive and prolonged facial expressions can lead to wrinkles and lines.
Exercise is the golden word today, as people are becoming more health conscious than ever. However, not everything with the word exercise in it is good for you or will benefit your body and beauty. When your facial skin sags, it is usually due to collagen and elastin loss. Facial exercises might improve blood circulation, but do not help much in collagen production.
If you want to boost collagen in your skin, there are many approaches you can try. The first is Thermage, which targets the deeper layer of the skin, where collagen is produced. Thermage addresses the visible signs of ageing, toning those trouble areas in just one treatment without surgery, with results that can last up to a year. The radiofrequency from the device will heat up this layer and stimulate the skin’s natural collagen production, resulting in firmer and more youthful skin. The heat also makes the collagen contract, so the skin becomes tightened.
You might also want to try Ulthera, which is a non-invasive procedure cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration to lift skin on the neck, on the eyebrow and under the chin as well as to improve lines and wrinkles on the decolletage. It uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to target the SMAS layer, the outer surface of muscle that surgeons tighten when performing a face lift, to lift and tone the skin from deep inside.
Another option is Duo Lift Up, which works by delivering a safe level of heat to restore skin firmness. It is a non-surgical procedure that uses radiofrequency and ultrasound technology to boost the skin’s collagen production.
While the idea of these three technologies might sound similar, in practice they are different. It is best to consult an experienced dermatologist to determine which solution would be best for you. In some cases, a combination of two or more is recommended for best results.
My other tip is to avoid certain habits that could add years to your neck and chin. One of those habits is sleeping on a pillow that is too thick, as it will angle your neck downward, leaving sleep lines on your neck. They might disappear after a few hours when you’re young, but as you get older, it takes longer and longer for those lines to disappear, and at one point they will become permanent.
Excessive use of your smartphone does the same, as you are likely to tuck your chin and look down while using your phone. Smartphone face is a term coined by a British cosmetic surgeon, referring to sagging jowls and double chins caused by spending too much time looking at your phone, with your head bent slightly forward. The doctor said you might shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jowl area, leading to a drooping jawline. This means when you’re chatting on LINE, you might also be developing new lines on your neck.

THANISORN THAMLIKITKUL MD is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her to [email protected]