Everyone's Getting Their Jawline Back. This Is the Procedure Doing It.
Welcome to the age of the jawline. Blame the front-facing camera. Between video calls, high-definition selfies, and photos taken from every angle, we see our own profiles more than any generation before us. Submental fullness, better known as a double chin, has become one of the most common facial concerns patients bring up, and demand for chin and neck liposuction has climbed right along with it.
The demand is real. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently tracked a 6 percent rise in submental liposuction in a single year. Dr. Aline Rau and surgeons across the country now count chin lipo among their most requested procedures.
The appeal is easy to understand:
Awake and outpatient. As a standalone procedure, chin lipo is usually done under local anesthesia. You're comfortable, and you go home the same day.
Minimal downtime. The procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes, and most patients are back to their routine within a week.
Structure, revealed. Removing that localized fat permanently uncovers the bone structure and jawline that were there all along.
And because submental fat is largely genetic, it shows up at every age: younger patients wanting sharper jawline definition, and women in their 40s and 50s restoring the clean border between chin and neck.
What Is Neck Liposuction?
Neck liposuction is a surgical procedure that permanently removes excess fat from beneath the chin (the submental area, in medical speak) and along the neck and jawline. Once those fat cells are removed, they're gone for good.
Learn More HereThe procedure is simpler than most people expect. Dr. Aline Rau uses small, discreet incisions to insert a thin cannula that precisely contours the area, delivering a slimmer, more refined look.
What Dr. Aline Rau checks at your consultation
Knowing what the exam covers takes some of the mystery out of the visit. It's brief, focused, and it tells us more than any photo could. Dr. Aline Rau looks at a few things:
How well your skin bounces back. Skin that springs back easily will settle smoothly over your new jawline.
Where the fat sits. Fat just under the skin responds well to liposuction. Fat tucked deeper beneath the muscle may need a different approach.
By the time you walk out the door, you'll know exactly where you stand.
Can It Tighten Skin Too?
To address skin sagging, energy-based tightening can be added to the plan. Dr. Aline Rau can pair fat removal with FaceTite beneath the skin or Morpheus8 at the surface, both radiofrequency treatments that firm the skin while the new contour settles.
After major weight loss or GLP-1 medications
More patients are coming to us after significant weight loss, including weight lost on GLP-1 medications.
Weight loss can shrink the fat under your chin while leaving the skin behind. Or it can leave a stubborn pocket that never budged. Those are two different problems with two different solutions, and an exam during your consultation is the most reliable way to tell them apart.
You may also want to check out our blog on post-GLP-1 changes.
| Neck Liposuction | Non-Surgical Skin Tightening | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Surgical removal of submental fat through tiny hidden incisions | Radiofrequency microneedling (like Morpheus8) that firms and rebuilds skin |
| What it treats | The fat pocket under the chin and along the jawline | Skin quality, mild laxity, and surface texture |
| Sessions | One, about 30 to 60 minutes | Typically a short series, spaced weeks apart |
| Downtime | Back to work in about a week | A day or two of redness and swelling |
| Results | Visible within weeks; final at 3 to 6 months; fat removal is permanent | Gradual over 3 to 6 months as collagen rebuilds |
| Best for | A meaningful fat pocket with good skin elasticity | Mild laxity, skin quality, or pairing with liposuction |
The Recovery Basics
Recovery from neck liposuction is shorter and easier than most patients expect, but it’s worth noting the timeline in advance.
First 48 hours: Rest with your head elevated. Expect swelling, tightness, and mild soreness, which can be managed with medication. The chin strap stays on around the clock.
Days 3 to 7: Bruising and swelling peak early in this window, then start to fade. Most patients are back at work within about a week, often sooner.
Weeks 2 to 6: Swelling comes and goes while the tissue heals, a normal part of the healing process.
Month 3: The payoff moment for most patients. The jawline sharpens noticeably, and most of the swelling is gone.
Months 3 to 6: The final contour settles in. Numbness fades gradually, sometimes with a tingly, itchy phase as the nerves wake back up.
How Long Do the Results Last?
The fat cells removed during neck liposuction are gone permanently, and as long as your weight stays stable, your new jawline is a long-term result. That lasting result is why chin lipo patients tend to be some of the happiest in aesthetic surgery.
Why Denver Patients Choose Dr. Aline Rau
Neck liposuction is a small procedure with a very visible result, which makes your choice of surgeon matter even more.
Dr. Aline Rau is a board-certified plastic surgeon, fellowship-trained in aesthetic surgery, and the founder of Amavi Aesthetic Surgery, a boutique, women-owned practice serving Denver, Cherry Creek, Cherry Hills Village, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock.
Her approach to the jawline is the same as her approach to everything else: results that look like you, planned together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Liposuction removes fat; your skin then needs enough natural spring to shrink smoothly over the new contour. If loose skin is part of your picture, Dr. Aline Rau may recommend pairing liposuction with skin tightening or considering a neck lift instead. It's the single most important candidacy question, and it takes an exam to answer.
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Not when candidacy is assessed properly. Sagging happens when fat is removed from skin that didn't have enough bounce to retract, and that's exactly what Dr. Aline Rau screens for at your consultation. If your skin needs help, she'll tell you before surgery and build skin tightening into the plan, or recommend a different procedure altogether.
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Many patients choose to be awake with local anesthesia and light relaxation. The area is completely numbed first. Patients describe pressure and tugging rather than pain, and most say the nerves beforehand were the hardest part. General anesthesia is always an option if you'd rather be asleep.
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Most patients are back at work within about a week. You'll wear a compression chin strap around the clock at first, then just at night. Light exercise usually resumes within 2 weeks and full activity by 4 to 6 weeks, based on Dr. Aline Rau's guidance at your follow-ups.
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Visible swelling and bruising fade over 1 to 2 weeks. Deeper swelling, firmness, and occasional lumpiness can come and go for several weeks as the tissue heals, and that's a normal part of recovery. Most patients see their result clearly by month 3, with final refinement through month 6.
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The strap has a real job: it controls swelling and helps your skin settle evenly against its new contour. Skipping it early on can mean more swelling, slower settling, and a bumpier result. If it's driving you crazy, call us before you abandon it. There's usually an easy adjustment.
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The removed fat cells are gone for good. The fat cells that remain can still enlarge with significant weight gain, so results hold best with a generally stable weight.
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In experienced, board-certified hands, chin lipo is considered a low-risk procedure.
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In published patient reviews, 94 percent say chin liposuction was worth it, among the highest satisfaction marks of any cosmetic procedure. The most common thing we hear after the three-month mark: I wish I'd done this sooner.
Ready to see what your jawline could look like?
If you've been studying your profile in photos and wondering whether this is the year you stop thinking about it, the next step is simply a conversation. Dr. Aline Rau will look at your skin and neck, tell you honestly whether liposuction alone will get you there, and build a plan around your anatomy.
Reach out to the Amavi team to set up your one-on-one with Dr. Aline Rau, or call us at (303) 381-0919. You'll get straight answers and leave knowing exactly where you stand.
