Facial Liposuction

Facial Liposuction

Facial liposuction is the removal of excess fat from the face, usually the cheeks or chin. Excess fat in the face can be the result of heredity, and it can occur as a person ages. Despite weight loss, facial fat can persist. Rounded cheeks or a heavy jaw line can make a person appear older or heavier, even if the rest of his or her body is fit. Removal of this extra fat can create a more defined jaw line, more prominent cheekbones, and an overall thinner looking face.

Facial liposuction is performed similarly to liposuction on the rest of the body, but the tools are scaled down. Local anesthesia is injected into the face and a very small cannula, only 1.5 millimeters wide or smaller, is inserted underneath the skin in the location of the unwanted fat. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up fat cells and extract them into a type of vacuum. The tiny incisions will virtually disappear as they heal. After surgery, there will be swelling and discomfort but it will resolve in a few days. Once the swelling goes down, the face will take on its new contours.

Facial liposuction is a delicate procedure because the surgeon must take care not to remove too much fat from any particular area of the face. Doing so can result in unnatural looking or disproportionate results. There should be a seamless transition from the cheeks to the jaw to the neck, with no obvious distinction between where fat was removed and unaltered areas.
It is important that the surgeon achieve balance and symmetry between both sides of the face if liposuction is performed on the cheeks. An experienced liposuction surgeon will know how to achieve the symmetry and natural-looking blending on the face.

Liposuction can help tighten the skin under the jaw line and can relieve some of the weight that may be causing the skin to sag. The skin’s natural elasticity will enable the tightening of the skin, especially in younger patients.