Double chin treatment
in Brickell, Miami.
First, figure out what you're actually treating. This is your guide to double chin treatment in Brickell, Miami: whether your under-chin fullness is fat, loose skin, muscle bands or a weak jawline — because the cause decides the fix. We'll show which of our treatments fits (Morpheus8, RF tightening, jawline filler, Sculptra or a neurotoxin) and tell you when an injectable fat-dissolver or surgery is the better route.
Medically reviewed by Mariana Tolosa, PA-C📍 1501 South Miami Avenue #201, Brickell🔬 22 cited sources · peer-reviewed & FDA🗓️ Reviewed 2026
A double chin isn't one thing
"Double chin" describes a look — a loss of the crisp angle between the jaw and the neck — but the cause varies. It can be a pocket of submental fat in its own compartment between the skin and the platysma muscle; it can be loose, crepey skin as the collagen scaffold weakens; it can be vertical platysmal muscle bands; or it can be structural — a recessed chin, weak jaw or low-set hyoid bone that creates the look even in slim people.1,2,3,6 Usually it's a mix. That's why there's no single "double chin treatment."
At Miami Skin Spa in Brickell we treat the parts of this we can do best: Morpheus8 RF microneedling (which tightens under-chin skin and remodels a modest amount of fat), Forma and NuEra Tight for skin laxity, chin and jawline filler or a Sculptra biostimulator for structure, and a neurotoxin for muscle bands. A large, soft fat pad or true excess skin is best handled by a fat-dissolving injection, cryolipolysis or surgery, which we'll refer you for.
Four causes, one look
A youthful neck shows a clean cervicomental angle — roughly 105 to 120 degrees — between the underside of the chin and the front of the neck. A double chin is simply that angle being filled in or pulled down, and four different things can do it.1,4
Fat is the classic cause: a discrete pocket of submental fat sitting between the skin and the platysma. For many people it's a genetically "designated" depot that stubbornly resists diet and exercise.2,6 But it's not only about weight. Skin laxity from aging, sun and weight change loosens the under-chin skin; platysmal bands form as the thin neck muscle over-contracts or separates with age, pulling the jawline down; and structure — a recessed chin, weak jaw or low-set hyoid bone — can create the same look in someone perfectly slim.3,5,6
Posture matters too: hours looking down at a phone ("tech neck") don't deposit fat, but they can weaken the platysma and worsen skin laxity over time.2 Because the causes overlap, the single most useful thing a consultation does is work out which ones are driving your double chin — and a quick self-check below gets you started.
The four contributors, up close
A pocket of fat in its own compartment between the skin and the platysma — genetically 'designated' in many people and stubborn to diet and exercise.2,6
With age, sun and weight change, the collagen/elastin scaffold loosens and the under-chin skin sags and crepes.21,1
Match the cause to the treatment
Pick what your double chin seems to be mostly made of, and how pronounced it is. We'll point you to the option we'd usually reach for from our menu — and tell you when an injectable fat-dissolver, cryolipolysis or surgery (which we refer for) is the better path. This is guidance; your consultation confirms it.1,12
1 · What does it seem to be, mostly?
2 · How pronounced is it?
Morpheus8 RF microneedling can coagulate a modest amount of submental fat while tightening the overlying skin — a genuine double benefit — and TruSculpt targets the fat directly. For a smaller, soft pad this is exactly the kind of double chin we treat in-house.
A simple test at home. Tilt your head back and tense your neck. If the fullness mostly flattens, skin laxity and posture are big players. If a soft pad still bulges, that's fat. If tight vertical cords pop up, those are platysmal bands. And if your chin sits well back from your lower lip in profile, structure is part of the story. None of this replaces an exam — but it tells you which conversation to have.1,4
The right tool for your cause
Here's how the treatments we offer in Brickell line up against the four causes. We match the treatment to the cause, and often combine.1,12
| Treatment | Type | Targets | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morpheus8Here | RF microneedling (face/neck) | Skin laxity + modest submental fat | 1–3 days |
| Forma / NuEra TightHere | Non-invasive RF | Mild under-chin & jawline skin laxity | None |
| Dermal fillersHere | Hyaluronic-acid injectable | Structure: project a weak chin, define the jaw | Minimal |
| Sculptra biostimulatorHere | Collagen-stimulating injectable | Jawline definition & skin quality (structure) | Minimal |
| Wrinkle relaxersHere | Neurotoxin (Nefertiti) | Platysmal bands / jaw-neck angle | None |
| TruSculptHere | Monopolar RF body sculpting | Modest submental fat (reduces it) | None |
Morpheus8
RF microneedling delivers energy into the deep dermis and subdermal layer, so it both tightens under-chin skin and coagulates a modest amount of submental fat — the double benefit. Best when the chin is skin laxity plus mild fat.15,18,19
Forma / NuEra Tight
Comfortable, no-downtime non-invasive RF that firms mild under-chin and jawline skin laxity and supports collagen — a gentle first step or maintenance.20
Why combinations work
Because most double chins mix causes, the best results often layer treatments — for example Morpheus8 to tighten and trim modest fat, a touch of jawline filler for definition, and a neurotoxin for bands. We sequence them so each makes the next look better, and we connect this to our broader skin tightening and body contouring care.
When fat is the main event
For modest submental fat we have a fat-specific tool in-house — TruSculpt — and Morpheus8 trims a little while it tightens. But if your double chin is a large, soft fat pad, a skin device isn't the right tool, and we'll tell you that plainly.
For a large, soft fat pad, we'll send you to the better tool
A fat-dissolving injection (deoxycholic acid), fat-freezing (cryolipolysis), or submental liposuction can do more for a big fat pad than energy alone — and we don't perform those here. We won't talk you into stretching a skin treatment to do a fat job; if that's what would serve you best, we'll say so honestly and refer you to a provider who offers it, then tighten and refine the overlying skin for you afterward.
Real numbers, in context
For the skin-and-contour side that we treat, here's the proof. In blinded trials, RF microneedling produces real but partial tightening of the lower face, jawline and neck, building over months and stronger with a series.13,14
A firmer, more defined look — not a fat-removal promise
RF tightening and our injectables do real, partial work on skin, structure and muscle bands. They aren't a substitute for treating a large fat pad — that's a different tool for a different job, which is exactly why we assess the cause first and refer honestly when fat is the main event.
Morpheus8 — lower face & submental tightening
The fastest way to the right answer is the consult
Our Brickell team assesses what's actually driving your double chin — fat, skin, bands or structure — then recommends the right tool, or refers you when an injectable fat-dissolver or surgery would serve you better.
Miami Skin Spa · Brickell · 1501 South Miami Avenue #201, Miami, FL 33129 · 305-557-1615
Some fast, some over months
A neurotoxin works within days; filler is immediate; but RF tightening and a Sculptra biostimulator build collagen gradually, with the real change over the following months — which is also what keeps it looking natural.14,22
A plan, not a single fix
Because a double chin usually has more than one cause, the best outcomes are often a thoughtful combination, staged over a few visits.1,12
Sessions & maintenance
Non-invasive RF is usually a short weekly series; Morpheus8 is about 3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart; a neurotoxin lasts a few months; filler and Sculptra are staged. RF and Sculptra results build over 3–6 months.14,22
The Miami advantage
Because radiofrequency heats by depth rather than targeting melanin, our jawline and under-chin tightening is comparatively safe for the deeper skin tones common across Miami and Brickell — lower pigment risk than heat- and light-based lasers. Your skin type is always assessed and settings tailored.16
About cause and fit
Because we offer Morpheus8, Forma, NuEra Tight, dermal fillers, Sculptra and neurotoxin, we can treat the skin, contour, structure and muscle causes of a double chin — and we'll refer you for a fat-specific treatment or surgery when that's the right answer. Our medical aestheticians — Mariana Tolosa, PA-C; Morgan Winters, FNP-C; and Jasmine Vazquez-Mack, APRN-C — plan the injectable and RF work, with aesthetician Amy Betancourt, MA supporting skin quality.
Explore the treatments & related concerns
Frequently asked questions
There's no single best — it depends on the cause. If it's skin laxity or mild fat, Morpheus8 tightens and trims modestly; if it's structure, chin/jawline filler or a Sculptra biostimulator helps; if it's muscle bands, a neurotoxin. For a fat-dominant chin we'll refer you for a fat-dissolving injection, cryolipolysis or surgery. A consultation identifies which.1,15
Often, yes — depending on the cause. RF firms the skin and remodels modest fat, filler and Sculptra fix a structural cause, a neurotoxin softens bands, and an injectable fat-dissolver or cryolipolysis (referral) reduces fat. A large fat pad or truly redundant hanging skin, though, is best handled surgically.7,12
For the right candidate, yes. Morpheus8 RF microneedling tightens under-chin and jawline skin and can coagulate a modest amount of submental fat — studies show submental fat-cell lysis with increased collagen and elastin, and jawline volume reduction. It's ideal for skin laxity plus mild fat, not a large fat pad.15,17
Our focus is RF skin tightening (Morpheus8, Forma) and injectables for structure and muscle bands. For deoxycholic acid (Kybella) or cryolipolysis we'll refer you to a provider who offers them, and we can treat the skin side ourselves. Those fat treatments are well studied — a deoxycholic acid injection improved submental fat in about two-thirds of patients in trials.7,10
A quick guide: tilt your head back and tense your neck. If a soft pad still bulges, that's fat; if it mostly flattens and the skin looks crepey, that's laxity. Fat responds to fat-reduction (injection, cryolipolysis, or RF for modest amounts); loose skin responds to RF tightening. An exam confirms it.1,2
Yes, for the structural and muscle causes. Chin and jawline filler projects a recessed chin and defines the jaw, sharpening the jaw-neck angle; a neurotoxin (a "Nefertiti" treatment with wrinkle relaxers) relaxes platysmal bands and eases the downward pull on the jawline. Neither removes fat.4,5
Comparatively, yes. Radiofrequency heats by depth and is chromophore-independent — it doesn't target pigment and spares the skin's surface — so it carries a lower pigment risk than light-based lasers in Fitzpatrick III–VI, which matters across Miami. Your skin type is still assessed and settings tailored.16
Sources & further reading
Peer-reviewed reviews and clinical trials, clinical-trial protocols and FDA information on submental fullness and its treatments — submental anatomy and the cervicomental angle, radiofrequency and RF microneedling, deoxycholic acid (Kybella) and cryolipolysis for fat, botulinum toxin for platysmal bands, and poly-L-lactic-acid biostimulators — plus the surgical boundary. Where a stable link was available it is included. Links open in a new tab.
- Tackling submental fat — a review of management strategies — the 'double chin' obscures the submental-cervical angle and arises from skin laxity, excess fat, loss of muscle tone, submandibular gland hypertrophy, or the skeletal framework of the chin and jaw. Cosmoderma, 2023. https://cosmoderma.org/content/130/2023/3/1/pdf/CSDM-3-61.pdf
- What causes a double chin? — submental fat sits in a discrete compartment between the skin and the platysma muscle; genetics, aging, posture ('tech neck') and some medical conditions also contribute, so people at a healthy weight can have one. Surveys find most aesthetic patients are bothered by under-chin fullness. Consumer-medical overview, 2026. https://scienceinsights.org/what-causes-a-double-chin-genetics-age-and-more/
- Anatomical considerations for the double chin — etiologies include congenital factors (mandibular hypoplasia with a 'turkey neck' and insufficient anterior chin projection), iatrogenic causes, and excess submental fat; a wide platysma bifurcation lets deeper fat protrude. PMC12163971. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12163971/
- Anatomical guidelines for neck aesthetics with botulinum toxin — a youthful neck shows a defined cervicomental angle of roughly 105–120°; BoNT can soften platysmal bands, optimize the cervicomental angle and address submandibular gland hypertrophy. PMC11436334. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11436334/
- Botulinum neurotoxin targeting the platysma — BoNT relaxes the platysma to diminish vertical platysmal bands and lift the jawline; the bands are hyper-contracted strips of muscle that become more prominent with age. Review/encyclopedia entry, 2022. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/38967
- What causes a double chin (clinical overview) — genetics make the submental area a 'designated' fat depot that resists diet and exercise; a low-set hyoid bone can create the look in slim people, and a weakening/separating platysma adds vertical banding. 2026. https://www.hayatmed.com/blog/plastic-surgeries/what-causes-double-chin/
- ATX-101 (deoxycholic acid / Kybella) for submental fat, REFINE-2 phase III — injected into fat it causes adipocytolysis, then macrophage clearance, fibroblast recruitment and neocollagenesis; 66.5% vs 22.2% of subjects achieved a ≥1-grade composite improvement vs placebo (n=258/group). J Am Acad Dermatol, 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962216301293
- ATX-101 (deoxycholic acid) phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled (n=363) — significantly more treatment responders (≥1-grade reduction on the Clinician-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale) and patient satisfaction vs placebo; may be an alternative to surgery for improving the submental profile. PubMed 24147933. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24147933/
- FDA medical review, ATX-101 (Kybella, 1% deoxycholic acid) — a cytolytic effect on submental fat tissue; up to 6 treatment sessions ~1 month apart, up to 50 injections of 0.2 mL each, with success defined as a ≥2-grade improvement on clinician- and patient-reported scales at 12 weeks. FDA, 2015. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2015/206333Orig1s000MedR.pdf
- Cryolipolysis for submental fat — review of the literature: across 4 clinical trials and 1 case series (101 patients), there was a statistically significant reduction in submental fat with high patient satisfaction and mild, transient side effects. PubMed 29345049. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29345049/
- CoolSculpting/CoolMini cryolipolysis FDA clearance for submental fat (2017) — the first non-surgical fat reduction cleared for improved appearance of lax tissue with a double chin; clinically shown to reduce fat up to ~20% in the treated area after one treatment. Allergan/PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allergan-receives-fda-clearance-for-the-coolsculpting-treatment-to-improve-appearance-of-lax-tissue-in-the-double-chin-300570078.html
- Cryolipolysis for the double chin (expert review) — the CoolMini pivotal trial (60 patients) showed a mean ~2.0 mm fat-layer reduction by ultrasound; cryolipolysis does not tighten skin, and clinicians often combine fat reduction with a neuromodulator for platysmal bands and RF for skin. MDedge, 2016. https://www.mdedge.com/edermatologynews/article/107638/aesthetic-dermatology/how-use-cryolipolysis-reduction-double-chin
- Prospective multicenter trial of temperature-controlled bipolar fractional RF (100 subjects, face & neck) — blinded graders found a mean 25.6% wrinkle and 24.1% laxity improvement at 6 months, with a 100% rhytide and 95% laxity response; transient erythema/edema resolved in 1–5 days. Alexiades-Armenakas et al., Dermatol Surg 2013. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dsu.12065
- Randomized, blinded 3-arm RF microneedling trial — optimal results at a 67°C target for 3–4 seconds; mean laxity reductions of 34/36/25% and rhytide reductions of 40/29/25% across temperature arms, with a 100% response at 62–67°C. Alexiades, 2015 (PubMed 25915628). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25915628/
- Microneedle fractional RF on facial fine lines and laxity (Koreans) — immediate lysis of adipocytes in submental fat plus increased collagen and elastin at 4 months, with significant improvement of the submental and submandibular profile. Suh et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.15614
- Skin tightening of submental tissue with bipolar RF microneedling — controlled fractional thermal injury stimulates neocollagenesis and neoelastosis; RF is chromophore-independent (it does not target pigment) and spares the dermal–epidermal junction, glands and follicles. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04477187. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04477187
- Histological and clinical dose-response of RF microneedling — coagulation volume rises with energy per needle; clinically, jawline volume reduction with midface skin thickening, showing remodeling does more than surface tightening. 2025 (PMC11802595). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11802595/
- FDA 510(k) clearance for Morpheus8 (July 2024) — fractional RF for dermatologic procedures requiring coagulation/contraction of soft tissue or hemostasis, across 12-, 24- and 40-pin tips. The Dermatology Digest, 2024. https://thedermdigest.com/fda-grants-510k-clearance-to-morpheus8-for-soft-tissue-contraction-for-fractional-radiofrequency-microneedling/
- InMode Morpheus8 device description — bipolar RF microneedling, FDA-cleared for full-body adipose remodeling, with 12–24 coated needles delivering thermal energy into subdermal tissue to coagulate fat and contract the reticular dermis, driving neocollagenesis, elastogenesis and angiogenesis. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05085730. https://cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/30/NCT05085730/Prot_SAP_001.pdf
- Non-surgical skin tightening — review of lasers, radiofrequency and microfocused ultrasound: all heat the dermis to reorganize collagen and build new fibers; best for mild-to-moderate laxity, with less downtime and risk than surgery. Plast Aesthet Res, 2021. https://www.oaepublish.com/articles/2347-9264.2021.60
- The role of collagen and elastin in aged skin — collagen is 70–80% of the skin's dry weight and gives the dermis its strength, while elastin supplies recoil; with age the dermis thins and fibroblasts lose biosynthetic capacity. Review, 2003. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0968432803001872
- Poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra) and collagen synthesis — PLLA acts as a biostimulatory filler; a 2-year study showed a roughly three-fold, sustained increase in skin thickness via fibroblast activity and gradual neocollagenesis, with raised type I collagen — useful for jawline/structure support. Review, 2020 (PMC7564527). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7564527/