Am I a good candidate for facial liposuction?

Facial liposuction is a common cosmetic procedure to improve the definition of the neck, chin and jawline by extracting fat cells using a cannula. It can either be performed on its own or in combination with other treatments such as a surgical facelift or neck lift.

How is facial liposuction performed?

The procedure is done under local anesthesia and mild sedation. It can take 30-90 minutes to perform and is often combined with other facial treatments such as neck tightening, surgical facelift, or laser skin resurfacing. A tiny inconspicuous incision is made under the chin and then a cannula is used to extract the fat cells with a syringe or pump.

Can puffy cheeks be treated by facial liposuction?

Facial liposuction is not performed for cheek fat removal. A surgical extraction is performed by removing the fat through a small incision from inside the mouth and this procedure is called buccal fat pad removal.

Are there any non-surgical options that can be used instead of facial liposuction?

Yes. Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is a relatively new injectable made by Allergan, which is approved for dissolving fat below the chin. Other non-surgical options include Coolsculpting (cryolipolysis) and Ultherapy (ultrasound), which help to improve neck and jawline contours.

What is the recovery like for facial liposuction?

Most patients will recover fully after 3-4 weeks during which time a compression garment is worn for part of the day to minimize swelling.