Facial liposuction is a procedure that removes unwanted fat from the facial area. Both men and women can have the tendency for fat to settle in the chin, cheeks, or jaw line, and both genders can improve their looks with this surgery. It can eliminate a double chin or jowls that are pockets of fat that change the shape of a person’s face. No amount of dieting will rid a person of these fat deposits in most cases. A plastic surgeon is consulted for this procedure, and the doctor is usually able to show patients a before and after image of what they would look like with this procedure. After discussing the risks and recovery period, the patient decides if he or she is willing to undergo the procedure.
There are some risks associated with this surgery, such as infection at incision sites, numbness, asymmetry, and lumpiness at the site of the surgery. Many people qualify for this surgery as far as the health risk is involved, but medical insurance plans typically do not pay for plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery. A person who is overweight and planning to lose weight should do this before having facial liposuction. This is because the face is often one of the first places where a person loses weight. If liposuction is done, and a person then loses weight, the result may not be very attractive in the end.
This surgery is usually done in the doctor’s office under a light sedation and local anesthesia. The time period that it takes is about 45 minutes to one hour. Traditional liposuction vacuums out the fat by inserting a thin tube through a small incision. The tube is rotated in the facial area to break up the fat before it is removed. Two other types of liposuction that are also used are the ultrasound-assisted type that uses sound waves to loosen the fat and laser-assisted surgery that liquefies the fat before removal. Recovery involves some pain and discomfort that can be relieved with prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers. It is also normal to have bruising and swelling. Most doctors require patients to wear a compression garment for a few weeks after the surgery, but it is common to return to work in about a week. In addition, the face must be kept elevated for one to two weeks. The cost of facial liposuction ranges from $2,500 to around $5,000.
Many men and women elect to have this surgery in search of a beautiful or handsome face that has a youthful look. Because the face of a person is always able to be seen, those who have had surgery believe that the pain that they suffer, plus paying the cost of the surgery out of their own pockets is worth the cost. Some families tend to have double chins, even though the family members are not overweight. If this tendency runs in a family, the person is an ideal candidate for the procedure. Smokers are generally told to quit smoking because it can interfere with the healing process of the face after surgery.
Finding a highly qualified plastic surgeon whose patients recommend him or her to others is the best way to find a doctor for this operation. There may be bargain rates from doctors whose reputations are not the best, but when dealing with the sensitive area of the face, it is always best to use a doctor who has successfully performed many surgeries before. This will eliminate the possibility of having numbness for a lifetime in the face or some other complication that could happen with an inexperienced or unskilled surgeon.