Some patients have small localized areas of fat around the face. These are most common in the neck, under the chin, and in the folds between the nose and the corners of the mouth.
The fat is removed by liposuction using very small suction cannulae. The incisions can be placed in hidden locations such as inside the nose, the corner of the mouth and under the chin. It is often performed at the same time as a facelift.
The skin is not tightened by these operations but the underlying tissue may seem pulled tighter by a thin layer of scar tissue (adhesions). This is one area where ultrasonic liposuction may not replace traditional liposuction.
In some patients fullness of the chin or the nasolabial fold may not be due to fat alone. In these cases it cannot be corrected by liposuction alone.