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Indications: Liposuction of the neck is done to remove localized areas of fat from the neck. It does not tighten skin although sometimes the underlying tissue seems pulled tighter by a thin layer of scar tissue (adhesions). There are many causes of neck fullness below the chin. Liposuction is done to sculpt areas. It is is not designed to remove large amounts of fat or to treat obesity. Neck suctioning is often combined with a facelift or other facial plastic surgery. Other areas of the face can also be sculpted including the fat pads of the cheek and the folds from the nose to the lip (nasolabial folds). This is one area where ultrasonic liposuction may not replace traditional liposuction.
Notice the fullness in the neck and the oblique angle from the chin to the lower neck. Compare this with the next picture. Here you can see the improved angle and shape of the neck. This appearance is not present immediately and may take several weeks to appear. For a few weeks after surgery some patients complain of a firm lump in the neck under the chin. This is due to scar tissue beneath the skin. It can be felt but is difficult to see.
Method: The method of surgery is to make a small incision just below the chin through which the fat is removed as individual tubes. In some patients further incisions are placed just behind the earlobe and used to create a crisscross pattern of suctioning to reduce the risks of irregularity. The operation is done under either local anesthetic (you are awake) or general anesthetic (you are asleep). You can choose but some patients are more comfortable asleep. Most of the time this is an outpatient operation and a stay in the hospital is not needed.
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Problems: All operations have some risk. The risks of surgery are divided into two groups. First those that are seen in all operations and second those that are unique or special for this operation. In the first group, the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or change in feeling. The main problems which are special for this operation are surface irregularity and the need for secondary surgery. In some patients fullness below the chin may not be due to fat alone. For example the hyoid bone, a small bone in the neck which acts as a starting point for some neck muscles, is anatomically placed low. In these cases the fullness of the neck will remain after surgery.It is important to remember that no surgeon can give a guarantee about the final outcome, including appearance, shape, size and so on. You should have a realistic attitude about the outcome, and remember that all surgery has good and bad aspects.
That there is no such thing as ‘perfect surgery’.
The satisfaction rate for cosmetic surgery is around 90% and although a satisfactory outcome is anticipated this means that 10% of people do not achieve the result that either the patient or the surgeon would like.
If things do not go well you may need revision or secondary surgery. Although many surgeons do not charge for this, there is often a charge for anesthesia and operating room costs.