The chin has a prominent role in defining facial shape and its aesthetic look. Whereas a strong prominent chin has been associated with strength and increased masculinity, a short chin portrays the opposite appearance of weakness. As a result, cosmetic chin augmentation with an implant has been done in plastic surgery for more than four decades. It is as common to be done by itself as often as it is combined with other facial procedures to improve one’s profile.
While having been done for a long time, chin augmentation surgery has undergone a surge in the numbers of procedures performed. In 2011, a 70% increase in chin augmentations was reported compared to the previous year according to statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. News outlets have picked on this increase in chin augmentation surgery and have credited it to such recent electronic device interactions such as Skype on the internet and Facetime on the iphone. It is theorized that seeing one’s face on web cameras and smartphone pictures has increased awareness of chin deficiencies.
While this explanation is intriguing and a bit trendy, it likely has little to do with why more chin augmentations are being done. There are better explanations that make more sense and are reflective of a variety of different factors. First, there are more chin implant options today than ever before. Most of them are made of silicone which makes it easy to create new styles and sizes. Go to any facial implant manufacturer and you will see that there are more chin implant options than almost all other facial implants combined. One of the more popular facial implant manufacturer has 14 different styles not to mention different sizes within each style. One may argue how really different many of these implant styles are but they give surgeons a lot of options. When more options are available, more procedures end up being done.
Another major driving force is the rise in two other specific facial procedures, rhinoplasty and facelifts. Both are being done by an increasing number of surgeons but facelifting treats a problem that eventually affects all of the population. The rise of numerous types of limited or less invasive facelifts has spurned a lot of attention in the younger patient with earlier signs of aging. This has drawn a lot more attention to how one’s face looks as it ages. Since facelifts focus on the shape of the jawline and the neck, any chin deficiency will be quickly recognized. Chin augmentation adds length to the jawline which helps in improving the smoothness of the jawline and the sharpness of the neck angle.
There may also be some influence, as had been suggested, that more people are seeing themselves than ever before. Whether by digital camera, smartphone or on Facebook, people are having to see more of themselves particularly in profile. When combined with an ever increasing desire to remain competitive in the workplace, change in social circumstances such as divorce and an ever increasing emphasis in society on looking and feeling younger, all types of facial rejuvenation procedures are increasing.
Put together, there are many reasons chin augmentation is increasing. But the main reason it continues to grow is because it is works. It is one of the most significant structural changes of the face, whether it is a small increase to complement a facelift or a major change to improve a naturally short jaw.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana