4 months after PDO threads, under my chin, is it safe to undergo chin liposuction?

Question

Aloha Everyone :) I'll try to make this fast :) So I had pdo thread under my chin starting from the joggler and pulled semi behind my neck to decrease double chin and have that define jawline. 2 threads with barbs on each side left and right. It has be 4 months going on five and im interested in getting chin liposuction. My question is will be safe?, to soon to do chin lipo? Will it make the healing process longer and look botched? Or does it really matter and nothing will be affected? :)

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Aloha! Thank you for explaining the details so clearly. Based on what you described, you had barbed PDO threads placed under the chin and along the jawline about 4–5 months ago to improve the appearance of a double chin and define the jawline, and now you’re considering submental (chin) liposuction.

The reassuring news is that chin liposuction is often possible after PDO threads, and 4–5 months is generally a much safer timeframe than trying to do it within the first few weeks after thread placement.

Why the timing matters

PDO threads gradually:

lose their structural strength over time,
begin to dissolve, and
leave behind some degree of collagen stimulation and scar tissue in the treated area.

Most PDO threads are substantially weakened by 3–6 months, although the collagen effects can persist longer. By the time you’re approaching 5 months, the threads are usually far less likely to interfere mechanically with a liposuction cannula than they would be earlier on.

The main issue is not whether it is “safe” in a general sense

The more important question is whether the surgeon performing the liposuction knows that you previously had PDO threads placed.

Prior threads can leave:

fibrous bands or scar tissue under the skin,
areas that feel slightly tethered,
or uneven resistance during liposuction.

An experienced facial plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon can usually work around this, but they should be aware of:

when the threads were placed,
what type they were (barbed PDO),
and approximately where they were inserted and anchored.
Could it make healing longer?

Possibly slightly, but not necessarily dramatically.

Because the tissue has already undergone a prior procedure, you may experience:

a bit more swelling,
temporary firmness or lumpiness,
or a longer period of scar tissue remodeling compared with someone who has never had threads.

That does not automatically mean you will look botched. The risk of contour irregularities depends much more on:

the amount of fat removed,
the quality of your skin elasticity,
and the surgeon’s technique.
One thing that stands out in your description

You mentioned that the threads were placed from the jowl area and pulled semi behind the neck. That suggests a lifting vector extending laterally and posteriorly, which is a little more extensive than simple short jawline threads.

For that reason, I would be particularly cautious about having aggressive liposuction performed without an in-person examination, because the surgeon should assess whether there is any residual thread-related fibrosis or tethering that could affect the contour.

My practical advice

Before proceeding, I would ask the treating surgeon:

Can you feel any remaining thread fibrosis under the chin?
Would you recommend waiting until 6 months after the PDO placement?
Do you expect any increased risk of contour irregularity because of the previous threads?

In many cases, surgeons are comfortable performing submental liposuction once 6 months have passed, especially if the patient has healed well from the thread procedure and there are no palpable nodules, dimpling, or persistent tenderness.

My overall opinion

Based on the timeline you provided:

4–5 months after barbed PDO threads is probably not “too soon” in many cases, and
chin liposuction can often be performed safely after that interval.

However, I would not assume that the previous threads are completely irrelevant. They can leave some fibrosis that may slightly influence the procedure and healing, so it is important that the surgeon knows exactly what was done and examines the area beforehand.

The fact that you are young enough to be seeking jawline definition and are thinking about this carefully before rushing into surgery is actually a very positive sign. If your threads have fully healed, there is no persistent pain, dimpling, or hard nodules, and the surgeon is experienced with post-thread anatomy, I would generally expect chin liposuction to be reasonably safe and unlikely to result in a “botched” outcome simply because you had PDO threads 4–5 months ago.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A full set of facial photographs from all angles in a chin neutral position are required to make a determination about how best to proceed. If your fat deposits are located above the platysma muscle, then  liposuction can improve your neck. If the fat deposits are also located below the muscle, then a surgical neck lift with a platysma plasty will be required.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Personally, I would probably not do liposuction in an area that had thread lift.
It depends a bit case by case, but if the thread lifts are in the same area that needs to be treated with Liposuction, I would probably pass.Different providers will have different views on this.
Not everybody seeking Liposuction is a good candidate for the procedure and delivering consistent quality. Liposuction results is more difficult than most people realize.
Finding somebody who’s truly mastered this procedure is generally more difficult than most people realize.
The number of plastic surgeons who have mastered liposuction is pretty small.
Liposuction is a permanent and irreversible procedure that can potentially leave people disfigured if not done correctly.
Without pictures we can’t begin to make an assessment.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

4 months after PDO threads, under my chin, is it safe to undergo chin liposuction?

Answers (3)

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