I'm 51, African American and female. I want to have the fat under my chin removed. What is the best procedure for me? (Photo)

There are many factors that go into chin contouring including the bony jawline, skin laxity, excess fat and other structures such as salivary glands and the platysma muscle of the neck. The treatment should be directed to the underlying problem in consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon. For example, if you have a 'weak' chin, the skin won't necessarily improve as much as wanted. If the skin is too loose, liposuction will make it worse, not better. The presence of muscle bands or ptotic or lax glands will be more obvious with the wrong operation. The plus side is that there are many good techniques that have been developed that may get the results you desire with the right doctor. Good luck

Thank you for posting your photos and concerns.  A chin implant with liposuction would help define your chin and jawline and reduce the fullness under the chin.  In addition, it is possible that a platysmaplasty and neck lift may be needed if there is too much loose skin.  A consultation in person with a facial plastic surgeon is required to help make this decision.  Best,

 As one ages obliquity in the neck is contributed to by dissent of the platysma muscles as well as redundant skin. Clinical examination would be necessary to sort out of liposuction would be worthy. Forget smart Lipo, it does not tighten skin and creates unnecessary thermal damage.

Thank you for your question and posting appropriate pictures. You seem to be a very good candidate for SmartLipo laser liposuction of the neck. This is the procedure that's performed under local anesthesia with minimal downtime. You would need to have a consultation for precise recommendations as well as 3-D imaging to show you simulation of your postoperative results. 

Internet photos are not a substitute for an examination. You appear to have a weak chin, and excess neck fat. You may benefit from consulting several reputable facial plastic surgeons so you could see what might be best for you.Wishing you well.

You look to be in great shape. This can usually be accomplished with just sub-mental liposuction. However the problem is that when one gets to be in their 50's they lose the elasticity of the skin, this would leave you with a saggy neck. Therefore, the best correction of your neck and jawline would most likely be a lower facelift with a prejowl augmentation. This would correct the jowls, and neck and redefine your jawline. Please consult with a qualified and boarded facial plastic surgeon.

Thanks for the
question and thanks for including the photos as well. You do need a
consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to
determine the various treatment options that exist for you and what the best
approach will be based on an examination in the office. Liposuction or laser
liposuction will work here. Those who do laser liposuction believe that the
tightening is better with it and clinical trials support this. Ultherapy can
also be done here as well as some of the new sophisticated RF devices, like the
Venus Legacy, the EndyMed 3Deep, and the BTL Exilis. The RF will require
several treatment sessions but nice results can be obtained. A new drug, called
ATX-101 is now pending final approval at the FDA and will be used in this area
once approved. Again, a series of injections are needed for it to be
successful, but clinical trials show that fat can be destroyed and some
tightening achieved in some that were treated.

At 51 years of age, most patients have some laxity of the skin, and usually a lower face and neck lift is required. The photograph also demonstrates a  recessive chin profile, which a chin implant may be of some benefit.  In our practice, when a neck lift or a face/ neck lift is performed, fatty deposits above and below the platysma muscle are removed and a platysma-plasty is performed. When patients have excess skin in the neck, a lower face neck lift is required. A chin implant can be performed at the same time if so desired

Based on patients with similar profiles, I have had excellent results with chin and neck liposuction together with a chin implant placement.Bone, skin, muscle and fat will all need to be assessed in order to make a comprehensive plan.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.