What does chin liposuction involve?
In submental liposuction – the medical name for chin liposuction – a slim tube called a cannula is used to draw out fat that sits beneath the chin and in the upper part of the neck. The goal is a sharper chin–neck angle and a jawline that reads more clearly.
Fat is only one possible reason for a double chin. Lax skin, the platysma muscle of the neck, a small chin or the way the jaw is positioned can each play a part. For this reason Dr. Yazır looks at the chin and neck together before suggesting any treatment.
Who tends to be suited to chin liposuction?
Skin quality is central: after the fat is removed, the skin has to shrink back onto the new shape. According to the NHS, liposuction suits people who are not overweight and have firm, elastic skin, and no particular outcome can be promised.
| Points in favour | Points that call for caution or another option |
|---|---|
| Fullness beneath the chin that persists despite diet and exercise | Thin, crepey neck skin that has lost its spring |
| Skin that still recoils well, as is common in younger and middle-aged adults | Visible vertical cords in the neck (platysmal bands) |
| A weight that has been steady | Plans to lose a lot of weight |
| A jawline softened by fat rather than by sagging tissue | A small or set-back chin as the real cause |
| Good overall health and no smoking | Bleeding disorders or poorly controlled illness |
Writing in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, reviewers noted that liposuction on its own benefits only carefully chosen patients, since it leaves loose skin and the platysma untouched. In those cases a neck lift – frequently with liposuction added – can be the more appropriate plan.
What are the ways to treat a double chin?
| Treatment | Principle | Usually considered when |
|---|---|---|
| Chin liposuction | Fat is suctioned out through very small openings | There is a moderate or larger amount of fat and the skin is in good condition |
| Injection lipolysis | A series of injections gradually breaks fat down | The fat pocket is small and you would rather avoid incisions |
| Neck lift | Surplus skin is tightened and the platysma is repaired | Skin is loose and neck bands are visible |
| Chin or jawline fillers | Volume is built up along the chin and jaw | A weak chin makes the neck appear heavier |
What happens during the procedure?
- Assessment and marking. Dr. Yazır checks the chin, neck, skin and jaw contour, takes photographs and draws the treatment zone on the skin.
- Numbing the area. A tumescent fluid is infiltrated; it contains a local anaesthetic plus a medicine that limits bleeding. When liposuction is combined with another operation, sedation or general anaesthesia may be added.
- Removing the fat. Through a small opening below the chin – and in some patients behind the earlobes – a fine cannula is passed. Fat is taken out evenly and in a controlled way, so the skin can settle without ridges.
- Finishing. Each tiny opening either receives a stitch or is allowed to close on its own, and a compression chin strap goes on.
- Going home. Nearly everyone returns home or to the hotel on the day of treatment.
Published case series confirm that submental liposuction can be carried out with local anaesthesia; in one report covering 695 patients, uneven contour was the drawback mentioned most often.
How does the healing period go?
| Stage | Typical experience |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | The area under the chin is swollen, tight and bruised; the strap stays on at all times |
| Days 4–7 | Bruises start to lighten, any stitches come out, and desk-based work is usually possible again |
| Weeks 2–3 | Most of the visible bruising has cleared; the strap is now mainly a night-time item |
| Weeks 3–4 | Light exercise can generally be restarted |
| Months 1–3 | Swelling keeps going down; firmness or reduced feeling in the skin can linger |
| Months 3–6 | The final shape of the chin and neck shows itself |
The NHS points out that the effect of liposuction may not be clear until swelling subsides, and that full settling of the area can take as long as six months.
How should I organise my visit to Izmir?
Patients coming from abroad typically set aside 4 to 5 days. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is roughly 25–30 minutes by car from the clinic in the Egeperla building in Konak.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | You land in Izmir and attend the consultation and examination |
| Day 2 | Treatment day; in most cases you leave the same day |
| Days 3–4 | Resting at the hotel, taking short walks and keeping the strap on |
| Day 4 or 5 | Follow-up with Dr. Yazır, then the flight home once he is satisfied |
You are welcome to send side-profile photos by WhatsApp beforehand for an initial opinion. The plan is only finalised after Dr. Yazır has examined you in person.
Which risks come with chin liposuction?
Although it is a limited procedure, chin liposuction is still an operation. A systematic review published in 2026, which pooled 13 studies, reported that side effects after submental liposuction occurred fairly often, yet most were mild and were handled without a second operation. Seroma (a fluid pocket), uneven surface or asymmetry and newly visible neck bands were the problems described most frequently. The reviewers stressed that the evidence base is small, so precise percentages should be read carefully.
Complications that can occur:
- Swelling, bruises and a temporary loss of feeling
- Unevenness, small dents or a difference between the two sides
- A collection of fluid (seroma) or blood (haematoma)
- Infection
- Rarely, short-term weakness of the lower lip if the nerve running along the jaw is irritated
- Loose skin that becomes easier to see once the fat has gone
- Uncommon problems linked to anaesthesia
A scoping review of published complications concluded that serious events are uncommon, but that a thorough grasp of the anatomy and quick treatment of any problem are vital. Dr. Yazır goes through the risks that apply to you during the consultation and consent discussion.
Is the result permanent?
The fat cells taken out do not grow back, which is why the change usually holds as long as your weight does not change much. The skin and neck keep ageing naturally, however, and some patients decide on a neck lift or facelift years later when their skin slackens.
What does a head and neck surgeon bring to this procedure?
Beneath the chin lie key neck structures, among them the facial nerve branch responsible for moving the lower lip. As an otorhinolaryngology and head & neck surgeon, Dr. Yazır has trained extensively in this region. That background also helps him decide whether fat is truly the issue, or whether the chin, jaw, skin or platysma is the better target for treatment.