The plan has to fit the person.
It’s never a procedure or lack of procedure or a different procedure invasive or non-invasive it’s about you - where you are - who you are & what works for you.
Watch the original reelOriginally shared 2025-05-18.
PETRO
Shape & SupportIssue 12
The Mirror Moment
my double chin.
02 / The part you might not say out loud
The Fear Is Real
Will my skin sag after the fat is gone?
It can remain loose or appear looser. Skin quality is part of the assessment before a fat-reduction treatment. Discuss whether contouring alone would give you the change you want.
03 / Melanie Petro, MD
The Surgeon’s POV
First, the face in front of me.
I will meet with you and evaluate your face. The structure, ligaments, muscles and skin all play a role in determining the very best option.
We will review before and after pictures and videos, all costs involved as well as payment options, and provide links and information for you to review at home.
From my original Facelift Booklet, January 2024.
Fullness is not always just fat.
Skin laxity, fat, muscle and underlying anatomy all affect the profile. Reducing fat does not automatically tighten loose skin. That distinction helps explain why two people with the same concern may need different options.
Liposuction, selected injectable treatments and lifting have different uses and recovery. Weight changes and aging can affect the result; “one hour, done forever” is not a useful promise.
Read about the neck and jawline04 / The practical part
The Petro Rx
- The Game Plan:
Assess the cause of the fullness before discussing fat reduction, skin treatment or lifting. The plan should separate the amount of fullness from the quality of the skin.
- The Recovery Reality:
Recovery depends on the procedure. Surgery may involve a compression garment, swelling, bruising and activity limits. Injections have their own swelling and other risks; they are not automatically an easier version of surgery.
- The Timeline:
Judge the contour after healing, not during early swelling. Stable weight helps maintain a liposuction result, but future changes and revision can still occur. About liposuction results.
- The Bottom Line:
Your quote should identify the procedure, surgeon’s fee, facility, anesthesia and follow-up, including what is and is not included. The full total is discussed after assessment and before you decide.
05 / Real life, in my own words
Real & Raw
A few questions.
The things people ask.
Fat-dissolving injections or liposuction?
The choice depends on anatomy, skin quality, goals and health. Surgery and injections have different limits and recovery; neither is automatically a one-time, permanent solution.
Will my skin sag after the fat is gone?
Loose skin may remain or become more apparent. Skin quality and the possibility of a separate lifting approach should be discussed before reducing fat.
What is the recovery from neck liposuction?
Expect swelling, bruising, incision care and activity restrictions. Your procedure and healing determine the schedule. Discuss time away from work, practical help and follow-up; early return to activities is not the end of healing.
Keep reading.
Or press play.
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Also on your mind?
From the Shape & Support series
Your next chapter.
Explore the options
I’ll help you connect what you see with the choices that make sense for you.
At home, too
I want between-visit skin care to fit your skin, too. Bring your routine; we’ll look at it together. Skin care has a different role from changing facial structure or removing excess skin.
