Did you know that a double chin may be caused by factors apart from weight gain? The skin loses its natural elasticity with age, causing the skin right below the neck to droop. Other times, it can simply be genetic and have nothing to do with your weight, fitness level or diet. If you’re bothered by your double chin or neck fat (many of us are!), facial liposuction may be the answer. Amaris B Clinic answers our burning questions about this popular aesthetic treatment.

What is facial liposuction?

Also known as submental liposuction, facial liposuction is the removal of fat from the neck, cheeks and jowls. Using precise instruments and tiny incisions, liposuction allows the doctor to literally sculpt the contours of the face, neck and jowls.

Dr Ivan Puah of Amaris B Clinic developed his proprietary surgical approach, the MDC-Sculpt Lipo technique, after undergoing years of training in advanced facial and body sculpting. This refined technique goes beyond just fat reduction; it allows for targeted fat removal and facial contouring with minimal scarring and downtime.

Where does facial liposuction target?

Only a handful of areas of the face are suitable for liposuction. These include the neck, chin, cheeks, jowls and jawline. Facial liposuction can also be used to shape or contour. Interestingly, the procedure can tighten or lift part of the lower face and neck too.

What causes a double chin?

Sometimes, a double chin develops as a result of weight gain. Unfortunately, even if you shed the weight by exercising and eating healthily, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the double chin will disappear. The neck area has also been known to be extremely difficult to target.

Other times, double chins are genetic. If your closely related family members have a double chin, you are more likely to develop one. Furthermore, people with a genetic predisposition to low skin elasticity are especially prone to having neck fat or droopy skin around the chin. Another big culprit of double chins? Age.

While there are plenty of gimmicks on the market that claim to tone up your chin, there’s little evidence that non-surgical means can effectively and permanently remove fat on double chins. According to Dr Puah, the only real fix is to reduce and remove the excess fat with liposuction, the clinical and surgically proven method to effectively treat this problematic area.  

How does facial liposuction work?

First, Dr Puah will mark out the areas and place the patient under twilight sedation (not general anesthesia). Then, he’ll make small incisions at strategic locations to infiltrate anaesthetic solution to the treated areas. Next, using his proprietary surgical approach, the MDC-Sculpt Lipo Sculpt technique, he carefully removes fat and creates a sculpted facial profile. This approach allows minimal downtime, swelling and pain, as compared to traditional liposuction. At the same time, it helps to lift and tighten the skin for anti-ageing effects.    

Right after the procedure, you’ll have to wear a facial compression garment; compressing the treated area helps to speed up tissue recovery. With the improved surgical technique, you can expect minimal disruption to your daily activities, post facial liposuction. Pain is minimal and common side effects such as bruising (if any) tend to resolve in a week or two.  

Fat removed via liposuction is gone for good. Also, having your double chin and neck fat removed via liposuction can make you appear like you’ve slimmed down or aged backwards!

Is facial liposuction for everyone?

Facial liposuction is suitable for those with a visible double chin, round face or droopy jowls. Both men and women, as long as they’re in good health, can undergo the procedure. However, those with excessive loose skin around their face and neck may not be suitable for this procedure.

When performed by an experienced liposuction doctor, facial liposuction is safe and effective. This procedure can now be performed under local anesthesia without the need for hospitalisation.

Will I regain the fat?

It is unlikely for you to regain the fat layers after removal. For example, even if you have significant weight gain after having undergone the procedure, you may look less sharp or sculpted, but you’re unlikely to develop a double chin again.

Why is facial liposuction better than non-invasive treatments?

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Generally, the results from non-surgical body and face contouring are unpredictable. This inevitably leads to dissatisfied patients. On top of that, many of these treatments require multiple sessions for visible results – just think about the total cost involved! Facial liposuction, when performed by skilled and experienced doctors, yields significant, visible and long-term results of fat removal. It also helps to lift and tighten the skin around the neck and face, so you’ll look younger than before!

Can facial liposuction be combined with other procedures?

Yes! Chin and facial liposuction can be performed in conjunction with other procedures like Ultherapy (for an enhanced skin-lifting effect), Botulinum toxin (Botox), fillers (for facial rejuvenation) and laser (for improved skin complexion).

Who can perform facial liposuction in Singapore?

Due to the delicate nature of liposuction, doctors have to be accredited by the Ministry of Health Singapore. Only a handful of doctors are allowed to perform liposuction; they include Dr Puah, who’s also the chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore. Dr Puah has accumulated over 15 years of experience in liposuction on the neck, face and body, body sculpting and enhancement procedures, as well as other treatments such as VASER Lipo, VASER Hi-Def Lipo, gynecomastia surgery, and facial or body fat grafting.  

As facial liposuction is a very delicate facial sculpting surgery, it takes not just experience, skills but also an artistic eye and attention to detail in order to achieve naturally-sculpted and aesthetically-pleasing results. After all, no one wants to look overly “done”! Amaris B Clinic’s unique approach enables Dr Puah to re-model and stimulate facial skin and connective tissues for optimal sculpting and tightening. Patients will usually feel that they undergo a gradual and natural-looking transformation over months without attracting unwanted attention from others.

Founded in 2004, Amaris B. Clinic has won many accolades and industry recognition as the destination clinic for liposuction, treating gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts), and facial and body enhancement in Singapore and the Asia Pacific, including “2019 Body Sculpting Provider of the Year in Asia Pacific” and “2020 Body Sculpting Medical Center of the Year in Asia Pacific” by Global-Health Asia Pacific.