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Liposuction can remove fat from parts of the body to sculpt your shape and quickly give you a slimmer figure. But many people wonder: if your face is round and carries extra fat, can liposuction help, in addition to buccal fat removal and lipolysis injections? It can! Once the fat-prone areas on both sides of the mouth (jowls) and the chin are improved, your face looks sharp from every angle, and there are no bad angles in photos. Before you decide on liposuction, though, let's look at the possible side effects and common questions.
What Causes a Round, Wide Face
A round, full face can look cute, but it lacks a mature, polished look. Many people assume that Botox alone will fix a large face, but in fact there is more than one cause of a wide face, and each calls for a different treatment. So first find out which type of wide face you have; that is how you choose the right treatment and truly slim a full face.
Flat-Profile Wide Face
This type of wide face isn't actually large; it usually comes from a flatter nose or a shorter chin, which creates a visual illusion.
Recommended treatments: hyaluronic acid filler, Radiesse.
Muscular Wide Face
This type of wide face is usually related to habits formed over time. Regularly eating hard foods or chewing gum can cause the masseter muscles to overdevelop and thicken.
Recommended treatment: injections of botulinum toxin.
Sagging Wide Face
As we age, the skin gradually loosens and ages, and gravity adds to the effect, so the skin sags more and more. Over time, jowls form, making the face look wide and weathered.
Recommended treatments: radiofrequency, ultrasound, Sculptra.
Skeletal Wide Face
This is mainly a structural issue with the bone frame of the face, usually caused by an overly prominent lower jaw. In people with this problem, it is mostly inherited.
Recommended treatment: facial contouring surgery.
Fatty Wide Face
Fuller cheek fat can come from excess weight or from natural baby fat. So this type of wide face doesn't necessarily mean a person is overweight; many slim people have the same concern.
Recommended treatments: facial liposuction, buccal fat removal, lipolysis injections.
What Does the Facial Liposuction Procedure Involve?
1. Assessment and diagnosis: First, the doctor evaluates the patient's facial structure and fat distribution, to determine which areas need liposuction.
2. Local anesthesia: Before the procedure begins, local anesthesia is usually applied to the treatment area, so that the patient feels no pain during the procedure.
3. Liposuction: Through tiny incisions, the doctor uses a thin cannula (called a microcannula) to remove the excess fat. These incisions are usually very small, which reduces the discomfort of the procedure and the recovery time.
4. Suturing: Once the procedure is complete, the doctor will close the incisions with sutures, helping the wounds heal faster.
Side Effects of Facial Liposuction and How to Prevent Them
Facial liposuction is considered a minor procedure, but like any surgery, it can come with some side effects and risks. When considering facial liposuction, do your homework first and understand the problems you may run into afterward, so that you are mentally prepared.
1. Swelling and bruising: Swelling and bruising may appear after the procedure. This is normal, and it usually eases gradually within a few days to a few weeks.
2. Bruising and pain: Small blood vessels may be damaged during liposuction, causing bruising and pain. This is temporary, though, and patients can relieve the discomfort with ice packs and the pain medication their doctor recommends.
3. Altered sensation: Because the procedure may involve nerve structures, some patients may feel tingling, numbness, or other abnormal sensations in the treated area. These symptoms are usually temporary, but they can sometimes be long-term.
4. Uneven skin: After liposuction, the skin may sometimes show an irregular contour or uneven fat distribution. This is usually due to an inexperienced doctor or a careless technique.
5. Skin laxity: In some cases, liposuction can leave the skin loose, especially if a large amount of fat is removed. After the procedure, a facelift can be used to tighten the skin.
6. Infection and bleeding: These occur only in very rare cases, but infection and bleeding are risks with any surgery.
7. Hyperpigmentation: Some patients may develop hyperpigmentation in the treated area, making the skin look dull or uneven. This may be temporary, but in some cases it can be long-term.
8. Scarring: Facial liposuction usually uses tiny incisions, but some scarring may still occur. The degree of scarring varies with each person's healing ability and can be improved with scar treatments.
How can you prevent side effects?
- Choose an experienced doctor: Find a doctor with extensive experience in facial liposuction, to ensure the procedure is safe and effective.
- Follow your doctor's advice: During recovery, follow your doctor's advice and restrictions, including avoiding strenuous exercise and keeping the wounds clean; gentle massage can also help reduce unevenness in the skin.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: A proper diet, exercise, and enough rest support recovery after the procedure and help maintain the results.
What Are the Side Effects of Liposuction? Types and How to Avoid Them
How Long Is Recovery After Facial Liposuction?
Recovery varies from person to person, but patients can usually return to normal life within one to two weeks after the procedure. Full recovery may take 3 to 6 months, during which the results gradually appear and become more and more noticeable.
Aftercare Tips for Facial Liposuction
- For the first week after the procedure, wash your face gently and do not press hard. You can clean by wiping, and should keep the wounds as dry as possible to avoid infection.
- For 2 weeks after the procedure, avoid exaggerated facial expressions.
- For 2 weeks after the procedure, avoid irritating foods and substances, including cigarettes, alcohol, and coffee, so they do not interfere with wound healing.
- After liposuction, keep the wounds out of the sun until they are fully healed.
Can Facial Contouring Surgery Fail? A Complete Guide
How to Get Rid of a Double Chin: 5 Exercises and 5 Treatments at a Glance
FAQ
Will facial skin sag after facial liposuction?
The results of facial liposuction depend, to a degree, on skin elasticity: the better the elasticity, the better the skin rebounds and tightens after the fat is removed, and the more noticeable the slimming effect. If you worry about a hollow or badly sagging face afterward, assess carefully beforehand and discuss with your doctor removing just a moderate amount of fat rather than being greedy.
Will my face be very swollen afterward?
Swelling after liposuction is hard to avoid, but it is usually no more noticeable than after lipolysis injections. The swelling period is generally about 1 to 2 weeks, and you will need to take oral antibiotics and pain medication after the procedure to prevent inflammation and pain. If you worry about how it looks during those days, you can wear a mask to cover it.
Sagging Face? How a Facelift Can Easily Restore Youthful-Looking Skin
This article is for general information only. Results vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person before deciding on any treatment.
