As far as insecurities go, my double chin was at the top of the list.
The persistent, flabby pocket of submental fat under my chin had become the focus of all my attention and I was determined to get rid of it.
She had experimented with fat-dissolving injections, radiofrequency sculpting treatments, a natural 17kg weight loss and non-surgical fat freezing, but none of these had proven particularly effective or permanent.
In my search for more alternative methods, I came across Beverly Hills-based cosmetic surgeon Dr Aaron Rollins and his newly opened Elite Body Sculpture clinic on Harley Street, London.
The clinic’s patented treatment, created by Dr. Rollins, is known as AirSculpt. Designed to permanently remove excess fat and tighten skin, it is a body-reshaping treatment without scalpels, stitches, needles or general anesthesia.
Emma North (pictured) underwent an AirSculpt procedure at Elite Body Sculpture in London to get rid of the pocket of fat under her chin and achieve a more defined jawline.
The procedure is comparable to liposuction in that it permanently removes fat, but that, according to Dr. Rollins, is where the similarities end.
“AirSculpt was invented to be the ‘anti-lipo,'” he says. “Liposuction is performed using a large, sharp instrument, similar to a cheese grater on a stick. It scrapes away fat, and in the process, flesh such as muscle and skin tissue can be damaged.
“It’s brutal and doesn’t always provide the results or skin firming effect that patients expect.”
Like any cosmetic procedure, AirSculpt is not considered risk-free. Rare complications include fat embolisms, irregular results, and numbness, but these risks are minimized by its more refined technique.
“With this procedure, fat is removed robotically, through a 2mm hole, the size of an average freckle,” explains Dr. Rollins.
“We remove one fat cell at a time, without affecting other areas. It’s like picking berries from a bush, rather than using a weed whacker.”
Another aspect that differentiates this treatment is its ability to tighten the skin.
“In addition to removing fat, it also produces an incredible skin tightening effect in exactly the same place,” explains Dr. Rollins. “With liposuction, the skin is not tightened unless other treatments are used.”
With this I was convinced and quickly signed up.
Emma before AirSculpt treatment (top) and after (bottom). She paid £8,000 for her procedure, which was painless, and is delighted with the results.
The day of my procedure arrived quickly. After a thorough pre-assessment with the plastic surgeon who would be performing the treatment, Dr. Omar Tillo, I was whisked off to the beautiful clinic to be marked and given local anesthesia.
A few fairly painless injections later, Dr. Tillo used a small punch to create three holes that acted as entry points: one below my ears, on either side of my jaw, and just below my chin.
A thin cannula is then inserted under the skin at each entry point. This probe tightens the skin and melts the fat cells before the AirSculpt device is inserted to suction them out.
It’s a peculiar feeling to see your own fat passing through a tube before your eyes, but if you’re like me and have spent years trying to shed it, it’s also incredibly satisfying.
During the treatment I felt strong vibrations in my jaw but no pain.
I was happily listening to my Beyoncé playlist and could breathe in nitrous oxide when I felt the need to relax a little more, but before I knew it, Dr. Tillo was done.
Emma before AirSculpt treatment (left) and after (right). While Emma did have some bruising immediately after the procedure, it had completely disappeared by day five.
In just 30 minutes, it was all over. No stitches, no antibiotics, no discomfort.
I was seated upright, put in a compression garment to minimise bruising and swelling, and after eating and drinking something, I was able to go home to rest. In total, I was in and out of the clinic in less than three hours.
For a night or two I slept propped up with an extra pillow to minimise swelling and managed the pain with paracetamol and ibuprofen, but I won’t sugarcoat it: waking up to a blood-stained pillow was alarming, even if I had been warned.
Unlike traditional liposuction, where drains are placed to release excess fluid from the body, AirSculpt leaves the incision sites open and allows them to heal to form freckle-sized scars.
What surprised me was how easy my recovery was. I slept and ate well, kept my compression garment on, was careful to keep my blood pressure stable, and worked from home.
Two days later, I felt perfectly fine, although I was still swollen. The small bruises I had disappeared by the fifth day and I did not need any painkillers from then on.
Emma before AirSculpt treatment (top) and after (bottom). Emma is pleased with the “chiseled” effect achieved by the procedure.
By the second week, I could see the initial results and was impressed: a defined chin was slowly emerging.
It’s been a year since the operation and I’m still amazed at how defined my jawline is. I look slimmer and my side profile is chiseled.
My confidence has also skyrocketed – I only wish I had gotten the treatment sooner instead of wasting time and money on other treatments.
There’s no getting around the fact that AirSculpt is an expensive treatment, but for me it has been totally and absolutely worth it.
- AirSculpt prices start from £8,000 for the chin; areas such as the waist and flanks start from £18,000. (uk.elitebodysculpture.com)