Chin Liposuction

Chin liposuction is a cosmetic procedure wherein fat is removed from underneath the jawline. It accentuates the lower face and rids patients of a “double chin”. The advent of power-assisted liposuction (PAL) has allowed surgeons to eliminate fat cells permanently from difficult-to-reach areas like the neck and face. This surgery safely removes excess fat from the submental region under the jaw to slim the face and improve the frontal and profile views of a patient. ⁽¹⁾

Before and After Photos

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Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Fedele performs all of today’s most sought-after cosmetic procedures. He is an accomplished physician and artist, incorporating his trained eye for composition and symmetry into every surgery. He and his Cleveland, OH staff provide customized treatment plans for each patient to ensure their needs are met. If you are bothered by bulkiness underneath your jawline, schedule a consultation with Dr. Fedele today by calling our office at (216) 464-1616. We also provide a convenient form to contact us online. 

Chin Aesthetics

Underneath the chin is referred to as the submental area. Signs of aging on the neck include an increase of fat, platysmal banding or neck wrinkles, and loose skin. Fat and excess skin accumulation is common in the area, and liposuction is an optimal way to reduce bulk under the jawline. It can be difficult to treat this region due to internal anatomy and location, but liposuction allows surgeons to reduce fat without disturbing the surrounding tissues. ⁽²⁾

Subcutaneous fat lays just beneath the skin. 

How Does Chin Liposuction Work?

Though many patients attempt to reduce their “double-chin” with diet and exercise, these efforts often lead to little success because of the structure of the targeted fat. Liposuction removes these difficult fat cells permanently with suction. This procedure typically removes only supraplatysmal fat from the neck region. This fat is located just above the platysma, a muscle that spans across the area. The fat beneath the platysma is called subplatysmal and is usually avoided because of its location, surrounding anatomy, and the potential of removing too much structure from the neck. ⁽²⁾

Dr. Fedele takes great care when performing chin liposuction to achieve a sculpted, slimmer chin while prioritizing safety. This procedure typically utilizes a tumescent solution (saline, lidocaine, and epinephrine) to infiltrate underneath the chin. This firms the fat for easier removal and provides numbing for the patient. Dr. Fedele performs liposuction using slim, hollow tubes (cannulas) to suction targeted fat and avoid the nearby structures. ⁽²⁾

Implant-Based Chin Augmentation

Microgenia is a condition in which a patient’s chin width, height, and projection are too small for the surrounding facial structure. This often increases the prominence of submental fat, drawing unwanted attention to the area. To remedy this, Dr. Fedele performs both chin liposuction and augmentation using a silicone implant. Combining a chin augmentation and liposuction typically only requires one incision and is reserved for those who need extra shape and projection along the chin.

Benefits of Chin Liposuction

Chin liposuction is a simple surgery that removes neck fat for good in patients with excess under the jawline. It also:

Other benefits include:

This procedure provides patients with lower facial contouring, improving the chin area to take attention away from under the jawline and bring balance to the face. An aging neck is not always accompanied by an aging face, so reducing this bulk often makes a patient look slimmer and more youthful. A sharp jawline is aesthetically pleasing and sought after, and chin liposuction is a safe and effective way to increase a patient’s confidence and self-esteem.

Ideal Candidates

If you have localized fat collection under the chin and good skin elasticity, you make a good candidate for this procedure. You may lack jawline definition or present with a double chin. You must also be in good overall health with reasonable expectations. Please reach a stable weight before scheduling chin liposuction as weight fluctuation can negatively affect results. You must also be a non-smoker, or be willing to quit in the weeks leading up to surgery.

You may not be a good candidate if you have serious underlying medical conditions that impair your ability to heal. It is important to remember that chin liposuction alone will not correct loose facial skin or neck wrinkles. If you have this in addition to excess fat, you may be a better candidate for a facelift or neck lift.

Personal Consultation with Dr. Fedele

Dr. Fedele will meet with you for a private consultation before you schedule your surgery. He will perform a physical examination to determine your health and assess the treatment area. This appointment will be the best time to ask any questions about your procedure and recovery details. Dr. Fedele will create a treatment plan that meets your cosmetic goals. You should follow this plan closely to ensure the best results. After you are deemed a good candidate, we will help to schedule your chin liposuction procedure for a later date.

Surgical Preparation

To best prepare for chin liposuction, please avoid anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin) as these increase bleeding. If you smoke, please refrain from tobacco and nicotine use leading up to your appointment. Dr. Fedele provides a list of herbal supplements to avoid and may require you to alter or discontinue your current medications. If new prescriptions are necessary, pick these up before your surgery to encourage a relaxing and stress-free recovery. Create a comfortable space in your home beforehand and make easy-to-heat meals to encourage healthy nutrition and quick healing. Please ask a friend or family member to transport you to and from our surgery center as you will be unable to drive yourself. Keep an active lifestyle and drink plenty of water before your surgery.

Chin Liposuction Procedure

Dr. Fedele will start your surgery by administering anesthesia to keep you comfortable. He will then inject the chin area with local numbing and begin infiltration with a tumescent solution. Once the area is properly prepared, he will insert a cannula through tiny incisions. Depending on the type of liposuction being used, the first cannula may use vibration to break up the targeted fat. Next, he will use a medical-grade vacuuming system to suction out the damaged fat cells without harming the internal neck anatomy. After he achieves the desired contour, Dr. Fedele will then disinfect and bandage the incision sites. This procedure typically takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Recovery

Chin liposuction recovery is usually swift and uncomplicated. For the first week or two, you will experience swelling and bruising in the treatment area. By week two, you will notice a decrease in swelling and will be able to better perceive your results. Dr. Fedele will provide a compression garment to be worn during the healing period that will reduce swelling and preserve your results. Make sure to rest as much as possible to encourage a fast recovery.

Results

After about a week of recovery, your chin and neck will appear slimmer and more contoured. Your results will become more noticeable as your swelling completely dissipates. Your jawline will be more defined and there will no longer be excess fat under your chin. To preserve these results, keep a constant weight, moisturize your skin, and wear sunscreen daily. There may be light marks at your incision sites, but these will fade with time and remain imperceptible.

What is a Neck Lift?

Neck Lift

If you have sagging or loose skin around your neck or under your chin, Dr. Fedele may suggest a neck lift. This procedure tightens the platysma muscle and removes skin to add structure to the neck. You may notice bands (wrinkles) that span lengthwise across the front of your neck. These become more prominent with age and consistent use of the neck muscles. By tightening or reducing the platysma, Dr. Fedele addresses the aging neck. He places incisions near the bottom of the ears and under the chin to reach the internal anatomy of the neck, sutures the muscle to debulk the area, redrapes the skin, and trims it to lift the lower portion of the face. This procedure is for patients who have minimal aging in the upper face but want to rejuvenate the neck and chin area.

For more information on chin and neck treatments, read The Art of Plastic Surgery blog.

How Much Does Chin Liposuction Cost in Cleveland?

Every patient has specific needs and cosmetic desires that lead them to receive chin liposuction. Therefore, each patient’s surgery differs, along with their total expenses. Dr. Fedele offers CareCredit financing for many of his patients to help them get the care they deserve.

If you are ready to sculpt your chin and improve your facial profile, schedule a consultation with us today by calling our Cleveland office at (216) 464-1616. 

References

1. Patel S, Kridel R. Current Trends in Management of Submental Liposis. JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. 2018;20(3):202-206. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamafacial.2017.1567
2. Persing S, Steinbacher DM. Submental Liposuction. Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery and Rhinoplasty. 2019;21(3):535-546. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119187127.ch21