When You’re Slim but Double Chin Removal Becomes Urgent

Hello.

I’m Yoo Young-ki, the chief director of Roi Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’d like to introduce a case of a woman in her late 30s who became so much more beautiful through a facelift

and double chin contouring surgery (deep plane neck lift).

Usually, many people start considering a facelift in their 40s and older,

but the patient I’m introducing this time decided to have surgery at a relatively young age.

The reason was that the sagging under the double chin area was so severe

that her facial line looked dull and made her appear older.

She often heard people around her say things like

“You look like you’ve gained weight”

or “You don’t look well,”

and she says that this caused her a lot of stress.

Background to considering surgery

The patient said that since her mid-30s, whenever she felt tired or was not in good condition,

the double chin area became especially noticeable.

In her 20s, even if her face had some fullness, the skin elasticity was good enough that it was not a major issue,

but in her late 30s, her skin elasticity began to decline,

especially as the area under the chin and the neck line easily sagged,

making her face look larger and giving a more aged impression.

In addition, whenever her weight changed,

the neck and chin area showed it first,

so she felt a great deal of stress herself.

She was still young enough to maintain a youthful appearance, so before it got any later, she wanted to address the underlying problem fundamentally.

After visiting several hospitals with that mindset,

she decided to combine a facelift and double chin contouring surgery

as the ultimate solution.

Surgical plan & method

A facelift is a procedure that lifts and repositions the overall sagging tissues of the face caused by aging (skin, fat, and the fascial layer)

in order to restore elasticity and facial lines.

In general, many people consider it after their 40s or 50s,

but these days, interest in a youthful appearance trend is growing,

and as elastic tissue care has become more important,

inquiries are also increasing among people in their late 30s to early 40s.

In particular, because the patient’s main concern was sagging under the double chin,

a facelift alone might not be enough to improve the area under the chin.

So a neck lift was considered at the same time,

and a more advanced surgical method here is double chin contouring surgery, also known as a deep plane neck lift.

(1) Facelift

• A surgical method that lifts the SMAS layer together using a deep plane technique is the most difficult,

but it can deliver a more definite lifting effect.

In the end, extensive and safe dissection is performed to release resistance

and the sagging tissues are repositioned to resemble the younger facial line from the past.

This method is well suited to preserving natural volume and elasticity.

• In a facelift, the incision usually starts at the hairline at eyebrow height,

continues in front of the ear, and then behind the ear,

with the design made so that the scar is as inconspicuous as possible.

(2) Double chin contouring surgery (deep plane neck lift)

To perform this surgery safely and reliably, Roi Plastic Surgery has introduced specialized equipment worth tens of millions of won,

including Ligasure, a device used in university hospitals.

• This method trims the sagging skin and fat layer of the neck and under the chin,

and directly tightens the neck muscle layer (platysma) to restore elasticity.

At this point, rather than pulling only from the center using the conventional method,

it is firmly tightened from both outer sides as well to maximize the effect.

One more thing:

the enlarged and sagging salivary gland that protrudes beyond the mandible

is partially removed to clearly refine the jawline.

Many people mistake that area for fat,

but it is difficult to get good results with liposuction alone.

• The term “deep plane”

means approaching a layer deeper than the platysma

and correcting the tissue more precisely and firmly.

• After surgery, the neck line looks slimmer and the jawline becomes more defined,

making the boundary between the face and neck much clearer.

When these two surgeries are performed together,

from the cheek area to the jawline and the neck line,

the overall elasticity is restored, making the face look smaller

and creating a much more defined impression.

Condition before surgery

The patient’s biggest concern was the sagging double chin.

Although her face had a slim build,

the main issue was not excessive fat accumulation but a loss of elasticity.

Also, the boundary between the cheeks and the jawline became less distinct,

and even under bright lighting, the feeling that her facial shape looked dull did not go away.

The concerns were organized as follows:

• The skin under the chin looked saggy enough to appear middle-aged depending on how it was viewed

• Mild sagging developed in the cheek area,

making the nasolabial fold line more pronounced and the contours less defined

• In the center of the double chin,

more precisely in a layer deeper than the platysma, fat had accumulated,

making it difficult to fundamentally resolve the issue with standard liposuction or dieting

Surgical process

1. Anesthesia:

Before surgery, sedation anesthesia is performed for the patient’s safety and pain control.

2. Incision and access:

Through incisions around the ears and under the neck, the skin, fat, and muscles are separated,

and the sagging tissue is safely and firmly dissected to release resistance and prepare for lifting.

3. Deep plane neck lift:

By accessing the deep layer from under the chin to around the neck,

sagging tissues are tightened and unnecessary fat, submandibular glands, and protruding digastric muscles are removed.

4. Facelift:

Through incision lines that extend in front of and behind the ears,

the fat layer and SMAS layer of the midface, lower face, and jawline are lifted at the same time.

5. Finishing and suturing:

After stabilizing the position of the tissue, the skin is sutured.

6. Move to the recovery room:

Immediately after surgery, there will be swelling, and bruising may also occur.

The recovery process is monitored at the hospital.

Changes after surgery

This is how it looked 3 months later.

Next are comparison shots before surgery and 9 months later.

For about a week, swelling and bruising may be noticeable,

but over time a natural line is formed.

After 2 weeks, there is little discomfort with outside activities,

and after about a month, the swelling and bruising subside significantly.

• Jawline improvement:

The double chin is removed, making the side profile slimmer,

and the jawline is clearly visible from the front as well.

• Neck line refinement:

As the sagging skin in the neck area is lifted,

the V-line becomes more prominent,

and the upper body can also appear overall slimmer.

• Improved cheek sagging:

Thanks to the elasticity of the fascial layer lifted from around the ears,

the cheek area is raised, restoring natural volume and a youthful image.

• Natural result:

Rather than an overly pulled appearance,

the face changed into a neatly refined version of its original shape,

and the patient said that people around her began complimenting her by saying

“Your skin looks better” and “Did you lose weight?” while also saying she looked much younger.

Scar at 9 months

Reasons for surgery at a young age

Recently, there has been a growing number of cases where people in their mid- to late-30s are considering a facelift.

The reason is that the concept of proactive

‘preventive anti-aging’ has become more prominent,

so if they feel that elasticity has dropped even a little,

they actively consider lifting surgery.

If surgery is performed at a relatively young age, recovery is faster,

and because the tissue itself is more flexible,

there is the advantage of obtaining natural and long-lasting results.

Precautions

• Pre-surgery consultation and examination:

Skin elasticity, fat distribution, and muscle condition should all be considered comprehensively.

• Recovery management:

It takes time for swelling and bruising to subside,

so for a certain period, strenuous activity should be avoided,

and it is important to refrain from smoking and drinking and to follow the designated care instructions.

• Ongoing skin care:

The process does not end with surgery alone,

and if sunscreen use and regular skin care are continued afterward,

the surgical results may last longer.

As in this case, even at a relatively young age,

facelift surgery and double chin contouring surgery may be appropriate depending on each person’s condition and goals.

If you want to fundamentally refine areas with reduced elasticity

and achieve a natural youthful appearance,

it is recommended to establish a customized surgical plan

through 충분한 consultation with a specialist.

We will continue to sincerely listen to our patients’ concerns

and work to provide safe and effective surgical results.

If you are looking to pursue youthfulness and natural beauty at the same time,

feel free to come in for a consultation anytime.

https://blog.naver.com/youngkeeyoumd/223714665346

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Roi Plastic Surgery Clinic (Line 3, Sinsa Station) Main phone: 02-516-5525

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Roi Plastic Surgery complies with medical law. The photos in this post were taken under the same conditions, and are images taken with the patient’s prior consent. In addition, after plastic surgery or procedures, side effects such as bleeding, infection, and inflammation may occur depending on the individual, so caution is required.