Excess fat stored under the chin and jaw is a common cosmetic concern. Some individuals feel this submental fullness masks the contours of good bone structure or makes them look older. Since it’s hard to reduce this area with diet and exercise alone, facial liposuction is the best solution.
Chin liposuction is considered a safe, minimally invasive, permanent solution for submental fullness. It produces natural, youthful-looking results with minimal side effects. However, since the cosmetic procedure involves removing fatty tissue from under the skin, it requires incisions in the treated area. This poses the question, does chin lipo leave scars? Any incision can leave a scar, though there are steps you and your surgeon can take to minimize risk.
In this article, we’ll share some insights from Elite Facial Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Castellano, a double board-certified plastic surgeon, about the placement, size, and recovery of chin liposuction scars.
Contact us at Elite Facial Platic Surgery today to learn more about chin liposuction scars before undergoing the cosmetic procedure.
Does Chin Liposuction Leave Scars?
While scars are inevitable after any surgical procedure, scarring from chin liposuction is minimal. Incisions are tiny and intentionally placed, so they will be hidden or difficult to see. Double chin liposuction scars gradually fade over time, eventually becoming nearly invisible.
You can also talk to your plastic surgeon about topical treatments or other methods to help fade your scars faster.
To best understand how to care for and fade scars, it’s important to know the basics of incision placement and the factors that impact scarring.
Understanding the Incisions
Placement
Cosmetic procedures are meant to enhance your appearance, so plastic surgeons take great care to place incisions in easily concealed locations. For chin liposuction, the most common placements include behind the ears and under the chin. These will be very hard to see unless someone folds your ear forward or looks at your jawline from below.
Size
The cannula, or tube, surgeons use for this procedure is about 1.5 mm in diameter. This means the incisions needed to insert the tube don’t need to be large. They’re usually between 5 mm and 7 mm — between a tenth and a quarter of an inch in U.S. Standard measurements.
Chin Liposuction Recovery
Incisions for this type of liposuction don’t usually require stitches. They’re so small that plastic surgeons typically use dermal adhesive to close them. You’ll need to avoid getting the incisions wet for 24 hours to ensure the glue sets properly and your incisions have time to begin knitting back together. Your surgeon may also instruct you to keep them covered and change the dressing regularly for the first day or two.
In addition to caring for your incisions, you’ll need to wear a compression garment to ensure your skin heals correctly and to help reduce swelling. Too much swelling can stretch incisions and cause more visible scarring, so the more you prioritize aftercare, the less visible your scars will be.
Factors that Impact Scarring
Though scarring is inevitable after surgery, there are things you can do to minimize them and help them heal and fade more quickly. The first and most important thing you can do is follow proper aftercare procedures.
Skipping steps in your aftercare can increase your recovery time and cause your incisions to pull and widen, forcing your body to produce more collagen to knit the skin back together. If your body produces too much collagen while healing, your scars will be thicker and more prominent. Prolonged recovery may also cause hyperpigmentation, resulting in scars that are redder or darker than the complexion around them.
Tips to Minimize Chin Liposuction Scarring
If you’re concerned about scarring from chin liposuction because you have a tendency to scar easily or an exceptionally light or dark complexion, you can take steps to reduce the chances of visible scarring. Your cosmetic surgeon will likely provide scar reduction instructions and a topical cream to facilitate healing. However, there are a few simple lifestyle changes that can protect your skin and fade scars long-term.
Staying Hydrated
Many people know good hydration is crucial to skin health. Drinking plenty of caffeine and sugar-free fluids after your liposuction procedure helps restore and maintain your skin’s elasticity and increases its ability to heal smoothly. It will also help reduce swelling and speed up your overall recovery time.
Eat Healthily
Proper nutrition helps your body produce collagen, elastin, amino acids, and even connective tissue so wounds heal quickly and invisibly.
Focus on foods rich in:
- Vitamin A: Dark leafy greens, fish, and eggs
- B-complex vitamins: Poultry, nuts and seeds, avocado, orange and red melon, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and whole grains
- Zinc: Beans and legumes, tofu, nuts, seeds, and oats
- Protein: Beef and other meats, fish, eggs, beans, beetroot, dark leafy greens, nuts, and seeds
Exercise
Exercise reduces scar tissue by increasing blood circulation, which helps remove toxins from the body and promotes turnover in the deeper layers of skin. Just be careful not to overdo it — too much exercise too soon can stretch, widen, and irritate the incision sites, which could cause infection and increase scar visibility.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon for safe exercise recommendations before over-exerting yourself.
Moisturizing and Sunscreen
The skin that forms as wounds heal is new and very sensitive to things like sun exposure. Avoid prolonged sun exposure during your initial recovery to prevent them from darkening or becoming sunburned. After that, be sure to wear 30SPF or higher sunscreen to protect your scars.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is a health hazard for many reasons, including damaging the skin and inhibiting wound healing. Nicotine causes your arteries to narrow, reducing their ability to carry blood and nutrients throughout your body and preventing your incisions from getting the proteins and amino acids they need to heal.
Is Chin Liposuction Worth It?
Chin liposuction is minimally invasive and considered safe for most individuals. It reduces the appearance of submental fullness to re-contour the face and chin, creating a beautifully contoured profile and youthful appearance. The initial recovery time is just a few weeks, and the results are immediate and permanent.
However, no procedure is without risk or cost. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the procedure’s safety and cost:
Safety
Chin liposuction is a routine procedure with few risks unless you have contraindicated health conditions like a predisposition to blood clots or unhealthy habits like smoking. Those with allergies to certain anesthetics and numbing agents may also be poor candidates.
As with any medical procedure, be sure to disclose any and all health conditions, medications, supplements, and substances to your healthcare provider before undergoing liposuction of any kind, including chin and neck liposuction.
Costs
The chin liposuction cost in Tampa is between $3,000 and $6,000. You’ll receive a firm estimate for the cost of your procedure during your free consultation. Your final estimate depends on the complexity of your cosmetic surgery and which techniques your plastic surgeon decides are best for you.
Results
Results from a chin liposuction procedure are almost immediate. You’ll begin to see the new contours of your face as the swelling goes down, your skin tightens, and the chin lipo scar heals.
Within a week or so, your face should be almost entirely re-contoured. Complete recovery takes a bit longer, but you’ll be able to enjoy your results in the meantime.
Schedule a Consultation with Elite Facial Plastic Surgery Today
If you’re considering chin lipo and concerned about getting a chin lipo scar from the procedure, it’s time to speak with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Dominic. He and his team will review your medical history, answer all your questions regarding the chin liposuction surgery, discuss any other liposuction procedures you may be interested in, and address your concerns about a chin liposuction scar.Contact us at Elite Facial Plastic Surgery today to schedule a chin liposuction consultation appointment in Tampa, FL.
