Profileplasty in Switzerland: nose, chin and double chin for a harmonious profile

Sometimes the profile is unbalanced not at one point but at three: a dominant nose, a receding chin and, beneath that chin, a neck that rounds out instead of forming a clear angle with the jaw. Each of these elements accentuates the others. A double chin erases the jawline and makes the chin look even weaker; a receding chin shortens the neck and encourages the appearance of a double chin; a prominent nose draws the eye to this imbalance. Profileplasty refers to the approach that treats the profile as a whole, combining rhinoplasty, genioplasty and neck liposuction, sometimes supplemented by a procedure on the neck muscles. This page focuses mainly on the neck and double chin, the third pillar of the combination: where a double chin comes from, how it is treated, how it interacts with the chin and nose, how the procedure works, what a recovery involving three areas entails, and the risks, results and provision in Switzerland.

Under general anaesthesia, the surgeon reshapes the nose, advances or reshapes the chin with an implant or a bone cut, then removes fat from under the chin and along the jaw with very fine cannulas inserted through a small incision under the chin and sometimes behind the earlobes. When the neck muscles are lax or there is fat beneath them, a direct procedure can be added through the same incision. The procedure generally takes three to four and a half hours, often with a night in hospital. A splint protects the nose, while an elastic chin strap supports the neck and chin. The profile takes shape within a few weeks and becomes clearer up to six months for the neck and one year for the nasal tip. Only a functional correction of the nose or a bite disorder may qualify for coverage. Price differences are presented on the page on profileplasty prices in Switzerland.

The term profileplasty refers to all the procedures aimed at harmonising the facial profile. In its most common form, it combines three procedures: rhinoplasty for the nose, genioplasty for the chin and cervical liposuction for the double chin. Depending on the face, it may involve only two of these procedures. Our pages on rhinoplasty with genioplasty and on radiofrequency double chin treatment cover some of these approaches in detail; this page focuses on the complete combination and the role of the neck.

The idea of treating the profile as a whole developed gradually. Surgeons first noticed that rhinoplasty often benefited from being combined with chin advancement. Then, with the rise of liposuction in the 1980s, the ability to reshape the neck through minimal incisions completed this approach. The term profileplasty came to describe this surgery, which considers the nose, chin and neck as a whole. Techniques have since become more refined, with finer cannulas, better-tolerated implants and more precise genioplasties.

Not every profile requires three procedures. In some people, the nose is harmonious and only the chin and neck are treated. In others, the chin is well projected and only the nose and neck need correction. The surgeon proposes only the procedures that are genuinely useful. A "complete" profileplasty is not a goal in itself; what matters is the balance of the profile.

Some people prefer to spread the procedures out. In that case, it is often logical to start with the chin and neck, which greatly change the perception of the nose, then decide on rhinoplasty once the result has stabilised. Conversely, if the nose is the main concern, you can start with it. The surgeon helps set priorities, bearing in mind that a single procedure allows a more overall analysis and a single recovery.

In profile, the eye follows a line: the nose, the lips, the chin, then the curve down to the neck. When this curve is clear, with a well-defined angle under the jaw, the face looks defined and young. When it disappears under a double chin, the chin seems to merge into the neck and the nose looks all the more prominent. Profileplasty acts on these three points to restore a harmonious flow.

The angle formed by the line under the chin and the line of the neck, often called the cervicomental angle, is one of the most visible markers of a defined profile. In a young, slim neck, this angle is well defined, close to a right angle or slightly open. With a double chin, a receding chin or lax skin, it opens and rounds out, until it disappears. Redefining this angle is one of the central goals of profileplasty.

The neck is often considered one of the areas that most betray age. A clear angle and a well-defined jawline give an impression of youth, even when the face shows a few wrinkles. Conversely, a double chin can make you look older or heavier than you are. That is why treating the neck often has a major effect on the overall impression of youth and vitality.

A clear, angular jawline, with a well-defined angle below the ear, is often associated with a masculine face. A softer, more rounded line, with a narrower chin, corresponds more to a feminine face. Liposuction of the jawline and the choice of chin shape allow the contour to be adapted to these expectations.

A defined neck visually lengthens the silhouette and highlights the shoulders and the carriage of the head. Many patients find that they stand straighter after the procedure, as if they no longer needed to raise their chin to hide their double chin. This change in posture contributes to the overall impression of transformation.

A double chin is not only a matter of weight. It can appear in slim people, because of heredity, a receding chin or the position of a small bone at the base of the tongue, the hyoid bone. In others, it results from an accumulation of fat under the chin, sometimes accompanied by laxity of the skin and muscles with age. Identifying the cause or causes is essential, as each calls for a different response. Liposuction alone will not correct a double chin mainly due to a receding chin, and genioplasty alone will not remove a significant excess of fat.

Under the skin of the neck there is first a layer of superficial fat, of variable thickness from person to person. Next comes the platysma, a very thin muscle that extends from the jaw to the upper chest. Under this muscle lies deeper fat, then small muscles that lift the base of the tongue, the salivary glands under the jaw and, deeper still, the hyoid bone. Each of these layers can contribute to a round neck or an erased angle. Understanding which one is involved allows the right procedure to be chosen: removing superficial fat, tightening the muscle, removing deep fat, or accepting a limit due to anatomy.

A double chin often runs in families: fat distribution, chin shape and the position of the hyoid bone are inherited. Many people notice that their parents have the same profile. This hereditary nature explains why a double chin can resist weight loss and sport, and why surgery is sometimes the only way to correct it lastingly.

Neck fat partly follows changes in weight: it increases with weight gain and decreases with weight loss, but often more slowly than in other areas. In some people, it persists even after significant weight loss. Liposuction lastingly reduces the number of fat cells in the treated area, which limits the reappearance of a double chin in the event of slight weight gain.

The fat just under the skin of the neck, above the muscles, is the fat you can pinch between your fingers. It responds well to liposuction. In a young person with elastic skin, removing it is often enough to redefine the neck angle, as the skin retracts onto the new contour.

Some of the neck fat may lie deeper, under the broad thin muscle that covers the front of the neck, called the platysma. This fat gives a firmer fullness, difficult to pinch, and persists after superficial liposuction. It can be removed by a direct procedure, through a small incision under the chin, with caution because of the neighbouring structures.

The fat under the platysma cannot be safely suctioned through the muscle. It is removed under direct vision through the incision under the chin, with caution because of the vessels and neighbouring structures. It must be removed in moderation: too much can hollow the neck and give an artificial appearance. This procedure is reserved for necks whose fullness persists despite thin skin and little superficial fat.

Under the chin, two small muscles, called the digastric muscles, can be bulky in some people and create a bulge that persists after liposuction. Reducing them is possible but delicate, and reserved for particular situations, by experienced surgeons. Most profileplasties do not require this procedure.

The platysma is a very thin muscle that covers the front of the neck. With age, its edges become lax and separate, forming two vertical bands visible when the neck is tensed. This laxity contributes to a sagging neck. Through the incision under the chin, the surgeon can bring the two edges of the muscle together in the midline, like a corset, to tighten the neck from the inside. This procedure is often called platysmaplasty.

Through the two-to-three-centimetre incision under the chin, the surgeon lifts the skin over a small area, then locates the two edges of the platysma muscle, which have separated over time. They bring them together in the midline with stitches, sometimes along the whole height of the neck, creating a kind of internal sling that supports the tissues and redefines the angle. They can also remove some of the fat under the muscle. This procedure lengthens the operation by half an hour to an hour and slightly increases swelling, but clearly improves the result when the muscles are lax.

Tightening the muscles is useful when vertical bands appear when the neck is tensed, when the neck remains soft or sagging despite little fat, or when the angle remains open after simple liposuction. It is more common after forty. In young adults with firm skin and toned muscles, liposuction combined with genioplasty is often enough.

The salivary glands under the jaw can descend or appear larger with age, creating a bulge under the jawline that persists after liposuction. Treating them is delicate and reserved for particular situations. The surgeon identifies them at the examination and explains what can be expected.

The hyoid bone, at the base of the tongue, partly determines the shape of the neck angle. When it sits low and forward, the angle remains open even in a slim person, and no liposuction can close it completely. This anatomical factor cannot be changed in cosmetic surgery; genioplasty can nevertheless improve the perception of the profile. The surgeon takes it into account to set realistic expectations.

In some people, the neck angle is poorly defined without any real excess fat, because of a receding chin, a poorly defined jaw or the position of the hyoid bone. In this case, adding volume, to the chin with genioplasty and sometimes to the angle of the jaw, improves the profile more than removing fat. Unnecessary liposuction could even hollow the neck.

After liposuction, the neck skin must retract onto a reduced volume. In young people, it generally does so well. With age, after significant weight loss or on sun-damaged skin, retraction is less, and laxity may appear or worsen. In this case, a neck lift is more suitable than liposuction alone. Assessing the skin is therefore a key point of the consultation.

To assess the elasticity of the neck skin, the surgeon gently pinches it and observes how quickly it returns to place, checks for folds when the head is lowered, and assesses the thickness of the skin and any stretch marks or sun damage. Skin that springs back quickly, is thick and has no excessive folds will retract well after liposuction. Thin skin that is slow to return and creased suggests muscle tightening or a lift should be considered.

The age on your identity card does not tell the whole story: the skin of a forty-five-year-old non-smoker who has protected themselves from the sun can be more elastic than that of a younger person exposed to sun and tobacco. The surgeon assesses the biological age of the skin rather than chronological age.

The skin of the neck is often exposed to the sun without protection. Over time, it loses elasticity, becomes blotchy and wrinkles. Regular sun protection of the neck, before and after the procedure, preserves its quality and helps the result last.

Stretch marks can appear on the neck after rapid weight gain or loss. They indicate skin that has been stretched and will retract less well. Liposuction does not remove them. The surgeon takes them into account in the assessment.

Thick skin, common in men and in certain backgrounds, generally retracts well after liposuction, but masks the details of the contour more. The neck angle may look a little less sculpted than in a person with thin skin, while still being clearly improved.

Over the years, the nasal tip drops, the chin bone resorbs slightly, fat accumulates under the chin and the neck skin becomes lax. The profile softens: the nose looks longer, the chin weaker and the neck angle disappears. Profileplasty, performed while the skin is still of good quality, restores a defined profile. Later, when the skin has become lax, it evolves into a combination including a neck lift. There is no universal right age, but there is a time when the skin still allows effective liposuction, which the surgeon helps identify.

With age, the combination of lax skin, muscle bands and sometimes fat gives the neck a sagging appearance, sometimes called a "turkey neck". This calls for a neck lift, which tightens the muscles and removes excess skin. Liposuction alone would often make it worse. Profileplasty is aimed rather at necks where fat predominates and the skin remains firm.

Horizontal creases can mark the skin of the neck, sometimes from the thirties, linked to skin structure, heredity and movement. Liposuction and genioplasty do not remove them. Skin treatments, such as certain injections or lasers, can soften them. It is useful to know this to set realistic expectations.

A forward head posture, common in front of screens, accentuates the appearance of a double chin and erases the neck angle. It does not create fat, but it influences appearance. A straighter posture visibly improves the profile. The surgeon examines the neck in a natural position and with the head straight to distinguish what is due to posture from what is due to anatomy.

A receding chin shortens the distance between the chin and the neck. The skin and fat under the chin have no support, and the neck angle disappears. By advancing the chin, genioplasty lengthens this line, tightens the tissues underneath and redefines the angle, sometimes dramatically. That is why, in many people, genioplasty does as much for the neck as liposuction. Combined, they reinforce each other.

Several muscles connect the chin to the hyoid bone and the neck, forming the floor of the mouth. When the chin is set back, these muscles are shorter and slacker, and the neck tissues lack support. When the chin is advanced, particularly by a bony genioplasty that moves the muscle attachments, these muscles are tightened, which lifts the tissues under the chin and closes the neck angle. This anatomical link explains why treating the chin is often inseparable from treating the neck in profileplasty.

The resting position of the tongue also influences the shape of the neck under the chin. A low-lying tongue, often in people who breathe through their mouth, can accentuate the fullness under the chin. This factor is not changed by surgery, but it sometimes explains differences in results. Better nasal breathing after rhinoplasty can, in some people, encourage a better tongue position.

Bony genioplasty moves forward not only the chin bone but also the muscles attached to it, particularly those of the floor of the mouth. This movement tightens the tissues under the chin and improves the neck angle, sometimes more than an implant. This is one of the reasons it is preferred when the double chin is largely due to a very receding chin.

Profileplasty is mainly for adults, often between twenty-five and fifty, in whom the nose, chin and neck together contribute to the imbalance. They have a rather receding chin, an accumulation of fat under the chin and skin of sufficient quality to retract. Their dental bite is satisfactory or has been corrected. They do not smoke or agree to stop, have a stable weight and want a more defined profile, without a radical transformation.

• Very lax neck skin, which calls for a lift.
• Significant excess weight, to be treated first by weight loss.
• Clearly misaligned jaws, to be referred for jaw surgery.
• A face that is still growing.
• Active smoking that has not been stopped.
• Expectations of a radical transformation.

Operating on three areas requires a body in good shape. The anaesthesia assessment reviews the heart, lungs, blood pressure, any diabetes, clotting and medicines. Blood pressure must be particularly well controlled, as a spike after the operation can cause bleeding under the neck skin. Any unexplained lump in the neck, for example of the thyroid, is investigated before a cosmetic procedure is considered.

Mention all your treatments, including food supplements. Those that thin the blood, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatories, certain herbal supplements or high-dose omega-3s, must be suspended on medical advice before the procedure to reduce the risk of haematoma.

Neck liposuction is not a treatment for excess weight. If significant weight loss is planned, it is better to achieve it first, then assess the neck once weight has stabilised. Weight loss after the procedure could make the skin lax; weight gain could make fat reappear in neighbouring areas.

After significant weight loss, the neck may retain a localised excess of fat, but the skin is often less elastic. The surgeon carefully assesses the skin; a neck lift is frequently more suitable than liposuction alone. Weight must have been stable for several months.

Many young adults have a double chin despite a normal weight, often inherited. In them, the skin retracts well, and neck liposuction often gives excellent results, especially if a discreet chin is advanced at the same time. The motivation must be personal and growth complete.

In young adults, a double chin is often felt to be particularly unfair, as it persists despite sport and a balanced diet. It is frequently linked to heredity and a poorly projected chin. Their very elastic skin retracts remarkably well after liposuction, which often gives spectacular results, especially if the chin is advanced at the same time. It must nevertheless be ensured that facial growth is complete, that the bite is normal or corrected, and that the request is personal and well considered. Ongoing orthodontic treatment must be taken into account.

It is common for a brace worn in adolescence to have straightened the teeth without advancing a naturally discreet chin or removing fullness from the neck. Once the teeth are stable, advancing the chin and removing fat under the jaw usefully complements this orthodontic work.

After forty, a double chin is often accompanied by laxity of the muscles and sometimes the skin. Liposuction alone may then leave a soft neck. The surgeon often adds muscle tightening, or even a neck lift if there is excess skin. Genioplasty and rhinoplasty remain valuable for the balance of the profile.

After fifty-five or sixty, the neck skin is often too lax for liposuction alone. Profileplasty can then evolve into a combination including a neck lift, genioplasty if the chin has receded, and rejuvenating rhinoplasty to lift a drooping tip. The surgeon adapts the approach to tissue quality and health.

Pregnancy can temporarily round the face and neck through water retention and weight gain. It is better to wait until the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for weight to stabilise, before considering profileplasty.

In men, a defined neck and a well-shaped jaw are common wishes. Profileplasty often meets them well: liposuction of the neck and jawline, a wider and projected chin, a straight nose. A beard can temporarily hide swelling or small bruises. Male skin, which is thicker, generally retracts well.

In men, the request often concerns a defined neck, a well-shaped jaw and a strong chin, features associated with an image of strength and definition. Liposuction of the jawline and neck, combined with a wider chin implant or a bony genioplasty, meets this expectation well. The nose is corrected with restraint to keep a masculine appearance. Male skin, which is thicker, generally retracts well but bleeds a little more, which requires particular attention to haemostasis and blood pressure.

A beard can hide residual swelling or small bruises under the chin. It is nevertheless advisable to keep it short around the incision to make care easier. Hair regrowing on numb skin can cause some itching.

In women, the goal is often a slim neck, a clear angle, a soft jawline and a narrow, slightly projected chin. The nose is refined with restraint. The combination gives a more delicate profile without hardening the features.

In women, the goal is often a slim neck, a clear angle and a soft jawline, with a narrow, slightly projected chin and a nose refined with restraint. The surgeon avoids making the lower face too angular. Liposuction is often more delicate, as the skin is sometimes thinner.

In people with a round face, a double chin accentuates the roundness. Liposuction of the neck and jawline, possibly combined with buccal fat removal if the cheeks are full, clearly slims the lower face. Our page on rhinoplasty with buccal fat removal covers treatment of the cheeks.

The features of the neck, chin and nose vary between backgrounds. A respectful analysis aims for the harmony specific to each face. The surgeon adapts the chin shape, the extent of liposuction and the procedure on the nose, avoiding imposing a single model. Our page on ethnic rhinoplasty covers these particularities of the nose.

The surgeon makes a small incision of a few millimetres in the crease under the chin, sometimes supplemented by two others behind the earlobes. They infiltrate the area with a solution that limits bleeding and pain, then remove the fat with very fine cannulas, in a fan pattern, leaving a thin layer of fat under the skin to avoid irregularities. They treat the area under the chin, the upper neck and the jawline, gradually shaping the neck angle. The procedure is delicate, as the neck skin is thin and the slightest irregularity can show.

Before removing the fat, the surgeon infiltrates the neck with a solution containing a local anaesthetic and a product that constricts the blood vessels. This infiltration slightly swells the tissues, eases the passage of the cannulas, reduces bleeding and bruising, and prolongs comfort on waking. It also allows neck liposuction alone to be performed under local anaesthesia, when that is the chosen option.

The cannulas used for the neck are much finer than those used for the body. The surgeon moves them in a fan pattern, at an even depth, creating many small tunnels. They work first under the chin, then towards the sides of the neck and the jawline. They regularly check the remaining thickness by pinching the skin, to obtain a smooth, symmetrical contour.

An important rule of neck liposuction is to leave a thin layer of fat under the skin. It protects the skin, prevents it from sticking to the muscle and prevents irregularities and visible bands. Overly aggressive suction can give a hollowed neck with artificial contours, which is difficult to correct. The finesse of the procedure matters more than the amount removed.

A clear jawline, from the chin to the angle below the ear, is one of the most sought-after features, in men and women alike. Liposuction of the area just under the jaw reveals this contour, while genioplasty extends the line forwards. In some people, adding volume to the angle of the jaw, with fat or an implant, can complete the outline, but this is discussed case by case.

In some people, fat is not limited to the area under the chin: it extends along the jaw to the angle below the ear and blurs the contour of the lower face. This is not laxity, like jowls, but excess fat. Liposuction of this area, performed with care because of the nerve branch running along the jaw, restores a clear contour. It is often what most transforms the frontal appearance, by slimming the lower face.

It is important to distinguish fatty fullness along the jaw, which responds to liposuction, from true jowls, linked to tissue laxity, which call for a lift. The surgeon looks at the face from the front and in profile, pinches the tissues and assesses how firm the skin is. Liposuction on lax jowls could accentuate the laxity.

The angle of the jaw, below the ear, contributes to the definition of the lower face. In some people, it is poorly defined. Liposuction around this angle can reveal it. In some cases, adding volume to the jaw angle with fat or an implant is discussed, particularly in men, but this procedure is not routine in profileplasty.

By combining liposuction of the neck and jawline, a better-projected chin and a balanced nose, profileplasty visibly slims the lower face. Many patients say their face looks thinner, even though their weight has not changed. This change seen from the front is often a pleasant surprise, as the initial request was mainly about the profile.

During the procedure, the surgeon regularly checks the contour of the neck by feeling the skin, comparing both sides and observing the angle under the jaw. They adjust the suction to obtain a regular contour. At the end, they may gently massage the area to spread the fluids before putting on the chin strap.

A small branch of the facial nerve that controls the movement of the lower lip runs along the jaw. The surgeon works carefully in this area, with fine cannulas at the right depth, to redefine the jawline without endangering this branch. Temporary weakness of the lower lip is rare and generally recovers spontaneously.

The amount of fat removed from the neck is modest, often a few tens of millilitres, but the visual effect can be significant, as the area is small and very visible. The surgeon favours regularity and shaping the angle over quantity. Removing too much risks hollowing the neck or causing the skin to adhere to the muscles.

Some technologies, such as radiofrequency or plasma energy applied under the skin, can encourage skin retraction after neck liposuction, particularly in people whose skin is slightly less elastic. They do not replace a lift in cases of significant laxity. Our page on double chin treatment with FaceTite or J-Plasma describes these approaches.

After neck liposuction, some teams use energies applied under the skin, such as radiofrequency or plasma, to stimulate skin retraction. They can be useful in people whose skin is slightly less elastic, at the start of laxity. They slightly lengthen the procedure and increase the cost, and do not replace a lift when excess skin is significant.

In profileplasty, rhinoplasty and genioplasty are performed according to the same principles as when they are combined on their own. The nose is corrected with restraint, as the chin and neck contribute to the balance of the profile. The chin is advanced with an implant or a bone cut, depending on the advancement needed and the desired shape. Our page on rhinoplasty with genioplasty covers these two procedures in detail, and the one on genioplasty explores chin surgery in more depth.

In profileplasty, the nose is often the most anticipated procedure, but not always the most decisive. Once the chin has been advanced and the neck reshaped, the nose looks smaller, and a moderate correction is often enough. The surgeon can thus preserve the structure of the nose and its breathing function, for a natural result. Our page on rhinoplasty describes the techniques in detail.

Rhinoplasty can be an opportunity to correct a deviated septum or breathing difficulty with septoplasty. This functional part, when documented, may be the subject of a request for coverage. Our page on septoplasty covers this.

People who habitually breathe through their mouth, often because of a blocked nose, sometimes have a particular profile, with a slightly open mouth, a more receding chin and a less defined neck. Correcting nasal obstruction does not transform an adult's skeleton, but it improves breathing comfort and can contribute to better lip and tongue posture. This is another reason to check breathing function during rhinoplasty.

A large double chin and a receding chin can be associated with snoring. Profileplasty is not a treatment for snoring or sleep apnoea. If you have sleep-related breathing disorders, specific tests are recommended, as other treatments, sometimes jaw surgery, may be more suitable.

A common sequence is to start with the genioplasty, performed through the mouth, then perform the neck liposuction, whose incision under the chin can also be used to place an implant, and finish with the rhinoplasty, after a change of sterile drapes. Some surgeons start with the nose. The key is to judge the overall balance of the profile before finalising each procedure.

The two sides of the face are never perfectly identical. The surgeon compares both sides of the neck and jaw during liposuction, recentres the chin if necessary and checks the axis of the nose. Slight asymmetry may persist, often present before the procedure.

Three separate procedures, in three areas with different requirements, with changes of drapes and constant checking of the balance of the profile, take time. A duration of three to four and a half hours reflects this meticulousness.

When the chin is advanced with an implant, it can be placed through the same small incision under the chin as the liposuction. This avoids an incision inside the mouth and leaves only a small scar hidden in the crease under the chin. The surgeon explains the advantages and disadvantages of this approach compared with the oral approach.

When neck liposuction is planned, the incision under the chin offers direct access to the front of the chin bone. The surgeon can create a fitted pocket there and place the implant without opening the mouth. This approach is less exposed to bacteria from the mouth, which may reduce the risk of implant infection, and avoids the dietary restrictions linked to an incision in the mouth. It is not, however, suitable for a bony genioplasty, which is done through the mouth.

Profileplasty combining neck liposuction, a chin implant and simple rhinoplasty can sometimes be done as day surgery. When a bony genioplasty, a procedure on the neck muscles or complex rhinoplasty is planned, a night in hospital is often recommended, particularly to monitor for neck haematoma. For patients coming from far away, staying nearby on the first night is advisable in any case.

The nose receives a splint. The small neck incisions are closed with a stitch. An elastic chin strap, which wraps around the chin and neck and goes up behind the head, is put in place to support the tissues and help the skin re-adhere to the new contour. If the genioplasty was done through the mouth, the incision is closed with absorbable stitches.

The incision under the chin, used for liposuction, implant placement or muscle tightening, is placed in the natural crease or just behind it. It measures a few millimetres for simple liposuction and two to three centimetres for a muscle procedure. It is pink at first, then fades within a few months, and remains barely visible except when the head is tilted back.

To treat the sides of the neck and the angle of the jaw, small incisions of a few millimetres can be made behind the earlobes. They are hidden in the crease and become practically invisible.

The surgeon examines the face from the front, in profile and at three-quarters, standing, with the head straight and then slightly tilted down. They analyse the nose, chin, jawline and neck. They pinch the skin under the chin to assess the thickness of the fat, ask you to tense your neck to reveal the muscle bands, and observe the position of the hyoid bone and the elasticity of the skin. They check the dental bite and nasal breathing. Standardised photographs are taken, often with a simulation.

When a patient consults about a double chin, the surgeon often starts by observing the profile at rest, head straight, then asks them to lower their head, clench their teeth and tense their neck. With a few movements, they distinguish the contribution of fat, chin, muscles and skin. They then feel the chin to assess its bony projection, check how the teeth fit together and look at the nose from several angles. This quick reading, supplemented by photos, allows a coherent plan to be proposed from the first consultation, to be refined if needed at a second meeting.

Three questions are essential to guide the plan. First: is the chin really set back? If so, genioplasty will do much of the work on the neck. Second: is the neck skin elastic enough? If not, a lift will be preferable to liposuction. Third: is the nose out of proportion once the chin and neck have been corrected? If so, a measured rhinoplasty will complete the whole. The answers to these three questions shape the profileplasty suited to each face.

There is no standard profileplasty. Each plan combines the useful procedures, to the extent necessary, according to anatomy, skin quality, age and expectations. It is this personalisation that achieves a harmonious, natural profile.

Allow three quarters of an hour to an hour: your account, examination of the three areas, the neck skin, teeth and nose, photographs and then the simulation. Note your questions in advance.

A second appointment gives time to review the simulation calmly, decide between an implant and a bone cut, and rule a neck lift in or out. When three areas are being operated on at once, this extra step is rarely superfluous.

For a first opinion, ask someone to photograph you from about two metres away: from the front, from each side and at three-quarters, with the neck exposed. Add a photo with the head tilted slightly down, which reveals the double chin. No selfies or filters.

If you are hesitating about the chin, a temporary hyaluronic acid injection can show the effect of an advancement on your profile and neck. It helps you decide without a permanent commitment.

It summarises the three procedures, the use of the chin strap, the expected after-effects and possible complications: bleeding under the chin, contour irregularities, a numb lip after the chin procedure, implant problems. It also mentions the alternatives, including a neck lift. Read it calmly before signing.

A few weeks of reflection allow you to review the simulation, compare with other options, such as liposuction alone or a lift, and ask for a second opinion. There is no hurry: a well-considered decision is often the most satisfying.

By gently pinching the skin under the chin, the surgeon estimates the proportion of superficial fat. A thick, soft fold indicates fat accessible to liposuction. A thin fold, while the neck looks round, suggests deeper fat, under the muscles, or a receding chin. By asking you to tense your neck, they observe whether the fullness persists, which points to a muscular component.

Many people only notice their double chin when they lower their head, for example when reading, looking at their phone or in photos taken from above. In this position, the fat and skin under the chin fold and form a roll. After profileplasty, this roll is often clearly reduced, although a slight fold may persist in this position, which is normal. The surgeon assesses the neck in several positions to judge what can be improved.

The simulation can show in turn the effect of neck liposuction, a chin advancement and then rhinoplasty. Many patients are surprised to see how much the neck and chin change the perception of their nose. The simulation remains indicative, as the result depends on the skin and healing.

The surgeon often presents these scenarios in a simulation to help you choose. Many patients are surprised to find that the intermediate plan is almost enough, and that the rhinoplasty can be more modest than expected.

Liposuction of a few tens of millilitres, a chin advancement of a few millimetres, a nasal hump slightly lowered: taken individually, these procedures seem modest. Combined, they transform the profile. This is the whole point of profileplasty: achieving a visible change with measured corrections of each element.

A neck that is too hollowed, a chin that is too advanced or a nose that is too reduced give an artificial profile. Caution means correcting just what is needed in each area. An experienced surgeon prefers a natural result, even if it means offering a small touch-up, to an excessive correction that is difficult to revise.

The goal of profileplasty is not to achieve a standard profile, but to restore the balance specific to each face. Analytical reference points are guides, and the surgeon's aesthetic sense, combined with your expectations, does the rest. The best result is the one that looks like you, only more defined.

It is useful to bring photos of profiles you like, of people with a similar build, and to say what bothers you most: the nose, the chin, the neck, or all of them. Also say what you do not want. A profile that is too sculpted or too hollow under the chin can look artificial.

A long-standing concern, linked to a hereditary double chin, a receding chin or a prominent nose, is often associated with good satisfaction. A recent request, prompted by a photo, a video call or a remark, deserves extra time for reflection.

Profileplasty can transform a profile, but it has limits: it does not change the position of the hyoid bone, does not remove horizontal neck lines, does not correct very lax skin without a lift, and does not change a major misalignment of the jaws. Understanding these limits before the procedure is the best guarantee of satisfaction.

Many people who seek profileplasty have long avoided profile photos, video calls where the face is seen from below, or lowering their head in public. Regaining a defined profile often allows them to feel more at ease in these everyday situations. This benefit often matters more than the millimetres gained.

Video calls, often taken with a camera placed below the face, accentuate the double chin and the fullness of the neck. Many people became aware of this when they saw their image on screen. Before consulting, it is useful to place the camera at eye level: the image will be more accurate. After the procedure, the change is often very visible in these situations.

Social media showcases very sculpted profiles, with a very angular jaw and a very hollowed neck, often retouched. These models do not suit every face and may age badly. The surgeon helps define a realistic goal suited to your face.

When preoccupation with a double chin or a profile flaw becomes overwhelming, to the point of taking up many thoughts and changing behaviour, surgery rarely brings the hoped-for relief. An attentive surgeon may suggest talking to a professional before any decision, to make sure the procedure will truly meet the request.

Those close to you may have varied opinions about profileplasty. They help you think it through, but the decision must remain personal. Sharing the information received at the consultation with them often makes their support during recovery easier.

Stop smoking completely at least a month beforehand. Suspend, on medical advice, medicines that encourage bleeding. Have any dental infection treated, especially if the genioplasty is done through the mouth. Plan for the chin strap, soft foods, saline solution for the nose, a mouthwash if needed, and one to two weeks away from social life.

Smoking slows healing, increases the risk of implant infection and can compromise retraction of the neck skin. It is better to stop smoking completely four weeks beforehand and until healing is complete.

If the genioplasty is done through the mouth, a dental check-up beforehand allows any infection or gum inflammation to be treated. Healthy teeth and gums limit the risk of infection.

A balanced, protein-rich diet promotes healing. Starting a strict diet just before or after the procedure is not advisable, but a stable weight is important for the neck result to last. In the first few days, a low-salt diet limits swelling.

Before the procedure, prepare a calm environment: pillows to sleep with your upper body raised, a U-shaped cushion to keep your head straight, cool compresses, soft foods, saline solution for the nose, two chin straps, clothes with wide necks or buttons, and things to do without tilting your head, for example a stand to hold a tablet or book at eye level.

Someone with you for the first few days will take care of shopping and meals, and will be able to recognise abnormal neck swelling. Take the time to explain when they should call the team.

• Two elastic chin straps.
• Pillows and a U-shaped cushion.
• Saline solution for the nose.
• A mouthwash if the chin was operated on through the mouth.
• Soft, low-salt foods.
• Clothes with buttons or wide necks.
• Medicines and the team's number.

Complete profileplasty is performed under general anaesthesia. Neck liposuction alone, or combined with a chin implant, can sometimes be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. The anaesthetist adapts the choice to the extent of the procedure.

When only neck liposuction is performed, possibly combined with a small chin implant, the procedure can be done under local anaesthesia, sometimes supplemented by light sedation. The patient remains awake or drowsy, feels pressure but little pain, and goes home the same day. For a complete profileplasty with rhinoplasty, however, general anaesthesia is the rule, for comfort and airway safety.

Nausea and vomiting after the procedure are unpleasant and increase pressure in the neck and face, which encourages haematoma and nosebleeds. The anaesthetist gives preventive treatments, especially for people who have already had nausea after anaesthesia.

A rise in blood pressure in the hours after the procedure can encourage bleeding under the neck skin. The anaesthetist and the team monitor and treat blood pressure, pain and anxiety. People with high blood pressure must take their treatment as instructed, including on the morning of the procedure.

• General anaesthesia or local with sedation: what do you suggest?
• How will my blood pressure be monitored to prevent a neck haematoma?
• What do you plan to prevent nausea?
• Do my treatments need adjusting?

The elastic chin strap is an essential part of recovery. It gently compresses the neck and chin, limits swelling, helps the skin re-adhere to the new contour and supports any chin implant. It is generally worn day and night for a week, then mainly at night for one to three more weeks, according to the surgeon's instructions. It must fit well, without being so tight that it hinders breathing or marks the skin. It is removed for washing.

The chin strap should wrap around the chin and neck without creases, going up behind the head or over the ears depending on the model. It should be snug enough to support the tissues, but not so tight as to hinder swallowing or breathing or leave deep marks on the skin. It is useful to have two chin straps so that one can be washed. It is removed for washing, then put back on thoroughly dried skin. If it causes irritation, a thin piece of fabric between the skin and the chin strap can help.

Sleeping with a chin strap takes a few nights of adjustment. It can feel warm or tight, especially behind the ears. A U-shaped cushion, a cotton pillowcase and a well-ventilated bedroom help you fall asleep. If the chin strap slips during the night, simply readjust it on waking. After the first week, when it is worn only at night, it generally becomes much easier to tolerate. Many patients end up forgetting about it, and even take it off with a certain regret, so used have they become to its support.

The surgeon indicates when the chin strap can be set aside, often between two and four weeks depending on the procedures performed and how the swelling develops. It should not be stopped too early on your own initiative, as it contributes to the quality of the neck contour. Conversely, wearing it much longer than advised brings no additional benefit.

Prolonged wearing of the chin strap can irritate the skin, especially behind the ears and under the chin. A thin cloth between the skin and the fabric, a neutral cream and regular cleaning of the chin strap limit this irritation. Persistent redness or a sore must be reported to the team.

After two to three weeks, and with the surgeon's agreement, gentle neck massage can help soften firm areas and smooth the contour. It is done from the centre outwards, with a neutral cream, without pressing too hard. Some people also benefit from lymphatic drainage sessions with a therapist.

The skin of the neck and under the chin may remain numb for a few weeks to a few months after liposuction. Care is needed when shaving for men, and with hot products and jewellery that rubs. Sensation returns gradually, sometimes with tingling.

For men, shaving the neck can resume after a few days, avoiding the incision under the chin until it has closed. Numb skin calls for care: an electric razor is often safer in the first few weeks.

On waking, the neck is held tight by the chin strap, the nose blocked by the splint and sometimes internal splints, and the chin numb if a genioplasty has been performed. You breathe through your mouth. Discomfort predominates rather than pain. The team monitors for haematoma under the chin, nosebleeds and comfort.

When the first night is spent at the clinic, the team monitors the appearance of the neck, the absence of asymmetric swelling, breathing, nosebleeds and pain. The next day, the surgeon examines the neck, adjusts the chin strap and gives discharge instructions.

You leave accompanied, the same evening or the next morning. At home, keep your head up and straight and the chin strap adjusted, cool the permitted areas, eat a low-salt diet and alternate naps with short walks. It is better not to spend the first night alone.

Mild fatigue is common for a few days, linked to the anaesthesia and sleep disturbed by the chin strap and the blocked nose. It disappears quickly with rest and good hydration.

Seeing your neck swollen and hard, your nose in a splint and sometimes your lip numb can be disconcerting, especially as the profile has not yet appeared. These feelings are normal. The new contour reveals itself within a few weeks, and patience is rewarded.

During the first three or four days, swelling increases, especially under the chin and in the neck, where the tissues may feel hard and lumpy. Bruising sometimes spreads down to the lower neck and upper chest. Keep your head raised and the chin strap firmly in place, avoid tilting your head forward and apply cold to the permitted areas.

Cool compresses applied for short periods to the cheeks and around the chin strap limit swelling during the first two or three days. Numb skin does not feel cold well; avoid any direct contact with ice.

In the weeks after liposuction, it is common to feel firm, sometimes irregular areas under the neck skin. They correspond to internal healing, during which the skin re-adheres to the deeper tissues. They soften gradually over two to three months. Gentle massage, allowed after a few weeks, and wearing the chin strap help them resolve. The neck contour should not be judged during this period.

You often feel tightness in the neck, a stiff, cardboard-like feeling under the chin, tingling as sensation returns, and sometimes discomfort when swallowing in the first few days, linked to swelling. These sensations gradually disappear. Real difficulty swallowing or breathing requires an immediate call.

In the first few days, neck swelling and the chin strap can make swallowing uncomfortable, especially solid foods. This is normal and decreases quickly. Eating slowly, in small mouthfuls of tender food, and drinking in small sips help. If a genioplasty was performed through the mouth, the numb lip can also make speech slightly less clear. These sensations disappear within one to two weeks. However, real difficulty swallowing or breathing requires an immediate call to the team.

Several months after the procedure, some people still feel slight tightness under the chin, or small areas of reduced sensation. These sensations fade gradually and generally do not interfere with daily life. Gentle massage and time are usually enough.

The neck often swells more than the face after liposuction, and swelling can move down to the lower neck and upper chest under gravity. It decreases markedly within two to three weeks. Milder swelling, with firm areas, persists for one to three months. The final contour appears between three and six months.

During the first week, it is better to avoid tilting your head forward, looking down for long periods, for example at a phone or computer, or turning your neck abruptly. These movements pull on the tissues as they re-adhere and encourage swelling. Placing screens at eye level and turning your upper body rather than your head are good habits.

In the first few weeks, looking for long periods at a phone or laptop placed low forces you to tilt your head, which compresses the neck and can prolong swelling. It is better to place the screen at eye level, take breaks and keep your head straight. This habit is worth keeping: it is good for the neck and back.

For those who work at a computer, returning is often possible after a week to ten days. It is important to set the screen at eye level, take regular breaks and keep your head straight, so as not to compress the healing neck. This workstation adjustment, often kept afterwards, is also good for posture and the back.

While the chin strap is worn continuously, clothes with wide necks or buttons are more practical. After that, a light scarf or a high collar can hide the neck if swelling or bruising persists. Very tight collars should be avoided for a few weeks.

If a genioplasty was performed through the mouth, a soft, lukewarm diet is advised for about a week, with a mouth rinse after each meal. If the implant was placed through the neck, the diet is a little less restricted, but chewing may be uncomfortable for a few days because of swelling. Avoid salt, which encourages swelling.

Drinking regularly helps eliminate swelling and limits dryness of the mouth, which is common when the nose is blocked. Water is best, in small sips if swallowing is a little uncomfortable in the first few days.

The nose is protected by a splint, removed around the seventh day. Saline rinses help clear the nasal passages. Avoid blowing your nose hard and wearing glasses on the bridge of the nose.

At around one week, the surgeon removes the nasal splint, checks the neck incisions and, if applicable, the mouth incision, checks for haematoma and adjusts the instructions for the chin strap. They answer your questions about swelling and sensations.

Sleep on your back, head and upper body raised, with the chin strap, for at least a week. A U-shaped cushion helps keep your head straight and avoid bending your neck.

The first nights with the chin strap take some getting used to. A U-shaped cushion, an extra pillow to raise the upper body and a cool bedroom improve comfort. If the chin strap hinders breathing or causes pain, adjust it and tell the team.

Showering is generally allowed after two or three days. Remove the chin strap, gently wash the neck without rubbing the incisions, pat dry carefully, then put the chin strap back on. Hair can be washed, avoiding tilting the head forward.

Pain is generally moderate: neck tightness, tenderness under the chin, a blocked nose, discomfort when chewing. Common painkillers deal with it. If pain suddenly intensifies, with tense swelling under the chin, contact the team without delay.

Heat and sun increase swelling and can pigment recent scars. For several weeks, protect your neck and face with sunscreen and avoid prolonged exposure, saunas and very hot baths.

After rhinoplasty, glasses must not rest on the bridge of the nose for several weeks. Contact lens wearers can use their lenses without any problem.

Most people return to social life after ten to fifteen days. A light scarf or high collar hides the neck if needed. The chin strap, worn mainly at night after the first week, is no obstacle to going out.

You can drive again when you can turn your head without discomfort to check blind spots and the medicines no longer cause drowsiness, often after a week.

The chin strap is more comfortable in cool weather, when scarves are easy to wear. The sun, which encourages swelling, is less intense in autumn and winter. You should, however, avoid having surgery while you have a cold.

A little one jumping into your arms can knock your neck or nose. During the first few weeks, it is wise to arrange help and favour cuddles sitting down, protecting your neck and nose.

For self-employed people, time off for a cosmetic procedure is generally not compensated. Work from home can often resume after a few days, and contact with clients after about ten days.

For a wedding or professional event, it is better to schedule the procedure at least three months beforehand, ideally six, so that the neck has reached a contour close to the final one.

Short trips are possible after a few days. Long journeys wait for the first check-up and the surgeon's advice, especially as the chin strap and swelling make travel less comfortable.

In the first week, the neck is swollen and held in the chin strap, the nose is in a splint and the chin sometimes numb; you stay quiet, head raised, with a soft diet. In the second week, the splint is removed, the chin strap is in many cases worn only at night, bruising fades and a discreet social life resumes. In the third week, the neck remains firm but the angle starts to take shape. In the fourth week, the new profile is clearly visible, even though the neck does not yet have its final contour and the nasal tip remains thick.

For the first four weeks, the chin strap and swelling take centre stage. In the second and third months, the lumps under the chin melt away and the angle becomes clearer. Up to the sixth month, the skin finishes retracting and the chin settles. The nasal tip continues to refine until the end of the first year.

Profile photos taken regularly, at the same distance, with the head straight and eyes looking horizontally, show the progress of the neck angle, chin and nose. A photo with the head slightly lowered is also useful, as this is the position in which the double chin was most visible.

Photos taken from below or at arm's length often accentuate the double chin, while photos taken from slightly above, with the chin pushed forward a little, hide it. Many people develop strategies to photograph themselves from their best angle. The surgeon works from standardised photos taken in neutral conditions, which reflect the reality of the profile. After the procedure, these strategies often become unnecessary.

Set a routine: camera at face height, same room, same light, looking straight ahead, neck exposed, plus a photo with the head slightly lowered. Repeat it at one, three, six and twelve months to compare.

In the mirror, you see neither your profile nor the underside of your chin. To judge the change, you need side photos or a set of mirrors; many patients discover their new neck angle by chance, in a holiday photo.

At six months, the neck has reached its near-final contour, the chin is stable and the nose continues to refine. The surgeon compares before-and-after photos and discusses a small neck touch-up if necessary.

At one year, the nasal tip has stabilised and the whole profile has taken its final shape. The review is an opportunity to take stock of satisfaction and any need for a touch-up.

After a year, the profile is established: the neck has found its final contour, the chin is stable and the nasal tip has refined. There are no more routine check-ups. The face will continue to change with age, but from a more defined profile, which many patients feel is more faithful to the image they have of themselves. Keeping a stable weight, protecting the neck skin from the sun and maintaining good posture in front of screens help preserve this result for many years. If the neck becomes lax years later, a lift can extend the benefit obtained, building on a chin that is already well projected. The photographs taken before the procedure then remain the best record of how far you have come. Many patients like to look at them from time to time: they remind them how much their profile has changed, whereas day to day they have forgotten their double chin and receding chin. This simple look back is often enough to measure what the procedure has brought, far better than any comment. Keeping these images carefully, alongside those taken at three, six and twelve months, also gives the surgeon a precise reference should a further neck or facial procedure be considered years later. They also make it easier to compare objectively the natural ageing of the face with the lasting benefit of profileplasty, which helps you decide calmly about any additional procedure. For most patients, however, no further procedure is needed for many years, and the profile obtained remains harmonious, defined and true to their face over time, season after season, year after year.

After follow-up has ended, it remains useful to be able to see your surgeon again for a question, a touch-up or, years later, neck laxity. A surgeon who remains available after the procedure is a sign of trustworthiness.

Profileplasty combines the risks of three procedures. Most complications are rare and treatable.

Blood can collect under the neck skin after liposuction or a muscle procedure. It shows as rapid, tense and painful swelling, more marked than the usual swelling. In rare cases, a large haematoma in the neck can impair breathing and requires emergency treatment. Monitoring in the first few hours, blood pressure control and stopping blood-thinning medicines beforehand reduce this risk.

A large haematoma in the neck, although rare, can compress the airway. Rapid, tense swelling of the neck, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, requires an immediate call to the team or the emergency services. That is why monitoring in the first few hours and following instructions, such as avoiding exertion and tilting the head, are important.

A thin branch of the facial nerve that lowers the lower lip runs along the jaw. Overly aggressive liposuction in this area can irritate it, causing an asymmetrical smile, with the lower lip no longer lowering on one side. This complication is rare and almost always temporary, with recovery within a few weeks to a few months. It is distinct from the lip numbness linked to genioplasty, which affects sensation, not movement.

Infection is rare after neck liposuction. The risk is slightly higher when a chin implant is placed. Redness, warmth, increasing pain, discharge or fever require medical attention. Antibiotic treatment is often enough; an infected implant may need to be removed.

After liposuction or a muscle procedure, fluid can collect under the neck skin, forming a soft swelling. This seroma is rare in the neck; it is treated by aspiration. The chin strap helps prevent it.

Uneven or overly superficial suction can leave small lumps, hollows or skin sticking to the muscles, visible in raking light or when the neck moves. Surgeons deliberately leave a thin layer of fat under the skin to avoid these defects. In the first few months, temporary irregularities are common; those that persist after six months can be corrected with a small touch-up or a fat injection.

Overly superficial or overly complete suction can leave the neck skin in direct contact with the muscle, with no intermediate layer of fat. The skin then adheres to the muscle and moves with it, which can make cords or bands appear when swallowing or tensing the neck. This complication, rare in the hands of an experienced surgeon, is difficult to correct; it can be improved by a fat injection or revision surgery. This is the main reason surgeons deliberately leave a thin layer of fat under the skin.

Excessive suction or removal of deep fat can give a hollowed neck with an overly marked contour, which looks artificial and may age badly. Caution and moderation are essential. If it occurs, adding fat can soften the contour.

Slight asymmetry may appear, linked to slightly different suction on each side or to pre-existing asymmetry. In the first few months, uneven swelling can also give an impression of asymmetry. A limited touch-up can correct asymmetry that persists after six months.

When the neck skin is not very elastic, it may not retract enough after liposuction and look looser. That is why assessing the skin beforehand is so important. If the laxity is troublesome, a neck lift can be proposed later.

• Sudden, tense and painful swelling under the chin or in the neck.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Heavy, prolonged nosebleed.
• Fever, redness or discharge at an incision or in the mouth.
• Sudden weakness of the lip or smile.

In the event of sudden neck swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a heavy nosebleed or fever, call immediately. For routine questions, note them for the next check-up or call at the designated times.

A neck touch-up can be considered after six months, a nose touch-up after a year, and a chin touch-up after a few months if an implant is poorly positioned. These touch-ups are generally limited and often done under local anaesthesia. Knowing the surgeon's touch-up policy from the outset is useful.

A neck touch-up is discussed after six months, once the swelling and firm areas have resolved. It may consist of a small additional liposuction, a fat injection into a hollow, or a muscle procedure if laxity persists. These touch-ups are often done under local anaesthesia.

A successful profileplasty gives a harmonious profile: a proportionate nose, a chin that completes the face, a clear neck angle and a well-defined jawline. From the front, the face looks slimmer and more structured. Those around you often notice a face that is "slimmer" or "more defined", without identifying the three procedures.

Although profileplasty is primarily aimed at the profile, the frontal view also changes: the lower face looks slimmer, the jawline becomes defined, the chin completes the oval better, and the nose blends in harmoniously. Many patients say their face looks "thinner" in front-facing photos, even without weight loss.

The three-quarter view reveals the jawline, the neck angle and the nasal profile all at once. It is often from this angle that people see your face every day, and where the change is most noticed.

Those around you often notice a slimmer face and a more defined neck, sometimes assuming weight loss, without identifying the procedures precisely. Some think of a new hairstyle or a change of style. Whether or not to talk about the procedure remains a personal choice.

For many, a double chin and a receding profile were a long-standing source of embarrassment: avoiding photos, rarely lowering their head, keeping their chin raised all the time. After the procedure, these reflexes often disappear. This benefit, hard to measure, counts for a great deal in satisfaction.

With a more defined neck, certain clothes, such as open collars, shirts without ties or low necklines, become easier to wear. Many patients say they dare to wear outfits they used to avoid. This is one of the small everyday benefits that contribute to satisfaction.

The most satisfied patients are those whose double chin was mainly due to fat and a receding chin, with good-quality skin, and who understood the role of each procedure. They appreciate a clear profile, a defined neck and a slimmer face from the front. Disappointments come more often from skin that retracts poorly, excessive expectations or judging too early, while the neck is still firm and swollen.

Many describe the chin strap as the main constraint of the first few weeks, more than pain. The hard, lumpy neck is surprising, then softens. The new neck angle is often what strikes them most, even more than the change to the nose. Many no longer shy away from the camera since, even with their head lowered.

The fat cells removed from the neck do not regrow. Rhinoplasty and genioplasty give lasting results. The face nevertheless continues to age: the neck skin can become lax over the years, especially with significant weight fluctuations. A stable weight and a healthy lifestyle help preserve the result.

After profileplasty, the neck continues to age, but from a more defined starting point. The fat removed does not come back, the advanced chin continues to support the tissues under the jaw, and the neck generally keeps a better angle than it would have had without the procedure. The skin, however, gradually loses elasticity with age, and laxity may appear years later, which may justify a neck lift.

A stable weight, sun protection for the often-forgotten neck, good posture and a healthy lifestyle help preserve the result. Caring for the neck skin, with regular moisturising and sun protection, limits its ageing. In the event of significant weight gain, some fat may reappear in neighbouring areas.

You cannot change your heredity or the shape of your chin, but certain habits limit the worsening of a double chin: keeping a stable weight, protecting the neck skin from the sun, not smoking and adopting good posture, especially in front of screens. These measures do not replace surgery when the double chin is marked, but they help preserve the result after the procedure.

Neck and jaw exercises are sometimes presented as a way of reducing a double chin. They can slightly tone certain muscles, but they do not remove localised fat or correct a receding chin. They replace neither liposuction nor genioplasty. Good posture, on the other hand, has a visible effect on the appearance of the neck.

The neck skin is thin and often neglected. After the procedure, once healing is complete, daily moisturising, sun protection and, if needed, specific treatments prescribed by a dermatologist help preserve its quality. Treatments such as light peels or certain lasers can improve fine lines and pigmentation, well after the procedure.

For a small excess of fat under the chin, non-surgical treatments exist: injections that destroy fat cells, cryolipolysis using cold, and external radiofrequency. They often require several sessions, with a more gradual and more limited effect than liposuction. They correct neither a receding chin nor muscle laxity. They can suit people who do not want surgery and whose double chin is moderate.

These techniques do not correct a receding chin or significant muscle laxity. They suit people who want to avoid surgery and whose request is moderate.

Fat-dissolving injections involve injecting a product under the chin that destroys fat cells. Several sessions, a few weeks apart, are often needed. Each session causes marked swelling for a few days. The result is gradual. These injections suit a moderate double chin in a person with firm skin. They are performed by a trained doctor, because of the neighbouring structures, including a nerve branch near the jaw.

Liposuction gives a clearer and more predictable result in a single session, with the ability to precisely shape the neck angle and jawline, but it requires a small procedure and a few days of recovery. Injections avoid surgery, but require several sessions and give a more limited result. In profileplasty, which already involves a procedure on the nose and chin, liposuction is the logical choice.

Botulinum toxin can temporarily soften vertical neck bands by relaxing the platysma muscle. It can be used before surgery to judge the effect of muscle relaxation, or afterwards to refine the result. Its effect lasts a few months.

When the neck skin is lax, with visible excess under the chin, or the muscle bands are very marked, liposuction alone is not enough. A neck lift, which tightens the muscles and removes excess skin through incisions behind the ears, is then more suitable. It can be combined with genioplasty and rhinoplasty. Our page on facelift with fat transfer presents this approach.

The boundary between profileplasty and a neck lift lies in the skin. As long as the skin is elastic enough to retract onto the new contour, liposuction, possibly combined with muscle tightening, is enough. When there is excess skin, it must be tightened and some of it removed, which involves incisions behind the ears: this is a neck lift. The surgeon assesses this boundary at the examination and explains which side of it you fall on.

Between liposuction and a full lift, there are more limited neck lifts, with shorter incisions behind the ears, suited to moderate laxity. They can be combined with genioplasty and rhinoplasty for an extended profileplasty. The surgeon explains the options suited to your neck.

This table helps you place your neck. The surgeon chooses the approach after examining the skin, fat and muscles, and can combine these procedures with genioplasty and rhinoplasty.

The best time for neck liposuction is when fat is present and the skin is still elastic, often before fifty. Waiting until the skin becomes lax turns a simple procedure into a lift. Conversely, operating too early, before weight has stabilised or growth has finished, is not advisable. The surgeon helps find the right time.

As amounts vary from one facility to another, each combination is expressed as an index, with 100 corresponding to a complete profileplasty combining rhinoplasty, a chin implant and neck liposuction, performed in Geneva.

Details of the differences are on the page on profileplasty prices.

The number of procedures, the choice between an implant and bony genioplasty, a procedure on the neck muscles, the use of a skin-tightening technology, the complexity of the nose, the stay and the facility explain the differences. Chin straps and splints are sometimes billed separately.

Cosmetic profileplasty is at the patient's expense. Exceptions, on prior request and under strict criteria, are straightening the septum when breathing is impaired and jaw surgery for a poor dental bite.

Cosmetic profileplasty is entirely at the patient's expense. If a correction of the nasal septum is accepted by insurance, the deductible (franchise) and co-payment (quote-part) apply to that part. It is useful to know these amounts in advance.

Some clinics offer staggered payment. Check the total cost before committing.

It should specify each procedure, the technique chosen for the chin, the planned treatment of the neck, any functional correction of the nose, the anaesthesia, the stay, the chin strap and splint, the check-ups and the touch-up policy.

The quote is sometimes supplemented by chin straps, medicines, saline for the nose, drainage sessions and, for self-employed people, loss of income. Any covered functional part reduces what remains to be paid.

To compare two quotes, check the number of procedures, the technique for the chin, whether or not there is a procedure on the neck muscles, the use of a skin-tightening technology, the complexity of the nose procedure, the anaesthesia, the stay, the chin straps and the touch-up policy.

Profileplasty requires a surgeon comfortable with three procedures. It is mainly offered in the major cities. Here, city by city, is whether the combination of the three procedures is commonly performed, whether a procedure on the neck muscles is possible and how fees compare with Geneva.

Around Lake Geneva, most surgeons who perform complete profileplasty are in Geneva and Lausanne. In German-speaking Switzerland, Zurich has the widest provision, followed by Bern and Basel. In Ticino, Lugano hosts most practitioners. In other regions, neck liposuction or a chin implant are often available locally, but the full combination is mainly performed in these centres.

The explanations about the three procedures, the chin strap and the risks must be fully understood. In French-speaking Switzerland, everything takes place in French; in the major German-speaking centres and in Ticino, many practitioners see patients in French.

Profileplasty with an implant is sometimes performed as day surgery; with a bony genioplasty or a muscle procedure, a night is often needed. A return visit at around the seventh day is needed to remove the splint and examine the neck. Subsequent check-ups can be spaced out.

After the procedure, you need to come back at around one week to have the splint removed and the neck examined. Subsequent check-ups, more widely spaced, can be combined. A local doctor can take over for routine questions, in liaison with the surgeon.

A second opinion helps confirm the proposed combination, check that a neck lift would not be more suitable, and compare the choice between an implant and bony genioplasty.

This surgery is performed by plastic surgeons as well as by facial surgeons with an ENT or jaw surgery background. What matters is experience with the three procedures and an overall view of the profile. If the dental bite is a problem, a maxillofacial surgeon is the right person to see.

The federal register of medical professions shows each doctor's specialist title. Also check their training in facial cosmetic surgery.

Profileplasty requires mastering three techniques and balancing them against one another. Choose a surgeon who regularly performs these combinations, analyses the profile as a whole and can show you profile results at more than six months for the neck and at one year for the nose. Ask how they assess the neck skin and when they prefer a lift to liposuction.

The surgeon, anaesthetist, theatre staff and then the ward staff take turns. The first few hours are closely monitored to detect bleeding under the chin. Know whom to contact after discharge, including at night.

They will explain where your double chin comes from, whether your skin allows liposuction or whether a lift would be more suitable, what part the chin plays in your profile, what rhinoplasty will bring, and what limits your anatomy imposes, such as the position of the hyoid bone. They will also tell you if a procedure is not useful.

Ask for before-and-after profile photos, at more than six months, of people of similar build and age. Look at the neck angle, the jawline, the chin and the nose, and how natural the whole looks.

• Does my double chin come from fat, the chin, the muscles or the skin?
• Will my skin retract enough after liposuction?
• Is a procedure on the neck muscles needed?
• Implant or bony genioplasty for my chin?
• What correction do you plan for my nose?
• How long will I have to wear the chin strap?
• How do you manage a neck haematoma?

• Treating a double chin caused by a receding chin with liposuction alone.
• Choosing liposuction when the neck skin is very lax.
• Greatly reducing the nose without taking the chin and neck into account.
• Neglecting to wear the chin strap.
• Judging the neck contour before three months.
• Gaining weight after the procedure.

The young woman with a hereditary double chin

A twenty-eight-year-old woman of normal weight has had a double chin since adolescence and a discreet chin. The surgeon proposes neck liposuction and a small chin implant placed through the same incision. Her neck angle becomes defined without touching the nose.

The man with a receding profile

A thirty-five-year-old man has a hump on his nose, a receding chin and a full neck. The plan combines rhinoplasty, a bony chin osteotomy and liposuction of the neck and jawline.

The forty-six-year-old woman

A forty-six-year-old woman has a double chin, visible neck bands and an adequate chin. The surgeon proposes liposuction with neck muscle tightening, without genioplasty, and rhinoplasty of the tip.

Skin that is too lax

A fifty-five-year-old woman requests neck liposuction. The examination shows very lax skin. The surgeon explains that liposuction alone would worsen the laxity and proposes a neck lift.

The slim neck with an open angle

A slim twenty-nine-year-old man finds his neck has "no angle". The examination shows little fat and a low hyoid bone. The surgeon mainly proposes a genioplasty, explaining the limits imposed by his anatomy.

A thirty-three-year-old man consults because he feels he has "no chin" in profile photos and avoids lowering his head in public. The examination shows a slightly hooked nose, a receding chin, a mainly fatty double chin and firm skin; his bite is normal. The surgeon proposes liposuction of the neck and jawline, an extended chin implant placed through the incision under the chin, and moderate lowering of the nasal hump. The procedure takes three hours, with a night in hospital. He wears the chin strap day and night for a week, then at night for two weeks. He returns to work after ten days. At three months, the neck angle is defined; at six months, his profile is balanced. He says he no longer avoids profile photos.

A forty-four-year-old woman has found her neck "heavy" for a few years and does not like her nose, which she thinks is too long. The examination shows moderate fat under the chin, neck bands visible when tensed, skin that is still fairly firm and an adequate chin. The surgeon proposes neck liposuction with muscle tightening through the incision under the chin, and rhinoplasty that slightly shortens the nose and lifts the tip. He does not propose genioplasty, as the chin is well projected. The procedure takes three and a half hours, with a night in hospital. At three months, her neck is defined and the bands have disappeared; at one year, her nose is refined. She says she looks "rested" rather than transformed.

A twenty-three-year-old student has a marked double chin despite regular sport. The examination shows a very receding chin, with a normal bite, and a large amount of fat under the chin. The surgeon proposes an advancement bony genioplasty and neck liposuction, without rhinoplasty, as his nose is harmonious. After three months, his neck angle is defined and his profile completely transformed.

Every profile is different. Profileplasty is not a package, but a combination of procedures chosen according to what really unbalances the face. In some cases, the nose is not touched; in others, it is the chin; sometimes a procedure on the neck muscles is essential. Careful analysis is the key to a suitable plan.

• I know what causes my double chin.
• The quality of my skin has been assessed.
• I know the planned procedures for the nose, chin and neck.
• My dental bite has been checked.
• I can wear a chin strap for several weeks.
• I have stopped smoking and my weight is stable.
• I have a detailed quote.

Before committing, ask yourself what bothers you most about your profile, whether you have properly understood where your double chin comes from, whether your skin allows liposuction, whether you are willing to wear a chin strap for several weeks, and whether you are prepared to wait several months to judge the result. If the answers are clear, the decision becomes calmer.

Profileplasty treats the three points that shape the profile: the nose, the chin and the neck. The double chin, often at the heart of the request, can come from fat, a receding chin, the muscles or the skin; each cause calls for a different response. Neck liposuction redefines the neck angle when the skin is of good quality; genioplasty, by advancing the chin, reinforces this effect; rhinoplasty balances the whole.

Recovery combines a splint for the nose, a chin strap for the neck and sometimes mouth care. The profile takes shape within a few weeks and becomes clearer up to six months for the neck and one year for the nose. Outside Geneva, savings can reach about fourteen per cent depending on the canton.

Have your profile analysed as a whole. Understand where your double chin comes from. Have the quality of your neck skin assessed. Check your bite. Stop smoking and keep a stable weight. Wear the chin strap as planned. And give the profile time to reveal itself.

If your profile seems unbalanced from the nose down to the neck, an overall assessment will show which combination of procedures would really suit you. Medespoir Suisse helps you, free of charge, find a surgeon experienced in this profile surgery.

Budget

Price differences between cities and cantons, the quote breakdown and ways to save are detailed on our page Profileplasty: nose, chin and double chin: prices in Switzerland.

Related procedures

• Rhinoplasty and genioplasty in Switzerland
• Facelift and facial fat transfer in Switzerland
• Rhinoplasty and buccal fat removal in Switzerland
• Breast implant exchange and breast lift in Switzerland
• Breast implant removal and breast lift in Switzerland
• Breast fat transfer and liposuction in Switzerland

The procedures that make up this combination

• Double chin: FaceTite and J-Plasma in Switzerland
• Rhinoplasty in Switzerland
• Ultrasonic rhinoplasty in Switzerland
• Ethnic rhinoplasty in Switzerland
• Genioplasty in Switzerland

Our guides

• Combined procedures in Switzerland
• Cosmetic surgery in Switzerland

Double chin, neck angle, chin, nose, chin strap, recovery and results: the most frequent questions about profile surgery.

Understanding profileplasty

What is profileplasty? A combination of procedures that harmonises the profile: usually rhinoplasty, genioplasty and neck liposuction.

Are all three procedures always needed? No, depending on the face, two procedures may be enough.

Why treat the neck at the same time? Because a double chin erases the neck angle and accentuates the imbalance between the nose and the chin.

What is the cervicomental angle? The angle between the line under the chin and the neck, a marker of a defined profile.

Does the chin influence the double chin? Yes, a receding chin shortens the neck line and encourages the appearance of a double chin.

The double chin

Where does a double chin come from? From fat, a receding chin, laxity of the muscles or skin, or the anatomy of the neck.

Can you have a double chin while being slim? Yes, often for hereditary or anatomical reasons.

Is liposuction enough? If the double chin is mainly due to fat and the skin is elastic, often yes.

What is the fat under the muscles? Deeper fat, under the platysma, which sometimes requires a direct procedure.

What is the platysma? The thin muscle that covers the front of the neck.

Can neck bands be corrected? Yes, by bringing the edges of the muscle together through an incision under the chin.

Can the double chin come back? The fat cells removed do not come back, but significant weight gain can thicken the remaining tissues.

The technique

Where are the liposuction incisions? A small incision under the chin, sometimes two behind the earlobes.

Can the chin implant go through the same incision? Yes, this is often possible.

How much fat is removed? Often a few tens of millilitres, but the visual effect is significant.

Are skin-tightening technologies used? Sometimes, to help the skin retract.

How long does it take in theatre? Three to four and a half hours, depending on the chosen combination.

Do I need to stay overnight at the clinic? Often one night, especially with a bony genioplasty or a procedure on the muscles.

The chin strap

How long should the chin strap be worn? Generally one week day and night, then mainly at night for one to three weeks.

What is it for? To limit swelling, help the skin re-adhere and support the chin.

Can I remove it to wash? Yes, for washing.

Is it visible? Yes, which is why it is mainly worn at home and at night after the first week.

Recovery

Will the neck be swollen? Yes, for one to two weeks, with firm areas for a few months.

Why is the neck hard and lumpy? Because of internal healing; it softens within two to three months.

Can I look at my phone? Better to hold it at eye level so as not to bend your neck.

When can I go back to work? After a week to ten days without public contact, ten to fifteen days with public contact.

What should I eat? Soft foods for the first few days, especially if the chin was operated on through the mouth.

How should I sleep? On your back, head and upper body raised, with the chin strap.

Risks

What is the most serious risk for the neck? A haematoma, which is rare and requires prompt treatment.

Can the neck be irregular? Sometimes temporarily; persistent irregularities can be touched up.

Can the lower lip be weakened? Rarely, and usually temporarily.

Can the skin become lax? If it is not very elastic, yes; that is why it is assessed beforehand.

The result

When is the neck result visible? The angle takes shape from one month, and the result becomes clearer up to six months.

Is the result lasting? Yes, if weight remains stable.

Will the face look slimmer from the front? Often, as the jawline is better defined.

Price and insurance

Is there any reimbursement? Not for the cosmetic part; only breathing or dental occlusion can justify a request.

Does the canton influence the fee? Yes, the difference compared with Geneva sometimes reaches fourteen per cent.

Choosing

Which surgeon should I consult? A facial surgeon used to combining rhinoplasty, genioplasty and neck liposuction.

Is a second opinion needed? Useful to confirm the combination and whether a lift might be worthwhile.

Particular situations

Can I have just the neck and chin done? Yes, if the nose is in proportion.

And just the nose and neck? Yes, if the chin is well projected.

Is profileplasty suitable for men? Yes, it responds well to the wish for a defined neck and a strong jawline.

Can jowls be treated at the same time? Light liposuction of the jawline is possible; marked jowls call for a lift.

Can a neck lift be combined? Yes, if the skin is lax, instead of or in addition to liposuction.

Are non-surgical treatments an alternative? For a small double chin, yes, but with a more limited effect.

Does cryolipolysis work on a double chin? It can reduce a small excess of fat, over several sessions.

Are fat-dissolving injections effective? They can reduce a moderate double chin, with several sessions and temporary swelling.

Can a double chin come from the thyroid? Swelling of the neck must be distinguished from a double chin; the surgeon refers you for tests if necessary.

Can the salivary glands be reduced? This is delicate and reserved for particular situations.

Can the hyoid bone be moved? Not in cosmetic surgery; its position sometimes limits the result.

Is it possible at twenty? Yes, once growth is complete and the project has been well thought through.

And after fifty? Yes, but a neck lift is often more suitable if the skin is lax.

Is weight loss after the procedure a problem? It can make the neck skin lax; a stable weight is preferable.

Does a beard hide the scars? The incisions are small; a beard can mask residual swelling.

Can I wear a polo neck? Yes, once the chin strap is no longer needed, if it does not compress the neck too much.

Can I do sport? Moderate sport after three weeks, intense after six weeks, contact sports after three months.

Is manual lymphatic drainage useful? It can speed up the resolution of neck swelling if the surgeon allows it.

Is neck massage useful? After a few weeks, gentle massage helps soften firm areas.

And sun exposure? Limit it for a few weeks: it prolongs swelling and marks scars.

Are the scars visible? The one under the chin is hidden in a crease; those behind the ears are discreet.

Does the voice change? No.

Can I swallow normally? Yes; slight discomfort may occur in the first few days because of swelling.

Can I turn my head? Yes, but gently in the first week.

Can I drive? When you can turn your head without discomfort and the medicines no longer make you drowsy.

Are glasses allowed? Not resting on the nose for several weeks after rhinoplasty.

Will my lip be numb? Often after genioplasty, usually temporarily.

Can the chin look too prominent? This is a risk if the advancement is excessive; it is chosen carefully.

Can the chin effect be tested beforehand? Yes, with a temporary filler injection.

Are tests needed beforehand? Sometimes a dental X-ray; tests if a swelling of the neck needs to be investigated.

What follow-up is planned? A visit at seven days, then at the first, third, sixth and twelfth months.

Will I need help at home? Having someone with you is advisable for the first few days.

How should I prepare for the appointment? Come with your wishes, a few profile photos, your medical history and a list of questions.

Should I tell my employer? A sick note is enough.

Which period should I choose? A period with no important event in the following two months.

Does the result look natural? With measured corrections, yes.

Will those around me notice? They often notice a slimmer face, without identifying the procedures.

Can neck liposuction be repeated? It is possible, but more delicate; a targeted touch-up is generally enough.

What should I do if the neck suddenly swells? Contact the team or the emergency department immediately.

Can the neck look hollow? If too much fat is removed; surgeons leave a thin layer of fat to avoid this.

Does the result depend on age? Yes, skin retracts better in younger people.

Can buccal fat removal be combined? It is possible if the cheeks are full, but it lengthens the procedure.

Can the chin be operated on through the neck? An implant can be placed through the incision under the chin; a bony genioplasty is done through the mouth.

Does bruising spread down to the chest? Sometimes; it disappears within two to three weeks.

Can a double chin be linked to poor posture? Posture influences appearance, but does not on its own create excess fat.

Can I wear scarves? Yes, they even help disguise the neck in the first few weeks.

Is the result visible from the front? Yes, the jawline and lower face look more defined.

How can Medespoir Suisse help me? By directing you, free of charge, to a facial surgeon experienced in profileplasty.

Can profileplasty be done as day surgery? Sometimes, when it combines liposuction, an implant and simple rhinoplasty.

Does profileplasty help you look younger? A defined neck angle and a projected chin often give a younger, more defined appearance.

Should the chin strap still be worn after a month? Generally not; follow your surgeon's instructions.

What should I do if the neck remains irregular? Wait six months, then discuss a possible touch-up with the surgeon.

Is neck liposuction painful? It mainly causes tightness and tenderness, well relieved by painkillers.

Is swelling worse in the morning? Often, yes, in the first few weeks; it decreases during the day.

How long should I avoid bending my head down? Especially during the first week.

Can I go swimming again? After three to four weeks, once the incisions have closed well.

Is the result guaranteed? No result is guaranteed, but rigorous analysis and a suitable technique generally give good results.

Is follow-up needed beyond one year? No, unless you have a particular question or want a touch-up.

Does profileplasty change the smile? The smile remains natural; temporary discomfort of the lower lip is possible.

Can pregnant women have the operation? No, you must wait until the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Do photos show the change well? Yes, particularly side views.

Describe what bothers you about your nose, chin and neck, as well as your region: we will suggest, free of charge, a surgeon who performs this profile surgery.