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Neck Liposuction (Double Chin Surgery)

Battling excess fat under the chin can be a very frustrating process for men and women. Many patients struggle with this area regardless of their overall weight. A common story is of a patient who has maintained a healthy weight or successfully lost weight but the fat under the chin (“double chin”) just won’t go away. This feature can make any person look heavier than they are and can even make you look older.

In contrast, a well-defined jawline and smooth contoured neck is a very youthful feature. Often patients come to discuss neck liposuction or double chin surgery when they are not happy with the appearance of their double chin in profile pictures. Neck and lower facial liposuction is a straightforward way to achieve a more attractive neck. This is a perfect procedure for a man or woman still too young to proceed with a facelift or neck lift.

For some patients, neck liposuction may be combined chin implants, chin augmentation and/or neck muscle tightening (submentoplasty) to achieve symmetry and contour. During your consultation we will use digital computerized morphing technology to analyze your face as a whole and discuss the options with you to determine realistic surgical goals. Request your consultation online or call (650) 407-2922 to schedule an appointment to see us in the Bay Area in our Palo Alto or Los Gatos offices.

Technique

How is this surgery performed?

Neck liposuction is performed under either local or general anesthesia. Short incisions are hidden behind the ears and within the natural crease just under the chin. We use a small cannula (tube) to remove excess fat cells in a precise pattern with delicate suction, thereby recontouring the neck and reducing the bulge or double chin. For some patients, the fat cells that are removed from the neck can be purified and transferred back into parts of the face that have suffered from volume loss, like the smile lines, lips or cheeks. This is called a fat transfer facelift. The procedure typically takes 30 minutes.

When neck liposuction is performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as neck muscle tightening (submentoplasty) or chin implantation, the procedure may take 1 to 2 hours. During your consultation, we will determine if you are a candidate for additional procedures, and discuss the options that will give you the most natural and balanced results. We focus exclusively on facial cosmetic surgery and have a combined fifteen years of surgical and advanced fellowship training dedicated to the anatomy of the face and neck.

What should I expect on the day of surgery?

If you receive general anesthesia, prior to surgery you will meet the anesthesia team and likely will be asked to review your allergy and medical history. You’ll be given medication to help you relax. We work hard with the anesthesiologist to minimize any nausea or pain after surgery. After 1 to 2 hours of recovery you can be discharged from the surgery center with a family member or friend.

Are there any non-surgical ways to treat a double chin?

For patients that are either not ready or not candidates for surgery, Ultherapy^® is a great option for tightening and lifting the upper and lower neck and jawline. The Ultherapy^® procedure is the only treatment FDA-cleared for a non-invasive neck, and under-chin lift. While Ultherapy^® does not remove unwanted fat like neck liposuction, a single treatment can contour this area with zero downtime. Please ask us about this procedure at the time of your consultation.

Post-Operative Recovery Process

What should I expect after my surgery?

A gentle pressure dressing is applied for the first night after neck liposuction surgery and is removed the following morning at the office. Sutures are removed between five and seven days after the procedure. Recovery after neck liposuction will likely last a few days up to two weeks. Bruising is common but does not occur in every patient. Makeup can be used to camouflage any bruising and we are happy to assist you in choosing an effective cover-up regimen. Most daily activities can be resumed within a few days after surgery. All activity including full exercise can be resumed at three weeks. We follow each patient closely after surgery to ensure the best possible long-term results.

Our core objective is to provide a safe, comfortable surgical experience that aspires to restore your appearance and aims to produce natural results. We have provided before and after photos of our patients to help you visualize the possibilities.

Request your consultation online or call (650) 407-2922 to schedule an appointment to see us in the Bay Area in our Palo Alto or Los Gatos offices.

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