The short answer
A double chin can come from skin, fat, muscle, the submandibular gland, a short chin or head posture. HIFU is relevant only to the first of these and to part of the muscle layer. So the first job is to find the cause.
Dr Sin Yong uses the Ultraformer MPT platform under the chin. He adjusts energy line by line according to what you feel. Line counts are not a measure of treatment.
The examination looks at what gathers when you tilt your head down, how much fat sits in the pinch, whether bands stand out, and the shape of the chin. Depth then depends on the tissue present, zone by zone.
Depths under the chin
| Cartridge | Where it is used |
|---|---|
| 4.5 mm | The platysma and deeper envelope, only where there is enough tissue depth. |
| 3.0 mm | The dermis. |
| 1.5 mm | Thinner skin towards the jawline. |
Who HIFU for double chin may suit
Skin that gathers or creases when the head tilts down, with little fat on pinch. This typically applies from the late thirties onwards.
People whose fat has already been reduced and who are left with lax skin, once the area has settled.
What may fit better
| Finding | What may be considered |
|---|---|
| Full fat pad | Fat-directed energy, or Time Freeze Laser LCLR® |
| Muscular bands | Botulinum toxin |
| Short chin | Chin projection, assessed separately |
| Dermal and subcutaneous laxity | VF Lift, which uses monopolar radiofrequency |
| Heavy neck with much redundant skin | Referral to a plastic surgery specialist |
| Firm, rounded fullness under the jaw angle | Suspected gland, left untreated |
What it cannot do
HIFU does not reduce a full submental fat pad. It cannot move the submandibular gland, lengthen a short chin or correct forward head posture. Vertical platysmal bands are muscular, so heat is not the right tool for them. If your fullness is mainly fat or structure, HIFU is unlikely to be advised. In a lean neck, heat can do harm rather than good, by leaving a hollow or making cords more visible.
Areas kept out of the field
Treatment is not placed over the thyroid.
Its course is considered when placing lines near the jaw edge.
Thin tissue over the bone is spared at 4.5 mm.
Risks and side effects
Heat near the marginal mandibular nerve may cause temporary weakness or asymmetry at the corner of the mouth.
Heat placed into the fat of a lean neck may leave the area hollow, or make platysmal cords more visible.
Bruising, jaw-edge tenderness, a small welt and altered sensation may occur, and are reviewed.
Marked or one-sided swelling, changes in mouth movement, or a welt that does not flatten.
Sessions, recovery and fees
The number of sessions is not fixed in advance, and any repeat is decided at review. How many HIFU sessions and HIFU downtime have more detail. Fees are set in writing after assessment. They depend on the depths and zones needed, whether HIFU is combined with other steps, and staging. Singapore's rules prevent clinics from advertising prices. An assessment may end with advice to use another approach, or no treatment. Please get in touch to arrange one.