What are the risks with liposuction to the chin and neck?

Updated 3 October 2015

Liposuction can be used to redefine the jawline removing jowls and double chins. Newer techniques such as VASER lipo offer a more delicate form of liposuction with less blood loss. However there are risks to the procedure which your surgeon will discuss with you. These relate to the underlying anatomy as the head and neck has important nerves which run along the jawline and also below the ear.

Non-surgical options to reduce appearance of double chins and tighten the jawline include Ultherapy which also use ultrasound energy but without any cuts or surgery. This option will also be discussed during the initial consultation with me.

 

During the surgery, your surgeon will use the best techniques to avoid permanent injury to these important nerves and it is extremely unlikely that permanent injury will occur. However, some temporary complications can occur and these are due to inflammation and the healing process, and only occur in a few patients.

Complications after liposuction to the chin and neck include:

1. Numbness around the mouth and or jaw
2. Bruising
3. Skin tethering
4. Fibrosis

I will try and explain these in more detail now:

The numbness can occur if the marginal mandibular nerve is injured during the surgery. It can become inflamed or irritated by the passage of surgical instruments. I have even seen. Occur when no surgical instruments have been near it, but the has been some prolonged inflammation. The numbness is temporary and usually settles within a couple of weeks. Occasionally it can cause temporary drooping of the mouth.

Mild bruising is to be expected after surgery but occasionally it can be extensive or worse on one side. This is probably due to a haematoma or a collection of blood which developed after surgery. In rare cases it will need further emergency surgery to drain. Thankfully this is rare.

In sun damaged or lax skin, once the fat is removed, the skin retraction can be incomplete and so one can get uneven tightening of the skin. Sometimes post operative carboxytherapy can resolve matters.

In over aggressive liposuction to the neck, there may be prolonged inflammation which can lead to hard scar tissue forming (fibrosis) and this can cause lumpiness as well as all of the above complications. This may take several months to resolve.

All of the above complications can be managed with thorough post operative aftercare using ultrasound and manual lymphatic drainage straight after surgery. Thankfully, these complications are unusual and temporary.

For all of our patients who have received VASER liposuction to the chin, we offer aftercare as routine. This real is a life changing procedure for the right candidates. For more information on Riverbanks Clinic call +441582762877.

Bodytite vs VASER

It can be very difficult for a patient to sift through all the marketing hype to decide which treatment can be best for them. I always get asked by new patients what's the best treatment and why do I prefer VASER?

Lets start off by explaining the basic differences between Bodytite and VASER.

Bodytite uses radio frequency energy to melt the fat under the skin using a twin pronged probe. Above the skin is another radiofrequency head which is designed to help tighten the skin.

VASER Lipo uses ultrasonic energy to emulsify the fat beneath the skin and NOT melt it. This is important because it does not kill fat or surrounding tissue and so there is less collateral damage and so quicker healing. Also the fat can be transferred to other parts of the body for contour enhancement. Typical areas include male chest, female buttocks.

There have been NO clinical studies comparing these two different methods of body contouring to date. However, there have been several independent published studies which have confirmed that VASER offers quicker recovery, less blood loss, more fate removal and better skin tightening over other methods. On the other hand the only studies I have seen about Bodytite have been sponsored by Bodytite and so can't really be used to compare fairly.

But by far the most important factor in choosing your treatment is the skill of your surgeon. You should be choosing your surgeon by his care and results, and not the type of machine he uses. I have seen patients who have bad results from all different methods of liposuction including VASER and that is down to the surgeon not the kit.

Poor result after traditional liposuction

Same patient after I used VASER
to improve her appearance

During all of my new patient consultations in Harpenden and London, I will show you hundreds of examples of my results - no one else's. I will also try and show you results of patients who have similar shape to you.

Only then will you be able to decide if I am the right surgeon for you.

VASER Hi Def / 4D review

We are extremely proud to have received this email from one of our recent VASER 4D patients who had flown in from Los Angeles, USA to have his previous liposuction improved by Dr Ravi Jain. This patient had liposuction twice before but still couldn't see his six pack despite regular workouts.

Here is his complete email:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to thank Dr. Ravi for his excellent work during surgery and his post-operative attention to detail. His genuine interest in patient satisfaction starting from the pre-operative consultation to post-operative care shows his dedication to achieving what the patient wants. I am quite satisfied with the preliminary results and look forward to sharing the long-term results with you as my healing progresses. 

As for the post operative therapy, I would like to comment on Ms. Fortunata's work ethic and professionalism. Ms. Fortunata worked tirelessly during my therapy sessions to ensure that my pain is minimized. She takes pride in her work and aspires to bring it to perfection. She is without question very highly driven and extremely motivated. 

I would also like to comment on Ms. Fortunata's character. She conducts herself in a highly professional manner while maintaining a friendly attitude that ensures patient comfort. Her work brings the patient experience at Riverbanks to complete satisfaction.

Thank you all for such a pleasant experience. I look forward to keeping in touch and recommending you to other potential clients/patients."

Fortunata is one of our specialists post op therapists who has been specifically trained in after care therapy using ultrasound, manual lymphatic drainage and also pressuretherapy at Riverbanks. She is one of only two therapists in the UK who have received training in Colombia from the International Centre of Artistic Body Sculpting. The other therapist is Bethany, who also works at Riverbanks.

Gynecomastia review 1 week after VASER Lipo (with pics)

Today I reviewed a patient I treated last week using my VASER 2.0 Lipo system. He had suffered from gynecomastia since his teens and it had effect his confidence hugely. He wouldn't take off his top on the beach nor infront of his partner.

About 2 years ago he read an article in the Daily Mail about one of my patients who I treated for a very similar condition. He kept the article and it took him 2 years to pluck up the courage to book an appointment to see me.

When he did attend his consultation, I listened carefully and after examining him was able to reassure him that a treatment was possible and that it was highly likely to be successful, using the VASER 2.0 system. He went away and thought about it and decided to book in for surgery a month later.

On the day, he brought his partner to the clinic who was very supportive. The surgery went without complication and was very successful. No gland needed to be removed, as he only had pseudo-gynecomastia which is generally just fatty-breast tissue.

Here are his results taken a week after his surgery.

He described almost no pain whatsoever, although some patients do eed pain killers for a few days afterward. There is a slight amount of bruising which will settle after a couple more weeks. In a week's time he can exercise again.

If you would like to find out if VASER can help reduce the size of your male breasts, please call 01582762877 for a consultation with Dr Jain in Harley Street or Hertfordshire.

What is Medcontour?

Medcontour uses ultrasound energy similar to VASER Lipo but instead of passing probe into the body, underneath the skin, with Medcontour, the probe is rolled over the skin allowing the ultrasonic energy to pass through the skin into the fat cells. The fat is then disrupted and massaged away using the specific lymph node activation which is part of the Medcontour System.

What is VASERSHAPE?

When Medcontour was first introduced into the UK it was given the name Vasershape. However, many people confused this with VASER Lipo or VASER 4D which are surgical procedures. In Europe and the rest of the world, Medcontour is extremely successful, with millions of treatments being successfully carried out.

What sort of results can I get with Medcontour?

Medcontour can deliver results which are similar to liposuction in some patients. Together with a sensible lifestyle results are very encouraging and our patients are amazed at how much they lose. Loko at these results:

This is what one of our patients said about her treatments:

"After nearly completing a course of Vasershape, prior to my holiday I am delighted with the results!! Not only have I gone down a dress size, the weekly treatments have kept me focused on sticking to diet and exercise programme." Helen C, Harpenden

If you would like to book in for a consultation at our London or Hertfordshire offices please call 01582762877

VASER Mid Def swelling

VASER Mid Def is a term used by some clinics to describe an advanced form of liposuction which creates an athletic looking abdomen but without the appearance of your six pack.

Because there will be some work in the superficial layer of fat, it is advisable to have ~10 sessions of VASER AFTERCARE to minimise any swelling following the surgery. The aftercare will also help prevent any complications and smoothen results.

At Riverbanks as long as our patients sign up to our aftercare programme they will all get a VASER MID DEF procedure at the same price as a regular VASER lipo procedure.

BeforeVASER

After VASER Hi Def

Liposuction to the arms

VASER'd fat

VASER Liposelection is a great option for reducing the size of the upper arms without the need for more extensive surgery. The VASER system is very selective at treating fat and reducing damage to surrounding tissues. Clinical studies have shown that VASER causes less blood loss compared to standard liposuction. The image on the left shows the emulsified fat collected from the patient below, showing virtually no blood loss.

For those women who are concerned about the size of their upper arms, we understand that you may choose clothes that hide your arms and that you long to wear sleeveless tops in the summer. You may have only thought that Brachioplasty was necessary which involves a long scar along the length of your upper arm. Well for most sufferers of these 'bingo wings', VASER Lipo is a great treatment choice.

There are only a couple of tiny scars (about 4-5mm across) and you won't feel a thing as the surgery will be performed with some local anaesthetic and mild sedation. Afterwards you will need to wear a compression sleeve on each arm for about 4-6 weeks and we recommend manual lymphatic drainage at least 2-3 times a week during that time to optimise your recovery and outcome.

Then you can enjoy results like these:

before VASER

after VASER

If you would like to find out more about VASER Lipo to your arms, book in to see Dr Jain in Harley St, London or at Riverbanks, Harpenden.