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The chin and neck are two of the most popular areas for men and women to receive liposuction.

It's a popular alternative to a face lift, particularly for men, as there is significantly less scarring and gives a more natural appearance than a face lift.

Read more on neck liposuction cost.

Are You a Good Candidate for Neck Liposuction?

Most men and women are good candidates for neck liposuction.

Women who have local deposits of of fat in their neck area will typically get liposuction followed by a chemical peel to get rid of fat and then smooth the skin and remove wrinkles.

Younger women may also receive liposuction if they have good skin elasticity.

Liposuction is safer, more effective and more natural looking than a facelift, so many women prefer to have liposuction followed by a chemical peel or laser resurfacing before considering a facelift.

Men who have excessive fat in their neck, chin or face area will almost always choose liposuction because it looks more natural and acceptable for a man than the appearance of a facelift.

Surgical Technique

Neck liposuction is an outpatient procedure that takes anywhere from one to four hours.

Before the patient goes under anesthesia, the doctor will use a marker to draw and indicate where the fat will be removed and explain to the patient exactly where there will be incisions.

The patient will then receive a mild anesthetic or sedation before the procedure begins.

The procedure starts with a small incision on the neck where any potential scarring will be the least obvious.

These are typically done behind the ears, under the chin or even inside the mouth.

A thin tube is then inserted and directed toward the fatty area.

This is used to sculpt the area while it breaks up fat deposits and sucks them out through the tube. The fat is sucked out while leaving muscle, blood vessels, skin and nerves in tact.

Once the area is completely sculpted and all the unwanted fat is removed, stitches are sewn in and a bandage is wrapped around the patient's face and neck to promote faster healing.

What Can You Expect for Recovery Time?

Liposuction in the neck rarely takes more than an hour to perform. It is an outpatient procedure and patients are typically given a local anesthesia.

Most patients return home within a few hours after the surgery is performed.

Most bruising or swelling from the procedure is completely gone within 3 weeks after the procedure is performed. Patients typically return to work or other regular activities within a week.

However, patients must keep in mind that they will be required to wear a bandage around their neck or head for several weeks until the doctor notes that the area is completely healed.

The bandage is kept on to make sure the skin stays firmly in place while healing.

Stitches are also used on the incision sites, which are removed within a week to 10 days.

The patient's neck will likely feel stiff or slightly sore during the healing time, but once the area is completely healed the feeling will be back to normal.

Patients who are having extreme amounts of fat removed may require more anesthesia due to the fact that the procedure may take longer.

If this is the case, the patient may have to stay in the hospital overnight to monitor them after the procedure.

Some patients may also be prescribed an antibiotic ointment for the incision sites to make sure they heal properly without catching any sort of infection.

What Can You Expect for Results?

Those who receive neck liposuction can expect effective, natural looking results with very minimal scarring.

Patients with poor skin elasticity may experience sagging skin, and may even get a facelift to fix this situation once they are completely healed from liposuction.

Those with good skin elasticity will notice a significant difference and firm, smooth skin.

The bandages worn after the procedure help to keep the skin firm and in place.

Risks & Considerations

Neck liposuction is not advised for anyone who has previously had surgery on their neck whether it was cosmetically related or not.

Doctors also advise patients who have pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal or endocrinologic disease not to go through with a liposuction procedure.

Patients who have had previous neck surgery have a higher risk of excessive scarring or having the procedure hit nerves or deeper structures in the skin.

This may cause more excessive damage and prevent the patient from achieving maximum results.

Those with bad skin elasticity may also be advised against getting neck liposuction because it can result in drooping or sagging skin after the procedure.

National Average Costs

The average cost of neck liposuction is relatively inexpensive.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for neck liposuction in 2007 was $2,982.

This cost does not include anesthesia and varying hospital stay costs.

Read more on costs, trends and financing options for neck liposuction here.

Want to know more? Call to learn more about your neck liposuction surgery options and/or schedule your private consultation (phone number can be found in upper right corner) or simply submit your contact information in the form below. We will shortly thereafter contact you to answer any additional questions or help you find the right surgeon for you.