Tackling submental fat – A review of management strategies

Abstract

The fullness in the submental region due to fat is associated with low self-esteem and negative perception of oneself. It is responsible for what is colloquially called the “Double chin.” Associated with an aging neck, weight gain, or genetics, it is an area many-a-time resistant to improvement with diet and exercise. The submentalcervical angle is an important parameter to determine facial attractiveness. An obliteration of the same due to an increase in neck volume as due to skin laxity, excessive fat, loss of muscle tone, submandibular gland hypertrophy, or the skeletal framework of the mentum and jaw, leads to an unattractive profile. Tackling the submental fat due to its easy approachability is a treatment sought for by a large demographic who want to put their best, sculpted jaw forward in pictures in this “selfie-era.” There are several modalities to address the excess fat in the submental area and this is a short review on the management strategies for the same. An overview of the anatomy is also presented to understand the dynamics of the structures involved.