Neck and Chin Liposuction

Liposuction of the neck and chin removes fat in select circumstances, targeting areas such as under the chin and along the jawline. It is best suited to people with good skin quality and a localised excess of fat rather than significant loose skin. It is not a substitute for weight loss, and it is not the right operation for everyone who is concerned about their neck, which is why careful assessment is important.

The aim is a careful, considered removal of fat that improves the definition of the neck and jawline while respecting the supporting tissues. Removing too much fat, or treating a neck that has loose skin or muscle banding, can produce a poor result that is difficult to correct, which is why Dr Ricketts assesses the cause of your concern before recommending liposuction. When the underlying issue is loose skin or muscle, a neck lift or a combined face and neck lift may be more appropriate.

Neck and chin liposuction may suit you if you have a defined pocket of fat under the chin or along the jawline and your skin has good elasticity, so that it can shrink back after the fat is removed. It is generally more suitable for younger patients, whose skin tends to retract better. It is less suitable if your main concern is loose skin or muscle banding, or if your skin has reduced elasticity. Dr Ricketts will examine your neck and tell you honestly whether liposuction is likely to give you a good result or whether another procedure would serve you better.

At your consultation, Dr Ricketts examines your neck and jawline, pinches and assesses the fat and the quality of your skin, and discusses what is concerning you. She explains whether liposuction alone is likely to help, or whether a neck lift or other procedure would suit you better, along with the recovery and the risks. She gives you written information and time to consider your decision.

Surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, or local anaesthetic with sedation in some cases, and most patients go home the same day. Before the procedure begins, Dr Ricketts reviews the plan and marks the areas to be treated. The team will guide you through admission and recovery on the day, and you will be sent home with a supportive compression garment and written aftercare instructions. A support person is required to take you home.

Neck and chin liposuction is commonly performed as a day case. A supportive garment is usually worn around the neck and chin for a period or at least a week to help the skin settle. In the first one to two weeks, expect swelling and bruising, and the area may feel firm or lumpy as it heals, which settles over the following weeks.

Return to desk work is often possible within a week, though this depends on how visible the bruising is. Strenuous activity needs to be avoided for two or three weeks. Swelling gradually resolves over about six weeks, and the skin retracts as the final contour becomes apparent. Recovery timelines differ from person to person, as does the final result.

Dr Sophie Ricketts is a Melbourne plastic surgeon with FRACS in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. She is a member of both ASPS and ASAPS and completed her surgical training through an accredited RACS program. Patient reviews on RealSelf come from people who have attended a consultation or undergone a procedure with Dr Ricketts. To learn more, call the clinic to arrange an appointment.