Chin Liposuction: What You Need to Know

Medically reviewed by John Mesa, MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonReviewed on June 25, 2023
Written byMegan DeemUpdated on May 22, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Medically reviewed by John Mesa, MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonReviewed on June 25, 2023
Written byMegan DeemUpdated on May 22, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts


Chin liposuction (aka submental liposuction or chin lipo) permanently removes excess fat from the under the chin and jawline via small, thin tube, known as a cannula. It can also reduce the appearance of jowls.

Chin lipo is “the fastest, most efficient way to address the double chin area. When you do an extended liposuction also along the jawline, you can make the face more chiseled,” says Dr. John Mesa, a board-certified plastic surgeon in NYC. “Downtime is minimal, and the recovery isn’t painful at all.” 

Even if you’re naturally slim or have worked hard at weight loss, unwanted chin fat can resist diet and exercise—which is why even fit people can have a double chin. That’s where under chin fat removal comes in. 

This double chin removal procedure is frequently combined with skin tightening procedures, dermal fillers, or chin implant surgery, to create a more defined jawline and neck contour.

An increasing number of surgeons are using chin liposuction techniques like VASER lipo. VASER’s ultrasonic vibrations break up the fat and make it easier to remove, which reduces downtime and swelling. 

Others combine chin liposuction with FaceTite, which uses radiofrequency energy to break down or partially melt fat, tighten the skin, and strengthen the connections between the skin and the underlying neck muscle (platysma). This combination makes liposuction easier and the results more defined, notes Dr. Mesa.

Learn about a variety of chin enhancement options from Dr. Jennifer Levine, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, and two RealSelf members who had chin procedures.

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Benefits of chin liposuction surgery

  • Plastic surgeons consider chin liposuction to be the fastest, most effective way to get rid of a double chin.
  • It can be performed as an in-office facial contouring surgery under local anesthesia, although some plastic surgeons prefer to perform it under IV sedation (“twilight anesthesia”) or general anesthesia.
  • The procedure is also quick: as short as 15 minutes.
  • Results are very long-lasting, if you maintain a consistent weight. Chin lipo can be performed in combination with the placement of a silicone chin implant using the same, albeit slightly longer, incision, to create a stronger, more defined chin and jawline.
  • Patient satisfaction is high. Reviewers on RealSelf give this surgical procedure a 91% Worth It Rating, much higher than they give the nonsurgical double chin treatment options Kybella and CoolMini.

Drawbacks

  • It’s common to have some bruising and swelling after double chin surgery, so you’ll need to take about three to five days off work for recovery. 
  • Expect to wear a chin strap for up to two weeks or more after the procedure, to help reduce swelling and fluid buildup. “This chin strap also helps to support the healing tissues for optimal results,” says Dr. Vu Ho, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Plano, Texas.
  • Chin liposuction is still plastic surgery, and it comes with potential complications like infection and temporary numbness. “Nerve injury can be more of a risk when working in the chin area,” Dr. Ho cautions. 
  • Not everyone is a good candidate for double chin lipo. Good skin elasticity and minimal laxity is essential, to avoid creating more sagging neck skin after the fat has been removed.
  • Patients who don’t have good skin elasticity may need a combination of chin liposuction and a skin tightening procedure like FaceTite to prevent developing loose skin after the procedure, says Dr. Mesa. This can significantly increase your cost.
  • Chin lipo costs can be significantly more than nonsurgical treatments for double chin fat.
  • Some RealSelf members who rated this procedure “Not Worth It” experienced lumps or loose skin afterward.

  • Average Cost:
  • $3,275
  • Range:
  • $1,523 - $6,500

Your double chin surgery cost will depend on your provider's level of experience, their practice location, the complexity of your procedure, and a few other key factors.

Elective cosmetic procedures like this one aren’t covered by insurance, but most providers offer payment plans or accept third-party financing options like CareCredit.

See our complete guide to chin lipo costs

Interested in chin liposuction?

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The chin liposuction photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Ideal candidates for chin and neck liposuction have excess fat, along with good skin elasticity, so that their skin will bounce back into its newly contoured shape after the unwanted fat is removed. 

If there’s doubt about whether you have enough elasticity for a good result, your provider may pair lipo with skin tightening. “I often add a skin-tightening procedure, such as Morpheus8, when I perform chin liposuction, to get the best results possible,” says Dr. Ho. The radiofrequency (RF) heat energy further stimulates collagen production and tightens skin, creating a more defined neck contour and jawline.

People in their 40s or beyond may even need a neck lift or lower facelift to remove excess skin.

At your initial consultation, your surgeon will assess your skin elasticity, recommend a treatment plan, and discuss realistic expectations for your outcome.

“The physical exam is crucial. In certain cases, you’ll need to point out to patients that if they do liposuction alone, they’re going to have a bad result because they’re going to have wrinkly skin,” Dr. Mesa says. “It’s like sucking out the contents of a grape—you wind up with a raisin.”

A double chin liposuction procedure is also not recommended for people who are obese. “Chin liposuction only removes superficial fat,” Dr. Mesa says. “But in someone who’s very overweight, there’s a layer of deeper fat [called subplatysmal fat] in the area that chin liposuction doesn’t touch. That will remain after the procedure.” Additional surgery (usually a neck lift with manual fat removal) is the only way to address this deeper fat pocket.

Research shows that people who aren’t within 30% of their ideal body mass index (BMI) are also at greater risk for complications, including hematomas, a pocket of blood that can form if a vessel starts to leak after surgery. 

RealSelf Tip: If you’re wondering about the difference between chin and neck lipo, there isn’t any: the terms mean the same thing and are used interchangeably, according to doctors on RealSelf. “The amount and distribution of fat below the jawline varies from person to person,” says Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Santa Monica, California. “Some patients will only need lipo underneath the chin, whereas others need the fat removed to the level of the Adam’s apple.”

This minimally invasive surgery usually takes less than an hour. It can be performed in-office or a private surgery center under local anesthesia, which comes with a lower cost and fewer risks than general anesthesia. “Sometimes sedation medication is given, such as Valium, so patients feel more relaxed and less anxious,” says Dr. Ho. 

Other surgeons prefer to perform the procedure under IV sedation or twilight anesthesia. Chin liposuction is also frequently performed under general anesthesia when it’s combined with other procedures, like a facelift.

Once you’re comfortable and the treatment area is numb, here’s what you can expect:

  • Your surgeon will make small incisions (about one-eighth of an inch long) under your chin and, possibly, behind your earlobes. 
  • They will then insert a cannula, a slim tube attached to a vacuum, through these incisions. 
  • They’ll move the cannula through the fat layer under the skin to break up and remove fat, removing your double chin while contouring your neck and jawline.
  • Finally, each incision will be closed with one or two tiny sutures. The stitches are usually dissolvable and fall out after a week to 10 days.
  • Afterward, you’ll be sent home with information on how to care for your incisions, as well as a supportive chin strap to hold your skin taut while it heals. You’ll be groggy if you’ve had a sedative, so have someone you trust there to take you home safely.

You shouldn’t feel any pain during a chin liposuction procedure due to the effects of the anesthesia, which usually takes several hours to wear off.

According to Dr. Mesa, “Local anesthesia could last up to 24 hours, which gives patients post-operative pain control, [therefore] requiring minimal oral pain medication.” 

Any pain during the recovery period is usually mild and should go away within five days or less. You can talk to your doctor about prescribing pain medication just in case you need it, but over-the-counter options are usually enough to stay comfortable.

Doctors on RealSelf recommend taking 3–5 days off work to rest and heal. 

Your surgeon should give you detailed instructions for post-operative care, but here’s what doctors on RealSelf typically recommend.

  • You’ll need to wear the chin strap compression garment around the clock for one week, and at night for another one to five weeks (depending on your surgeon’s preference).
  • Take it easy for 10 days after your procedure, especially if you have a physically demanding job or strenuous exercise routine. Vigorous activity can create more swelling or even open up the incisions, if you’re not careful. 
  • Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina,says that his patients have varying degrees of bruising and swelling throughout the healing process. “Swelling can be asymmetrical and feel lumpy at times,” he says. “Be patient. The swelling should resolve, and any loose skin should tighten up on its own.” 
  • Bruising can last up to a couple of weeks, but can be covered with makeup soon after the procedure. 
  • Post-surgical lymphatic drainage massages or other post-op massages are recommended by some surgeons, including Dr. Mesa. “Post-surgical lymphatic drainage massage speeds up the healing process and either avoids or corrects lumps that can appear in the treated area” if the healing process is prolonged.
  • Some doctors recommend sleeping with your head elevated, to reduce swelling, but Dr. Mesa gives his patients the opposite advice. “I recommend that patients sleep flat. Sleeping with the head elevated builds up the swelling under the chin, due to gravity,” he says. “When the patient lies flat—with a small neck pillow for support, if necessary—the swelling goes to the back of the head, helping to expedite the recovery process and avoid the build-up of swelling under the chin.”

RealSelf Tip: Lumps are very common after chin liposuction. The same fluid buildup that causes swelling can contribute to these temporary areas of firmness. Lumps will naturally resolve over time, typically after 8–12 weeks. Wearing your compression garment will help your body absorb the excess fluid. Again, your provider may also recommend professional lymphatic drainage massages to help them subside faster.

You should see a difference right after your procedure, but it will take a few months for your new, slimmer jawline to fully emerge from the swelling. 

Doctors on RealSelf say that it’s common to experience swelling for at least three months after the surgery, with the final results taking up to six months or more to manifest. 

“It’s not unusual for chin lipo results to mature over months to a year,” adds Dr. George Bitar, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Fairfax, Virginia.

If you notice loose skin long after your procedure, it could mean that your skin didn’t have enough elasticity or you aren’t healing well. Talk to your surgeon about whether you might need a second procedure, such as a neck lift or a nonsurgical treatment, to firm up loose skin.

See chin lipo before and after photos

Chin lipo results tend to be impressive, consistent, and long-lasting, according to doctors on RealSelf. If your skin has good elasticity, your results could last for up to 10 years—as long as you maintain a consistent weight. 

However, the aging process can create new issues in the same area. “Skin laxity does occur with aging, but this process is a slow and gradual one. Living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding obesity are the most important things you can do to forestall this process,” says Dr. Brooke Seckel, board-certified plastic surgeon based in Boston.

Chin liposuction is a low-risk outpatient procedure with few side effects and complications. Temporary bruising and swelling are the most common side effects. 

That said, your surgeon should discuss these potential risks during your initial consultation: 

  • There is a slim possibility of facial numbness due to nerve damage from the procedure. The more experienced your provider is with chin liposuction, the lower the chance that this side effect will occur.
  • Asymmetry is possible, if the fat was removed unevenly.
  • It’s also possible for lipo to make your skin texture look dimpled or puckered if the fat removal was done too aggressively, or if you have too much skin laxity. 

It’s crucial to choose an experienced plastic surgeon who will be able to assess whether you’re a good candidate and perform the procedure with skill. Pay close attention to their patient reviews, ask how many chin lipo procedures they perform each month, and ask to see before and after photos that show patients like you.

Chin liposuction is the most effective double chin plastic surgery option, but your plastic surgeon can advise you on whether you’re a good candidate for any of these alternatives.

Chin Implant (Page Image)Chin Implant

surgical

Neck Lift (Page Image)Neck Lift

surgical

SculpSure (Page Image)SculpSure

nonsurgical

IMG 4813Kybella

nonsurgical

CoolSculpting (Page Image)CoolSculpting

nonsurgical

Worth It Rating87%91%62%51%68%
Average Cost$5175$8675$1950$1350$2275
DowntimeUp to 1 week of downtime1–2 weeks of downtimeNo downtimeMinimal downtimeMinimal downtime
AnesthesiaLocal anesthesia with IV sedationGeneral anesthesiaNo anesthesiaNo anesthesiaNo anesthesia
  • A chin implant can turn a recessed chin into a well-defined one, reducing the look of a double chin and better balancing facial features.
  • A neck lift is another common surgical option for getting rid of a double chin, tightening sagging skin, and removing excess tissue. A submentoplasty is a less invasive form of neck lift, specifically removing fat under the chin (but not necessarily loose skin).
  • Kybella can reduce a double chin with injections of deoxycholic acid. This naturally occurring enzyme permanently dissolves excess fat. While it’s a less invasive procedure than cosmetic surgery, Dr. Mesa says that downtime can actually be much longer with Kybella than with chin lipo. “After each Kybella injection, you have inflammation that lasts one to two weeks. In order to have a good result, you need to do two or three treatments, spaced four weeks apart,” he says. (Some patients need as many as six sessions.) “In a three-month period, you’d have six weeks of significant swelling.”
  • CoolMini, a type of CoolSculpting with a smaller applicator, freezes fat cells in order to destroy them. Once the targeted cells have been treated, the body flushes them away. “The downtime is not as bad as with Kybella, but CoolSculpting doesn’t remove all the fat,” so multiple treatments are necessary, says Dr. Mesa. “I always tell my patients, if they want to have the best results and a fast recovery, there are no noninvasive treatments that surpass chin liposuction.”

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Updated May 22, 2023

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