Your face represents your first impression to the world around you. Having a contoured face shape not only makes this first impression an attractive and inviting one, but it also allows you to feel more confident in your skin. However, as you age, you can end up with fat along the jawline, cheek, chin, and neck that causes roundness in the face and a sort of "sagging" profile. While a well-balanced diet and exercise are the top two ways to reduce overall body fat, it is very typical for the face to hang on to those fat deposits. Hereditary factors can make it impossible for some people to get rid of this extra fatty tissue.
Facial contouring through liposuction is an immediate and permanent solution. Things that you can expect to see after this procedure include:
| • | Reduced fat bulges around face, chin, and neck |
| • | Tightened skin |
| • | Permanent fat removal |
Patients looking to receive facial contouring with liposuction in Charlotte can get this treatment in our Steele Creek and Pineville locations. When you visit our offices, you will see immediate results and can take comfort in receiving top-notch care.
What is Facial Liposuction?
Like other liposuction procedures performed on the abdomen or thighs, facial liposuction permanently removes fat cells from your face. It is minimally invasive and can be performed alongside other facial procedures, such as rhinoplasty or a facelift.
Types of Facial Liposuction Procedures
Unlike competing procedures that often only address a single concern at a time, liposuction is a solution for one or more areas of the face.
Chin
If you're looking for chin liposuction in Charlotte, you're not alone. It's one of the most common concerns we see at Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery. This area is often referred to as a "double chin," and it greatly affects both jawline definition and a person's profile.
Removing just a bit of fat from this area of the face can give the appearance of losing several pounds in just a few moments, making it an incredibly popular area for facial liposuction.
Cheeks
The results of cheek liposuction provide patients with a more athletic-looking appearance. Excess fat in the cheeks can hide prominent cheekbones and the attractive "heart-shape" of many patients' faces. Removing fat from this area via face liposuction offers a sleek, more alluring shape.
Jowls
Sagging jowls cause a disruptive drooping visual, interrupting the straight plane of the jawline. This is an issue that is most often seen in mature clients, and it tends to cause a visual of the face "drooping down" instead of being "lifted." However, Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery can assist in restoring the natural, youthful face shape through jawline contouring with liposuction in Charlotte at any of our locations.
Neck
Neck liposuction perfectly accents face liposuction. Often, patients find themselves with a small "pooch" of fat reaching from the bottom of their chin toward their neck. This creates a convex line where there would normally be a concave line, an issue that tends to be most noticeable in profile. With age, this "pooch" lends itself to sagging and the "turkey neck" visual. Liposuction in this area restores that naturally attractive curve, making the entire area of the face, neck, and shoulders look long and lean.
Benefits of Facial Liposuction
Face liposuction has many benefits when compared with similar procedures. Advantages of face liposuction include:
| • | A minimally invasive procedure |
| • | Permanent results in most cases (significant weight gain can affect long term results) |
| • | The ability to be paired with other procedures simultaneously |
| • | Accurate and natural-looking face contouring |
| • | Reduced risk of an allergic reaction |
There are also some risks and side effects that should be considered.
Risks and Side Effects
While side effects and complications with this type of surgery are rare when the procedure is performed by a qualified oral and facial surgeon, every surgery comes with certain risks. However, the risk of facial liposuction is much lower than other, more common types of liposuction that often deal with larger areas of the body.
Risks and side effects include:
| • | Bleeding during the procedure |
| • | Loose, bumpy appearance of skin |
| • | Skin discoloration |
| • | Reaction to anesthesia |
| • | Nerve damage causing numbness |
| • | Seroma, or fluid collection beneath skin |
| • | Hematoma, or collection of blood beneath skin leading to clotting |
| • | Fat embolism |
| • | Infection at the incision site |
| • | Scarring |
When the procedure is done properly, these risks are minimal.
What to Expect During Facial Liposuction
Before you receive facial contouring with liposuction, the team at Charlotte from Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery will go over the process with you in detail so you know what to expect. Generally, the steps are as follows.
First, your practitioner will use a marker on the skin to mark the areas that will be treated. Then, you will receive either a local or general anesthetic. Using a general anesthetic means that you will be asleep during the procedure. This is often done when more than one procedure is being performed (such as liposuction and a face lift).
Your surgeon will make small incisions in the skin in order to reach fatty tissue. In some cases, the fat will need to be broken down prior to removal. This can be done with ultrasound or laser.
Your surgeon will inject the area with a solution of saline, pain medicine, and epinephrine. This promotes temporary stiffness and swelling, which makes fat removal easier.
Your surgeon will then insert a small cannula (tube) into the incisions and remove the fat via suction. The procedure in its entirety takes between 30 minutes to an hour.
Recovery
Soreness and swelling are normal and will fade after facial liposuction, though you should always reach out to your provider if any questions or concerns arise. In the meantime, you can use over-the-counter painkillers or prescription pain relievers to alleviate any discomfort. You will probably be asked to wear a compression garment. It will fit over your head and cover your jawline and neck.
Full recovery takes approximately three to four weeks. Your skin will continue to tighten post-surgery. After this time, you'll see the full effects of your surgery, and your skin will continue to contour over the new shape for approximately three months. You can expect a thinner face and attractive profile with no or nearly invisible scarring.
Facial Liposuction Cost
Generally, facial liposuction costs between $2,500 and $5,000. The price depends on the number of areas being treated, whether other procedures are being performed, and which techniques are used.
Because most insurance providers do not cover procedures that are purely cosmetic, Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery has many financial planning options. We work with each patient to ensure that they get the care they deserve at a price that works for them.
Why Choose Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery?
Our surgeons and anesthesiologists are board-certified and medically trained to handle all issues surrounding cosmetic procedures. We understand how to treat underlying concerns and have specialized training when it comes to the construction of the face, mouth, and jaw.
This knowledge allows us to create a personalized care plan that will bring results you will love. We have been treating patients in the Charlotte area for over 20 years. Our extensive experience is unparalleled.
We take pride in our ability to provide peace of mind to our patients. You can reach a member of your care team at any time of the day or night; you will never have to "get through" the pain or leave a burning question unanswered. We will ensure that you have the care and answers you need, right when you need them.
Facial Liposuction FAQs
Are facial liposuction results permanent?
Yes, facial liposuction is a permanent solution, as the fat cells are permanently removed. However, weight gain can cause new fat cells to accumulate in the treated area, lessening the results.
Does fat come back after facial liposuction?
The fat present during the time of your surgery will be completely removed. Fat will only return to these areas if significant weight gain occurs.
How many times can you get facial liposuction?
While liposuction can be done multiple times, it is important to discuss the decision with your surgeon. Ideally, your results will last for years. If new fat build-up occurs, you'll need to wait at least six months after your first liposuction surgery before repeating the procedure. You will want to be aware that complications and the risk of uneven results are likely to increase when multiple liposuction surgeries are done.
What's the difference between facial liposuction and buccal fat removal?
Facial liposuction deals with fat in the cheek through suction via cannula while buccal fat removal extracts only the buccal fat pad via surgery. Choosing which method is best for you will require a surgeon's opinion.
To request a consultation and learn more about our services, please request an appointment now. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health and smile!
