Submental liposuction is a procedure used to combat fat on the chin and neck in order to shape your face. Whether it is done consciously or unconsciously, we visually discern a person’s overall body weight and physique by examining the amount of fat in the face and neck. Since the face is the first thing that we see when we look at someone, the amount of fat in the neck and face leads us to make a judgment about the fat and muscle content of the entire person. Sadly, the amount of fat in the face and neck is not always indicative of the fat in the entire person. As we pick up fat we can certainly add additional fat to the face and neck however, the converse is not always true. As we lose weight it is often the fat in the face and neck that is the last to go. Also, as we age, fat accumulates in the chin, jowls, and neck which causes the border of the jaw (mandible) to become softer and less pronounced. Our eye picks up on that lack of a sharp border and our brain thinks “obesity.”

In order to combat this unfortunate fact of fat distribution, many people choose to undergo a chin liposuction procedure. Chin liposuction, also called submental liposuction, is a safe procedure that creates a very aesthetically pleasing result. The procedure usually lasts less than an hour and can be done under local anesthesia (i.e. anesthetic is injected under the skin while the patient is awake) or general anesthesia (i.e. the patient is unconscious or “put to sleep”). If you are having a procedure under local anesthesia, IV sedation may be an option to help you relax.