Double Chin Liposuction Surgery: Types & Procedures

Double chin, also known as submental fullness, refers to extra layers of fatty tissues that develop under the chin and make the face and neck look bigger and wider. A double chin can be shrunk by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet, but it may take months before its changes are apparent. Double chin liposuction is the fastest and most permanent method of removing the double chin.

This procedure removes excess fat and fluids from the neck, and the chin is perfectly contoured. This article introduces chin liposuction and explores its types and drawbacks.

Read more: Liposuction Surgery Types: What is the Safest Lipo Method?

Double Chin Liposuction Step-by-Step

Generally speaking, double chin liposuction consists of five main steps.

• Anesthesia: Chin lipo is an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia. In the first step, the plastic surgeon injects anesthetics into the neck’s skin to numb that area.
• Incision: after numbing the chin, the surgeon makes one or two tiny incisions in the less visible parts of the face, such as around the ear and near the hairline. 
• Melting the fat: the submental fats are melted either by injection of tumescent liquid or emitting energy waves;
• Removing fat: when the fat deposits are melted down, the surgeon removes the liquid fat using a cannula suction device. Then, the jawline is shaped, and the muscles around your chin are tightened. 
• Closing the incisions: finally, the doctor stitches the cuts delicately and covers the wounds with a bandage and chin strap.

Chin Liposuction: Types and Procedure

Today, two liposuction techniques are practiced to remove double chin: micro lipo (tumescent liposuction) and VASER liposuction. Continue reading to learn more about these two methods.

Microlipo for double chin

Microlipo, or tumescent liposuction, is a minimally invasive face contouring procedure in which extra fat pockets are removed from the chin to make it smaller. This operation begins with injecting tumescent (salty water) and lidocaine into the target area. Tumescent liquid smooths the fat deposits and compresses the blood vessels to prevent bruising and bleeding. The lidocaine also numbs the chin to minimize discomfort during the operation.

When a tumescent solution softens the fat, the surgeon makes tiny incisions under the jawline and inserts a suction device (cannula) to suck out the fat cells. After removing the fat, the incisions are either sutured or taped, and the chin is bandaged. 

Notably, the whole tumescent liposuction procedure takes 45 to 120 minutes, and almost 10 to 20 milligrams of fat can be extracted in one session. The amount of fat removed from your chin depends on your preferences and the form of your face. Although the results of this method of double chin liposuction are immediately visible, it takes four to six weeks for the swelling to subside and for the final results to be revealed.

VASER liposuction for double chin

VASER lipo is the same as micro-liposuction, with only one difference. After injecting tumescent and lidocaine, the doctor inserts a tiny probe into the chin through a micro-incision and emits sound energy to break the fat walls more and better. After melting the fat, the suction device is inserted to extract the fat cells. Although more expensive, this technique is more precise and allows accurate facial contouring. Also, it is a better option for the ones with larger double chins and more stubborn fats in the neck. If you maintain a stable weight, the results of this operation are lifelong. 

What to Expect after Double Chin Surgery?

After double chin liposuction, you must expect swelling, bruising, itchiness, and slight chin and midline neck pain. Fortunately, these symptoms resolve within 5 to 7 days, and you can return to your daily routine by the end of the second-week post-operation. 

Double Chin Liposuction Recovery

Double chin liposuction is an outpatient procedure, so you will be discharged on the same day. As sedatives are in your blood for 24 hours after the surgery, you must ask someone to drive you home and be your caregiver until the anesthetics are flushed out. The recovery time of both VASER and tumescent liposuction ranges between 7 to 14 days, but most patients feel healthy enough to get back to work within 48 hours. During the chin lipo recovery period, consider the following tips:

• Avoid strenuous activities such as lifting, bending, jumping, and running;
• If you have a physical-demanding job, take a week off from work;
• Avoid showering for 48 hours after the surgery;
• Keep your incisions dry and clean;
• Maintain a low-fat diet. You may resume your regular diet once you feel less nauseous;
• Drink plenty of fluid to reduce the complications of anesthesia, including nausea, headache, and blurred vision;
• Refrain from applying pressure on the chin;
• Do not sleep on your stomach until your wounds are fully healed;
• If you have bruising, put a cold compress on it for 15 minutes three times a day;
• Avoid sun exposure for a couple of days;
• Wear your compression sleeve for seven days to reduce the swelling in your chin and
• Take your antibiotics and prescribed painkillers to prevent infection and sharp pain.

Preparing for Chin Liposuction

Before double chin correction surgery, your doctor asks you to take a blood test to ensure you don’t have a blood coagulation disorder. If you are a smoker, you have to quit it for at least 15 days before the surgery. Also, taking anti-inflammatory medications is prohibited from a month before the surgery as they thin your blood and increase the risk of bleeding. If you have an allergy or a life-threatening disease such as a heart problem, high blood pressure, or diabetes, inform your doctor. 

Possible Risks of Chin Liposuction

Despite its numerous advantages, double chin liposuction has potential risks and side effects that may discourage some patients. In the following, some of the risks of this surgery are enumerated:

• Bleeding and bruising;
• Excessive swelling in the first 10 days;
• Skin infection and necrosis;
• Fat embolism;
• Fluid accumulation under the skin;
• Damage to the nerve and vessels;
• Dimpling of the skin;
• Scarring and formation of hypertrophic scars;
• Contour irregularities;
• Pulmonary complications; and
• Change in skin sensitivity that may persist for a long time.

Ideal Candidates for Chin Liposuction

People with the following features are considered good candidates for double chin liposuction.

• Having a chubby neck and jawline;
• Being a non-smoker;
• Being mentally healthy;
• Not having life-threatening diseases such as heart or lung problems, diabetes, coagulation disorders, or high blood pressure;
• Having realistic expectations;
• Having a stable BMI for the past six months;
• Having firm and elastic skin.

Why Does Double Chin Develop?

The double chin is the fat layer beneath the chin that covers the neck and creates a wrinkle. Different factors are associated with the development of submental fat, including:

• Genetics
• Weight gain
• Aging
• Loss of skin elasticity
• Saggy salivary gland
• Weak chin
• Saggy platysma muscle
• Excess fat and tissue in the neck

Although difficult and time-consuming, a double chin can get smaller with jaw, neck, and chin exercises. These exercises strengthen the muscles and skin of the chin and reduce the submental fullness. Also, the double chin can be concealed by makeup products; however, surgical facial contouring is the most desirable way to remove a double chin.

Alternatives to Double Chin Liposuction

In addition to liposuction surgery, other methods help minimize the volume of a double chin. 

• Facelift: in this procedure, fat and saggy skin are removed from the chin and neck to make the neck look taller and slimmer. If the fat and loose skin under the chin is too much, the surgeon performs facelift and lipo surgery simultaneously.
• Neck lift: this operation comprises two techniques: cervicoplasty, in which the loose skin is cut out, and platysmaplasty, which involves tightening the neck's muscles and skin to enhance its shape. Neck lift operation is mostly performed with a facelift to achieve maximum effects. 
• Injection lipolysis: also known as mesotherapy, injection lipolysis is a non-surgical alternative to double chin liposuction. This method injects deoxycholic acid (Kybella) beneath the chin to dissolve the stubborn fats. Lipolysis is considered a novel treatment requiring two to six injection sessions; however, its results are long-lasting. Some complications of mesotherapy include nerve damage, swelling for 10 days, pain, redness and bruising, and prolonged numbness.

Is Chin Liposuction Permanent?

Whether the results of double chin liposuction last a lifetime depends on the age at which you had this operation and your body weight. If you get chin liposuction after age 25, the fat cells cannot regenerate in your neck anymore because your body stops producing fat cells by that time. Also, if you keep your weight at an ideal range, the remaining fat cells will not grow larger. So, you can maintain your liposuction results by staying fit and eating healthy. 

Double Chin Lipo Cost in Iran

The costs of plastic surgery in Iran are much lower than in other places, and at the same time, they are performed with high quality. A typical patient should expect to pay almost $480 for double chin liposuction in Iran. This number covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, hospital charge, consultation, and pre-op tests and imaging. The same procedure will cost you around $2.400 in Turkey, $1.500 in China, $1.500 in Canada, and $2,500 to $3,500 in the USA. Remember that getting a facelift or neck-lift and a double chin lipo in Iran will cost you twice as much.

liposuction in Iran

FAQs About Double Chin Liposuction

1) How long do chin lipo results last?

The results of liposuction double chin are permanent if your weight stays stable. 

2) Does chin liposuction leave saggy skin?

The skin may get loose and saggy as much fat is removed from the chin. That's why most surgeons perform double chin liposuction and neck-lift and skin-tightening surgeries. 

3) Is chin liposuction painful?

During the VASER and tumescent liposuction, you won't feel any pain because you are under anesthesia. However, some patients find mesotherapy injections painful. 

4) Does my face get smaller after chin liposuction?

For the first few weeks after the double chin liposuction, your neck and chin are inflamed, but your face and chin will look smaller as the swelling goes down. 

5) Does the fat come back after chin liposuction?

In chin liposuction, the fat is completely removed from the chin, and no fat cell stays alive in that area, but if you gain more than 10 pounds, new fat cells will grow in the operated site.

6) Is chin lipo dangerous?

Although chin lipo is associated with risks like bleeding, infection, and scarring, it is considered a safe procedure with a high success rate. 

7) Can chin liposuction be combined with other procedures?

Definitely yes. Many surgeons suggest that patients combine this operation with a facelift, cheek augmentation, and different types of neck cosmetic surgeries, such as platysmaplasty, cervicoplasty, submentoplasty, chin implants, Botox injections, etc., to achieve greater results and have a younger look. 

8) Which one is better, chin liposuction or Kybella?

Kybella is a reliable and efficient double chin reduction method involving injecting synthetic deoxycholic acid into the neck and chin. However, the results of this method are less dramatic and may last a shorter time. Therefore, chin lipo is a better option if you wish to see more significant changes after the plastic surgery. 

9) Will I have scars after chin liposuction?

Usually, the scars of chin liposuction are barely visible as the plastic surgeons make very small incisions and cover the wounds right after the surgery. However, in some rare cases, the patients develop hypertrophic scars and need extra treatments.  

10) When can I take a shower after double chin liposuction?

It is advised not to take a shower for 48 hours after chin liposuction. Use fragrance-free soaps, lukewarm water, and soft towels to clean your neck and dry the incisions completely afterward.