Fat under the chin and along the jawline can stay put through weight loss, and face liposuction in Korea removes part of that layer through small openings with a thin suction tube called a cannula. For chin lipo in Korea, Pixelab Beauty Clinic prices the double chin, the front cheeks and the full face (jawline plus cheeks) as separate lines, and the surgery is done under IV sedation.
Is it for you?
Who face liposuction suits
Liposuction removes fat. It does not shorten skin or change bone or muscle, so the first question is what creates the fullness. Fat under the chin pinches between two fingers as a soft layer. Fullness from a low-set hyoid bone, large salivary glands or a strong masseter muscle feels different and does not respond to suction.
Skin quality decides how well the area shrinks back afterward. Elastic skin drapes onto the new contour as swelling settles. Loose skin can look looser once the fat that filled it is gone, which is why jowls caused mainly by laxity sit on the list of reasons to hold off.
Usually a good fit
- A soft double chin you can pinch
- Front cheeks that look round because of fat
- A jawline blurred by fat, with firm skin
- Stable weight over recent months
- Healthy enough for IV sedation
We may suggest waiting
- Jowls or neck bands mainly from loose skin
- Fullness from bone, glands or jaw muscle
- Weight still going up or down
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Blood thinners that cannot be paused safely
- Infection or broken skin at the area
Your doctor
Founder and medical director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“From learning to teaching.”Trained at Seoul & Incheon St. Mary's Hospitals. Now leading hands-on sessions for visiting doctors.
- ResidentPlastic surgery, Catholic Univ. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
- FellowClinical fellow, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital
- AlmaTitanium Global Trainer
- JeisysDENSITY ALPHA TIP Ambassador
- MemberKorean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
How it works
How chin and cheek liposuction is performed
Dr. Song performs the surgery under IV sedation, a medication given through a vein that leaves you deeply relaxed and drowsy without a breathing tube. In standard face liposuction technique, the area is first filled with a dilute local anesthetic solution that also narrows small vessels. A cannula a few millimeters wide is then moved through the fat layer from small openings placed where marks are easy to hide, such as under the chin or near the earlobe.
A thin cushion of fat is deliberately left under the skin. Taking too much lets the skin cling to the muscle beneath and shows as ridges. A 2024 meta-analysis found contour irregularity the most common complication after liposuction, with hematoma at 0.27% and seroma at 0.65% of cases (Comerci, 2024). In a series of 695 submental cases under local anesthesia, surface irregularity was again the main issue and was managed with massage and ultrasound (Aldihani, 2025).
The full-face option treats the jawline and cheeks in one operation, so the transition between the chin, jaw and cheek reads as one line. Single areas suit fullness that sits in one place.
Assessment
At consultationFat thickness, skin elasticity and jaw shape are checked to see whether suction will help.
Marking
The areas to treat are drawn on the skin while you sit upright, before sedation.
IV sedation
Sedation is given through a vein and the area is numbed with local solution.
Liposuction
Typically 30 minutes to 2 hoursFat is removed evenly through small openings, keeping a smooth layer under the skin.
Compression
A compression garment is fitted to support the skin while swelling goes down.
Face liposuction areas at Pixelab Beauty Clinic
| Criteria | Double chin | Front cheeks | Full face (jawline + cheeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area treated | Under the chin, toward the neck | The fuller front part of the cheeks | Jawline and cheeks together |
| Used for | Fat that blurs the chin-neck angle | Rounded cheeks caused by fat | A heavy lower face from several fat zones |
| Anesthesia | IV sedation | IV sedation | IV sedation |
| From | ₩1,200,000 + VAT | ₩800,000 + VAT | ₩2,000,000 + VAT |
Each column is one line on the price sheet; the table compares areas and does not rank them.
At a glance
Face liposuction in numbers
| Procedure time | Typically about 30 minutes to 2 hours, by number of areas |
|---|---|
| Numbing | IV sedation |
| Recovery | Bruising and swelling 1–3 weeks or longer; compression care |
| Follow-up visits | Regular follow-up checks after surgery |
| Return to exercise | Typically 3+ weeks before strenuous exercise |
| Earliest flight home | Typically about 7–10 days, after the first post-op check |
Prices
Face Liposuction Cost in South Korea
Each face area has its own line on the price sheet, and every amount is shown before VAT. At payment 10% VAT is added, and the price cards show the base price and the VAT-inclusive figure together. Double chin liposuction, for example, is ₩1,200,000 + VAT.
IV sedation also appears on the price sheet as a separate line. Ask whether your quote includes it, along with the compression garment and the follow-up checks, so the total covers the whole surgery and the aftercare that goes with it.
Recovery
Recovery after face and chin liposuction
You go home in a compression garment; have someone with you after sedation
Bruising and swelling are most visible; wear the garment as instructed
First post-op check; typically the earliest window to fly home
Bruising and swelling fade over 1–3 weeks or longer; hard exercise typically waits about 3 weeks
After larger treatments, hard exercise typically waits up to about 6 weeks; regular checks continue
Safety
Possible complications of face liposuction
Face liposuction is surgery, and its known risks are:
- Contour irregularity, ridges or dents where fat came out unevenly.
- Bruising and swelling lasting 1–3 weeks or longer.
- Hematoma (a pocket of blood) or seroma (a pocket of fluid) that may need draining.
- Numbness or altered feeling in the chin and jaw skin, which can take time to return.
- Injury to the small nerve branch that moves the lower lip, causing an uneven smile that can be temporary.
- Infection at the openings, and small marks where the cannula entered.
- Asymmetry between sides; a touch-up is occasionally needed, although typically one surgery is enough.
- Nausea and the general risks that come with any sedation.
There are limits too. Liposuction does not tighten loose skin, and the fat that remains can still grow with weight gain. According to the clinic, the result is long-term, but weight change affects it. An evidence review of liposuction sets out how assessment, technique and clot prevention shape these outcomes (Chia, 2017).
Contact the clinic promptly about swelling on one side that grows quickly, tightness that makes breathing or swallowing hard, fever, or redness that spreads.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Risks and Complications Rate in Liposuction: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2024 · Comerci A et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjae074
A meta-analysis finding liposuction a low-complication operation, with contour irregularity the most frequent problem and hematoma and seroma below 1%.
- Submental liposuction under local anesthesia – About 695 patientsAnnales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique · 2025 · Aldihani M et al. · doi:10.1016/j.anplas.2024.08.003
A series of 695 submental liposuctions under local anesthesia with few complications; surface irregularity was the main issue and was managed with massage and ultrasound.
- Evidence-Based Medicine: LiposuctionPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery · 2017 · Chia C et al. · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000002859
An evidence-based review covering assessment, medication, technique, outcomes, clot prevention and complications in liposuction.
FAQ
Questions about face and chin liposuction
What is chin lipo, and how is it different from face liposuction?
Chin lipo is face liposuction limited to the fat under the chin, the area behind a double chin. Face liposuction is the wider term and can also cover the front cheeks, or the full face with the jawline and cheeks together, and each of those is priced as a separate line here.
What is recovery like after double chin liposuction?
Bruising and swelling last from one to three weeks, sometimes longer, while a compression garment supports the area. The amount of fat removed, the number of areas and how easily you bruise all shift where you land in that range, and hard exercise typically waits about 3 weeks.
How long should I stay in Seoul after face liposuction?
The clinic has not set a fixed flight day for face liposuction. General guidance for cosmetic face surgery is typically to fly after the first post-op check, about 7 to 10 days after surgery. Plan your stay once your consultation confirms the follow-up schedule.
Who performs face liposuction at the clinic?
Dr. Jongkeun Song performs it. Dr. Song is a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of Pixelab Beauty Clinic, and liposuction sits within the surgical side of plastic surgery training, together with facial anatomy and protection of the nerves of the face.
Is face liposuction done under general anesthesia?
The clinic performs face liposuction under IV sedation, which relaxes you deeply without a breathing tube. Sedation affects judgment and balance for the rest of the day, so arrange for someone to take you back to your hotel and avoid signing anything important that day.
Are the listed prices before VAT, and is sedation included?
They are before VAT, which adds 10% at payment; the full face is ₩2,000,000 before VAT and ₩2,200,000 including it. IV sedation has its own line on the price sheet, so check whether your quote includes it.
Can I talk to the clinic in English before surgery?
Yes. An English interpreter is on staff, and before you fly you can message the clinic on WhatsApp in English with photos of your chin and jawline from the front and side. The team will answer as soon as possible.
What deposit is needed, and what if my plans change?
Deposit and cancellation rules are not published on this page. Request them in writing before paying anything, along with a quote that lists your areas and the anesthesia line, so a change of travel date does not leave you guessing.
Will the fat come back after chin liposuction?
According to the clinic the result is long-term, but weight change still affects it. Fat cells left in the face and neck can grow larger if you gain weight, so keeping your weight stable helps the new chin and jaw contour hold.
Will face liposuction leave scars?
Small marks remain where the cannula entered, placed where they are easy to hide, such as under the chin. They fade over months at a pace that depends on your skin. Tell the clinic beforehand if you form keloids, because raised scars can develop at any incision.
Can face liposuction fix sagging skin or jowls?
No. It removes fat and does not shorten skin. When jowls come mainly from loose skin, taking fat out can make the slack more obvious, so skin elasticity is checked first and suction is advised only where fat is the main cause of the fullness.
Will I need a second operation?
Typically one surgery is enough. A touch-up is occasionally needed when a small ridge or a difference between the two sides remains once swelling has fully settled, so the final shape is judged months later instead of in the first weeks.