Facial Liposculpture

Overview

Facial liposculpture is a minimally-invasive technique used to sculpt the face and neck with targeted removal of fat. The chin, the cheeks, the jowls, and the neck are the most commonly targeted areas.   Facial liposculpture in these areas may eliminate double chins, remove jowls, and improve your profile.  It may also create a more chiseled appearance for those seeking greater definition to their face and neck.  Facial liposculpture is also an excellent option for those looking for a rejuvenated look without the longer recovery associated with other surgical procedures. In the appropriate candidates, it may provide striking improvements in your appearance with minimal risks and recovery.

Am I a good candidate for structural fat grafting?

You are an excellent candidate for liposculpture if you wish to improve the appearance of your:

• double chin
• jowls
• round, “chubby” cheeks
• thick, full neck

Liposculpture is also an excellent procedure for those wishing for a more chiseled appearance to the profile.

What happens during the initial consultation for facial liposculpture?

During your initial consultation, Dr. Chung will identify your concerns and listen to your wishes for improvements in your face and neck. She will carefully assess your facial features, skin tone and elasticity, and fat distribution in your face and neck. With her artistic eye and years of experience, Dr. Chung will recommend how best to give you a more sculpted, rejuvenated, and refreshed appearance, tailored to your age, gender, and skin type. As with all facial plastic procedures, good candidates for facial liposculpture include men and women who are healthy with realistic expectations.

What happens during the fat grafting procedure?

Before the procedure, Dr. Chung will review your photos as well as the goals of the procedure with you.  Facial liposculpture is an office-based procedure performed under local anesthesia and and lasting approximately 1-2 hours.

For the chin and jowls:

A small incision is place under the chin and specialized facial aspiration cannulas are using to gently remove unwanted fat. Facial liposculture is very different than the liposuction procedures used in the body; specialized equipment and more delicate technique is needed to protect  the important nerves and blood vessles of the face and neck.

For the neck:

Small incisions may be place under the chin and behind the ears.  Cannulas of different lengths and widths are used to contour and sculpt the front and sides of the neck.

For the cheeks:

Often patients comment that they have unwanted “chipmunk cheeks” or “baby fat” in their cheeks. These characteristics are not a result of being overweight, but instead are mostly due to genetic factors. In liposculpture of the cheeks, a small incision is made inside the mouth –there are no external skin incisions—and the buccal fat pad is removed, subtly thinning the cheeks and highlighting the cheekbones. The incision is closed with small, absorbable sutures.

Complementary procedures

Some patients also choose to have additional procedures at the time of liposculpture to enhance their results, such as:

• chin augmentation
• structural fat grafting
• volume augmentation to lips and cheekbones with Restylane, Perlane, Juvaderm, and Radiesse
• neck lift

What is the recovery like?

After the procedure, you will potentially have some mild bruising and swelling. You will be asked to ice the treated areas for a few days and sleep with your head elevated. There is minimal discomfort, and you can expect to return to work in a few days.

What will I look like?

The majority of the swelling will be gone after a few weeks, and there will be continued improvement for several months as the skin continues to tighten. The incisions will be barely visible and you will have a wonderfully refreshed and uplifted appearance to your face. The results are not overly dramatic, and the subtle improvements will leave people guessing why you look so rejuvenated. With facial liposculpture, you will experience firsthand how an improved look inspires an improved outlook.