Liposuction is not often something you would expect to be offered at a facial plastic surgery office. Well, at Hobgood Facial Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale, AZ, you would be right. Liposuction is a procedure that is typically used around the torso and hips to remove large areas of fat deposits. But your head, face, and neck can have stubborn areas of fat, too.
So how can you treat small, stubborn areas of fat in the face and neck without traditional body liposuction? At Hobgood Facial Plastic Surgery, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Todd Hobgood, MD, uses a specialized facial liposuction technique called liposculpture to refine areas like the jawline, chin, and neck.
#1. Liposculpture Is Different From Liposuction
Even though the terms are used somewhat synonymously, liposculpture and liposuction aren’t exactly the same thing. Both procedures are used to remove fat from different areas of the body, but liposculpture is a little more refined.
It is mainly used on smaller areas with stubborn fat deposits for touch-ups and extra contouring. It also typically costs less than liposuction and has a shorter recovery period.
| Topic | Liposculpture (Facial Liposuction) | Traditional Liposuction |
|---|
| Best for | Small, refined areas (jawline/chin/neck) | Larger body areas |
| Goal | Definition/precision contouring | Bulk fat reduction/contouring |
| Candidacy | Near goal weight + good skin elasticity | Varies by area/goal |
| Anesthesia | Often planned per case (commonly more involved) | Often more involved |
| Recovery | Typically about ~1 week | Often longer (varies) |
#2. Liposculpture Is Not for Major Weight Loss
Like liposuction, liposculpture is not designed to help people lose a significant amount of weight. It is meant to help people remove small areas of excess fat for enhanced definition and contour. Liposculpture patients are most often people who are generally healthy but have areas of fat that are difficult to eliminate.
The best candidates are typically near their goal weight and have firm, elastic skin, which helps the area tighten smoothly after fat removal.
#3. Liposculpture Works With Other Procedures
For procedures like the neck lift, face lift, and even chin augmentation, liposculpture makes a greater booster. These procedures already involve smoothing and tightening the skin or enhancing the facial features; adding liposculpture to these procedures helps save you time and money.
It also helps you get even better results. This procedure can also be used to help remove pockets of fat around the jaw, chin, and face. Liposculpture is refined enough that it can be used on small areas or areas with thinner skin, making it perfect for the face. Liposculpture can be used on a patient at the same time as other procedures or after they have already taken place.
#4. Liposculpture Still Requires Anesthesia
Dr. Hobgood typically performs liposculpture as an outpatient procedure using general anesthetic, and uses the tumescent technique to help control pain and minimize swelling. Your specific anesthesia plan depends on your treatment plan and will be reviewed during your personal consultation.
#5. Liposculpture Still Requires Some Recovery
Recovery after liposculpture typically takes about 1 week. Most patients feel well enough to return to work within 4 to 7 days. Light walking can resume after 1 to 2 days, but heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least a week.
Because the sun and heat can worsen swelling, we advise our Scottsdale-area patients to avoid significant sun/heat exposure during early healing.
Liposculpture at Hobgood Facial Plastic Surgery
Dr. Hobgood uses the traditional tumescent technique, which involves infusing the targeted area with a solution containing lidocaine and epinephrine to control discomfort and minimize swelling. He then makes tiny incisions and removes fatty tissue through a thin cannula. Treated areas are typically supported with a compression garment to reduce swelling and encourage firm contours while healing.
Schedule Your Liposculpture Consultation
Do you have areas of fat deposits around your face and neck that have been difficult to erase, even with a healthy lifestyle? Do you want to improve the definition and contouring in your face by removing those fat deposits?
Request a consultation or call Hobgood Facial Plastic Surgery at (480) 214-9955 to get started. Dr. Hobgood is a facial plastic surgery specialist in Scottsdale who has been practicing for over 20 years. He has been rated as a Top Doctor by Realself.com and has garnered great respect for his work from both his patients and his peers.
This blog post was originally written in May 2016 and has been updated for 2025.
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