What is Neck (Submental) Liposuction?

Many people struggle with excess fat underneath the chin and neck. Some patients genetically have had excess fat in the area since their teenage years. This area is particularly resistant to diet and exercise and even very motivated patients can have stubborn fat that won’t go away. Liposuction uses small suction cannulas to permanently remove the excess fat under the chin and neck.

What Are The Benefits Of Neck Liposuction?

Neck liposuction can permanently remove stubborn fat that won’t go away with a healthy diet and exercise. It can improve the patient’s neck contour and facial profile. Targeted liposuction can improve a patient’s jawline definition. This procedure can be combined with a facelift/neck lift or skin tightening procedure for improved results.

Suitable Candidates for Neck Liposuction

Aging of the neck involves 3 components: skin, muscle (platysma), and fat. While we can remove excess fat using liposuction, we cannot remove excess skin. Therefore, patients who have more youthful elastic skin will get better results as the skin heals. Treatments like Kybella only involve removing the fat and don’t treat the skin or muscle. An important benefit of this treatment over Kybella is the physical act of liposuction which can stimulate the skin to re-drape over the neck with a much-improved contour. People with stubborn fat under their chin and good skin elasticity may be ideal candidates for neck lipo.

How is Neck Liposuction Performed?

Neck liposuction can be done awake under local anesthesia in the office. The procedure typically lasts about an hour and you can go home immediately after completion. After the neck is thoroughly cleansed, numbing medicine and saline are injected into the neck. This provides good anesthesia and makes the procedure comfortable. Three small incisions are made with a needle. Two are at the base of the ear lobe and one is just underneath the chin. Very small cannulas are then used to directly remove fat from the neck and under the chin. These incisions are so small they typically do not even need a suture to be closed. They heal beautifully without any evidence something had been done. After the procedure, we place a chin support strap and you are allowed to go home.

Recovering from Neck Liposuction

Immediately After Neck liposuction

Immediately after neck liposuction, you will wear a supportive neck garment during your healing process. The operation is well tolerated and mild discomfort typically is treated with Tylenol.

Are There Possible Complications with Neck Liposuction Surgery?

Possible complications with neck liposuction depend largely on the individual patient. As with any surgical procedure, there is always a possibility of infection or other possible risks. Patients should discuss all possible complications with their facial plastic surgeon prior to undergoing any neck fat removal treatments. Poor skin elasticity is one of the most aesthetic concerns when it comes to neck liposuction patients. When the skin lacks elasticity, it can’t retract as well after surgery and so may not show the desired results.

To ensure optimal results with any facial procedure, it is important to discuss your medical history and surgical goals with an experienced facial plastic surgeon who can set realistic expectations for you. Another common concern during neck liposuction is damage to the underlying neck muscles. If these muscles are damaged, patients may experience difficulty speaking or swallowing post-surgery.

It is also important for patients to understand that certain signs of aging are just a part of the natural aging process and cannot be reversed through surgical procedures like neck liposuction. Despite this, many patients still find great satisfaction in improving their facial appearance through these neck rejuvenation procedures and are pleased with their whole new look!