As we age and our skin becomes less taut and the muscles beneath lose some of their strength, we develop saggy areas. On the abdomen, you would call this a pooch. Under the jawline, it’s the dreaded double chin.
In past blogs, we’ve discussed how Dr. Kearney offers Kybella, an injectable that targets the fat in a double chin. He also can remove fat with targeted liposuction. But some patients are worried about the swelling that can occur with Kybella, and they don’t want the invasiveness (albeit limited) with liposuction.
For those patients, we offer the perfect solution — CoolMini™. What CoolSculpting® has done for your abdomen it can now do for the excess fat under your chin. Dr. Kearney has added CoolMini™ to his regular CoolSculpting treatments. CoolMini™ uses a smaller applicator panel and is intended for much smaller areas such as under the chin.
What is CoolSculpting®?
Most people have heard about CoolSculpting®. CoolSculpting is a procedure that gets rid of stubborn fat effectively and safely without surgery. It is the only procedure cleared by the FDA that utilizes controlled cooling to eliminate fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.
The theory behind CoolSculpting came from two Harvard scientists who observed that some children got dimples from eating popsicles. They assumed that the fat cells in the cheeks were dying from the cold temperatures, creating the leaner, dimpled cheeks. The same concept applies to CoolSculpting, which uses controlled cooling (cryolipolysis) to target and kill fat cells. Fat cells freeze at higher temperatures than surrounding non-fat tissue. So, by precisely targeting the fat cells with the correct temperature, they are frozen and die. Over the next few weeks the dead fat cells are eliminated naturally by the body.
CoolMini™ = CoolSculpting® for your chin
CoolMini™ applies the same principles to much smaller areas such as under your chin. During the CoolMini™ procedure, a proprietary coupling gel is applied to the area under your chin. Once the gel is applied, a vacuum is initiated through the applicator to suction the fat deposit in the area. The key for the CoolMini™ procedure is the applicator, which is optimized to capture and effectively treat smaller fat pockets. For 30 to 60 minutes, the applicator is held there to do the cooling. The result is a cold-induced inflammatory response that ultimately leads to the death of fat cells under the chin. After a few days or weeks, these dead fat cells are absorbed by the body as it heals, resulting in a 20% fat reduction in the treated area. These fat cells are permanently removed, similar to what happens with liposuction, but without the surgery.
CoolMini™ is becoming an instant hit for a simple reason. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery in a 2015 survey found that over two thirds of people said they were bothered by a double chin. So, you’re not alone in wanting a slimmer profile under your chin.
Do you want to say goodbye to 20% of the fat living happily under your chin? Call Dr. Kearney at (858) 677-9352 to schedule your appointment.