Face liposuction

Facial Liposuction

We don’t just make the face smaller. We refine the contour from the cheekbones through the cheeks to the jaw so it suits your face.

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

Do you find yourself stepping back in photos because your face looks big?

Why a face looks big differs from person to person. Reducing only the area under the chin can actually look unnatural. That’s why we also look at how the cheeks and jawline connect.

Profile showing the jawline and neckline (staged image)
Surgery time
Discussed after an examination
Anesthesia
Discussed after an examination
Stitch removal
Discussed after an examination
Back to daily activities
Discussed after an examination

Do any of these sound familiar?

If any of these apply to you, please mention it first at your consultation.

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

Point 1. Why a face looks big

When a face looks big, fat isn’t the only reason

Fat, bone structure, chewing muscles and sagging skin can all make a face look bigger. Liposuction can reduce only the part caused by fat. So we first check what’s causing it.

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

Point 2. Layer-by-layer liposuction

It matters which layer the fat is removed from

The fat under the skin of the face (subcutaneous fat) is divided into a deep layer and a shallow layer. We remove fat only from the layer needed to refine the contour, and leave the fat that should stay.

EpidermisDermisFat: superficial layerFat: middle layerFat: deep layerFascia & muscle

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

Point 3. Scars

We keep entry points small and place them where they’re hard to see

The entry points for the cannula (the thin tube used to remove fat) are generally placed in hidden spots, such as under the chin or around the ears, and protected with Protect, a skin protector. We close them with the SCAR OFF method: the inner layer of the skin is stitched first, then the surface is stitched with as little tension as possible to reduce scarring.

IncisionIf only the surface is pulledtension builds on the surface① Inner stitchesThe inner layer is joined firstso it takes the pulling force② Low-tension outer stitchesThe surface is just brought togetherto keep the scar narrower

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

Areas we examine

Areas we look at on the face

  1. Under the chin (double chin)The area running from under the chin to the neck, which forms the border between jaw and neck in profile. When fat gathers here, the jawline gets buried and it can look like a double chin.
  2. JawlineThe line running from the chin to below the ear. We assess it in relation to chin length and facial proportions. Thick fat below the jawline can make the lower face look wider from the front.
  3. CheeksThe area running from below the cheekbones to beside the mouth. We assess it together with the width of the face seen from the front.
  4. Lower cheeksCheek fat can gather into a fuller area just below and outside the corners of the mouth. When this area is heavy, the corners of the mouth can look droopy, so we assess it together with skin elasticity.

Facial Liposuction: the principles we follow at LINE ON

  1. 01We work with your facial proportions

    If your chin is short and small, creating a sharp, long V-line can actually make your face look longer. Using your face’s natural proportions as the guide, we refine the cheekbones, cheeks and chin so they flow naturally into one another.

  2. 02We leave the areas that give support

    Even in a fuller face, the areas that support the face may actually lack volume. We don’t remove fat from those areas, and if needed, we’ll also talk with you about filling them.

  3. 03We also check skin elasticity

    When fat is removed, the skin above it has to settle back onto the reduced volume. If there’s already a lot of loose skin, we’ll tell you up front that liposuction alone is unlikely to be enough.

LINE ONFacial Liposuction

How it works

From consultation to follow-up

  1. 01Consultation

    We look at why your face looks big and check your skin elasticity.

  2. 02Health check

    We check your medications, medical conditions and past treatments.

  3. 03Marking

    We mark the areas to treat and the areas to leave.

  4. 04Anesthesia

    We’ll explain the anesthesia options after your examination.

  5. 05Liposuction

    We remove fat evenly, layer by layer, and balance both sides.

  6. 06Stitching

    We close the incisions with the SCAR OFF method.

  7. 07Follow-up visit

    We schedule stitch removal and follow-up visits.

Medical note

Facial Liposuction in detail

From here, we explain how the surgery works, recovery and what to watch for in more detail. It’s written to the standards Dr. Oh uses when he sees patients.

Why a face looks big

Fat under the skin
Thick fat under the skin in areas where fat tends to gather, such as under the chin, along the jawline and in the cheeks, blurs the contour.
Bone structure
Liposuction doesn’t change the width or length of the cheekbones or jaw. If bone is the main reason, reducing fat may not make much difference.
Muscle
Well-developed chewing muscles can also make the lower face look wide. In that case, we look at options other than liposuction.
Sagging & puffiness
Loose skin, or a face that swells easily, can also make the contour look heavy. If the skin has loosened a lot, we may also consider lifting.

How are liposuction, injections and thread lifts different?

Liposuction removes fat under the skin directly, through a thin tube (cannula) inserted through a small incision. It may be an option when there’s a fair amount of fat and the contour needs clear refinement.

Fat-reducing injections can be done without an incision. But there’s a limit to how much fat they can reduce at once, so think of them as lightly refining a contour. They may suit you if you don’t have much fat or would rather avoid surgery.

A thread lift doesn’t remove fat. Instead, it supports loosened tissue with threads. Which method fits depends on the amount of fat and your skin elasticity. If you have both excess fat and sagging, we also decide at your examination which to address first.

What you may notice during recovery

After facial liposuction, the following changes may appear temporarily. Most ease as you recover, but how much and for how long varies from person to person.

Swelling & bruising
Swelling and bruising can appear in the treated areas and below them. As the swelling goes down, the contour settles. See “Recovery” below for how long this takes.
Firmness
For a while, the treated areas may feel tight or firm to the touch. They gradually soften as the tissue heals.
Changes in sensation
Your skin may feel numb. In most cases, sensation returns as you recover.
Symmetry & surface
Early in recovery, the surface may look uneven or the two sides may look different. We keep checking this at your follow-up visits.

How we perform this surgery

01

We look at the front and the profile together

From the front, we look at whether both sides are balanced, the ratio of width to height, and how the contour flows from the cheekbones to the cheeks and jaw. From the side, we look at the three-dimensional flow from the forehead to the nose, lips and chin.

02

We tell two layers apart

The deep and shallow layers of facial fat change differently with age. We tell the two apart and remove fat at the depth needed to refine the contour.

03

We plan the areas to fill at the same time

The areas that support the face (areas that need structural support) include the forehead, temples and front of the cheeks. If these areas are hollow, we can plan what to remove and what to fill together. After your examination, we’ll explain whether filler (3cc Face LINE ON) or fat transfer suits you better.

See 3cc Face LINE ON →

Who this surgery suits, and who it doesn’t

  • Your face looks big mainly because of fat under the skin
  • Removing volume matters more for you than adding it
  • Your skin still has good elasticity

When we don’t recommend it

  • Your face is already slim and you’d like to remove more (the contour can show too much and look unnatural)
  • Your face looks big mainly because of bone structure or muscle
  • You plan to lose a lot of weight soon (it’s better to reassess once your weight has settled)

Recovery

Bruising
Usually almost gone within 2 weeks.
Swelling
Generally, most of the swelling goes down in about 1 month, and the rest in about 3 months. This depends on how large an area is treated, so we’ll explain what to expect for your face after your examination.
Final contour
Explained after your examination.

Precautions

  • If compression is needed, we’ll tell you how long and how to wear it. Please follow those instructions.
  • Early in recovery, please don’t press hard on or rub the treated areas. Start massage only after we tell you to.
  • Raising your head a little while you sleep helps the swelling go down.
  • Wait until the period we advise has passed, then gradually return to saunas, heat rooms and exercise that makes you sweat a lot.
  • Alcohol and smoking slow recovery, so please avoid them for the period we advise.
  • If one side suddenly swells a lot, or warmth and pain keep getting worse, please contact us right away.
  • After surgery, please keep your weight stable with a healthy diet and exercise.

Results and recovery vary from person to person. Whether a treatment suits you is decided after Dr. Oh examines you in person.

Facial Liposuction: frequently asked questions

Will my skin sag after facial liposuction?

If your skin still has good elasticity, it usually settles well onto the reduced volume. But if there’s already a lot of loose skin, or too much fat is removed, the skin can look saggy. That’s why we leave the fat that should stay and, if needed, also talk with you about lifting.

Where will the scars be?

The cannula needs an entry point, so the mark it leaves can’t be completely erased. How much it fades depends on your skin.

Can I treat just a double chin?

Yes. We decide how large an area to treat by looking at the proportions of your whole face.

If I gain weight later, will my face get bigger again?

The number of fat cells in the treated areas goes down. But the remaining fat cells can grow again if you gain weight, so a large weight gain can change the contour.

More questions answered by Dr. Oh

We are a 3-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11, and the medical director examines every patient in person.

Book onlineRequest a callFees