February 2019 - Krummen Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Is This the Year You and Your Double-Chin Part Ways?

Kybella, Cincinnati, OH Most people have at least a few areas of their body that they love. This often coincides with a few problem areas that cause frustration. A double-chin is just such a problem. When fatty tissue beneath the chin is prominent, it creates the illusion of extra weight in the face and sometimes even in the body. You may have a lot of appreciation for your overall body type. You may take excellent care of yourself to ease your aging process and feel good about your appearance. And yet, your double-chin may stand in the way of your highest confidence.

A double-chin may only slightly relate to weight. In most cases, the fullness that develops beneath the jawline has more to do with tissue laxity and the presence of natural subcutaneous fat that has simply become more visible than it should. If the time has come for you to part ways with a troublesome double-chin, you have options.

LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction isn’t just for the stomach or thighs. When submental fullness has become obvious, many people opt to have fat cells surgically removed. Neck liposuction is a short procedure during which a small cannula is inserted through a tiny incision beneath the chin. A delicate touch is used to refine the shape of the chin and jawline by removing just the right amount of fat. There is a short recovery period after neck liposuction during which swelling and bruising may accompany minor discomfort. After the area has healed, fat is gone forever.

NECK LIFT

Liposuction is a good treatment option for submental fullness in patients whose skin is still elastic enough to retract naturally after surgery. When tissue on the chin and neck are loose, a neck lift may be recommended. This may occur independently or in conjunction with liposuction to remove unnecessary fat from the area before tissue tightening takes place. Neck lift surgery tightens the muscle structure beneath the skin and removes excess tissue for optimal results. Recovery after a neck lift takes about two weeks.

KYBELLA

Many people who wish to have a more sculpted chin and jawline have turned to Kybella, the non-surgical approach to eliminating double-chin fat. Kybella treatment includes a series of injections in many cases, though some people may achieve their desired result after just one round of injections. This injectable double-chin treatment works by dismantling the walls of fat cells so the contents of targeted cells can get metabolized by the body. Fat does not grow back after this elimination process, but it is important to remember that weight gain may affect the outcome of any kind of fat removal treatment.

Your Cincinnati plastic surgeon can help you discover the best path toward your best chin. Call 513.985.0850 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Krummen.

Botox for your Brows

Botox is the injectable drug that is widely known for its ability to erase frown lines and worry lines on the forehead. Botox is also used to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, to upturn the corners of the mouth, and also to decrease visible neck bands. The magic of Botox is its ability to relax muscles that have become tight. The consistency with which most people make facial expressions eventually causes certain muscles to become toned. This is something we like when it happens to our thighs or our stomach, but not so much on the face.

When we inject Botox into the muscles between the eyebrows, the downward, inward pull is released. Botox can also be injected at the outer brow to restore proper height and curvature. What patients tend to appreciate about this approach is that it is:

Minimally invasive. A Botox brow lift takes a few injections only. No downtime.

To lift the brows with Botox, we need less than 15 minutes in most cases.

While there is a need to repeat treatment periodically, patients find the low cost of each Botox session appealing.

The Surgical Brow Lift

A surgical brow lift may be better described as a forehead lift because the procedure addresses tissue from the eyebrows on up to the hairline, including the temple area if necessary. Brow lift surgery used to involve an ear-to-ear incision hidden in the hairline. More frequently, the procedure is now performed endoscopically. An endoscopic brow lift requires a few short incisions made behind the hairline in strategical locations that allow the best access to lift tissue according to facial contours. Brow lift surgery accomplishes more dramatic results than what is possible with Botox and those results last several years.

Improvements achieved with a surgical brow lift include:

Reduction or elimination or worry lines, horizontal lines on the forehead.

Reduction or elimination of frown lines between the brows.

Smoother, tighter appearance of the upper eyelids.

Open, younger looking eyes due to a reduction in upper eyelid hooding.

Rejuvenated eyes make the face appear friendlier in general.