What Questions Should I Ask in Chin/jowl Liposuction Consultation?

Congratulations on taking the first steps to improve the appearance of your chin/jowl area with cosmetic surgery! This procedure yields a fantastic result, and it will greatly enhance your profile. It's great that you are doing a little bit of homework ahead of time to ensure you are prepared for your pre-op appointment. For starters, you will want to ensure you are in good hands for the procedure. I would recommend that you confirm your surgeon:

1) Is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
2) Has a good amount of before and after photos so you may get an idea of their results
3) Has fantastic patient testimonials
4) Has a great amount of experience performing your particular procedure

It is also good to get an idea of what to expect after surgery, what activities to avoid, and how to care for the area in the days/weeks following your procedure. In addition, I would recommend you request a computer morphed photo from your surgeon, which will usually be generated during your pre-op appointment. This will help you get an idea of how your profile may appear following surgery. A morphed photo will also serve as a fantastic communication tool between you and your surgeon. Thanks and best of luck!

You want to ensure that your plastic surgeon is board-certified. You also want to make sure that your procedure is performed in a safe and certified surgical facility. Find a plastic surgeon that you trust and develops rapport with you. Lastly, look at their pre- and post-procedure photos and make sure that they have the skill to provide the results you desire. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

First and foremost, is the procedure you are planning to have the optimal operation for your situation?  We perform such laser-assisted liposuction in our office facility and find it very helpful for many patients.  However, when there is significant excess skin and and banding, it may not provide much improvement.  Regardless, in experienced hands, there is little downside to the procedure and, at a minimum, you will likely see improvement.  You want to ask your physician a few questions:

* how many of these have you done and can you show me some before and after photos?

* what should I expect after surgery (anesthesia needs, dressings, swelling, pain, how long away from exercise and normal activities, etc.)?

* what can I expect as a realistic result?

* should I be considering additional procedures (e.g. skin tightening via radiofrequecy or ultrasonic devices, or neck surgery)?

Finally, when choosing a physician, the key is that your physician is experienced and can show you their favorable results for your type of situation, not just "Board" certification.

Best of luck!

Liposuction, as you may have heard in the popular media, is the most commonly performed surgical procedure each year in the United States. Here's a statistic that you may not have heard: the majority of physicians performing liposuction in the United States are not plastic surgeons; in fact, many do not have any formal surgical training whatsoever. It seems hard to believe, but many physicians performing liposuction have had no more training in liposuction than a 'weekend course'. One way to determine whether or not a physician has had appropriate training in a particular surgery is to confirm that they have hospital privileges for that procedure.

I fear that some practitioners view liposuction as a 'simple' surgery, since it does not involve making large incisions, and it requires little, if any, suturing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Liposuction, in my mind, is a very challenging operation that requires careful planning and preparation, and a great deal of care and finesse when it is actually performed. It requires a three-dimensional understanding of the layers of human anatomy, an understanding that is second nature to a surgeon alone. I think that it is often an inadequate understanding of anatomy (and, perhaps, of the body's response to surgery) which leads to the poor results in liposuction and body contouring that unfortunately are so often seen.

When performed expertly, on an ideal candidate, neck liposuction can transform the face, making a person look years younger and often much lighter. Some individuals have 'sagging' necks primarily due to fat accumulation below the jawbone (mandible). In some cases, liposuction alone can significantly improve the neck appearance. Liposuction is also frequently combined with surgical neck rejuvenation, and in selected cases some direct excision of fat (through a hidden incision below the chin) is performed. The reduction of fat in the area below the jawline and in the anterior neck almost always makes the neck appear longer, and makes the patient's profile appear more elegant or refined.

 

In a chin/jowl liposuction consultation, as in any surgical consultation, be certain to ask about the risks of the procedure, pre and post operative instructions, and when you may resume normal activities.  It would also be helpful to ask to see pre and post op photos of similar patients as yourself.   You should also ask if there are other procedures which might be beneficial in your case, such as a chin augmentation or a neck lift.  Best wishes.