Risks of Chin Liposuction?

Question

I have a pocket of fat which is generic under my chin and around my jaw, I have no jaw definition and I have fat under my chin. The only cosmetic procedure I've ever wanted done on my face has been chin liposuction but I am scared of risking having an exposed platysma or lumpiness. How common are these risks and what can I ask my surgeon to do to prevent these risks? What other important questions should I ask my surgeon? Thank you

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

These procedures are very safe because the plane of the procedure is underneath the skin and above the muscle. In this way, there are no significant vital structures to present as problems. In order to avoid lumpiness or bumpiness, an experienced surgeon will leave some fat behind on the skin side of the flap.  Generally, the risks of problems is extremely low. It is a very safe surgery.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Seek out a facial sculpting expert to discuss all your options and possible side effects. For a more defined jawline to strengthen your profile (and help prevent the dreaded jawline "jowl" sagging), we use injectable fillers like Revanesse Versa - a filler known to limit swelling and give subtle, soft enhancements - or Radiesse. Using a cannula to limit pain and swelling, we inject on the bone in strategic points to get more lift and shaping, resulting in a more contoured lower face and defined, structured jawline. I would suggest getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear mk175849,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from chin liposuction. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Barry M. Weintraub, MD, FACS · Answer

The risks vary from surgeon to surgeon, from surgical facility to surgical facility, as well as being related to the instrumentation used. In general, experience of the surgeon counts, as does PPD (patients per day) on the surgical schedule. (For example, if a surgeon is performing 10+ surgeries in a day, it’s difficult to manage quality control.) The size of the instrumentation is also crucial, because the smaller the cannulas (this is the instrumentation used to remove the fat), the more precise and smooth the outcome will be. Personally, I like to perform only 2-3 surgeries a day in an accredited AAAA-SF outpatient facility, where there is no rush to “get to the next patient.” I also prefer the smallest of cannulas so that you will not have any large incisions indicating you’ve had surgery, but also, it will produce a result that is smooth and without lumps. My best advice is to call and ask about 1)experience 2)Patients Per Day 3)size of cannulas. Best of luck!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The genetic component of your double chin is in reality a genetic predisposition for developing an undersized mandible in relationship to the maxilla. This causes the underlying platysma muscle to drape the neck in a more oblique fashion compared to those who have a larger and more projecting mandible.

Liposuction works well to reduce the double chin and can give excellent jawline definition. This is especially true in younger people.

As people increase in age to candidacy for getting good results from Liposuction goes down and above the age of 50 fat removal is often inferior compared to having a neck lift.

Removing fat in people who have less than ideal skin elasticity can show premature find wrinkles and expose the underlying platysma muscle. If the platysma muscle drops to neck nicely without platysmal bands then it isn’t so much of an issue as long as it’s done correctly.

When interviewing plastic surgeons and I would encourage you to interview as many as you can muster up the effort to. Ask each provider to first inform most differentiate all of the variables that are contributing to why your jawline looks the way it does. In other words a thorough assessment should include a discussion about bone structure, platysma muscle, subcutaneous fat and skin.

Next I would encourage you to ask each provider to show their entire collection of chin and neck liposuction results including undesirable outcomes.

An experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you 25 sets of before and after pictures and in reality highly experience providers will have hundreds. Likewise talented and confident providers should be comfortable showing you a few cases of undesirable outcomes that they may have had or taken care of on behalf of other providers.

By asking these questions you will get a sense of who the provider is in regards to their level of comfort and honesty.

The only two variables I’ve ever found that consistently correlate with quality is that the providers you want typically have a men’s collections of before and after pictures and typically do not accumulate justified negative reviews on various physician review websites.

When those two come together you’ve typically found the right provider.

To make a good assessment we need quality pictures and these should be full face frontal and profile pictures with the patient looking forward without facial expression just like our plastic surgeons take before and after pictures.

Seeing the mandible without its relationship to the Maxilla is insufficient to make an assessment.

These two bones structures are always related to each other and it follows with dental oclosion and how this soft tissues approximate to each other. For example people with under developed mandibles often have a dental overbite and this causes the upper lip to have more forward projection than the lower lip while those were they substantial mandible have the reverse relationship between their lips.

First steps first and that is interviewing lots of plastic surgeons.

Do this by scheduling in person consultations and staying local.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Risks of Chin Liposuction?

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