Facial Harmonization · Surgical

Double Chin Reduction Surgery: more definition between the jaw and the neck

Maybe you find the right angle in photos so your double chin doesn't show, or you avoid having your profile photographed. It's more common than you might think, and we understand. A double chin can come from fat, loose skin or excess skin, and each cause is treated differently. Dr. Thuel and Dr. Juan Ramón Poveda, Physician and Surgeon, Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, work together to find out where yours comes from. They aim for a more defined profile, in harmony with your face.

I want to know if it is right for me

Medical consultation · US$100, VAT included. This amount is applied in full toward your treatment or procedure if you formalize it with your payment on the same day or within the following seven calendar days. It can be the full payment or a first payment of more than US$100. Booking it does not commit you to having surgery.

Every consultation is handled personally by Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda, so their availability is limited. We suggest booking in advance.

Dr. Irene ThuelPhysician and Surgeon, Expert in Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery · MED10355

Dr. Juan Ramón PovedaPhysician and Surgeon, Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery · MED5800

Illustrative image of Double Chin Reduction Surgery

More than 17 yearsof practice in Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery

Trusted by colleaguesAmong those who trust her most are physicians and other health professionals

Patients who come backMany are referred by a family member, a friend, or someone who wishes them well

Two physicians in your surgeryDr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda: more than 40 years of combined experience

Duration: About 1 to 3 hours.
Recovery: Office work in 1 to 2 weeks
When it shows: Final at 3 to 6 months
How long it lasts: Long-lasting if you maintain your weight

Proportion before change.

Dr. Irene Thuel · Physician and Surgeon, Expert in Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery · MED10355

Dr. Irene Thuel at the door of the procedure room

The essentials before you decide

How Double Chin Reduction Surgery works, step by step

General information so you arrive at your consultation with a clear idea. It may vary in your case; Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda will confirm it at your consultation.

It may be right for you if…

You find the right angle in photos or avoid having your profile photographed.
You exercise and take care of yourself, but the fat under your chin is still there.
You would like the line where your jaw ends to be noticeable.
You notice the skin on your neck is looser than before.
You've already tried non-surgical options and want to know what else is possible.

What it is: A surgery that improves the contour under the chin. Depending on the cause, it removes fat, tightens the neck muscle or removes excess skin.
How it is done: If it's only fat, liposuction through small incisions may be enough. If there is loose muscle or excess skin, the surgery is done from under the chin and, sometimes, behind the ears.
Advantages: The technique is chosen according to the cause: fat, muscle or skin. Scars usually end up in less visible areas, and the fat removed does not usually return if you maintain your weight.
Who performs it: Dr. Irene Thuel and Dr. Juan Ramón Poveda Xatruch, plastic surgeon, working as a team in the operating room.
Anesthesia and discomfort: Depending on the technique, it is usually done under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. You will feel tightness, tenderness and moderate discomfort in the neck during the first few days; it is usually relieved with pain relievers. The physicians will tell you which anesthesia applies in your case.
Duration: Approximately 1 hour if it is liposuction only, and about 3 hours if muscle and skin are also addressed.
Hospital stay: It is an outpatient procedure: you go home the same day, after a few hours of observation and with a companion.
Recovery and care: A compression chin strap is worn, usually for 7 to 10 days straight and then for some nights. Stitches are usually removed after a week. In general, you return to the office in 1 to 2 weeks and to intense exercise after 2 to 4 weeks. It's best to sleep with your head elevated, not apply ice directly to the neck, and avoid bending or turning it forcefully during the first few weeks.
When it shows: A first change is visible at 2 or 3 weeks, when the bruising and swelling go down. The final result is usually seen between 3 and 6 months.
How long the result lasts: The fat removed does not usually return if you maintain your weight. When skin and muscle are addressed, the change usually lasts several years, although aging continues.
Who should not have it: It is not usually recommended during pregnancy, if your weight is changing significantly, or with untreated illnesses or clotting problems. Smoking increases the risk. Both doctors review this during the consultation.
Follow-up visits: Generally, one in the first week to remove stitches and others in the following months. The dates are set by both doctors.

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Under the chin

What is addressed in double chin surgery

Fat under the chin

The accumulated fat that rounds out the profile.

Loose neck skin

Removing the excess when the skin no longer regains its firmness.

Face-neck angle

A profile where you can see where the jawline ends.

Surgery or non-surgical treatment

First, understanding where your double chin comes from

If your double chin is mild or moderate, non-surgical options may be enough. When there is marked laxity or excess skin, surgery is usually the option that addresses it. And if you avoid profile photos because of this, know that we see it often in our practice.

Consultation
Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda examine your neck together, from the front and in profile.
Fat, skin or muscle
Both doctors examine each of those layers of the neck. With that, Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda tell you which technique makes sense in your case and which does not.
Preparation and surgery
The indicated tests are done. The anesthesia and technique depend on the cause of your double chin, and Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda are together in the operating room.
Follow-up visits
At these visits we check how the swelling in your neck is going down. They are scheduled according to the medical evaluation.

Neck and scars

What double chin surgery involves

No surgery is free of discomfort, scarring or risk. In the neck, this is what is usual and this is what can become complicated.

What to expect

A double chin does not have a single cause: the technique changes depending on your case.
Swelling and bruising; also tenderness and tightness in the neck.
The result becomes visible gradually as swelling goes down.

Discomfort and risks

Bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetries or anesthesia complications.
Fluid buildup under the skin or contour irregularities.
Uncommon: injury to a nerve that moves the lower lip.

We will ask you to be honest about your health and consistent with your aftercare at home. The diagnosis, the technique and the follow-up visits are the responsibility of the medical team.

Options without the operating room

If your double chin is mild, there are other options

Non-Surgical Double Chin Reduction, if it is mild or moderate Skin tightening for mild laxity Facial Harmonization for the chin and jawline Lift, if the face is also descending

Is this surgery right for you? At the consultation, Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda review your case together and tell you frankly whether it suits you and what it involves. The consultation costs US$100, VAT included, which is applied in full toward your treatment or procedure if you formalize it with your payment on the same day or within the following seven calendar days. It can be the full payment or a first payment of more than US$100.

I want to book my consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Our most frequently asked questions about double chin

How do I know if my double chin needs surgery?

That is determined during the consultation. Surgery is usually a better fit when there is marked laxity or excess skin. If the double chin is mild or moderate, non-surgical options may be enough.

Will it hurt?

At first you will feel tenderness, tightness and swelling in your neck. Both doctors decide on the type of anesthesia and the aftercare based on your case and your health.

Will there be a scar?

Every surgery leaves some scarring. The medical team aims to place it in less visible areas, such as under the chin or near the ears.

What is the investment for Double Chin Reduction Surgery?

It depends on the technique your case requires, because a double chin does not have a single cause. We will tell you the investment during the consultation, before you make any decision.

The consultation costs US$100, VAT included. If you decide to have a medical treatment or procedure, that amount is applied in full toward your treatment or procedure when you formalize it with your payment on the same day as the consultation or within the following seven calendar days. It can be the full payment or a first payment of more than US$100.

When can I return to my routine?

In general, most people return to office work in 1 to 2 weeks and to intense exercise after 2 to 4 weeks. If only fat is removed, it is usually faster. Your case may vary; Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda will explain what to expect based on the technique.

Who performs my surgery?

You are cared for by a team: Dr. Irene Thuel and Dr. Juan Ramón Poveda Xatruch, MED5800. Both are present at the consultation, in planning, in the operating room and at your follow-up visits, and Dr. Poveda performs the surgery together with her. That way, your profile is planned together with the rest of your face.

A profile that feels like yours

During the consultation, Dr. Thuel and Dr. Poveda work together to find out what is causing your double chin. They will tell you frankly whether surgery, a non-surgical option or neither is the right fit.