Can I get a neck and face lift after chin liposuction? (Photos)

Question

I am wondering if I can get neck and face lift- I want my neck, nasolabial folds and marionette folds to be done. I just had chin lipo, there are pictures, it's mostly sagging, not much fat inside / I'm 47 y old/. The surgeon told me there will be adhesions after 20 days- do you think it could be a problem for lift ?

Jag Chana, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

It is unfortunate since the submental liposuction could have been performed at the same time as a face and neck lift. At this stage it is best now to wait a few months to allow the tissues to settle and to assess the final result after the liposuction. A face and neck lift can still be performed  at a later date but depending on how you heal this is best considered about 6 months after your liposuction. It is common in the United Kingdom to see many patients having had liposuction in this area suffering from skin laxity since they did not consult an appropriately qualified Plastic Surgeon who may have provided all the options in the first instance. Liposuction is an unregulated industry with many ordinary doctors with no surgical qualification performing these procedures who are unable to make an assessment of the likelihood of loose skin developing in the neck. Incidentally, I have seen many cases of skin laxity and irregularities in the neck after Coolsculpting following which I have had to perform corrective surgery. It is best that you seek advice from an appropriately qualified Plastic Surgeon. It is difficult to know about Plastic Surgery accreditation in your country and so I would recommend the ISAPS list of surgeons since there should be a list of ISAPS accredited surgeons in each country.

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

In short, absolutely. The liposuction likely removed some excess adipose tissue from the chin and neck. But it doesn't shrink the skin. As you have aged, the extra skin is now losing its elasticity. The best treatment in this situation would be a lower face and neck lift to remove the skin excess and redrape the tissues along the jawline. Best of luck moving forward!

Marie E. Montag, MD · Answer

A facelift procedure actually treats the lower third of the face and the neck at the same time. It tightens the skin and tissue along the jawline and into the area under the chin. The skin is incised in front of and around the ear and the tissue elevated out onto the cheek and neck. Sometimes a deeper level of fibrous tissue (the SMAS fascia) is incised and tightened for a deeper, more stable correction of the laxity. The deep tissue is pulled backward under the earlobe then up and back above the earlobe and stitched into the new position. The skin and fat is then stretched back over top and the excess is trimmed away. This hides the scar around the ear instead of out in the open on the neck or face. Oftentimes, liposuction is done at the same time to thin that area as the skin is stretched.
In your case, you have already had the liposuction, but the skin will still need to be stretched with the facelift to get the best results. You will need to wait until you are stably healed and the swelling is gone before going ahead with the lift. Usually this requires at least 4-6 months, but will depend on swelling and scar tissue formation. I would have you gently massage your chin area after the early healing is done (4-6 weeks). This will soften the scar tissue sooner and get you ready for the lift. 
  
The nasolabial folds and marionette lines are improved some by a facelift, but they do not completely correct. If you wish to have the NLF and ML’s dealt with at the same time, then either fat grafting or fillers need to be considered. These fill in the indentation of the wrinkles to soften their appearance. Fillers (such as Juvederm/Restylane/Sculptra) are temporary solutions to the problem because the injected material is gradually absorbed by the body, and to maintain the correction the injections will need to be repeated over time. Fat grafting is a long-term solution. Fat from other parts of the body are harvested, concentrated and injected back into the face to correct wrinkles. If the fat ‘takes’ (survives the transfer) then the volume that is injected will stay. This is a more invasive technique, but if you are going to be in surgery anyway, it does not add a lot of time or expense to the facelift.
  
Facelifts and fat grafting are wonderful procedures that complement each other in order to combat the aging process and rejuvenate the face. Combining procedures, especially in the face, can create a harmonious final result and do so more economically than if each is performed separately. Start with an evaluation by your board-certified plastic surgeon.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, most likely you can. However, it is best to wait at least 6 to 12 months to undergo additional surgery. This will assure the healing from your liposuction has completed and the results are final beforehand. The best procedure approach will be discussed in greater detail during your one-on-one #consultation

Gregory S. Keller, MD, FACS · Answer

It does not appear that you neck was "skeletonized" with excess fat removal, so there should be no problem performing a facelift/necklift when you are fully healed.  I'd recommend both a backward pull of the muscle and a modified corset type platysmaplasty for your neck.
If the neck is "skeletonized", it is occasionally necessary to add fat or further modify the structures of your neck.

Anita Patel, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, a facelift can be done after submental liposuction, however I would wait until you are healed from this current procedure. In the before photo the skin appears loose, and in cases like this, typically the liposuction is done at the same time as the facelift and neck lift. They do not need to be done separately, and in cases where there is already laxity, sometimes the neck skin can appear worse after lipo alone. In any case, the good news is yes, it can still be done.

Ercan Karacaoglu, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

The chin liposuction could have been planned with face and neck lift.  But if your chin is heavy then two seperate procodures for lipo and lifting is the right way to go. In your case it is better  to wait a few months to allow the tissues to settle. Best wishes

David Gilpin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Yes, you can certainly have a face and neck lift after you have healed from your submental liposuction.  These procedures are usually done together, however there is no harm having the liposuction performed first.  Adding a face and neck lift help bring your face into more balance, and will improve jowling along the jawline, and improve volume loss in the mid face.Be sure to consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts.  I hope that this helps!-David Gilpin

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

facelift surgery can certainly be done after liposuction has been performed on the neck. There will definitely be some scar tissue that an experienced surgeon will know how to deal with. Good luck.

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

There should be no problem undergoing a facelift after neck liposuction.  This would help improve excess skin that is not treated with liposuction.  It would also improve the overall balance of your face and neck.

Can I get a neck and face lift after chin liposuction? (Photos)

Answers (17)

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