For Just Fat Under the Chin - Lipo or Face Lift?

Submental liposuction (liposuction underneath the chin) is a great option if:
the primary problem with your neck is excess fat
your skin quality is very good
there are no other issues that need to be addressed (jowling, poor jawline definition, etc)
A necklift is a good option if:
you have too much loose skin in your neck
your jawline is poorly defined
the muscles of your neck need to be tightened or redraped
An experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can help you with this decision once he has had a chance to examine you and get your ideas as to what your goals are. Pick one who is comfortable with all aspects of facial rejuvenation so that you can get an honest assessment of your options.
Good luck!
Dr. Salemy

This is a very tough question. One has to examine the laxity and elasticity of the neck skin and how much excess fat that is present. A neck lift/ facelift almost always leads to a great improvement for the neck. Liposuction requires minimal to moderate excess skin to the neck and good elasticity to obtain a good result.

If it is truly just the fat under the chin in the submental area then liposuction alone can give great results. You will also see some neck tightening with this. So that is a bonus. If you want the jowls or the nasolabial folds also treated then you are best with a face/neck lift. I do pretty aggressive liposuction of the neck along with my face and neck lift so you will get the benefit of both with that route.This is really an individualized treatment though so a good facial analysis is required to tailor your treatment plan.Hope this helps.Best of luck,DrC

Kybella is an exciting new FDA- approved
treatment for submental fullness, or double chin. Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid) is
injected into the fat pad under the chin for permanent results. Often 2
or 3 treatments are needed to completely contour the chin and remove the
unwanted fat. A skillfully trained provider can determine if you are a candidate
for Kybella vs other surgical neck procedures.
The
procedure is safe and effects are evident even after one treatment!#Kybellachintreatments  #doublechintreatments   #fatreduction

Kybella is an exciting new FDA- approved
treatment for submental fullness, or double chin. Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid) is
injected into the fat pad under the chin for permanent results. Often 2
or 3 treatments are needed to completely contour the chin and remove the
unwanted fat. A skillfully trained provider can determine if you are a candidate
for Kybella vs other surgical neck procedures.
The
procedure is safe and effects are evident even after one treatment!

#Kybellatreatments
#doublechin #fatreductiontreatments

Thanks for sharing. In general current neck rejuvenation treatments include:Surgical Neck lift* with a lower facelift would be the gold standard and gets the best results in older patientsSurgical Neck lift* would be the next best procedureNeck liposuction and/or laser lipolysis if only fat removal is required, typically in a younger patient. A platysmaplasty can be added for further muscle tighteningUltherapy is an FDA approved non invasive tightening using ultrasound technologyKybella is a new FDA approved injection that melts fat under the chinBotox to the platysma bands to decrease their show*It is important the a Neck lift involves some liposuction and importantly a platysmaplasty which is a procedure that tightens the underlying loose neck muscles. Talk to several board certified surgeons experienced in face and neck rejuvenation to discuss your options.

It’s not unusual for patients to
have concerns about the aesthetic appearance of their chin, jawline and
neck.  These concerns are usually
related to skin laxity, neck fat, muscle abnormalities and deficiencies of the
underlying bones.  The type of
procedure performed to correct these problems is entirely dependent upon the
anatomic cause of the condition.

Without pictures or a physical exam
it’s impossible to know with certainty which option is best for you.  Your history suggests that your problem
is related to excess fat in your neck. 
Under these circumstances, liposuction of the neck is probably your best
treatment option.  This procedure
can significantly improve neck and jawline contour and is associated with high
satisfaction rates.  Since your
skin is probably tight, a facelift wouldn’t add to your final result and might
increase the potential for complications. 
For these reasons neck liposuction is probably your best treatment
option.

If you’re considering this
procedure it’s important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon. This
surgeon should be able to formulate an appropriate
treatment plan.

For a younger person (30's and sometimes early 40's) with excellent skin elasticity, liposuction is an great option for excess fat in the jowls.  Once you get into your 40's and 50's, skin elasticity decreases and liposuction will often leave you with sagging, empty skin.  Think deflated balloon look.  This is true whether liposuction is done with a laser or any other device.  Remember, it's not the tool but the skin properties.  In my practice, in virtually 100% of the facelift's I perform, we do liposuction in the neck and jowls.  Liposuction helps to elevate the skin from the underlying fat, a necessary step during a facelift, and it helps maximize your results.  There is no additional charge for liposuction at the time of a facelift.   

The answer depends on several factors including your age, skin tone, and presence/absence of changes to the platysma muscle.  Often, what is perceived by the patient as fat under the chin is a multifactorial problem that is more associated with the changes of aging than fat excess. Neck liposuction would be more typically performed on a 30 something year old patient and a Face/Neck-Lift would be more typical in an individual age 50 and up. 

Liposuction can be very helpful for this problem if it is only fat that is causing the sagging. I find in my practice that in addition to fat, laxity of the platysma muscle also contributes to the poor neck contour. In the appropriate case a mini neck lift can deal with the fat and the lax muscle together and can really make a significant improvement in the neck line. Of course in the older patient a traditional facelift is often required to give the most comprehensive result.

The shape of the neck has several components, skin, fat and underlying muscular shape.  If the problem is excess fat with good skin elasticity muscular shape then liposuction can be a wonderful option.  If there are problems with the shape of the underlying skeleton or significant loss of skin elasticity a neck lift or facelift may be a better option.