Is Your Double Chin Actually Genetic? What to Do When Diet Doesn’t Help

3 Key Takeaways

1. Genetics plays a big role in double chin formation, influencing fat distribution, cell count, and fat storage in stubborn areas.
2. Aging and poor posture can make the double chin appear more prominent due to skin laxity and weak muscles, such as “tech neck.”
3. Non-surgical treatments like CoolSculpting Elite and Ultherapy PRIME in Singapore offer safe, lasting results for contouring and skin tightening.

Having or noticing a double chin can be frustrating, especially when you’re eating healthy, exercising regularly, and maintaining your ideal weight. While weight gain and a diet high in calories can lead to fat accumulation under the chin, they are not always the root of the problem. For many people, it is mostly about genetics. 

If you’ve tried to get rid of a double chin without success, your genetics (which dictate skin fat storage, skin laxity, and facial structure) can be the one to blame. And while this type of fat doesn’t respond well to diet and exercise, non-surgical aesthetic treatments can offer safe and lasting results. 

Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore explains why double chins can be genetic and shares what you can do when conventional methods fall short. 

For further reading:Debunking 5 Myths About Double Chin Removal

Why do I have a double chin even if I’m not overweight?

1. Genetics and inherited fat pads

For many people, the distribution of submental fat is largely determined by genetics. Just as we inherit traits like height, skin type, and bone structure, we can also inherit a tendency to store stubborn fat in specific areas of the body. Common genetically predisposed areas include the chin, hips, abdomen, and thighs.

Here’s how genetics plays a role:

• Fat distribution – your DNA influences where you store fat across the body, often mirroring the body type of your parents or close relatives. If one or both of your parents have a fuller chin, you’re likely to develop it too.
• Fat cell count – genetics determines the total number of fat cells, set during adolescence. If you inherit more fat cells in certain areas, those spots may appear fuller, even after weight loss.
• Fat cell receptors – stubborn areas of fat have more alpha-2 receptors (slow fat burning) than beta-2 receptors (promote faster fat burning).
• Hormonal influence – genetics affects hormones like insulin and estrogen, which influence fat storage in specific areas (e.g., estrogen promotes fat storage in hips/thighs in women).

Genetics can affect fat storage, skin elasticity, and facial bone structure, all of which contribute to the appearance of a double chin.

The thing with stubborn fat pads, like those under the chin, is that they:

• Resist diet and exercise
• Remain stable or the same even with weight loss
• Become more prominent with age or collagen loss

2. Natural aging and skin laxity

The decline of collagen and elastin as we age may cause the skin under the chin to loosen and become saggy. This can then make the underlying fat more noticeable, especially with poor posture. And when the skin’s support structure weakens, even a small amount of fat can appear like a double chin. 

Gravity also contributes to the gradual descent of facial tissues. The downward pull of gravity as you age causes the underlying muscles in the chin and neck to loosen. Poor posture further weakens these muscles, as a lack of muscle support makes a double chin more prominent. 

3. Posture and “tech neck”

Constant downward head positioning, usually from looking down at screens, strains and weakens neck muscles. This can then cause the area to crease, fold, or the fat and skin laxity to accumulate in the submental area. Reduced muscle support can lead to sagging and loss of elasticity over time.

Tech neck or forward head posture, furthermore, can cause the platysma muscles to become tight and overactive. This can contribute to visible platysma bands (vertical bands), neck creases, a strained look, an undefined jawline, and a turkey neck appearance. 

When diet and exercise don’t work: What you can do

Spot reduction through targeted exercise cannot get rid of a double chin, especially inherited fat pads. It can help tone the muscle and firm the skin, but it cannot directly burn fat deposits. Non-invasive solutions for double chin removal using CoolSculpting Elite, paired with skin lifting like Ultherapy PRIME, can help.

1. Fat freezing via CoolSculpting Elite

For stubborn fat that won’t budge, fat freezing or Cryolipolysis offers an effective solution. It works by targeting and cooling fat cells, causing them to crystallize and break down naturally. The body gradually eliminates these treated fat cells over time. 

At Cutis, we have CoolSculpting Elite in Singapore, which has a specialized handpiece for smaller areas, like under the chin. It uses controlled cooling technology to target, freeze, and kill fat cells. It is effective for double chin because it: 

• Works on stubborn fat that doesn’t budge with diet and exercise
• Is non-invasive with little to no downtime
• Offers gradual, natural-looking results
• Has lasting results, as treated fat cells don’t return or migrate to other areas of the body 

CoolSculpting Elite contours the lower face and delivers a more sculpted profile without surgery.

For further reading:Why Chewing Gum or Tech Neck Exercises are Ineffective for Double Chin

2. Ultherapy PRIME: When skin tightening is also required

If sagging skin is contributing to the appearance of a double chin, Ultherapy PRIME can be paired with fat freezing. It uses microfocused ultrasound energy with real-time imaging to stimulate collagen production deep within the skin. This helps:

• Tighten loose skin around the chin and jawline
• Lift the lower face
• Improve definition and reduce the appearance of fullness

When Ultherapy helps:

• When mild skin laxity makes the chin look droopy or heavier
• When you want jawline lifting and contouring without surgery
• When fat freezing alone won’t fix sagging

Combination approach for treating double chin

You may be able to combine fat freezing with Ultherapy for a comprehensive chin and jawline transformation.

Concern	Treatment	How it helps
Genetic or stubborn fat under the chin	Fat Freezing (CoolSculpting Elite)	Targets and eliminates resistant fat cells that don’t respond to diet and exercise
Sagging or loose skin	Ultherapy PRIME	Tightens skin by boosting collagen and targets the foundational SMAS layer
Both fat + laxity	Combination of both	Effective for definition and contouring

Can a double chin really be genetic?

Yes, and it is common. This also means that even skinny people can have a double chin due to inherited traits. So, if healthy habits do nothing for your submental fat, do take note that it is not your fault. Certain pockets of fat are just genetically predisposed to stay longer, but this doesn’t mean you cannot do anything about them. 

With treatments like CoolSculpting Elite for targeted contouring and Ultherapy PRIME for lifting and tightening, you can address different underlying issues and improve jawline definition. 

Ready to treat a stubborn double chin?

If you’re unsure whether your double chin is due to genetics, skin laxity, or both, a consultation can help you determine the best treatment approach. WhatsApp us at +65 9780 2079 to schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors and explore effective options for your goals.