Can INMODE Help with Cheek Fullness and Double Chin? What to Know If You Worry About Hollow Cheeks

Key summary INMODE is used for two different goals: reducing fat under the chin or in the cheeks, and firming loose skin. If the area under your chin is full but the front of your cheeks is already sunken, you need to decide separately which areas to reduce and which to leave alone. If you are worried about hollow cheeks, rather than asking for a slimmer face overall, first discuss whether to refine only the area under the chin and whether the cheeks need a fat-reducing treatment at all.

01 How Do INMODE FX and FORMA Differ?

FX focuses on shaping the contour of areas with fuller fat, while FORMA focuses on improving skin firmness and fine lines. Even with the same INMODE device, the goal differs depending on which handpiece is used and where it is applied.

MINI FX, which is used on the face, gently draws the skin up so it sits against the electrode and delivers radiofrequency energy. Because it involves suction, you may feel a pulling sensation, or marks may remain. FORMA moves the handpiece over the surface of the skin to deliver heat, and it aims to induce changes in the collagen that supports the skin.

Morpheus8 is a separate method that delivers radiofrequency through fine needles. The safety warning that the FDA issued about RF microneedling procedures in 2025 concerns that method. You should not read it as an incidence rate of side effects for FX and FORMA, nor should you take the opposite view that because there are no needles, there is no risk of burns.

02 How Much Can INMODE Change Cheek Fullness and a Double Chin?

If there is fat under the chin or around the jawline that can be reduced, you can expect some change in contour. However, if the reason your jawline looks blurred is skin sagging or the structure of the chin, reducing fat alone makes it difficult to reach the shape you want. Fullface Clinic also explains that it decides on a treatment by distinguishing among fat, muscle, salivary glands, and sagging.

Whether the goal is to change the thickness of the fat or the looseness of the skin matters more than what percentage the face gets smaller. The results of the FORMA study, which tightens skin, should not be read as meaning that facial fat decreased by that amount.

The 2015 FORMA study analyzed the results of 14 of 15 women aged 47 to 76. Treatment was given once a week to the face and neck for a total of 4 to 6 sessions, and photographs were evaluated about 2 weeks after the last session. The degree of improvement in skin sagging was as follows.

Source: 2026-10-23, PMID 25968168. These are grades assigned by evaluating before-and-after photographs, not a rate of fat reduction.

The paper also includes photographs showing improved skin elasticity and skin texture in a 65-year-old woman who received FORMA 4 times. However, this study has no comparison group that did not receive treatment, and the evaluation period was short. It is difficult to predict from a small sample of 14 participants how much cheek fullness would be reduced in younger people, or how much double-chin reduction FX would produce.

03 Why do hollow cheeks occur, and which faces need to be more careful?

If volume that should be kept is also reduced, hollowness below the cheekbones or in the front of the cheeks becomes more noticeable. For faces that naturally have less fat, or faces with hollow front cheeks or prominent cheekbones, the treatment area should be divided so that the area under the chin and the cheeks are not treated in the same way.

The explanation by Dr. Lee Yu-min of MeSOnBom Clinic cautions against over-applying MINI FX when the front of the cheeks and the area below the cheekbones are already hollow. The explanation is that repeated treatment of areas that need volume makes existing hollowness more prominent. During a consultation, look in the mirror and point out, "I want to reduce this area and keep this area as it is."

Being long-faced or thin does not, by itself, decide whether you should have the procedure. Some people have a thin face but fat concentrated under the chin. Conversely, even if you are in your 20s and your cheeks look full, the volume of the front cheeks and the side cheeks can differ, so do not decide on a full-face procedure based on age or body type alone.

The number of people who develop hollow cheeks out of every group cannot be calculated from the data in this article. The number of posts picked up in a review search also includes posts about worries or consultation experiences, so it differs from the actual number of diagnosed cases.

04 How many sessions are needed, and when does the effect start and how long does it last?

Changes are often assessed after repeated sessions, but there is no fixed schedule such as "3 sessions are enough" or "the result is complete exactly one month later." MeSOnBom Clinic recommends 3 or more sessions at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks, and describes the maintenance period after 3 sessions as about 6 months to 1 year. This is that clinic's own guidance, and the FORMA study introduced earlier used a different schedule: once a week for 4 to 6 sessions.

On Gangnam Unni, there was an experience of feeling a change in the double chin within a few days after the procedure, while another author who had FX and FORMA wrote that even after about 2 weeks, they could not tell whether the jawline had changed. Rather than adding more sessions based on how the first session felt, check whether the review describes the same treatment area and mode.

Immediate tightness includes swelling and temporary tissue changes. The FORMA tissue study also describes the immediate change separately from the later collagen change. Compare with your before photo using the same lighting, distance, and head angle, and decide on the next session at follow-up visits scheduled by your medical team. If your weight has changed, or if you also had other treatments such as contouring injections, you need to consider those changes as well.

05 How much pain and bruising should I expect, and what aftercare is needed?

FX involves a sensation of suction, warmth, and tingling, and it can leave red marks or bruising. FORMA is described as feeling like a warm rubbing sensation, but the actual pain varies with the area treated and the intensity. Do not take a statement such as "treatment without anesthesia" to mean there is no pain at all.

In the FORMA 14-person study, everyone had mild, temporary redness and swelling, and no one stopped the treatment because of pain. By contrast, the reviews below also include experiences of considerable pain. Because these involve different modes and conditions, it is hard to say that InMode is painless by lumping them together.

Do not rub the skin hard, and moisturize and use sun protection. While redness and warmth remain, the clinic advises avoiding saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), alcohol, and strenuous exercise. If you have a photo shoot or an important appointment, discuss your recovery schedule with the clinic, taking into account that bruising may remain.

If you have an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker, or metal in the treatment area, tell the clinic when you book. The FDA separately describes the risk factors of radiofrequency devices, as well as burns, blisters, and similar injuries. If blisters form or the pain gets worse, do not dismiss it as normal bruising; contact the clinic that performed the treatment right away and get examined.

06 What should I do if there is no effect, or if my cheeks look hollow?

Before deciding on additional treatment, first check which area has changed and how. The next step differs depending on whether the effect was insufficient or new hollowing has appeared. If the double chin you hoped to improve is still there, you should re-examine sagging that is not due to fat, as well as the structure of the jaw. If your cheeks look hollow, getting examined takes priority before undergoing any more fat-reduction treatment in that area.

Please tell the clinic when you had the treatment, whether FX or FORMA was used, and which areas were treated. Photos of your face from before, any weight changes, and any other procedures you had at the same time are also needed to judge how you are progressing. Whether a change is the swelling going down or an actual change in volume is distinguished by an examination, so do not decide on fillers or fat grafting right away based only on reviews.

At your first consultation, if you also ask, "If the change is insufficient, when will you see me again, and who will treat me if hollowing of the cheeks or skin damage occurs?", it will be easier to follow your progress afterward.

07 What changes and discomforts do real reviews describe?

Some people report having treatment only under the chin, and others report receiving both modes yet still being unsure about any change in the jawline. Read the area treated and the timing together.

Even a post saying the person felt an effect and booked again also mentions strong pain. There are also reviews from people who were satisfied with the process, alongside reviews from people who were disappointed with the results even after several sessions.

This is a post from someone worried that treatment was also done on the cheek area they had wanted to avoid. The writer was also still waiting to see how things would progress over the next few weeks, and this is not a review from someone who was diagnosed with fat loss.

The quotes above are each from different users' experiences and do not mean they are reviews of the clinics introduced earlier. The links lead to the search listings that were actually checked.

08 What should I choose depending on my face's condition and the change I want?

If your cheeks and the area under your chin are both full and you want to reduce both, discuss the FX treatment range, starting with the areas that have more fat. Whether the volume of the front of the cheeks also needs to be reduced is assessed separately, and the clinic also looks at whether loss of firmness is present as well. A round face overall is not a reason to treat every area at the same intensity.

If your face is thin but only a double chin bothers you, it is better to discuss a plan that preserves the front of the cheeks and is limited to the area under the chin. Tell the clinic whether the area is full even at rest or folds only when you lower your head, and ask them to distinguish actual fat from skin sagging. Suitability is not judged merely because the tissue can be pinched by hand.

If you have prominent cheekbones or a long face and your cheeks have already hollowed, prioritize preserving volume over getting a slimmer look. In particular, show your consultant the area below the cheekbones, the front of the cheeks, and the temples, and decide which areas should be off-limits to fat-reducing treatment. If you have lost facial fat with age or weight loss, discuss this point first as well.

If you have little cheek fat but your jawline looks saggy, first check whether there is any fat that FX could actually reduce. If skin firmness is the main concern, compare it with tightening approaches such as FORMA, and if the deeper sagging is significant, discuss whether a different type of lifting is needed.

If you have both fat and reduced firmness, plan the roles of the two modes separately. Use FX under the chin and FORMA for areas where firmness is the concern, so that each has a distinct purpose. Receiving both modes does not, in itself, prevent hollowing of the cheeks.

09 What are the common misconceptions about InMode?

First, let go of the idea that more pain means better results. Pain is not a measure of how well a treatment works. In the FORMA study as well, improvement was observed with no one stopping because of pain. If a particular area becomes too hot or painful during the treatment, tell your medical team right away instead of enduring it.

The explanation that getting FX and FORMA together is better for every face is also incorrect. If you have little fat, first question why FX is being added, and a plan that repeatedly reduces the same area conflicts with the volume you want to keep. Before the number of sessions in a package, ask why each mode is needed for your face.

In summary

People who are bothered by fat under the chin and people who have little cheek fat but a sagging jawline may want a similar facial contour, yet their treatment plans differ. At the consultation, show not only the double chin you want to reduce but also the cheek volume you want to keep. Then, if you decide which modes to use and the date to review your progress, you can reduce the chance of simply choosing to receive more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are InMode and Morpheus8 the same treatment?

Even when the devices are from the same company, the methods differ. In this article, MINI FX and FORMA are used on the skin surface, whereas Morpheus8 delivers radiofrequency through microneedles. Even when reading the FDA's warning about RF microneedling, you first need to distinguish which handpiece will actually be used.

Can I get treatment if I have a thin face but only a double chin?

If there is fat under the chin that can be reduced, you can discuss a treatment limited to that area. If the front of the cheeks looks hollow or your overall amount of fat is small, a plan that also reduces the cheeks should be decided carefully. The decision is based on the fat and sagging in each area of the face rather than on body type.

If I have little cheek fat and a sagging jawline, do I need FX?

Sagging alone does not mean you need FX. If the main problem is loose skin rather than fat, tightening is the focus of the consultation, and deep sagging is evaluated separately. First ask whether it is acceptable to reduce the volume you have left even further.

Will INMODE get rid of deep cheek fat?

A treatment that reduces the volume of the area called the "deep cheek" is different from surgically removing deep cheek fat. Even if a clinic's information mentions "deep cheek," you should not assume that all the fat in that deeper layer will be gone. First distinguish whether the lower face looks heavy because of fat or because of sagging.

If fat cells decrease, will a slim face last for life?

There is no evidence that the same facial contour will be maintained for life. Skin aging and weight changes also affect the contour, and the FORMA 14-person study evaluated results about 2 weeks after the last treatment. Separately from the duration of effect that a clinic states, whether to repeat treatment should be decided based on the current condition of your face.

When should I see a doctor if my cheeks look hollow after INMODE?

If you are worried about a new depression (indentation) in the skin, contact the clinic before your next treatment and arrange a follow-up visit. Photos from before, the treatment date, and the treated area help with comparison. If you also have blisters or pain that is getting worse, do not wait for recovery or have any further treatment; get examined right away.

Pre-consultation checklist

• Is the cause of my double chin and blurred jawline fat, skin laxity, or jaw structure?
• Which device do you use on which area, MINI FX or FORMA?
• Which areas will you avoid in order to preserve volume in the front of the cheeks and below the cheekbones?
• How many sessions do you plan for my face, and when will we compare progress with photos?
• If bruising and swelling occur, how much leeway should I leave before important appointments?
• Would the plan change if I tell you about an implanted device, metal, or previous treatments? Who examines me if an adverse reaction occurs?

Related guides

• Seoul Leaguer Dermatology Clinic's Published Information on INMODE: the handpiece configuration and treatment process as described by the clinic.
• Thermage Pain and Aftercare: what to compare when skin firmness is the main concern.
• Ulthera Pain, Recovery, and Duration of Results: what to know when you also discuss sagging at a consultation.
• Evidence Guide to INMODE RF Microneedling: separate material centered on Morpheus8, kept distinct from the effect figures for FX.

Sources and verification date

• S1 PMID 25968168, 2026-10-23. A study of FORMA treatment of the face and neck, 15 patients enrolled and 14 analyzed, with no comparison group. Original PDF Reviewed all 6 pages, results and figures 4, limitations, and conflicts of interest. Two authors disclosed relationships with the manufacturer, including speaker fees, travel support, and stock options.
• S2 PMID 27911134, 2026-10-23. A study in which FORMA was applied to one side of the face in 4 women 8 times, and the treated side and skin tissue were then compared with the opposite side. Original PDF Reviewed all 5 pages. Used to explain the distinction between immediate changes and tissue changes, and not used as a fat reduction rate for FX.
• S3 InMode Australia MiniFX, InMode University Forma, 2026-10-23. The manufacturer's description of the handpiece methods and their intended applications.
• S4 Column by Dr. Lee Yu-min of MeSOnBom Clinic, 2026-10-23. Guidance on mode selection, volume preservation, number of sessions, and recovery. This is the clinic's own explanation and is distinguished from independent clinical trials.
• S5 Fullface Clinic InMode guide, 2026-10-23. Explanation of treatment by area, including how fat, muscle, salivary glands, and sagging are distinguished. General guidance was not used as a patient case.

• S6 FDA Guidance on Non-Invasive Body Contouring Procedures, 2026-10-23. Risk factors of radiofrequency methods and precautions such as burns and blisters. This is guidance for radiofrequency devices in general and does not give an incidence rate specific to FX.
• S7 FDA Safety Notice on RF Microneedling, 2026-10-23. 2025-10-15 notice, distinction between microneedling methods and non-invasive handpieces.
• S8 Gangnam Unni InMode review search list, Cheek hollowing search list, Babitalk review search list, 2026-10-23. I read 20 cards from Gangnam Unni and 24 cards from Babitalk. These include duplicates across searches and mentions of other procedures, and they are not a representative sample.

Editorial responsibility and interests

• Written and edited by: Korea Beauty Report Editorial Team.
• Review scope: The editorial team prepared this content from published research and public data. It was not separately reviewed by a medical professional and does not replace individual diagnosis or treatment.
• Conflicts of interest: No clinic in this article has a contract or advertising relationship with us.
• Review handling: Only the necessary short phrases are quoted verbatim, and nicknames and photos are not included. The Gangnam Unni edit date and the Babitalk procedure period are distinguished.
• First published: 2026-10-23. Sources last checked: 2026-10-23.