Start with what is causing your double chin
A double chin is not a single problem. For some people it is mainly a small pocket of fat under the chin. For others it is loose skin that has lost its support, so the angle between the jaw and the neck has softened. Many people have a mixture of both, and some also have a small or receding chin, which makes any fullness look larger.
This matters because the 2 treatments compared here do different jobs. Fat dissolving injections work on fat. Endolift works on fat and skin. Choosing well depends on knowing which is the bigger part of your problem. A simple test helps: look at your profile in a mirror with your head level. If the skin under the chin feels soft and thin when you pinch it, laxity is significant. If it feels thick, fat plays a larger part.
How fat dissolving injections work, in general terms
Fat dissolving injections are given into the fat under the chin with a fine needle. The aim is to break down fat cells, which the body then clears over the following weeks. They are often given as a course of more than 1 session, spaced some weeks apart, and swelling after each session is common.
What they do not do is tighten skin. If you have good skin tone and a small pocket of fat, that may not matter. If your skin is already a little loose, reducing the fat underneath can leave the skin looking no tighter, and occasionally looser. Ask any clinic offering injections how many sessions they expect you to need, what product they use, and what the total cost of the course will be. It is also worth asking who gives the injections and what side effects to expect in the days after each session.
How Endolift works under the chin
Genuine Endolift uses the LASEmaR 1500 laser by Eufoton at a wavelength of 1470 nm, with original single use fibres. After local anaesthetic, a fibre between 200 and 600 microns wide is placed under the skin through a tiny entry point. There are no incisions and no stitches.
The 1470 nm wavelength is strongly absorbed by water and fat. It can liquefy small fat deposits under the chin. It also contracts the fibrous septa, which gives some tightening straight away, and it triggers collagen remodelling, as weaker Type III collagen is replaced by stronger Type I. So Endolift addresses fat and skin at the same time, and the result usually keeps improving for around 6 months. Treatment takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and most people need 1 session. The neck and double chin page explains the area in more detail.
Side by side
| Question | Fat dissolving injections | Endolift |
|---|---|---|
| Treats fat | Yes, small pockets | Yes, small pockets |
| Tightens skin | No | Yes, mild to moderate laxity |
| Usual number of sessions | Often more than 1 | Usually 1 |
| Anaesthetic | Ask the clinic | Local anaesthetic |
| Suitable for heavy, hanging skin | No | No; surgery is better |
Neither option is suitable for large volumes of fat, where liposuction may be more effective, or for heavy, hanging neck skin, where a neck lift is usually the honest answer. Neither changes the shape of the chin bone. The comparison with liposuction is covered in Endolift vs neck liposuction.
Recovery and risks with Endolift
After Endolift under the chin, expect swelling, bruising, redness and tenderness. The skin can feel numb for a while, and the treated area can feel firm or lumpy as fat clears. Most of this settles within days, although numbness and firmness can take 1 to 2 weeks or longer. A compression strap is worn for 3 to 4 days. Most people return to work the next day or within 48 hours.
Rarer risks include burns, uneven skin, infection, scarring at the entry point and temporary weakness of a nerve. Near the jaw, irritation of the marginal mandibular nerve can make the smile look uneven for a period. These risks are uncommon but should always be explained before treatment. The side effects and safety page has more detail.
Results can last up to 2 years, depending on age, skin, weight stability, sun exposure and smoking. Results vary from person to person.
Cost and how to decide
At TK Medispa in Kensington, Endolift under the chin is priced as a single face area at £1,500. If the jowls are also softening, the lower face (lower cheeks, jowls, chin and neck) costs £2,000. Both prices include the photo assessment, video consultation, treatment, local anaesthetic, aftercare and review. When comparing with injections, compare the cost of the whole course rather than a single session. The cost page lists all areas.
- Small fat pocket, firm skin, happy with several sessions: injections may be enough.
- Small fat pocket with some loose skin: Endolift is often the better fit.
- Large fat volume: ask about liposuction.
- Heavy, hanging skin: a surgical neck lift is usually better than either.
Dr Seth's view "The question I ask is whether the skin will tighten on its own once the fat has gone. In a young person with firm skin, it often does, and injections can be reasonable. Once there is some laxity, I prefer a treatment that tightens as well as reducing fat, otherwise the patient can swap fullness for looseness."
Next step
To find out which option fits your chin and neck, send 3 photos (front, left and right, in natural light, head level) for Dr Seth's free assessment through the booking page.
Questions people also ask
Can fat dissolving injections make loose skin worse?
They do not tighten skin, so if the skin under your chin is already a little loose, removing the fat beneath it can leave it looking no firmer and occasionally looser. This is why it helps to have the quality of your skin assessed before choosing a fat only treatment.
Can I have Endolift after fat dissolving injections?
Often yes, but timing matters. Dr Seth will want to know when your last injection was and how the area responded, and swelling from injections should have settled first. Mention any previous treatment under the chin when you send your photos.
Which option has the shorter recovery?
Both cause swelling. Injections may need several sessions, each with its own swelling. Endolift is usually 1 session, with swelling, bruising and a compression strap for 3 to 4 days, and most people return to work the next day or within 48 hours.
Is a double chin always caused by fat?
No. A double chin can come from fat, loose skin, a small or receding chin, or a mixture. Weight and posture play a part too. Treating only the fat works when fat is the main issue, which is why an honest assessment of the cause matters more than the choice of device.
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Results vary between individuals and are not guaranteed. Endolift® and LASEmaR® are registered trademarks of Eufoton® S.r.l.