Skip to main content

Face Slimming Surgery (Facial Contouring)

Face slimming surgery is performed on patients with fullness and roundness in their face and neck which hides the definition of their neck and their jawline. These men and women typically have a round facial appearance even when not overweight.

Patients throughout Quebec and elsewhere seek out Dr. Mark Samaha at his Montreal facial plastic surgery practice to reshape their faces by removing pockets of unwanted fat from the cheeks, jawline and neck, creating a slimmer, more contoured appearance.

Who Is a Candidate for Facial Contouring Surgery?

Anyone who feels that the lower portion of their face feels too round or full and wants a more chiseled jawline, slimmer cheeks, and a thinner neck are good candidates for face slimming surgery.

Patients range in age from late 20’s to 50’s or later. Age is not a determinant for surgery. It is more the “heaviness” of the face that guides the decision to undergo facial contouring surgery.

This heaviness manifests mainly in the lower face and neck, with a poorly defined or absent jawline, often with a double chin and a full neck. Patients with these facial characteristics who wish to have a more defined jawline or neck and want to get rid of a double chin are ideal candidates for face sculpting surgery.

What Is Face Slimming Surgery?

Before and 5 months after face slimming surgery

The technique used to contour the face and neck is similar to those Dr. Samaha uses during a facelift or neck lift for older patients. However, a significant amount of fat is also removed in addition to the redraping of the muscle and skin performed during facelift surgery. This fat removal addresses the double chin and creates a more chiseled jaw and defined neck. The result is a more sculpted appearance with a thinner face and neck.

Before and 5 months after face slimming surgery

Is Facial Sculpting the Same as Liposuction?

No. Most facial fat is not amenable to liposuction. While there may be some exceptions where a surgeon performs micro-liposuction to remove fat from very specific regions, liposuction on the face is inappropriate for most patients.

Neck liposuction is only effective for patients with minimal fullness under their chin, good jawline definition, and no double chin. In these particular cases, a small amount of fat can be removed under the chin in the center of the neck using liposuction.

However, for most patients with facial and neck fullness, removing fat from the neck and jawline area using liposuction does not usually yield a good result. Therefore, Dr. Samaha does not recommend this approach to his patients seeking facial sculpting.

How Can I Get Rid of a Double Chin?

Dr. Samaha’s patients often ask him how to get rid of facial fat and how to get rid of a double chin.

Double chin removal depends on the cause, which depends on the patient’s anatomy. While many patients may think a mini facelift is the correct approach, it is not the proper procedure to remove face fat and address an undefined jawline.

Surgery for a Weak Chin with Mild Double Chin

Some patients have a weak chin, often associated with a slight double chin. They do not have significant amounts of fat in their face and neck. In these patients, a chin implant improves the chin area and the appearance of a mild double chin.

Pronounced Double Chin Surgery

If the double chin is more pronounced, it’s usually accompanied by a full face and neck as well as a weak jawline. Such patients would benefit from facial slimming surgery that includes jawline and neck contouring.

With this surgery, significant amounts of fat are usually removed from the neck to create definition and contour while defining the jawline. The result is an esthetic slimming of the face with better neck and jawline definition.

Meet Dr. Mark Samaha

A double board-certified otolaryngologist whose practice focuses exclusively on facial plastic surgery, Dr. Samaha is highly qualified in facial aesthetics. Learn more about our physician and how he’s carefully refined his skills to sculpt your beautiful face.

Meet Dr. Samaha

Dr. Mark Samaha

Meet Dr. Mark Samaha

A double board-certified otolaryngologist whose practice focuses exclusively on facial plastic surgery, Dr. Samaha is highly qualified in facial aesthetics. Learn more about our physician and how he’s carefully refined his skills to sculpt your beautiful face.

Meet Dr. Samaha

What to Expect During Surgery

The procedure takes approximately 3 to 3.5 hours to complete. Patients are given time to recover in the clinic and usually leave within 1to 2 hours following surgery. A bandage to protect the surgical area is placed at the end of the surgery. A drain will be placed in the incision to collect any fluid that may accumulate under the skin during the first 24 to 48 hours.

Recovery After Surgery

The first follow-up appointment will be scheduled for bandage and drain removal 24 to 48 hours after surgery. During this appointment, a lighter dressing is then placed that you can easily remove and replace at home.

The second follow-up appointment is scheduled 6 to 7 days after the surgery. At this time, sutures are removed, and Dr. Samaha examines the face, incision, and swelling to assess your recovery. You can apply make-up at this point.

Subsequent follow-up appointments will be scheduled.

Face Slimming Recovery Timeline

Call our friendly staff now for expert help.

Caring team members are here to take your call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CALL: (514) 613-3004

Call our friendly staff now for expert help.

Call our friendly staff now for expert help.

Caring team members are here to take your call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CALL: (514) 613-3004

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for this facial contouring surgery?

Patients who are ideal candidates for this procedure have a fullness in their face and neck, creating a round shape with poor or no definition of their neck and jawline. This is often accompanied by a double chin. While there is no specific age, most patients are between 30 and 50, though some are younger.

Can the fat come back?

No. The fat that is removed cannot “grow back.” However, if you gain significant amounts of weight, it will be noticeable on your entire face and body. Nonetheless, the sculpting performed on the face and neck will still be present.

How much swelling and bruising is there?

Dr. Samaha uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques, just like he does for his facelift surgeries. Our patients can expect to experience minimal bruising and mild to moderate swelling in the days immediately following surgery.

Bruising is very minimal in the majority of patients undergoing face contouring surgery. Those patients who tend to bruise easily, such as those with thin, light skin, may bruise more than the average. Swelling is minimal in the neck and jawline area and in front of the ears for the first 1 to 2 weeks. It is usually easily hidden by styling the hair.  

Bruising and swelling 5 days after face slimming surgery

How long is recovery from jaw and neck contouring surgery?

Recovery after this facial plastic surgery procedure can be thought of in two stages. The first stage is when most of the initial swelling and bruising after surgery has subsided, and the patient feels comfortable presenting themselves publicly. At that point, they look quite good, especially the jawline and neck, where the change is evident very quickly. For the majority of patients, this takes two weeks.

However, there is still a small amount of healing that continues to take place over the ensuing few months, particularly in front of the ears. During this second stage of recovery, small improvements become more evident as the minimal residual swelling in that area comes down, and the face looks slimmer over time.

How painful is face contouring surgery or double chin treatment?

Face slimming surgery is not usually painful. A sensation of tightness in the neck and jawline for the first 7 to 10 days is normal and expected. However, it is very rare for a patient to have pain. Nonetheless, a prescription for pain medication is provided should patients need it.

Are there any restrictions after surgery?

As with any facial plastic surgery, avoiding raising the pressure in the head is recommended. Therefore, strenuous physical activity such as lifting heavy objects or vigorous exercise should be avoided in the first two weeks. Patients should also refrain from bending the head down to the level of the hips or below. Otherwise, patients can perform their usual daily activities within a few days following surgery.

Is face slimming surgery better than nonsurgical options like FaceTite or CoolSculpting Mini?

In general, the right surgery performed for the right candidate will yield more significant results than non-surgical options. That certainly applies in this case. Face slimming surgery is the most advanced, most thorough technique to achieve the most significant result. FaceTite and CoolSculpting may have a role for some patients with specific, mild areas of fullness but their effect is minimal for most patients who would be candidates for face slimming (face contouring) surgery.

Will facial contouring surgery get rid of my jowls?

Yes. Dr. Samaha carries out the face slimming surgery by performing a deep plane facelift and adding significant fat removal for face and neck sculpting. The deep plane facelift portion is very effective at removing jowls and achieving maximal definition along the jawline. Of course, given every patient’s anatomy, including their skin thickness and the bulk of their tissues, it is not possible to achieve a perfectly chiseled jawline in every patient. However, the maximal definition possible can be achieved.

Is face contouring surgery the same as buccal fat removal surgery?

No. Face contouring (or face slimming) surgery is, as mentioned above, essentially a deep plane facelift with extensive fat removal in the neck and lower face. However, buccal fat reduction can also be done in some patients, as an accessory procedure, to add definition to the cheek areas.

Dr. Samaha looks forward to helping you look and feel your best. Request your consultation online or call us at  (514) 613-3004 to make your appointment. Dr. Samaha serves patients from Quebec City, Laval, and Gatineau.

    Newsletter Sign-Up