Submental Liposuction: How It Is Done

The procedure is usually done under "intravenous sensation" meaning that you are asleep, but breathing on your own. The anesthetic is administered through an I.V.

Submental liposuction may be done on its own or at the same time as liposuction to other areas of the body. It may be done at the time of a facelift. An incision is made at the level of the crease under the chin. This way the incision is hidden on the underside of the chin, not further down onto the neck where it might be visible, which is a more traditional placement, but a more conspicuous one.

I almost always perform a "corset platysmoplasty," which simultaneously tightens the muscle under the chin, improving the result. This muscle repair also helps avoid the "turkey waddle" deformity that can occur in later years, so it has preventive value. I usually remove some fat under the muscle too.

The incision is 2-3 centimeters long, about an inch. If liposuction alone is done (which is unusual), the incision may be, but this would not allow removal of submuscular fat and muscle repair. If the incision is well-positioned, it is usually well hidden and not objectionable. It is not unusual for patients to have an old scar at this site (for example, from childhood or adolescent trauma), which may be revised simultaneously.

Laser-assisted Liposuction (Smartlipo^TM) vs. Liposuction without Laser Assistance

There is a debate within the cosmetic surgery community regarding the relative advantages of using a laser in tandem with submental liposuction. Proponents of Smartlipo^TM argue that laser assistance leads to faster recoveries and less swelling, bruising and pain.

In my experience, submental liposuction (non-laser assisted) carries significant advantages due to the following factors: