Is liposuction possible on the face? (Photo)

Question

I would like to get a procedure done to slim my face and sharpen my jawline. Would this be the best procedure or is there something else more fitting?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

From your photo, the fullness appears to be mostly in the lower cheeks and soft jawline area rather than a large, obvious fat deposit under the chin. Liposuction can be helpful for submental fat under the chin and sometimes along the jawline, but it is not usually the best tool for slimming the central cheeks. Overdoing fat removal in a young face can also create hollowing or premature aging later.

The best option depends on what is creating the roundness. If you have excess fat under the chin, submental liposuction can sharpen the neck-jaw transition. If the fullness is mainly buccal fat, buccal fat removal may slim the lower cheeks, but it should be conservative and is not right for everyone. If the issue is a small or set-back chin, chin filler or a chin implant can make the jawline look sharper without removing fat. If the jaw muscle is wide, Botox to the masseter muscles may help. Sometimes a combination of small changes gives a better result than one aggressive procedure.

I would recommend an in-person consultation with a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who can examine your skin thickness, fat distribution, bite/chin projection, and masseter muscle size. Ask specifically whether your goal would be better served by submental liposuction, conservative buccal fat removal, chin augmentation, jawline filler, or no surgery at this stage.

Arif Eroglu, MD · Answer

If there is excess fat on the cheeks, fat is removed from the cheeks with Vaserlipo, and round cheeks can be thinned with bichectomy. To highlight the jaw line, removing fat from under the jaw line with Vaserlipo is also useful.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

The best thing you can do is not do anything, including the very faddish buccal fat lipectomy. You will regret anything done to remove either subcutaneous fat or buccal fat in the not too distant future.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

There are options you can consider to help define the jawline and slim the face that are less aggressive than liposuction.  Botox to the masseter muscles can help to give a slimmer look to the face.  Fillers can be used to define the jawline.  FaceTite is a minimally invasive procedure used to define facial contours and tighten skin on the face and neck.  See a provider near you to learn more.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You already have a slim face. Liposuction is not done routinely on the face because of the risk of nerve damage.  It can be done under the chin safely to remove excess fat.

Richard R. Orr, MD · Answer

Can you do it?? Sure!!  Should you do it???  Rarely if ever!!
One of the changes in the face that shows age is a loss of the natural fill of the face.  As the face gets thinner, it looks older!  Decades ago, I did some lipo of the face.  It was THE WRONG thing to do.  
Your fuller face is a sign of youth!!!  Embrace it!!!!  Love your fuller face!!!  A thinner face is NOT a sign of beauty!!
What is see in your pic is youthful and beautiful!!  I wouldn't do a thing!!  Don't let the media with their "super-models" and their chiseled jawlines make you think that is beauty!
Probably not what you wanted to hear! But the truth can be a difficult thing.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Facial aesthetics, especially on young people is primarily determined by facial bone or skeletal structure. Your fat layer is normal and relatively thin and is not contributing in any significant way to how your face looks or why your face looks the way it does. The total thickness of subcutaneous fat in relationship to the size of your head is relatively thin. This means that the total impact of facial liposuction is relatively small. On top of this removing facial fat creates secondary undesirable problems later in life as we lose facial fat, creating premature aging.
Delivering consistent quality, liposuction, results is much more difficult than most people realize. If the procedure is not done perfectly, then you can be left with permanent irreparable facial contour irregularities. If that isn’t enough to dissuade you from having facial liposuction, then recognize that the facial nerve has branches throughout the face and injuries to the facial nerve, can leave you which facial nerve damage, creating the appearance of having had a stroke. Facial liposuction for what you’re seeking to achieve is not appropriate and is ill advised.
The chance of you having a positive net benefit is very small, and the chance of having undesirable side effects, including disfigurement, is substantially higher.
Your face is balanced, appropriate attractive, and does not need surgical or non-surgical intervention
It’s not uncommon for young women to be concerned about their appearance. I think what you need more than anything else. It’s a reassurance crayon there’s no shortage of plastic surgeons and Aesthetic providers. Happy to take your money.
My best suggestion is to simply not go down the road. I’m thinking you need to alter the shape of your face.Be happy for being born with an attractive face and having your youth health and all the other blessings you currently possess.
Don’t have surgery unless you need it.Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Is liposuction possible on the face? (Photo)

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