Postpartum

Losing a Postpartum Double Chin

Hello Amy,

Congratulations on your newest arrival. My postpartum glow is wearing off but I have a question you may be able to tackle…

I had a baby in August. The best baby girl ever. My first. At the baby shower (a late one – 36 weeks) many photos were taken and I came to the sad realization that as part of my pregnancy weight I had indeed developed a double chin. Oh, well, I figured once I lost the baby weight I could get my body and face back. Well, four months later I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight (not exactly slim with a BMI of 26) but have come to the realization that the bonus baby chin may be here to stay. I’m sure it doesn’t help that in most recent photos, I happen to be holding my baby and looking down at her, thus folding my chin in half. Nonetheless, I got a facial last week and the esthetician was honest when I asked and confirmed that I do have a “bit” of a double chin.

So my questions are: would losing a bit more weight help my chin get smaller? I mean, maybe with nursing, continued abstinence from cocktails and a regular workout I could get to “normal” weight (i.e. a BMI of under 25).

And, more urgently, do those neck treatments really work? I would run out and buy every neck firming, lifting, tightening, one-chin-is-all-anyone-needs cream and serum tomorrow if I didn’t suspect they were just lotion.

Thanks!

Thea

Pregnancy Weight Gain and Your Chin

I am posting this question not because I have a sure-fire solution, but simply because I CAN SYMPATHIZE. I didn’t gain much weight this last pregnancy (25 pounds or so) and yet I managed to pack on the padding on my neck and chin. I’m currently 10 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight and like you, the double chin is still here and still grossing up every photo of me gazing down adoringly at my son.

Personally, I do worry that the chin might simply be my destiny, as I’ve never had a very “strong” chin (it’s always had a tendency to dissolve into my neck if I don’t watch my posture) and if I look at my mother I get the sense that genetics may be working against me as well. But for now, with 10 more pounds to go and a whoooooollllle lot of toning and shaping up left to do, I’m not giving up hope yet.

The biggest thing for you to remember is that pre-pregnancy weight is still different AFTER your pregnancy. It settles differently, and you wear it differently. Pre-pregnancy weight does NOT EQUAL pre-pregnancy shape. I have always been a pretty naturally slim person and have never been much for working out, but lo, after pregnancy I am LUMPY. I am soft. Squishy. For about a year afterwards I have a pooch and a much bigger butt and a muffin top on even my most generous of pre-pregnancy jeans. I NEED to up my muscle tone and be in very good shape and maybe lose a few additional pounds to look like I used to — even if the number on the scale is the same. So my New Year’s resolution involves a lot of time on the Wii Fit and attempting the 30-Day Shred to get back in shape. (No dieting since I’m breastfeeding, and this is way more about how I look and feel than anything scale-related. In fact, I think I shall toss the scale to the curb, since it’s really irrelevant to a postpartum get-back-in-shapeville woman.)

So…yeah. I think if you focus on getting in shape — toning and strength-building — along with getting that BMI down a bit, you’ll lose the baby chin. I do think that. Those neck treatments are indeed just lotion with a slick label. About as useful as all of the miracle cellulite-busting lotions that also do absolutely nothing. If you think your chin is suffering from loose, aging skin, try treating it with your regular moisturizer every night. (I sometimes use my eye cream, which has all the age-fighting collagen/retinol/mumbo-jumbo stuff in it as well.) Wash it with your face wash instead of a body wash. Treat it gently. Keep getting those facials and ask that the treatments be extended down your neck.

The only non-surgical method for eliminating double chins I’ve ever been able to find online (besides weight loss, natch) was to tilt your neck up and slap at it with the back of your hand a few times. This is probably as useful as those old bust-enhancing exercises women used to do in the 50s and 60s, but if you’re thinking of trying some expensive miracle cream for that “just in case, couldn’t hurt, might help” factor, hell, you can slap at your neck at home for FREE.

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jodifur

15 years ago

This isn’t directly related to the question, and I may be the only person on the planet, but I didn’t really like the 30 day shred. And it wasn’t in a this is soo hard I’m going to die kind of way, it was in a, I don’t get why everyone thinks this is the best thing ever kind of way. But, I’m so much more of a gym, live class kind of girl, so that could of been part of the problem. It took me a long time to realize that your body is just sadly, never the same… Read more »

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kalisah

I too suffer from a genetically unphotogenic chin. Here’s a secret that I read on a model’s web site to at least preventing it in photos:
Hold your chin out & slightly down, as though you are trying to hold a softball under your chin.

umi

Three suggestions: Where I am not worrying about my chin yet… I have found that after washing my face and alternating rinsing my face with really hot (not scalding) and then very cold water, it helps with puffiness a lot. Also, I heard that you can tone your chin by putting a tennis ball between your chest and chin and holding down and in place for 30 minutes. (I haven’t tried this personally, though) However, I have tried exercises to strengthen my neck. They gave me this list of exercises that consisted of a half crunch like thing — elevating… Read more »

shonda

I have yet to lose the weight from my first baby or my second, so I have no advice. I do know that, even after two and a half years, my c-section scar still hurts if its pressed.
Good luck and come give me inspiration to get my fat ass on a threadmill.

Ang

I had a baby girl Nov.1, who is coincidentally named Thea, like our lovely lady with the double chin. (I am happy to see the name around, as people usually say “her name is … What?”) My Thea has two chins, and is working on a third, but sadly I am sporting a second chin as well. I too am hoping that the 30 day shred works as well as people say it does, but I’d love to hear a review from Amy. Will you let us know how it goes?

Heather

I have been overweight most of my life, and while I have a slight double chin I keep it under control with something I saw once on TV called an “at home face lift”. Okay, you look up at the ceiling, open your mouth all the way up taking a big breath and close it pulling your bottom jaw up slightly with a breath out. You will feel the muscles in your neck tightening. I do 10 – 20 in the morning and at night, it is an after I brush my teeth routine. It really works. Try it!!

Losing a Postpartum Double Chin

Pregnancy Weight Gain and Your Chin

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