What is double chin surgery?

Plastic surgeons use a variety of procedures to remove a double chin. These procedures include:

• Liposuction:This procedure removes fat from beneath the skin and sculpts the chin and neck contour. “We make a small incision under the skin, insert a tube and suck out the fat,” says Ishii. Liposuction typically requires only local anesthetic to numb the general area.
• Face-lift: This surgery allows doctors to remove fat and loose, saggy skin around the chin and neck, removing a double chin. “Most people are asleep under general anesthesia, though it is possible to do with a local anesthetic,” says Ishii.

• Neck-lift: Different types of neck-lift procedures aim to remove extra skin (cervicoplasty) or tighten neck muscles (platysmaplasty) to improve the contours of the neck and chin. Doctors often combine a traditional face-lift with this procedure, which may cause a tight feeling in the neck for several months.

After any of these procedures, you can expect to experience about 10 to 14 days of bruising and swelling. The general anesthesia used for some double chin surgeries poses serious risks for some people with serious health conditions. Smokers and people taking anti-clotting drugs, such as warfarin, may also face increased bleeding risk during any surgical procedure.