A pioneering treatment could help people to get rid of their double chins.

The injection of ATX-101 – a specially-formulated chemical – would get rid of the fat cells that form under the chin, which is technically known as submental fat, without doing any noticeable damage.

Authorities in the US are currently trying to determine whether they should approve the treatment and if they do, European regulatory bodies could soon follow.

The innovative new treatment would be substantially cheaper than liposuction and would be made widely available.

Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc, the manufacturers of the treatment, claim 90 percent of patients maintained a meaningful reduction in submental fat after two years.