Are chin and jowls liposuction the answer? (Photo)

Thank you for posting your photos from childhood! It is always interesting to observe how peoples faces change. I would be concerned about liposuctioning your problem area since it is very close to the marginal mandibular nerve. You appear to have congenital indentations in between your chin and jowl. You also have a relatively short chin on front view. Extended chin implants have tails that can fill in the indentation in between your jowl and chin, along with adding chin projection. I hope this is helpful! Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Thank you for providing such a detailed history and photos. It’s clear you’ve explored a wide range of non-surgical treatments to address your lower face contour, including skin tightening, injectable treatments, and even buccal fat removal.

Given that you’ve undergone multiple modalities with minimal improvement in the jowls, and your plastic surgeon believes there is residual fat contributing to the fullness, chin and jowl liposuction can indeed be a reasonable and potentially effective next step.

Here’s why:

Genetic Fat Distribution: Your mention of a rounded, heavy lower face since childhood suggests a strong genetic component. If the jowls are primarily composed of fat deposits rather than skin laxity, then energy-based tightening devices alone (Ultherapy, Morpheus8, etc.) are unlikely to produce dramatic results.

Volume vs. Laxity: It appears that your issue is more related to volume (fat retention) rather than just loose skin or volume loss, which is why fillers and lifting threads may not have been effective. Liposuction can directly address fat in the jowl and submental (under-chin) area, sculpting the jawline more precisely.

Realistic Expectations: While liposuction can improve contour significantly, it’s important to have realistic expectations, especially if there’s any underlying skin laxity that may persist or become more visible after fat removal. In such cases, combining liposuction with skin-tightening procedures afterward may offer enhanced results.

In summary, chin and jowl liposuction may be the appropriate next step given your treatment history and your surgeon’s assessment. It’s often effective in cases where fat is the primary concern and non-invasive options have been exhausted. Just be sure to review all risks and potential outcomes thoroughly with your provider.