Can I Get Rid of a Double Chin with Facial Plastic Surgery?
There are plenty of facial plastic surgery procedures that can reduce wrinkles and sagging. Yet a number of patients throughout San Diego, CA, have questions about double chin reduction. If you’ve looked in the mirror at certain angles, you may have wondered if there’s a way to remove your double chin. At my La Jolla plastic surgery center, I can help.
Let’s take a moment to look at various options for double chin removal and reduction. First things first, though, we should consider why double chins even develop.
What Causes a Double Chin?
Also known as submental fat, a double chin is caused by fat deposits that are stored beneath the chin and around the neck.
Obesity and being overweight are two common causes of a double chin. However, you may have a double chin due to genetics and family history. Some people are in good shape or have an average weight and body fat percentage yet still have a slight double chin. That’s the nature of stubborn excess body fat.
Given how fitness-conscious people are in San Diego, double chin reduction can work wonders for your overall appearance. You have a few options to choose from.
Neck Lift Surgery
Neck lift surgery (lower rhytidectomy) is a type of facial lift procedure that specifically targets the neckline. The procedure removes excess skin and fat deposits located under the chin and around the neck area. It is a popular procedure, with more than 22,000 performed in 2023 alone.
Good Candidates for a Neck Lift
Good candidates for a neck lift are people who have a fair amount of loose skin along the neckline and pockets of unwanted fat under the chin. A neck lift is particularly good at addressing the neck wattle that accompanies advanced age.
What Happens During a Neck Lift?
A neck lift surgery is often performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
During the neck lift procedure, an incision is made around the lower ear area and extends back around to the hairline. Through this incision, I can suction out excess fat under the chin and remove excess skin that contributes to the neck wattle.
Once all excess fat and skin are removed, the remaining neck skin is pulled tighter and sutured to produce a better overall appearance.
Chin Tuck (Submentoplasty)
Also known as a submentoplasty, a chin tuck is a much less invasive procedure than a neck lift. The main difference from a neck lift is that a chin tuck primarily focuses on the removal of fat deposits around the upper neck and beneath the chin.
Good Candidates for a Chin Tuck
Good candidates for a chin tuck are people who have a double chin or excess fat around that treatment area.
People who have excess fat and a lot of loose skin around the neckline would be much better candidates for a neck lift.
What Happens During a Chin Tuck?
A chin tuck can be performed with the patient under general anesthesia or local anesthetic. We can determine the ideal option during your consultation for double chin removal in San Diego.
During the chin tuck surgical procedure, a small incision is made just below a patient’s chin. Through this small incision, I can remove excess fat and just a little excess skin. The incision is sutured and the remaining skin is pulled tighter to achieve a more flattering neckline.
Double Chin Liposuction
Some people may be able to eliminate their double chin with some liposuction around the neck and lower face. You may not realize it, but liposuction can be performed on any part of the body to remove unwanted pockets of fat.
Facial liposuction for a double chin means targeting the extra fat located just beneath the skin of the upper neck and chin area. Liposuction will play a role in chin tuck and neck lift procedures as well.
Good Candidates for Double Chin Liposuction
Good candidates for double chin liposuction are people who are close to or at their ideal body composition but have just a little bit of facial fat located just under the chin. These patients may have an otherwise skinny neck or even nicely defined neck muscles, but just a slight double chin.
In these cases, the patient has probably hit a wall with diet and exercise. Nothing seems to work when it comes to removing the final bit of fat just under the chin.
What Happens During Double Chin Liposuction?
Double chin liposuction can be performed with the patient under general anesthesia or local anesthetic. We can determine the right option when you visit my plastic surgery center serving San Diego County.
During liposuction, a small thin metal tube called a cannula is carefully inserted beneath the skin of the upper neck and chin. Careful suction allows the cannula to remove extra lower face fat that creates a double chin.
Which Double Chin Removal Option Is Best for Me?
Each of the surgeries I’ve mentioned above can achieve great cosmetic results. However, the amount of submental fat and the presence of loose neck skin will determine the most ideal option for your needs. It’s a good idea to visit my plastic surgery center in San Diego for a double chin reduction consultation.
How a Skilled Cosmetic Surgeon Can Help
As an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, I can properly evaluate facial aesthetics and give you my informed opinion about your treatment options. We can discuss the cost of double chin reduction and if financing makes sense based on your budget.
As part of your consultation, I can also go over surgical recovery times, the duration of post-op bruising and swelling, and other topics related to facial plastic surgery.
Request a Consultation at My La Jolla Plastic Surgery Center
To learn about double chin removal in San Diego County, contact my La Jolla plastic surgery center. I can provide answers to all your questions about neck lifts, chin tucks, and double chin liposuction. I can also review other facial rejuvenation procedures with you.
About Robert Singer, MD
Dr. Robert Singer is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has helped patients since 1976. A former president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, the San Diego Plastic Surgery Society, and the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, Dr. Singer remains an internationally recognized authority in the field.
Read Dr. Singer's Full Bio | All Posts by Robert Singer
