The double chin is one of the most recognizable aesthetic complaints in plastic surgery — and one of the most frustrating, because for many patients the fullness under the chin has very little to do with overall body weight. Submental fullness, as it is clinically termed, often develops from aging, genetics, or diet-related factors, but can also reflect structural issues such as loose skin, excess submental fat deposits, sagging platysma muscles, a recessed chin, or drooping salivary glands. The common assumption that chin fullness will resolve with weight loss is frequently wrong — many thin patients carry persistent submental fullness that diet and exercise cannot reach. Chin liposuction is the focused procedure designed to address the submental area directly, producing the defined jawline and neck contour that underlies the confident, youthful profile patients want.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs chin liposuction at his Beverly Hills practice with advanced facial contouring expertise. Dr. Anastasatos has been invited to lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine in London for three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026) on facelift techniques — an unusually rigorous credential for facial aesthetic surgery — and has delivered Pan-Hellenic Congress plenary lectures on body contouring, including suction-assisted lipectomy. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Double Chin Removal

A double chin is one of the most common reasons patients seek facial contouring, and the reasons a double chin develops are more varied than most patients realize. Submental fullness can come from accumulated fat deposits below the jawline, loose skin that no longer supports the contour as it once did, sagging platysma muscles that run down the front of the neck, a structurally weak or recessed chin that reduces the visual separation between face and neck, or even a drooped salivary gland that contributes to fullness. Age, genetics, and diet are all contributing factors — but the condition is structural, not simply a matter of body weight.

Because multiple anatomical factors can contribute, effective treatment depends on accurately identifying what is actually causing the fullness in each patient. For patients whose double chin is primarily fat-based, chin liposuction alone typically delivers an excellent result. For patients whose concerns extend beyond fat — significant skin laxity, platysmal banding, or structural chin weakness — chin liposuction may be combined with other procedures such as neck lift with cervicoplasty and platysmaplasty, facelift, chin augmentation, or a combination tailored to the patient’s anatomy.

“Chin liposuction has the power to transform a profile in a way that very few other procedures can. When patients are unhappy with how they photograph or how their jawline looks in the mirror, the submental area is almost always part of the conversation. What patients don’t always realize is that this area can be addressed relatively simply, with minimal downtime, once we accurately diagnose whether the fullness is from fat, skin, muscle, or structural factors.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

The Chin Liposuction Procedure

Chin liposuction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under local or light sedation anesthesia. A small, inconspicuous incision — usually placed in the natural submental crease beneath the chin — allows insertion of a fine cannula that precisely removes the excess fat from the submental area. Dr. Anastasatos performs the procedure using refined cannula technique for smooth, predictable contouring without the irregularities that can occur with less careful execution. The procedure typically takes one hour or less.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Chin Liposuction

Chin liposuction is well suited to patients whose primary concern is fatty fullness in the submental area. Ideal candidates typically include:

• Good Skin Elasticity: Skin that will contract smoothly after fat removal — a factor most important in younger patients but relevant across all ages.
• Primarily Fat-Based Fullness: Submental fullness that is predominantly caused by fat rather than loose skin, platysmal laxity, or a recessed chin.
• Healthy Weight: Patients at or near their target weight who want to address the submental area as a specific contouring concern.
• Realistic Expectations: Understanding that chin liposuction focuses on fat reduction and jawline definition rather than comprehensive neck rejuvenation.
• Profile Dissatisfaction: Patients who are bothered by how their jawline looks in photos or in profile and want definition.
• Good General Health: Overall health that supports a minor outpatient procedure and straightforward recovery.

Related Facial Contouring Procedures

For patients whose concerns extend beyond fat alone, chin liposuction can be part of a combined approach. Related procedures include:

• Neck Lift: For patients with significant skin laxity, neck lift with cervicoplasty removes excess skin; when combined with platysmaplasty, the loose neck muscles are repaired at the same time.
• Facelift: When jowling and midface descent accompany the submental fullness, a facelift addresses the full lower-face contour.
• Chin Augmentation: For patients whose submental fullness is partly caused by a structurally recessed chin, chin augmentation strengthens the chin profile and creates better separation between face and neck.
• Platysmaplasty: Tightening of the platysma muscle for patients with visible platysmal banding in the neck.

Dr. Anastasatos evaluates each patient’s specific anatomy to recommend whether chin liposuction alone is the appropriate procedure or whether a combined approach will produce a more balanced, complete result.

How Much Does Chin Liposuction Cost?

Chin liposuction at Los Angeles Plastic Surgery typically ranges from approximately $2,500 to $3,500, plus fees for the operating room and anesthesia. The exact cost depends on the extent of treatment, whether it is performed as a standalone procedure or combined with other work, and individual anatomical factors discussed at consultation. Dr. Anastasatos’s office provides a complete quote during consultation so patients can plan appropriately. Chin liposuction is a cosmetic procedure and is generally not covered by insurance.

What to Expect From Recovery

Chin liposuction recovery is one of the fastest in plastic surgery. Most patients return to desk-based work within two to three days. A compression garment — similar to a chin strap — is worn during the first few days and at night for approximately one to two weeks to help the tissues settle smoothly.

Bruising and swelling are typically mild and peak during the first week. Visible improvement is often apparent within the first two weeks; final refinement of the contour emerges over two to three months as residual swelling fully resolves. Strenuous activity is typically restricted for about two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chin Liposuction

Is chin liposuction permanent?

Yes. The fat cells removed during chin liposuction do not grow back in the treated area. Significant future weight gain can cause fat to accumulate elsewhere, but the specific cells removed from the submental area are permanently gone.

Will I have a visible scar?

The incision for chin liposuction is very small — typically a few millimeters — and is placed in the natural submental crease where it heals to a virtually invisible mark. Most patients cannot locate the scar after healing.

Can chin liposuction treat a double chin caused by loose skin?

No. Chin liposuction addresses fat; it does not tighten loose skin. Patients whose submental fullness is primarily caused by skin laxity are better candidates for neck lift or combined procedures. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates the underlying cause during consultation.

How is chin liposuction different from Kybella?

Kybella is a non-surgical injectable that dissolves submental fat over a series of treatments. Chin liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes the fat directly in a single session with typically more predictable and dramatic results. For most patients with meaningful submental fullness, chin liposuction produces better results with less total time commitment.

Can chin liposuction be combined with other facial procedures?

Yes, and it frequently is. Common combinations include chin liposuction with neck lift, with facelift, with chin augmentation, or with platysmaplasty — tailored to each patient’s anatomy for a balanced, comprehensive facial contour result.

Is chin liposuction safe?

When performed by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon using modern technique, chin liposuction is very safe with low complication rates. The procedure has been refined significantly over the decades, and Dr. Anastasatos’s approach emphasizes fine-cannula precision for smooth, predictable results.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Chin Liposuction

• Royal Society of Medicine London Invited Lecturer on Facelift Techniques: Three consecutive years of invited lectures (2024, 2025, 2026) at one of the most prestigious venues in facial aesthetic surgery — demonstrating authority on the facial contouring principles central to chin liposuction.
• Pan-Hellenic Congress Lecturer on Suction-Assisted Lipectomy: Plenary lectures on the core liposuction technique underlying chin liposuction.
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Dual Facial and Body Contouring Expertise: The combined authority required for chin liposuction, which sits at the intersection of facial aesthetic surgery and body contouring technique.
• Combined Approaches When Anatomy Calls for It: Expertise coordinating chin liposuction with neck lift, facelift, chin augmentation, or platysmaplasty for balanced results.
• Featured in Leading Media: Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, Vogue, Elle, and the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News Top Doctor.

Schedule Your Chin Liposuction Consultation in Beverly Hills

If a double chin or submental fullness is affecting how you look in the mirror or in photos — and diet and exercise have not produced the jawline definition you want — chin liposuction offers a focused, minimally invasive solution that can transform your profile with minimal downtime. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, for a private consultation covering your anatomy, the appropriate treatment approach, and realistic outcomes. Contact us at Los Angeles Plastic Surgery to arrange your appointment with Dr. Anastasatos.