Chin & Jawline Liposuction Sydney

Liposuction & Skin Tightening

Submental liposuction treats the pocket of fat that sits under the chin, the area many people call a double chin. Combined with skin tightening, it is used to define the jawline and the front of the neck when fullness there sits at odds with the rest of the face.

Fat under the chin often persists despite weight loss and training, because its volume owes as much to genetics and ageing as to body weight. Liposuction removes that fat but does nothing for loose skin, so the two are frequently planned together. Liposuction of the abdomen, hips, thighs and arms is a separate procedure and is covered on the body liposuction page.

Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, MBBS FRACS, assesses the chin, jawline and neck as one unit at her rooms in Paddington, Sydney, since jaw position, neck muscle tone and skin quality all affect what liposuction alone can achieve.

Who it may suit

• Fullness under the chin that has not responded to weight loss or exercise
• A jawline that looks softened or blurred by fat beneath it
• Reasonable skin elasticity, so the skin can redrape once fat is removed
• Mild skin laxity of the upper neck, where skin tightening is added to the plan
• A stable weight, and willingness to stop smoking for the period advised
• An understanding that this treats contour, not body weight

What submental liposuction and skin tightening involves

The procedure is performed in hospital, usually as day surgery, under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation depending on how much is being done.

1. Markings are made while you sit upright, so the fat pads and jawline are assessed in the position they are actually seen.
2. One or two very small incisions are made, typically in the crease under the chin and behind the earlobes, and local anaesthetic solution is infiltrated.
3. A fine cannula is passed through the fat layer beneath the skin and fat is removed in even passes. Deeper fat below the platysma muscle is generally left alone, since removing it can create hollowing.
4. Where tightening is planned, it is carried out in the same setting. If laxity is more marked, a neck lift may be the more suitable option and will be discussed instead.
5. The small incisions are closed and a supportive chin and neck garment is applied.

Recovery

Oedema under the chin is expected and takes time to resolve, so the contour seen in the first weeks is not the final one. Timeframes vary between patients.

• A compression garment is usually worn most of the day for the first week or two, then at night for a further period.
• Bruising and firmness are common for two to four weeks, and the area can feel numb or uneven while it settles.
• Many people return to work within about a week, depending on the extent of surgery.
• Strenuous exercise is generally deferred for two to four weeks, or as advised.
• The contour continues to refine over roughly three to six months.

Risks and considerations

Risks include bruising, prolonged oedema, contour irregularity, asymmetry, temporary or lasting numbness of the skin under the chin, fluid collection, infection and small permanent scars at the incision sites. Injury to a branch of the facial nerve is uncommon but can cause weakness at the corner of the mouth, usually temporary. Skin may fail to redrape and can look looser after fat is removed, particularly where elasticity is reduced. Revision is sometimes needed to address an irregularity.

Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity and not a substitute for weight loss, and it does not change the underlying bone. If a small or set-back chin is contributing to the appearance of your neck, genioplasty may be raised as an alternative or an addition.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

A referral from a registered medical practitioner is required before your consultation, and a GP referral is preferred. Dr Maryam examines your skin quality, fat distribution and jaw position, takes preoperative photographs, and tells you plainly whether liposuction, skin tightening, both or neither is likely to help.

A cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between consent and surgery, and at least three months for patients under 18, who also require assessment by an appropriate registered health practitioner. Fees are quoted after consultation, and facial contouring of this kind is cosmetic, so it does not attract a Medicare item number. Dr Maryam operates at St Luke’s Hospital in Potts Point, Sydney Day Hospital, The Skin Hospital in Darlinghurst and Double Bay Day Hospital. Call 1300 067 668 to book an appointment at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington.