When fat folds beneath the chin or the boundary between the jawline and the neck becomes blurred, the face can look wider and heavier than it is. Even without much weight gain, a double chin stands out because it is influenced not only by fat under the chin but also by reduced skin elasticity and tissue sagging. If you are considering liposuction or lifting for a double chin, it helps to understand the difference between reducing the amount of fat and tightening skin that has already stretched. Renuvion is a device used to improve loose skin under the chin and in the neck by delivering radiofrequency energy and helium plasma beneath the skin, inducing tissue contraction so that the jawline looks tidier.
Contents
- What are the main causes of a double chin?
- What is Renuvion for double chin removal?
- How does Renuvion improve skin elasticity?
- What changes can you expect from Renuvion?
- How is Renuvion different from submental liposuction?
- Recovery and aftercare
- What to check before Renuvion treatment
- Double chin and Renuvion: common myths and facts
What are the main causes of a double chin?
A double chin is a condition in which fat accumulates beneath the chin or the skin loosens, blurring the boundary between the jaw and neck. The main causes are as follows.
Fat accumulation under the chin: when there is a lot of submental fat, the area under the chin can look thick even when the head is raised or when looking straight ahead.
Reduced skin elasticity: as aging reduces skin elasticity, the skin under the chin droops downwards and the double chin becomes more prominent.
Tissue sagging: when tissue beneath the skin loosens, the jawline becomes blurred and the boundary between neck and face less defined.
Jaw and neck structure: anatomical features such as jaw shape and neck angle also affect the appearance of a double chin.
A double chin is therefore not always a matter of fat alone. The appropriate treatment direction differs depending on whether submental fat is the main cause or skin sagging is prominent.
Read alsoTypes of double chin and how they are treated are covered in “How to tell if you have a double chin, and why the cause changes the treatment” (Korean).
What is Renuvion for double chin removal?
Renuvion is a medical device that uses radiofrequency energy and helium plasma to deliver thermal energy to tissue. It works by inducing coagulation and contraction of tissue beneath the skin, and a specific handpiece is used to improve loose skin in the neck area, including under the chin.
In double chin treatment, Renuvion's main purpose is not to remove fat directly but to induce contraction of tissue beneath the skin so that loose skin and the jawline contour are tidied. It may be discussed especially when skin could look loose after submental fat is reduced, or when the jawline is not sharp because of reduced elasticity.
How does Renuvion improve skin elasticity?
Renuvion uses radiofrequency energy and helium plasma to deliver heat to the target tissue beneath the skin. Coagulation and contraction occur in the process, which is used to improve the appearance of loose skin.
The mechanism can be understood in two ways.
First, it induces tissue contraction. Energy delivered to tissue beneath the skin helps the tissue contract. When skin under the chin is loose and the contour looks dull, the skin may be expected to sit more closely against the underlying tissue.
Second, it is used to tidy the skin contour. Improving laxity under the chin and in the neck can make the boundary between jaw and neck look clearer. The aim is to improve the appearance of a prominent double chin and refine the jawline contour.
In a clinical trial of Renuvion for loose skin of the neck and submental area, 82.5% had improved at 180 days, and there were no serious device-related adverse events.[1]
What changes can you expect from Renuvion?
The typical changes expected from Renuvion are improvement in skin elasticity and in the contour beneath the chin.
Improved appearance of loose skin under the chin
A tidier jawline where it had blurred
A clearer-looking boundary between jaw and neck
Elasticity care that takes into account the skin laxity that can remain after fat-reduction procedures
Renuvion's core effect, however, is skin contraction, and its purpose differs from liposuction, which removes fat directly. When there is a large amount of fat beneath the chin, a fat-reduction method can be considered alongside it. Planning treatment after reviewing both skin elasticity and fat volume allows the area you want to improve to be defined more precisely.
How is Renuvion different from submental liposuction?
Renuvion and liposuction are often compared for double chin treatment. The two have different primary goals.
| Item | Renuvion | Submental liposuction |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Inducing contraction of loose skin and tissue | Removing fat beneath the chin |
| Main candidates | Reduced elasticity and sagging | Thick submental fat |
| Expected change | Skin adherence and improved jawline contour | Reduced fat volume and improved submental volume |
| Direction of use | Centred on skin elasticity | Centred on fat reduction |
If there is a lot of fat beneath the chin, liposuction may be the main option; if there is skin laxity that is difficult to improve by reducing fat alone, a skin-contraction method such as Renuvion can be reviewed. When both concerns are present, the medical team decides whether to combine them and in what order.
In a meta-analysis of five randomised studies (1,838 patients) of deoxycholic acid injections that reduce submental fat, all evaluated outcomes improved compared with placebo. This is a method considered alongside treatment when fat is the main cause.[2]
Recovery and aftercare
Swelling, bruising and tenderness may appear after treatment. During recovery it is better not to apply strong pressure under the chin or massage the treated area firmly. Strenuous exercise and saunas should be resumed according to the medical team's guidance, taking the early recovery state into account. If swelling suddenly worsens or pain intensifies, it is advisable to be checked at the clinic where you were treated.
What to check before Renuvion treatment
The approved indication of Renuvion can differ depending on the device and handpiece used. At consultation it is therefore important to confirm whether the device is appropriate for improving skin laxity beneath the chin and which handpiece will actually be used. The changes that can be expected also differ depending on whether the main cause of the double chin is fat or skin laxity. It is better to distinguish between a fat-dominant and a laxity-dominant case, and to plan treatment taking the anatomy beneath the chin and the condition of the skin into account together.
Double chin and Renuvion: common myths and facts
| You may think… | In practice |
|---|---|
| "Every double chin is caused by fat." | Skin laxity, muscle and jaw structure also contribute. |
| "Renuvion alone removes fat." | Renuvion mainly handles skin contraction; fat is reduced by liposuction or injections. |
| "The result is fully visible right after treatment." | Tissue contraction develops over several months. |
In double chin consultations I look at whether fat can be pinched when the chin is pulled down, or whether only skin is loose. If fat is the main cause I prioritise fat reduction; if skin laxity is the main cause I prioritise Renuvion.
A double chin can appear because fat accumulates under the chin, but reduced skin elasticity and tissue sagging can make it look more prominent still. Renuvion uses radiofrequency energy and helium plasma to induce contraction of tissue beneath the skin and is used to improve loose skin under the chin and in the neck. Because its purpose differs from liposuction, which removes fat directly, it is important to distinguish whether fat reduction or skin tightening is what you need. If you are considering double chin treatment, have the fat beneath the chin and the degree of skin laxity assessed together.
🔬 The research behind this article
These are the international journal papers that support the content above. Select a title to open the abstract on PubMed.
- Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2023 — Renuvion clinical trial for neck and submental laxityRuff PG, Bharti G, Hunstad J, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Renuvion Helium Plasma to Improve the Appearance of Loose Skin in the Neck and Submental Region. Aesthet Surg J. 2023;43(10):1174-1188.Key: 82.5% improved at 180 daysText [1] · PMID 36883611 · DOI
- Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2021 — deoxycholic acid meta-analysis, 5 RCTs and 1,838 patientsCunha KS, Lima F, Cardoso RM. Efficacy and safety of injectable deoxycholic acid for submental fat reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021;14(3):383-397.Key: submental deoxycholic acid injections improved all endpoints versus placeboText [2] · PMID 33523775 · DOI
🎬 Watch: Dr. Park Seong-Soo on video
Korean-language videos from BongBong Plastic Surgery's official channel and Dr. Park's channel, “Seongsu-ro Doctor”. Titles are translated for reference; selecting one opens YouTube.
- Loose skin without an incision: the new Renuvion2 lifting that pulls from withinSeongsu-ro Doctor · 2026.04.20
- When do Renuvion2 results appear? Why you watch months, not daysSeongsu-ro Doctor · 2026.09.14
Frequently asked questions
Does Renuvion remove submental fat directly?
A. Renuvion's main purpose is to induce contraction of tissue beneath the skin and improve loose skin. It differs from liposuction, which removes submental fat directly.
Will my jawline look sharper after Renuvion?
A. Where skin laxity contributes to a blurred jawline, skin contraction can help tidy the boundary between jaw and neck.
Can liposuction and Renuvion be performed together?
A. The two have different goals, so combining them can be considered. Whether to combine them, however, must be decided by the medical team, taking into account the approved indication of the device and handpiece, the treatment plan and safety.
Can I return to daily life immediately after Renuvion?
A. Recovery speed varies with the treatment area and how it is applied. Swelling or bruising may occur, so the timing of return to daily life and exercise should follow the medical team's guidance.
Can Renuvion be considered if my double chin is not severe?
A. If skin laxity rather than submental fat is the main concern, a method that induces skin contraction can be discussed. Suitability is judged after assessing skin elasticity and the structure beneath the chin.
📖 References
Select a [number] in the text to jump to the source, and ↩ to return. Only papers whose title, journal and year were verified on PubMed are included.
- Ruff PG, Bharti G, Hunstad J, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Renuvion Helium Plasma to Improve the Appearance of Loose Skin in the Neck and Submental Region. Aesthet Surg J. 2023;43(10):1174-1188. — Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2023 — Renuvion clinical trial for neck and submental laxity. ↩
- Cunha KS, Lima F, Cardoso RM. Efficacy and safety of injectable deoxycholic acid for submental fat reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021;14(3):383-397. — Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2021 — deoxycholic acid meta-analysis, 5 RCTs and 1,838 patients. ↩
BongBong Plastic Surgery · Dr. Park Seong-Soo, Medical Director
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