Remove the pocket of fat beneath your chin and the loose skin that comes with it, so your jawline and neck look cleaner and more defined in profile.
The area under your chin — what many people call a double chin — is where fat tends to gather and skin tends to loosen over time, after weight loss, or simply because of how your body is built. Liposuction removes the extra fat. But when the skin here has lost its elasticity and will not draw back on its own, liposuction alone is not enough. In that case, your surgeon may also remove the loose skin during the same operation. Here is how to tell whether this approach is a fit for you.
Everything starts with a consultation. The surgeon who will perform your operation will feel and assess the area under your chin to tell apart what is fat, what is loose skin, and what relates to muscle or jawbone. Your surgeon also checks how elastic your skin is to decide whether you need liposuction alone or skin removal as well. You will have routine pre-operative tests and a review by the anaesthetist.
There are a few things to prepare before the day of surgery. Your surgeon will usually ask you to stop medications that raise your risk of bleeding (such as aspirin) for a period before the operation, to stop smoking, and to fast beforehand as instructed. The type of anaesthesia depends on how much work is involved: the procedure may be done under local anaesthesia with sedation, or under general anaesthesia, decided by your surgeon together with you.
During the operation, your surgeon makes a small, discreet incision under your chin and passes a thin cannula to remove the excess fat, reshaping the line of your neck and jaw. When loose skin needs to be addressed, your surgeon removes the slack skin and closes the wound; depending on how much skin there is, the incision may sit just under your chin and sometimes extends a little further. The operation usually takes about one to two hours, and this varies from case to case.
After closing, your surgeon will usually apply a pressure dressing or a shaping garment around your chin and neck to reduce swelling and help the skin settle against the tissue beneath. In some cases a small drain is placed for a short time. You will be shown how to care for the wound and given your follow-up schedule before you go home.
This surgery gives you a cleaner area under the chin and a more defined jawline, especially in profile. The final result takes time as the swelling resolves and the skin settles, usually several months. Hold your expectations in a realistic light: the improvement is genuine, but it works within the limits of your own facial structure.
For the first few days after surgery, you will see swelling, bruising, and tightness around your chin and neck, along with discomfort that can be managed with the medication your surgeon prescribes. Wearing the shaping garment during the early stage is an important part of recovery. The milestones below are rough guides — everyone heals at their own pace.
Most operations done according to sound principles go smoothly. But as with any surgery, there are risks worth knowing in advance — and knowing them clearly helps you decide well. Talk through these concerns openly with your surgeon.
The area under the chin and neck holds nerve branches and blood vessels that need to be respected, so combining liposuction with skin excision calls for a properly trained plastic and aesthetic surgeon, working in a hospital licensed for cosmetic surgery. At The Gioi Dep, your surgeon carefully assesses the balance of fat and skin before the operation to choose the right level of treatment, rather than applying one fixed approach to everyone.
Every case includes a pre-operative anaesthetic review by an anaesthesiologist, with monitoring afterwards and a follow-up appointment to check the wound and how it is healing. This is the standard process for every patient, not an upgrade you choose.
For the first few days there is tightness and discomfort around your chin and neck. Most people manage well with the pain medication their surgeon prescribes, and feel noticeably more comfortable after the first week.
Because skin is removed, there will be a scar. Your surgeon usually places the incision discreetly under the chin; depending on how much skin needs to come out, the incision may be longer. The scar fades over time but does not disappear.
Liposuction only removes the extra fat. When skin has already loosened and will not draw back on its own, liposuction alone can leave the skin slack. Skin excision addresses this, with the trade-off of an extra incision and a scar.
Many people return to office work after about a week, once the swelling and bruising have settled and can be covered. Heavier work needs a longer break; your surgeon will advise based on your situation.
The goal is a jawline that looks clean and in harmony with your face, not an obvious change. The result depends on the skin, fat, and bone structure you already have, so the degree of improvement differs from person to person.
Age is not the only deciding factor; what matters more is your overall health and the elasticity of your skin. In older patients, skin often draws back less, so removing skin can sometimes be the better fit. Your surgeon will assess this in person.
The fat that has been removed does not grow back in that area, but if you gain a significant amount of weight, the remaining fat cells can enlarge and the chin area can fill out again. Keeping a steady weight helps hold the result.
The fat and skin that were removed do not come back, but your skin and tissue keep ageing over the years. For that reason, you should not think of this as a result that never changes.
Temporary numbness or reduced feeling around the chin and neck is fairly common in the early stage and usually recovers gradually. Lasting numbness is rare; your surgeon will keep an eye on it with you.
This depends on how much work is involved and the type of anaesthesia. Many people go home the same day, while some are monitored longer. You will be told clearly before the operation.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.