Submental Liposuction

Fat under the chin can make many patients feel very self-conscious with a subsequent reduction in self-confidence. Also referred to as a ‘double chin’, submental liposuction may be a suitable treatment option for those patients who are at or near a normal body mass index. Surgeons at Centre for Surgery in London have years of experience in performing submental liposuction.

Submental liposuction or chin lipo is a suitable solution for men and women who are wishing to remove fat under the chin. Submental liposuction is considered to be a good alternative to neck lift surgery in those with good quality skin with minimal skin laxity, as the procedure has fewer complications and scars, and has a quicker recovery period. Submental liposuction may provide a more natural looking appearance when compared to a neck lift in younger patients.

Chin liposuction involves the removal of fat from below the jaw, as well as in the jowls and cheeks. Excess fat in these areas often makes a person look older and chubby. Liposuction is considered a safe solution to the problem.

For those with moderate amounts of skin laxity, submental liposuction and jawline lipo can often be combined with FaceTite and Morpheus8 for skin contraction without the scars, risks or downtime of traditional facelift surgery.

If you are wishing to remove excess skin from the neck, you may be interested in a neck lift.

10 REASONS TO CHOOSE US

Trust a facial plastic surgeon

A facial plastic surgeon is trained to undertake cosmetic surgery procedures in the facial region. They are dedicated sub-specialists. Compared with general plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons are inherently better trained to perform delicate facial procedures. The extra years of surgical training by facial specialists focused on the facial region results in an exceptionally high degree of skill.

The Centre for Surgery approach to aftercare

Our aftercare programme was recently described as ‘outstanding’ by our regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

Our postoperative support team call all our patients the day after their procedure and then every other day thereafter for the first two weeks. The proactive nature of our postoperative support gives every patient the best opportunity for a smooth postoperative recovery free of complications. In many cases if complications were to occur, their impact is markedly lessened by early detection, prompt clinical assessment and correct treatment. Where a patient expresses concern to our team over the phone, then we often call patients in the same day for assessment with one of our expert nursing team. Even if there is no significant issue, the careful explanation and calm reassurance provided by our team can help to alleviate any worries you may have experienced.

Dr Antonios Mitsakos is a fully qualified plastic and cosmetic surgeon. His name appears on the GMC register for plastic surgery (GMC number: 6148715). He completed his plastic surgery training at the world-renowned St Thomas Hospital in London. Dr Mitsakos has performed reconstructive surgery in his NHS roles and his expertise in doing this forms the foundation of his aesthetic practice.

Dr Antonios Mitsakos has extensive experience in performing all aspects of facial rejuvenation surgery including blepharoplasty, browlift, facelift and necklift surgery. Dr Mitsakos regularly combines facial fat grafting with facelift surgery to volumise and create projection – restoring the natural contours of the youthful face.

Dr Antonios is also a highly regarded teacher and trainer of non-surgical aesthetic techniques to the next generation of doctors. He currently holds highest level 7 accredited trainer status. His friendly, relaxed yet confident manner is frequently remarked upon by many of his former trainees.

Dr Mitsakos specialises in minimally invasive surgical techniques to minimise scarring and is proficient in the FaceTite procedure.  Meticulous preoperative planning is very important to Dr Mitsakos to achieve optimal results and he follows very strict clinical protocols for all his patients.

At consultation, Dr Mitsakos will listen to your specific needs and requirements and where appropriate will tailor a bespoke surgical solution using Crisalix 3D imaging to visualise how you could look after your procedure.

Submental liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is very effective for contouring the chin, jawline and lower face region by the removal of excess fat. The excess fat is what is often responsible for the “double chin” appearance.

During a liposuction procedure, fat is removed from the chin area to create a slimmer, more youthful contour. It is a simple, straightforward surgery with minimal downtime but offering excellent results.

For patients who are older who have become worried about excess, saggy skin and wish to achieve a more youthful look, undergoing a necklift may be a more suitable option. This is a minimally invasive technique that allows patients to have excess tissue removed, in order to achieve a more defined contour of the neck.

While these two procedures can be performed separately if desired the two can be combined in order to achieve the best results.

Submental liposuction can also be combined with chin implants.

Despite a healthy diet and regular exercise, women and men often have great difficulty in shifting unwanted fat deposits beneath the chin and neck region. These patients are often very slim otherwise and often the only solution to restore face and neck aesthetics is with a carefully undertaken submental liposuction procedure. Some patients will have a genetic predisposition to forming submental fat deposits and may not have known that a safe and effective treatment is available.

Patients opt for submental liposuction because the procedure provides excellent results and quickly. Many patients remark about feeling much more confident with an increase in self-esteem once they recovered fully after 3 months. The end result is a more defined and sculpted jawline and chin area.

All patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with submental liposuction surgery.

Suitable candidates for submental liposuction include those who:

• Have excess fat in their neck, jowls and cheeks.
• Have skin elasticity
• Are in good physical health

Those who do not have skin elasticity, which is often a result of ageing, are still considered suitable for the procedure. However, they may not achieve the same results as younger patients.

Surgeons at Centre for Surgery do not offer this procedure to patients below the age of 18.

All patients will need to have a consultation before proceeding with a chin lipo procedure. At consultation, the surgeon will want to learn about your goals and you will have an opportunity to discuss your ideas, concerns and expectations about the submental liposuction procedure and ask any relevant questions you may have.

The surgeon will:

1. Take a focused history and examine you
2. Explain the neck liposuction procedure
3. Take your needs and preferences into account when deciding on the most appropriate treatment option for you

Our expert pre-operative assessment team will provide you with detailed pre and post-op information when you are scheduled for your liposuction procedure. Patients who smoke will be advised to stop for at least 2 weeks before the date of their chin lipo procedure. Smoking has detrimental effects on your circulation and is well known to slow the healing process. All medications, prescribed and over the counter will be reviewed. Aspirin and aspirin containing medicines should be stopped both before and after surgery. Aspirin and NSAIDS impair the body’s natural clotting process and may cause bleeding complications after surgery. If you require pain relief after surgery, paracetamol is advised.

If you are scheduled to have your procedure with a general anaesthetic, then you will be required to fast for a minimum of 6 hours for food and 2 hours for water.

Submental liposuction is performed as a day case procedure meaning you will be admitted and discharged on the same day. This means you can recover in the comfort of your own home. Day case procedures have been shown in research to have a lower risk of complications compared with procedures where an in-patient stay is required. Submental liposuction takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to perform.

You can have the procedure under local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia. Submental liposuction is most commonly performed under general anaesthesia for maximal patient comfort.

Tumescent local anaesthesia is carefully infiltrated into the lower face, chin and neck region. Once the local anaesthesia has taken effect, small incisions are made in inconspicuous areas of the chin and neck. A small liposuction cannula is then deployed  for the liposuction component of the procedure.

The procedure is ideally suited for younger patients with good skin elasticity. With older patients, there is risk of residual skin laxity. In patients over the age of 45, the surgeon will often combine submental liposuction with a necklift. The necklift is designed to address redundant skin and tighten and sculpt the the chin and neck.

The surgeon precisely contours the chin and jawline region by removing excess fat deposits. A postoperative compression garment is then placed to ensure optimal healing. The compression garment should be worn continuously for the first week following the procedure.

After submental liposuction, you may notice some bruising, swelling and tenderness. This can be treated with ice packs and, if necessary, pain medication.

Patients can return to work in two or three days.

You will be a given a garment which you will be required to wear at all times except when washing. The garment should be worn for four weeks total.

With all cosmetic surgery procedures, there are risks and potential complications. Submental liposuction is no different. By choosing Centre for Surgery, you can be assured of having a highly experienced surgeon to carry out your procedure. You must make sure to follow the detailed preoperative and postoperative instructions to reduce the risk of any complications occurring.

Side effects and risks of submental liposuction:

• Bruising and swelling
• Altered sensory changes
• Anaesthetic risks
• Postoperative haemorrhage
• Surgical site infection
• Worsened skin laxity
• Requirement for revision surgery

If something does not seem right following your procedure, please contact Centre for Surgery as soon as possible using the emergency contact number supplied to you on the day of your procedure.