Loose skin and fat under the chin and in front of the neck, known as a double chin, can make people look like they are overweight even if the rest of their bodies are relatively slim. Neck liposuction can remove the excess fat causing the double chin.
Of the different stubborn pockets of fat, the double chin is probably the most noticeable since people see it every time they see your face. People are often self-conscious of their double chins.
People associate a double chin with being overweight. When someone loses their double chin, many people think they lost weight.
Under the chin and the front part of the neck is a common area treated with liposuction. Neck lipo also is called submental liposuction.
If the person has good elasticity of the skin, the use of a compression garment during the recovery period may be all that is needed to help the skin shape to the new contour of the neck. If the skin hangs instead of hugging the new, slimmer neck, additional cosmetic procedures may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
Neck lipo is not restricted to people with good skin elasticity. However, the skin may hang below the chin for people who have chin liposuction without having good elasticity. The surgeon may recommend a face lift and neck lift to tighten the skin under the chin.
A chin lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that often includes neck lipo. Chin lifts can include other procedures such as a cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty.
A platysmaplasty is used to change or remove neck muscles. During the cervicoplasty part of the chin lift, the surgeon removes excess skin.
Though the person may be anxious to see the results of the liposuction, the swelling of the area will not give an accurate portrayal of the liposuction results. The swelling gradually decreases throughout the recovery period.
In addition to swelling, the person may experience other neck lipo side effects like bruising, redness, burning or tingling, and a sensation that the skin is being pulled. The neck liposuction side effects should go away within six weeks after surgery.
Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia. The liposuction procedure typically takes about an hour unless multiple procedures are being done during the surgery.
Possible complications of chin lipo include allergic reactions to the anesthesia, numbness, scarring, and infection. Informing the surgeon of all the medications that the patient is taking is a way to reduce the risk of serious complications.
Some people find it helpful to make sure they have some extra pillows available at home for the recovery period in order to keep the head supported in a comfortable position. Smoking during the recovery period is discouraged as it can interfere with proper healing.