One recent study found that even small amounts of chin fat were associated with negative feelings in respondents. And sadly, the more chin fat found on an individual often led to greater feelings of embarrassment.

If you’re struggling with double chins and excess neck fat, you might have heard about how chin liposuction can be a potential solution. Many people indeed see success in this procedure.

But exactly what can you expect from the recovery period after liposuction? And what are some chin liposuction recovery tips for maximizing results from the procedure? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you have a better idea of what to expect after your chin liposuction procedure.

How Does Chin Liposuction Work?

When people have a double chin or similar submental fat, they’ll often do everything in their power to lose weight. Sadly, even if you lose a lot of weight, it’s no guarantee that your chin fat will go away.

That’s because a variety of factors outside of weight, from genetics to aging, can cause chin fat. Because of this, many people turn to procedures like chin liposuction.

One of the biggest chin liposuction benefits is that it removes excess fat that’s found near your chin region. Here’s how it works: first two to four incisions are made around your chin and neck.

Then, your surgeon will slide in a cannula. Using suction, this small thin tube can suck out the fat from your chin area. When it’s done right, the procedure leads to a contoured neck that appears completely natural.

There’s a lot to like about chin liposuction. For starters, the procedure is fairly straightforward and is done in a flash. You’ll be able to go home on the same day of the surgery.

What’s more, the success rate for chin liposuction is extremely high. Most people are quite satisfied with the results. They report that it helped them with getting rid of a double chin. Make sure to explore this resource to learn more about the specifics of getting chin liposuction.

What to Expect Immediately After Surgery

Depending on what type of anesthesia you received, you’ll likely be groggy and disoriented following the liposuction. Immediately after the surgery, you might notice some results from the liposuction. However, it’s important to note that these won’t last long because of the swelling. After a few hours, you’ll notice intense swelling around your neck, cheeks, and chin. Don’t panic. The good news is that this is perfectly normal and won’t last long. You may also notice some bruising around the lower part of your neck which is fine. The pain following the procedure typically isn’t that bad, but you will experience some discomfort. Pain medication should help you deal with this. You will need to wear your compression garment 24/7 during the first week of your surgery.

What to Expect After One Week

After one week, you’ll likely be able to return to work or school. Odds are you will be feeling ready to go back sooner than that. The only problem is you need to wear your compression garment all the time for at least one week.

As such, it can be embarrassing for some people to wear it if they have in-person jobs or classes. After around ten days, your surgeon will likely recommend that you start lightly massaging the around your neck and chin.

This is important because of the lymph build-up. By gently massaging the area, you can start to drain. Your surgeon should give you specific instructions on how to perform a lymphatic massage.

Basically, with smooth gentle motions, you start at your chin and gently push your way down the neck. Keep in mind that this will likely be uncomfortable early on in the process. Still, it’s important to set aside around five to fifteen minutes per day to deal with it.

What to Expect After Multiple Weeks

After a few weeks, you might still notice some small, pebble-sized nodules around your neck. These are normal and as long as you keep up a steady massage schedule they should go away.

Following the six-week mark, you should be allowed to return to sports and exercise schedules. Around the one-month mark, you should notice a large reduction in chin fat because the swelling has gone away.

Tips for Chin Liposuction Recovery

There are a variety of factors that will determine the effectiveness of your chin liposuction procedure. One of these is the steps you take during the recovery phase.

In this section, we’ll go over some tips that can both speed up your recovery while maximizing the results from the procedure. If you have any questions about your recovery, make sure you ask your plastic surgeon. They’ll be able to clear everything up for you.

1. Prepare a Recovery Environment

You need to focus all your energy on recovery following the chin liposuction procedure. The best way to do this is to make sure you prepare the perfect recovery environment for when you get home.

That should start with making sure you have a ride following the procedure. This person should be waiting in the waiting room for you during the procedure. At home, you should set up a cozy environment on the couch or in bed.

Make sure that you have everything you need surrounding you. That way you don’t have to constantly get up and down during the first day or two.

We recommend having things like comfy blankets, neck pillows, hot pads, water, snacks, laptops/televisions, and medications all within reach. That way, you aren’t rushing to set up while you’re still in pain.

2. Don’t Forget Your Compression Garment

Fighting against the swelling is one of the most important recovery steps you can take following the procedure. To help combat this swelling your surgeon should give you a compression garment that you will wear around your head.

This band wraps around your upper neck and the top of your head. It’s then secured across your forehead with a band. The compression greatly reduces the amount of inflammation that causes the swelling.

During your first week, you should be keeping your compression garment on 24/7. The only time you should take it off is when you’re bathing. After the first week, you should continue to wear it during the night to help reduce scarring and improve your contour lines.

The only problem is that compression garments can be quite uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods. One solution is to wear a cotton headband underneath the compression garment.

This can prevent some of the irritation that’s usually caused by the velcro on the product. Don’t panic if the compression garment is uncomfortable during the first few days. It gets much more bearable with time.

3. Adjust the Way You Sleep

During the first few days, you should adjust the position in which you sleep. Instead of sleeping on your back or side, you should sleep slightly upright.

You can do this by adjusting pillows so that your head remains slightly elevated from the rest of your body. Sleeping in an elevated position can help reduce the swelling and inflammation that will occur following the procedure.

4. Have a Pain Management Plan

There will be pain and soreness following your procedure. As such, it’s important to have a pain management plan in place before the chin liposuction takes place.

Typically, your surgeon will prescribe you some medication so you can manage any pain. We always recommend picking these prescriptions up before the surgery.

That way, you’re not waiting in line at a pharmacy with a swollen neck and chin. If you’re worried about being prescribed opioid medications, talk to your doctor. In many cases, there are ways to manage pain that don’t involve opioids. Your doctor can help you explore these other options.

5. Drink Water and Eat Protein

It’s important to drink lots of water and clear fluids during your recovery. Pain medications can often dehydrate you so this is important for keeping your fluid levels up. You should also eat a lot of lean protein.

Protein is the building block of new muscles and tissue, so it can greatly help you during the recovery phase. In some cases, you might find that the pain medication is making you constipated.

As we mentioned, this is because they can easily dehydrate you. If you find that you’re constipated, switch your diet to fiber-rich foods like leafy greens. This guide provides a lot of helpful advice on what you should and shouldn’t eat following surgery.

6. Slowly Reintroduce Movement

During the first day or two, you should rest as much as you can. This is good for the body while it’s recovering. However, it’s important to not rest the entire time that you’re in recovery from the chin liposuction.

Without movement, fluids and toxins can remain stagnant in your system. So, when you feel up for it you should gradually begin to re-introduce movement back into your routine.

The best way to do this is through low-impact exercise. A quick walk around your city or neighborhood is a great way to improve your circulation while still taking it easy.

If you feel strained from physical activity, stop immediately. Make sure to explore these tips for some more easy ways to reintroduce exercise after your surgery.

7. Keep Up the Massage

Massaging your neck is a vital part of chin liposuction recovery after the ten-day mark. As we mentioned, it helps drain the lymph fluid that’s been building up for the week following the procedure.

Many people usually give up their daily massage after the first week or two because it’s uncomfortable. However, if you want to maximize the results of your procedure, you must stick with it. Proper lymphatic massages are the key to getting great contour lines following the chin liposuction.

8. Know When to Call Your Doctor

The only time you should need to call emergency services is if you’re experiencing shortness of breath or chest pains.

Otherwise, you can call the office where you received the procedure. Some common reasons to call the office include things like:

• Fevers
• Severe pain levels
• Swelling around the legs
• Nausea or vomiting that doesn’t go away
• Similar adverse symptoms

You should also call the office if you have any questions about your recovery. Remember that it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How to Find a Good Chin Liposuction Provider

The first thing to check when searching for chin liposuction services is their past work. That way, you can judge if their abilities will meet your standards. Ideally, they’ll be able to provide some before/after photos or patient testimonials.

That way, you can get an idea of what the average person’s experience was like. If you like their work, schedule a consultation with them. Tell them about your beauty goals and ask how they suggest you reach them.

In some cases, they might recommend alternative treatments other than chin liposuction to reduce your submental fat. Your provider must give you all your possible options, then allow you to choose the best one for your needs.

Be careful around providers that are pushy or only suggest one type of treatment. You want to feel listened to. Lastly, make sure the environment is comfortable.

Chin liposuction can be scary, especially if you’re afraid of these types of procedures. As such, you want a setting where you feel safe. The provider should do everything in their ability to make this happen.

Ready for a Change? Contact Atlanta Face and Body Center

We hope this guide helped you learn some chin liposuction recovery tips. It’s important to note that if you choose the right type of surgery center, then your doctor should provide you with all the recovery information you’ll need.

Here at Atlanta Face and Body Center, we know how overwhelming liposuction procedures can be. That’s why not only do we educate you on the procedure, but we also prioritize creating a comfortable space at our facility.

We also respect your privacy. That’s why we offer 100% private consultations so you can decide if chin lipo is right for you. Request your consultation today to begin your beauty journey.