The Trending Plastic Surgery: Chin Augmentation
Chin augmentation, aimed at enhancing or reducing the chin, is the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States.
According to the annual report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there was a 71% increase in the number of these procedures in 2011, totaling 20,680 operations.
Surgeons note that mentoplasty chin augmentation is performed to “enhance the individual’s profile” by reducing a prominent chin or altering a “weak” one. The ASPS suggests that the rising trend in undergoing this procedure is partly due to the increased use of video conversation technology, the aging population, and the desire for workplace success.
The procedure involves making an incision in the chin to place an implant in the bone structure or to reduce or alter the bone in that area. The goal, they say, is to make the nose appear smaller, the jawline more defined, and the overall shape of the face more proportionate.
In 2011, the number of mentoplasties increased more rapidly than breast augmentations, Botox injections, and liposuction combined. The operation saw growth among both men and women, as well as among younger patients aged 20 and older, and those aged 40 and above.
“The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of aging,” explains Dr. Malcolm Roth, president of ASPS. “People are considering chin augmentation as a way to restore a youthful appearance, similar to facelift or eyelid surgery.”
Dr. Roth adds that as more people see themselves in videos, they notice that their jawline is not as defined as it once was.
Facial “Package”
In other countries, however, mentoplasty is not performed as an isolated procedure but is offered as part of a “package” of facial surgery. Dr. James McDiarmid from the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons explains, “No one comes to my office asking for a chin implant.”
“Mentoplasty is used as part of other operations, such as reducing the size of the nose or when a very small chin makes the nose appear larger,” he says.
Despite the rising popularity of mentoplasty, the most common cosmetic surgical procedures remain liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and eyelid surgery.
Recent figures from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that in 2011, there were 9.2 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures performed in the U.S. This marks an increase of nearly 200% since 1997, when these statistics began to be collected.
According to ASAPS, surgical cosmetic procedures increased by 1% in 2011, with a total of 1.6 million cosmetic surgical operations performed in the country. The annual report also compiles data on non-surgical cosmetic procedures—minimally invasive treatments that include Botox injections, hyaluronic acid injections (to “fill” wrinkles), laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal.
In total, 7.5 million of these procedures were conducted in 2011, according to ASAPS.
While women remain the primary clients for cosmetic surgery, an increasing number of men are also undergoing these procedures. In 2011, nearly 800,000 men underwent cosmetic procedures, a 121% increase since 1997, with the most popular operations among them being liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, gynecomastia reduction, and facelifts.