Facial Liposculpture in Edinburgh
Fullness under the chin that resists diet and exercise, and cheeks that have lost their volume, are the two concerns facial liposculpture addresses – one by removing fat, the other by replacing it. At Quaba Plastic Surgery this work is performed by Mr Omar Quaba, a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register, at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh. Many neck liposuction procedures are walk-in, walk-out surgery under local anaesthetic.
Contents
Facial liposculpture overview
- Anaesthetic: local anaesthesia for fat injections and neck liposuction alone; general anaesthesia when combined with other procedures.
- Length: 1-2 hours.
- Hospital stay: day case at Waterfront Private Hospital, or overnight at our partner facility in Edinburgh when combined with other procedures.
- Recovery time: a few days to two weeks off work; 3-6 weeks before strenuous exercise.
What facial liposculpture involves
Facial liposculpture reshapes the contours of the face and neck using two complementary techniques: micro-liposuction to remove excess fat, most commonly under the chin and along the jawline, and fat transfer to restore lost volume, most commonly to the cheeks.
Facial liposuction
Micro-liposuction is used to remove excess fat (see the section on liposuction). Facial liposuction can be used to improve the definition of your jawline and to reduce double chins. Dramatic improvements can sometimes be achieved using liposuction alone (particularly in younger patients with good skin quality). In other patients, loose skin remains when the fat has been removed, and the only way to deal with this is to combine liposuction with a lower neck facelift.
Fat transfer
Fat transfer (lipomodelling/ fat cell grafting/ Coleman fat injection) is a technique that has become very popular over the last 15 years or so. It involves removing fat from one part of the body (usually the abdomen, buttocks or thighs) and its transfer to another part of the body. The fat is removed using liposuction and is prepared in the operating theatre to separate the fat cells. The fat is then injected where it is needed. The areas of the face most commonly treated are the cheeks to restore the youthful appearance of “high cheekbones“. Fat is used in the same way as fillers but has the advantage of being completely natural. It can give a long-lasting result, but some fat absorption will occur, and a repeat procedure may be required. Fat transfer can be used in isolation or combined with other facial surgery.
Both procedures are performed by Mr Omar Quaba at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh – under local anaesthesia when carried out alone, or general anaesthesia when combined with other facial surgery.
Liposculpture for the neck and jawline
Neck liposuction is the usual treatment for a double chin that persists regardless of weight. Through 2mm needle incisions, a fine cannula removes the excess fatty tissue under local anaesthetic – a walk-in, walk-out procedure that takes around 10 to 20 minutes, with no stitches and no bandages.
The result depends largely on skin quality. In younger patients with good skin elasticity, dramatic improvements in jawline definition can be achieved with liposuction alone. Where the skin is loose or wrinkled, removing fat can make the laxity more obvious, and a lower face and neck lift is the better operation.
A weak chin can exaggerate the appearance of a double chin. Chin augmentation with an implant or dermal fillers can be combined with neck liposuction to give added definition to the jaw and neck.
Benefits of facial liposculpture
Facial liposculpture sharpens the jawline, reduces a double chin and restores volume where the face has hollowed. Because it uses your own tissue and millimetre-scale incisions, the changes read as natural rather than surgical.
Neck liposuction
You should notice a difference in the appearance of your neck by four weeks, with the final result at five to six months. Outcomes vary between patients and depend largely on skin elasticity – younger skin retracts more – and the amount of fatty tissue present.
Fat transfer to the cheeks
There is an immediate increase in cheek volume, some of which is swelling. Over six months the swelling settles and, on average, around half of the injected fat volume is absorbed; the fat that remains is living tissue and long-lasting. A repeat procedure may be needed to reach the volume you want.
Who is an ideal candidate for facial liposculpture?
A good candidate for neck liposuction has fatty tissue under the chin and neck, good-quality skin and a stable weight. A good candidate for fat transfer has lost volume in the cheeks or mid-face and has enough donor fat elsewhere on the body.
- Fullness under the chin or along the jawline that diet and exercise do not shift
- Good skin elasticity, so the skin retracts once fat is removed
- Flattening or hollowing of the cheeks with age or weight loss
- Good general health and realistic expectations
If your skin is too loose, liposuction is likely to make the laxity look worse rather than better. In that case a neck lift or facelift is the more honest recommendation, and your consultant will say so plainly at consultation.
Risks and considerations of facial liposculpture
Facial liposculpture shares the general risks of any surgical procedure: bleeding, infection and scarring, although the incisions used are so small that scarring is barely perceptible. The risks specific to each technique are set out below, and your consultant will explain how they apply to you at consultation.
Neck liposuction
Neck liposuction
Neck liposuction requires careful attention to detail. If liposuction is performed too aggressively, it can leave an uneven appearance as well as indentations which are difficult to correct. Rarely there may be some bruising to the nerve that moves the corner of your mouth, and this can take days or weeks to recover. If liposuction is performed on the wrong patients, it can leave loose hanging skin.
Fat transfer
Fat transfer
Some of the injected fat may cause lumps. These usually settle down with time. Rarely, a condition known as fat necrosis can occur. This can look like infection and can cause lumps, redness and discharge. It can take several months to settle down.
Aftercare and recovery after facial liposculpture
Swelling and bruising after neck liposuction usually settle by 7 to 10 days. Most patients take a few days to two weeks off work depending on the extent of surgery, and return to strenuous exercise at three to six weeks.
No bandages or strapping are needed after neck liposuction; small dressings cover the insertion sites and no stitches need removing. After fat transfer, the treated areas look fuller than the final result while the early swelling settles over the first few weeks.
A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available – if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
What is the cost of facial liposculpture?
Neck liposuction under local anaesthesia starts from £4,150 at Waterfront Private Hospital.
- Neck liposuction (local anaesthesia): from £4,150
- Facial fat transfer (local anaesthesia): from £3,950
- Facial fat transfer (general anaesthesia): from £4,900
Each price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.
The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.
Frequently asked questions about facial liposculpture
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my facial liposculpture?
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my facial liposculpture?
Yes. Mr Omar Quaba assesses you at consultation, plans your surgery, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between surgeons.
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available – if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
How much does facial liposculpture cost?
How much does facial liposculpture cost?
Neck liposuction under local anaesthesia starts from £4,150 at Waterfront Private Hospital, and facial fat transfer from £3,950 under local anaesthesia or £4,900 under general anaesthesia. Prices cover the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the hospital and theatre fee, and all post-operative reviews. A consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.
Is double chin removal the same as neck liposuction?
Is double chin removal the same as neck liposuction?
Yes. Double chin removal is usually performed as neck liposuction. The neck is numbed with local anaesthetic injections, tiny 2mm incisions are made with a needle, and a small cannula removes the excess fatty tissue. The procedure takes around 10 to 20 minutes and needs no stitches.
Am I a candidate for neck liposuction?
Am I a candidate for neck liposuction?
You may be a candidate for neck liposuction if you have fatty tissue under your chin and neck and good-quality skin. If your skin is too loose, liposuction to the chin is likely to make the looseness worse, and a neck lift may be more appropriate.
What are the alternatives to neck liposuction?
What are the alternatives to neck liposuction?
A weak chin can exaggerate the appearance of a double chin, so chin augmentation with dermal fillers or a chin implant can improve the definition of the jaw and neck, alone or combined with liposuction. If your neck skin is loose or wrinkled, a formal neck lift is usually the better operation.
Will neck liposuction leave scars?
Will neck liposuction leave scars?
The scarring after neck liposuction is barely perceptible. The incisions are around 2mm, made with a needle, and heal without stitches.
How long does fat transfer to the cheeks last?
How long does fat transfer to the cheeks last?
Fat transfer gives a long-lasting result, but some absorption occurs – on average around half the injected volume settles away over the first six months. The fat that survives is living tissue and behaves like the surrounding fat. A repeat procedure may be needed to reach the final volume you want.
When will I see the result of neck liposuction?
When will I see the result of neck liposuction?
You should notice a difference by four weeks. The final result takes five to six months to appear, as the skin retracts and the deeper swelling fully settles.
Can facial liposculpture be combined with other procedures?
Can facial liposculpture be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Neck liposuction and fat transfer are commonly combined with a facelift, chin augmentation or eyelid surgery, treating several concerns in a single operation and recovery period. Your consultant will advise whether a combination is appropriate.
Chin fillers – Brilliant experience
Always friendly, informative and helpful. Made you feel comfortable and always provided an honest opinion about what would be the best course of action. Did a wonderful job, very pleased with the results. Would definitely recommend as the results have had a positive effect on my self-confidence levels and the healing time was both fast and pain-free.
venlaw
Author
Mr Omar Quaba, MBBChir, FRCS (Plast), GMC 4586300, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. He is among the first surgeons in the UK to achieve Board Certification under the Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification Scheme overseen by the Royal Colleges of Surgeons. Educated at Cambridge University and trained in Aberdeen and Glasgow, with a fellowship in Australia, he transitioned to full-time private practice in 2020. He is Hospital Director of Waterfront Private Hospital and a full member of BAPRAS, BAAPS, and ISAPS.