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The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.
Liposuction is a treatment in which tissue is removed, so it carries a certain risk and has to be carried out by a doctor qualified for procedures of this kind. If you are looking for a way to deal with a double chin and do not know whether liposuction is needed, start with the page on the double chin, where we describe the causes and all the methods worth considering.
On this page
The syringe technique
In this area we work with the syringe technique. The difference from machine liposuction is simple: instead of a suction device the doctor uses a hand-held syringe to aspirate the fat tissue.
Manual aspiration
Instead of machine suction the doctor uses a syringe to draw off the fat tissue. Without electrically powered devices.
Gentleness towards the tissue
The technique handles the tissue more gently than machine methods, which translates into less bruising and a shorter healing time.
Control over the amount
Drawing off by hand gives the doctor more control over how much tissue is removed, which matters when working on the contour.
Delicate areas
For these reasons the syringe technique is chosen where precision counts: the chin area, the jawline and the upper part of the neck.
From these features follows why the syringe technique is chosen for delicate areas such as the chin, where control over the amount of tissue removed counts.
What the treatment looks like
The treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia. The doctor works with a thin cannula with a bevelled, blunt tip, drawing off the excess tissue while keeping control over the whole treatment field.
Fat tissue can be removed from the jawline, the upper part of the neck and the chin. This makes it possible to work on the contour of the lower third of the face in one treatment, rather than on the chin alone.
The incision through which the cannula is introduced is made in the crease under the chin. The small scars left afterwards remain practically invisible there.
With local anaesthesia, and that is how we work at the clinic, you can leave the same day. This is what sets this treatment apart from liposuction carried out under general anaesthesia.
Indications
The treatment is considered for people with an excess of fat tissue in this area who lead a healthy life and still have a problem with a double chin. Changes in the structure of collagen and elastin, which form the scaffolding of the skin, are sometimes part of the picture too, and it is these that decide whether anything needs to be added to the treatment.
Healing and the compression band
This is the most important practical information about this treatment, because it affects the choice of date.
The compression band around the head for the first week is not optional: it supports healing and limits swelling. It is worth taking into account when planning the treatment before a period of intense professional contact.
Results and when they are visible
The change is visible immediately after the treatment, but it strengthens over the following weeks as the places from which tissue was removed heal. The full result is assessed two to three months after the treatment.
The treatment reduces the volume of fat tissue in the chin area and improves the contour of the lower third of the face. It does not change the firmness of the skin or its quality, which is why for some patients the plan also includes tightening treatments.
It can be combined with other aesthetic medicine procedures. The doctor chooses the methods and the order individually at the consultation before the treatment.
Whether the result lasts
The fat cells that are removed do not re-form in the same place, but that does not mean the area is secured for good.
With a considerable gain in body weight the remaining fat cells can grow larger, and new ones can arise from the stem cells present in that area. How long the result lasts therefore depends on maintaining body weight, not on the treatment alone.
The practical conclusion: the treatment makes sense for someone whose body weight is stable. If you are planning to lose weight, it is more sensible to have it afterwards.
When the treatment needs something added
The question about loose skin after the treatment comes back at almost every consultation. The risk concerns cases of a very large build-up of fat tissue, where the skin has been stretched for a long time.
The doctor assesses this before the treatment and says plainly what liposuction alone will achieve and what will require additional treatments: ones that tighten and condition the skin, for example thermal lifting, laser treatments or methods that stimulate the tissue. With a moderate excess of tissue the skin usually adapts to the new contour.
Contraindications
Smoking does not rule out the treatment, but it raises the risk of complications and it is worth knowing that before deciding. Before the treatment tell the doctor about all your conditions and the medicines you take.
The treatment on video
A recording from the treatment room will show the cannula being used in the chin area and how the compression band is put on.
We publish photos of results only with patients’ consent and under comparable conditions: the same framing, light, facial expression and time interval. The result is always individual.
The questions we are asked most often
Does chin liposuction hurt?
The treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia, so what you feel during it is limited to the anaesthetic being given. Afterwards, when the anaesthesia wears off, soreness and swelling may appear, and the area can be tender for a few days.
How long does swelling last after the treatment?
Bruising and swelling in the treated area can last 7 to 14 days. For the first week you wear a special compression band around the head, which supports healing and regeneration.
When is the full result visible?
The change is visible immediately after the treatment, but it builds up over the following weeks as the places from which tissue was removed heal. The full result is assessed two to three months after the treatment.
Does the result of liposuction last?
The fat cells that are removed do not re-form in the same place, but how long it lasts depends on body weight. With a considerable gain in weight the remaining fat cells can grow larger, and new ones can arise from the stem cells present in that area. The treatment therefore makes sense for someone whose body weight is stable.
Does the skin sag after chin liposuction?
That risk concerns cases of a very large build-up of fat tissue, where the skin has been stretched for a long time. The doctor assesses this at the consultation and then suggests additional treatments that tighten the skin, for example thermal lifting or laser treatments. With a moderate excess of tissue the skin usually adapts to the new contour.
What not to do after the treatment?
For 4 to 6 weeks avoid strenuous physical exercise, the swimming pool and the sauna. Do not lift heavy objects and avoid infections. You receive a detailed list of recommendations from the doctor after the treatment, and we also go through it at the consultation.
How should I sleep after chin liposuction?
On your back, with the head slightly raised. This position helps the swelling in the treated area to go down sooner.
Will there be scars?
The incision through which the cannula is introduced is made in the crease under the chin. The small scars left afterwards remain practically invisible there.
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.