Ottawa Submental-Liposuction
The double chin and non-contoured jawline
A double chin is caused by an excess of fat in the submental area (the area under the chin and jaw). This can sometimes occur as a result of weight gain, but can also often occur as a results of genetics and/or the aging process. People with excess fat in this area often complain that their jawline becomes unapparent and not contoured. While they are happy with their overall body weight, they feel that their face/neck looks overweight and aged and that there’s lack of definition between their jaw and neck. Addressing the excess fat in this area is one of the most satisfying and effective ways to create a youthful and chiseled jawline and neck.
Submental liposuction
This is a minimally invasive procedure that safely and permanently removes the fat under the chin and jawline to create a defined and contoured look in this area.
Other adjunct procedures can include chin implant to address a weak chin, the face/neck-tite procedure to tighten loose skin, or a surgical face/neck lift with platysma-plasty to address loose and saggy muscles in the neck and submental area. These procedures can be done alone or together to remove extra fat and or skin from under the chin.
How submental liposuction is done
If done alone or along with a skin tightening procedure, submental liposuction is usually done under local anesthesia with or without sedation. Dr. Javidnia performs submental liposuction at our onsite state of the are private surgical facility. After the procedure there’s a short period of recovery and patients go home within a few hours.
Two to three small openings are made in the skin under the two earlobes and sometimes in the crease under the chin. These openings are used to insert a small liposuction cannula to remove the fat and to contour the areas under the jawline. It is very important to have an experienced surgeon who is aware of avoiding critical nerves and vessels in this area as well as to avoid irregularities under the skin. As a surgeon devoted to surgery of the head and neck, Dr. Javidnia has operated extensively in this area and is expertly aware of this anatomy.
After surgery
After going home, patients are advised to stay in bed for the remainder of the day and night except to go to the washroom. After the first day, light activities can be resumed. We ask our patients to wear a compression band around their face/jaw for 1 week to allow for less swelling and faster results. After 1 week patients can return to work and resume most normal daily activities. We do ask that the garment be worn at night only for an additional 2 weeks. We advise our patients to avoid heavy lifting or high impact activities for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Bruising under the chin usually resolves within one week after the surgery. Most noticeable swelling resolves within the first two weeks and minor swelling resolves gradually over the next few months. Maximal skin contracture and contouring become apparent by 6 months after the procedure.
