DM DERMATOLOGY
Contour Injections
CONTOUR INJECTION
Blurred jawline or double chin?
DM Contour Injection for your jawline!
Contour injection is a non-incision treatment that injects a medicine that reduces fat cells into the subcutaneous fat layer under the chin.
Contour Injection
Non-surgical cosmetic treatment · Contour Injection
Instead of surgery that shaves the bone, this treatment uses injections to reduce prominent fat under the chin, with the goal of a slimmer V-line jawline. When fat under the chin (a double chin) makes the jawline look blurred, improvement can be expected (results vary).
DM Dermatology's contour injection is an under-chin fat injection that contains deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is naturally found in bile, where it helps the body digest fat. This ingredient has been studied and used for prominent fat under the chin (double chin).
If skin laxity or muscle makes the jawline look blurred, another method may suit you better. At DM Dermatology in Apgujeong, we first look at why your jawline looks blurred in the consultation, then set the injection area, dose, and number of sessions. The degree and timing of change vary from person to person.
- V-line Contour
- Under-chin fat injection
- Non-incision injection treatment
- Contains deoxycholic acid
1cc
DM Dermatology
standard unit for the face1month+
Interval between sessions
in the package insert6sessions max
Maximum number of sessions
in the package insert12wk
Assessment point in trials of the same ingredient
(after the last session)
DM
Contour
Contour injection that reduces double-chin fat,
aiming for a V-line jawline
A treatment done by injection, without incisions.
- 01
DM Contour Injection
Contour injection is an injection treatment that delivers deoxycholic acid into prominent fat under the chin to reduce fat cells, with the goal of a slimmer, neater jawline. Changes appear gradually over several weeks after the swelling goes down, and vary from person to person.
- 02
Short injection time, usually home the same day
The injections themselves generally take about 20 minutes, and you usually go home the same day. However, swelling and bruising may show for a few weeks, so we plan around the days right before important events.
- 03
An injection treatment, so no stitches to remove
We inject with a fine needle, without cutting the skin. Because there are no stitches, there is nothing to remove afterward.
- 04
Area and dose are decided at your visit
We first check the thickness and extent of fat under the chin and any skin laxity. Then we plan the injection area, dose, and sessions separately.
FACE LINE
When a double chin is your concern:
contour injection for a V-line jawline
Blurred jawline?! Double chin?!
Jaw fat and a double chin that become more prominent with age can blur the jawline and make the face look heavy. Contour injection is done by injection without incisions, and you usually go home the same day. The number of sessions needed depends on the amount of fat under the chin and is planned after an examination.
A jawline can look blurred for more than one reason. The methods usually considered also differ by cause.
Fat
Fat in the double chin and jawline
With a lot of subcutaneous fat under the chin and along the jawline, the outline of the profile looks rounded.
When fat is the main cause, a fat-reducing injection is considered.
Muscle
Well-developed jaw muscle
When the masseter, the muscle that clenches the back teeth, is well developed, the corners of the jaw look angular.
If the muscle is the cause, square-jaw Botox (botulinum toxin) is generally considered.
Laxity
Skin laxity
When the skin and the connective tissue beneath it loosen, the cheeks and jawline drop.
If laxity is the main cause, reducing fat may change the contour only a little, so lifting is considered as well.
Swelling
Swelling · salivary glands
The face can look puffy for a while depending on sleep, salty food, and your physical condition.
If enlarged salivary glands make the lower face look wide, salivary gland Botox is sometimes considered after an examination.
Sometimes an enlarged thyroid or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck make the area under the chin look prominent. In that case, an examination comes before any injection.
HOW IT WORKS
How it works: reducing
the number of fat cells
Deoxycholic acid can dissolve the membranes that surround cells (a surfactant action). When it is injected into the subcutaneous fat layer under the chin, the membranes of the fat cells it reaches are damaged and the cells break apart. An inflammatory response follows, and immune cells (macrophages) clear away the remaining fragments. That is why changes often appear gradually over several weeks.
In laboratory studies, this ingredient acted mainly on fat tissue, and its action was weaker in protein-rich skin and muscle tissue. Even so, it can cause damage if it goes directly into skin or muscle, so keeping to the right injection depth and points is important.
- Injection depth
Placed under the skin, at mid-depth in the subcutaneous fat layer that lies above the thin muscle at the front of the neck (platysma).
- Injection spacing
A grid with 1 cm spacing is marked over the treatment area, and a small amount is placed at each point.
- Areas to avoid
Injections avoid the band just below the jawbone where a nerve runs, as well as the salivary glands, thyroid, blood vessels, lymph nodes, and muscles.
- 1
Epidermis · dermis The skin layers the needle passes through.
- 2
Subcutaneous fat layer A layer of round fat cells. Injections are placed at mid-depth in this layer.
- 3
Injected medicine The small amount placed at each point spreads between the fat cells.
- 4
Fat cells with damaged membranes Fat cells the medicine reaches break apart, and macrophages clear the fragments over several weeks.
EFFECT
Effects of DM Contour Injection
STEP 01
Jawline contour
Aims to improve the V-line jawline by reducing under-chin fat with injections, without surgery
STEP 02
Less double-chin fat
As the under-chin fat cells the medicine reaches decrease, it helps neaten the outline of the profile
STEP 03
A jawline for a younger look
By reducing prominent fat under the chin, a slimmer jawline can be expected (results vary)
The degree of change varies from person to person with the amount of fat, skin elasticity, and lifestyle.
ADVANTAGE
Key features of contour injection
- Daily lifeA simple injection treatment, usually home the same day
- TargetInjections that target under-chin fat
- Non-surgicalA non-surgical injection treatment
Injections are given with a fine needle in the treatment room, without a hospital stay or incisions. The injection area and sessions are decided at your visit, based on the amount and location of fat.
Contour Care
& under-chin
RECOMMEND
DM Contour Injection is recommended
in these cases
- Recommended case 1Prominent fat under the chin makes your face look heavy
- Recommended case 2Jaw fat makes your jawline less defined
- Recommended case 3A double chin makes your face look larger
- Recommended case 4You are afraid of surgery
- Recommended case 5You are concerned about under-chin fat that does not shrink easily with diet and exercise
Whether the treatment is right for you is decided after the cause and your skin condition are checked at your visit.
PROCESS
DM Contour Injection
treatment process
Below is the general flow. We explain the actual steps and timing during your consultation.
01Consultation and examination
We check whether the blurred jawline comes from fat, or from muscle, laxity, or the salivary glands. We ask about trouble swallowing, bleeding tendencies, current medications, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and past surgery or procedures under the chin.
02Marking the area
We feel the extent of under-chin fat by hand and mark the injection area on the skin. The band just below the jawbone where a nerve runs is left out of the area.
03Numbing · injection
After reducing discomfort with an ice pack or numbing cream, we inject a small amount at each marked point with a fine needle. You may feel heat or stinging during the injections.
04Soothing and going home
We check the injection sites and cool them to soothe the skin. You receive aftercare instructions and go home.
05Follow-up and next session
We check the change after the swelling goes down. If more sessions are added, they are spaced at least 1 month apart.
INFORMATION
Treatment info
- Procedure time
- The injections themselves generally take about 20 minutes. Applying numbing cream and waiting takes extra time.
- Numbing
- Generally, an ice pack, numbing cream, or local anesthesia is chosen. We explain the method during the consultation.
- Recovery · swelling
- Generally, swelling, bruising, and pain settle over a few weeks. Firmness or reduced sensation sometimes lasts one to two months.
- Interval · Sessions
- Sessions are at least 1 month apart. Up to 6 sessions can be given, and the number needed depends on the amount of fat.
- When changes show
- Generally, changes are seen gradually over several weeks after the swelling goes down.
- Keeping results
- Affected by weight changes and lifestyle. The remaining fat cells can grow larger again if you gain weight.
Results vary from person to person; the above is a general guide. We explain DM Dermatology's method and schedule during the consultation.
Caution
DM Contour Injection
aftercare precautions
Until the swelling and bruising settle, limit heat and irritation to the treated area.
- 01Korean spa · sauna · intense exercise
After treatment, it is better to avoid Korean spas (jjimjilbang), saunas, and intense exercise for about a week.
- 02Pressure
After treatment, it is better to avoid putting pressure on the treated area for about a week.
- 03No smoking · no alcohol
It is better to avoid smoking and alcohol for a week after treatment.
- 04Irritation
Do not rub or touch the treated area after treatment.
- 05Keep cold packs gentle
If there is swelling or warmth, wrap a cold pack in a towel and apply it briefly. Rest it lightly without pressing.
- 06Ask before taking painkillers
If you want to take medicine for pain, ask our medical staff first. Some painkillers can increase bruising.
- 07Tell us how you are before the next session
If hard lumps or reduced sensation remain, please tell us before the next session. We set the schedule after checking your recovery.
- 08Contact us right away about unusual symptoms
If you have trouble swallowing, if one corner of your mouth moves differently when you smile, if the injection site turns dark red, or if pus or warmth gets worse, contact the clinic right away.
- Injection-site reactions are very common. Swelling, bruising, pain, reduced sensation, firmness, warmth, tingling, small lumps, redness, and itching may occur. In a clinical trial in Korea, injection-site reactions were reported in 94.5% of the treatment group and 83.6% of the placebo (inactive drug) group.
- In the clinical trial in Korea, bruising was reported in 84.4%. If you have a condition that makes bleeding hard to stop, or take antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or anticoagulants, be sure to tell us during the consultation.
- Most reactions settle over time. However, firmness (19.3%), swelling (14.7%), reduced sensation (11.9%), and pain (11.0%) sometimes lasted more than 30 days; most resolved within 60 days.
- If the nerve that runs below the jawbone is injured, the corners of the mouth may look uneven when you smile, or the muscles around the mouth may weaken. In clinical trials, all reported cases recovered without separate treatment, in 32–78 days.
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) may occur. In clinical trials of a product with the same ingredient, it resolved within 1–81 days. People who have or have had trouble swallowing should not have this treatment.
- If the medicine is placed too shallowly, skin ulcers, necrosis (tissue damage), or infection may occur. Some infections have required intravenous antibiotics or incision and drainage.
- Post-marketing reports for a product with the same ingredient (frequency unknown): hair loss at the injection site in men, hypersensitivity reactions, altered sensation in the mouth, and vascular injury when the medicine entered a blood vessel. In clinical trials, headache, nose and throat cold symptoms, and indigestion were commonly reported.
- Treatment is not given if there is an infection at the injection site, if you are hypersensitive to the ingredient, or to children. We decide carefully if you have significant skin laxity, prominent vertical muscle bands in the neck, little under-chin fat, or past surgery or procedures under the chin.
- There are no studies in pregnant women, so the treatment is avoided during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, please tell us during the consultation.
- Safety and effectiveness have not been established for subcutaneous fat outside the under-chin area, and the package insert does not recommend such use. In the United States, serious adverse reactions such as blurred vision (around the eyes), muscle and nerve damage, and lumps have been reported after a product with the same ingredient was used outside the under-chin area.
※ Bruising and swelling may occur after a procedure or surgery, depending on the person.
DM DOCTOR
Why your jawline looks blurred:
a board-certified dermatologist checks first
DM Dermatology is a dermatology clinic where the medical director, a board-certified dermatologist, sees patients. We find out whether fat, muscle, laxity, or the salivary glands are the cause, then decide on the method.
Dr. Shin Young-ik Medical Director · Board-Certified Dermatologist
- M.S., Hanyang University College of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, Hanyang University
- Full Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Clinical Fellowship in Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College (Thomas Jefferson University), USA
DM DERMATOLOGY
Related treatments
FAQ
01How long do contour injection results last?
Fat cells reduced by the injections are known not to grow back. However, the remaining fat cells can grow larger again if you gain weight. So how long results last varies from person to person with weight changes and lifestyle.
02So do I need to keep getting contour injections?
Contour injection reduces fat cells in the injected area, so without changes in diet and lifestyle, the remaining fat cells can grow and fat can build up in the face again. Ongoing care and healthy habits are needed after treatment.
03What should I be careful about with contour injection?
Contour injection is an injection treatment, so reactions such as swelling and bruising may occur. For about a week after treatment, it is better to avoid strenuous exercise and activities that heat the body, such as saunas, and to remember and follow the aftercare instructions.
04When will I start to see results from contour injection?
For a few days after the injections, swelling may make the area under the chin look fuller instead. The reduction in fat is often seen gradually over several weeks after the swelling goes down. In clinical trials of a product with the same ingredient, changes were assessed 12 weeks after the last session. When changes appear varies with the person and the dose.
05How long does swelling last after a double-chin injection?
Swelling is a common reaction to this treatment. It usually settles over a few weeks, and firmness or reduced sensation sometimes lasts one to two months. You can usually go back to daily activities such as office work right away, but it is better not to schedule treatment right before important events.
06How many contour injection sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on the amount of fat under the chin and the change you want. Some people notice a change after one session; others have several sessions. The package insert allows up to 6 sessions at least 1 month apart, and we plan each next step after checking your progress.
07Does a double-chin injection hurt a lot?
Many people feel heat or stinging during the injections. For a few days afterward, the area may hurt when pressed or feel stiff, and the skin may feel numb. We explain ice packs and numbing options during the consultation. How much you feel varies from person to person.
08How is contour injection different from square-jaw Botox?
Contour injection reduces fat cells in the subcutaneous fat layer. Square-jaw Botox reduces the movement of the muscle that clenches the back teeth (masseter) to reduce its volume. Because they act on different layers, we first check why the jawline looks wide. If both fat and muscle are causes, we sometimes plan both treatments together.
09Will contour injection help with sagging jaw fat?
Contour injection reduces fat; it does not tighten loose skin. With significant skin laxity, reducing fat may not give the shape you want, so lifting treatments are also considered. We check the degree of laxity with you during the consultation.
10Who will see me for a contour injection consultation at DM Dermatology in Apgujeong?
DM Dermatology is a dermatology clinic where the medical director, a board-certified dermatologist, sees patients. In the consultation, we check why your jawline looks blurred, your skin condition, and your medical history, then decide whether the treatment is right for you and which area to treat.
CONSULTATION
Consultation comes first
Before any treatment is chosen, a board-certified dermatologist checks your skin in person.
DM Dermatology, 4F, 579-1 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
From Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5, walk straight for 50 m. 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Weekdays
- am 10:00 - pm 07:00
- Saturday
- am 10:00 - pm 04:30
- Lunch break
- pm 01:00 - pm 02:00
- Sun & holidays
- By appointment only
- Subway
3Apgujeong StationExit 5
Walk straight for 50 m · 2 min on foot · 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Bus
Apgujeong Station Exit 4 · Exit 32310523429
Blue bus147 · 148 · 240 · 463 · 343Green bus4211
Kwanglim Church · Hyundai High School2310323104
Blue bus143 · 240 · 345 · 472Green bus3011 · 4312 · 4318
- By car
Search in your navigation app158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu디엠피부과의원
Use the building’s underground parking · Parking available in the building
