Cosmetic Aesthetics: Get Rid of the Double Chin
"I want chin surgery"
Over ten billion dollars are spent on plastic surgery in the United States each year and, while nose jobs, breast implants, and tummy tucks have been on the scene for decades, the latest trend in cosmetic aesthetics is the surge of ‘chin augmentation’. Why is this particular surgical procedure bypassing Botox, liposuction and breast augmentation? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, (ASPS), the increase in direct video contacts, such as Skype or Facetime, has made a significant impact on how people see themselves on camera.
Andrew P. Trussler, MD, FACS, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon for the UT Southwest Medical Center, emphasized that our culture has moved into a technical age in which having an appealing appearance gives professionals a competitive edge.
“Some men need to masculinize the jaw,” he explained, “A strong, square chin is perceived as being strong in character. There is a high ratio of men who are having chin implants.”
But, according to a recent report by Diane Sawyer on ABC World News, chin implants have increased by 71% in 2011 for both men and women.
Plastic surgery terms you will want to become familiar with
Augmentation: The word, ‘augmentation’, means to enlarge or increase. In most cases of body redefinition, as in the case of implants, this is true. But, when it comes to surgical procedures that change peoples’ appearances it is important to note the difference between reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Reconstructive surgery: Reconstructive surgery is a surgical procedure to correct a deformity or maladaptation to enhance the patient’s quality of life. A common example of this is corrective surgery on a child who is born with a cleft palate.
Cosmetic surgery: Cosmetic, or plastic surgery, is a surgical procedure opted by the patient for reasons that do not necessarily affect their well-being or livelihood. Celebrity facelifts are an example of cosmetic surgery.
Genioplasty or mentoplasty: Genioplasty and mentoplasty is the term for chin surgery.
Why chin implants?
There are several reasons why people want a chin augmentation. These are:
Face Balance
Chin jobs are popular now for more than vanity reasons. As Dr. Trussler explained in his webinar session, April 18th, 2012, people consult him for facial harmony. A lack of facial harmony may occur at birth, such as when a person has a receding chin, or a short, undefined neck. Or, the disproportion may occur after another common procedure is done: rhinoplasty, (a nose reduction). When the new nose appears smaller on the face, the chin can look larger than usual. Removing the excess area can bring balance to the appearance of the face.
Studies have shown that facial harmony is one of the highest elements of sex appeal, or sexual attractiveness, by the opposite party. Facial balance is one of the defining ways that people seek a mate. It is no wonder that so many celebrities use cosmetic surgery for professional and personal reasons.
Strong chin vs. small chin
Another purpose of a chin lift is to define the chin transforming it from a ‘weak’ to ‘strong’ one. Men seek this as a profile image improvement both from front and side views. Increasing the projection and widening the base are two ways to improve this look.
“The gender difference”, according to Dr. Trussler, “is that men should have a profile in which the chin is slightly in front of the lower lip, while women should have a chin that is slightly behind the lower lip.”
Again, the lip to chin relationship is a key element in achieving the goal of face balance.
Weight gain or loss
Any significant amount of weight gain or loss will change the look of one’s chin. With weight gain an unsightly double chin often appears, while a significant weight loss will create a saggy skin appearance at the jaw and neckline. To increase a person’s self-esteem, cosmetic surgery is often sought to correct these aesthetic problems.
How much does chin surgery cost?
The range for a chin implant is between $2,000- $7500 depending on various factors. If it is a simple, uncomplicated procedure that is done as an outpatient or in the doctor’s office the fee will be lower. If an operating room and surgical team is required, it will be on the high end.
In addition, there could be lab work fees, pre and post medications, and follow up treatments, should there be any complications, which would increase the cost of this procedure.
A sliding genioplasty procedure ranges from $2500-$8500
For an injectable procedure the cost can vary: $500 to $3000.
Note: Cosmetic surgical procedures are usually not covered by insurance companies .
Before and After Images
Click thumbnail to view full-size
What to expect before, during and after chin plastic surgery:
Pre-surgery preparations:
If you are a smoker your surgeon may ask you to stop for a period of time prior to the operation.
It is common to take an antibiotic medication as a prophylactic measure against infection.
An antiseptic body wash will be given to you to use for a few days on the face and neck.
What to expect during your chin implant surgery:
Local anesthesia or a sedative is usually used in the office setting. This is to relax and calm the client during the procedure. If done in the operating room you may be given general anesthesia, which will put you to ‘sleep’.
If given a sedative or local you may feel the pressure of the surgeon manipulating the mouth and chin area. There should not be any pain.
You will not be able to drive yourself home following the procedure and should make arrangements for someone to accompany you.
If you live alone, it is advisable that you request someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours following surgery.
What to expect following your chin surgery:
Swelling, bruising and mild pain in the jaw and chin area.
Difficulty talking and smiling for a few days.
Restrictions may occur for select activities for a week or so.
Diet restrictions for the first several days.
Mild bleeding when eating or brushing your teeth may occur for a short time.
Complications to watch for following chin surgery:
Abnormal pain
Excessive or prolonged bleeding
Signs of infection: discharge, odor or high temperature
Shifting of the implant
Note: If these should occur call your doctor and follow her instructions.
What's your opinion about plastic surgery?
Would you consider having plastic surgery on your face?
Other 'facial' cosmetic procedures
In order to accomplish the overall effect of a chin implant, (genioplasty), a candidate may opt for other procedures as well. These include: rhinoplasty, (nose job), malar augmentation, (cheek implants), ostoplasty, (ear surgery), eyelid lifts, liposuction, a neck lift or an overall facelift.
One woman's story:
Comments
I want a chin implant! The older I get, the more chins I get. What's up with that? Anyway, because of the direction our society is going (video communication), I can see why more and more people are interested in chin implants. I liked this hub!
Great information provided, great Hub!This should prove to be highly sought after! Great topic!
Lots of useful information. One should know all the facts before getting into surgery.
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Thanks for stopping by, Vellur. You're not kidding! Even with ALL the facts I would really have to question if I would want to do it...it is usually irreversable, after all. :)
I didn't know chin implants were so popular. You covered this topic very thoroughly. Up and useful1
I love how you have presented this objectively. :) Knowing your background, I know that your information that you provided is bang on accurate!!
It's a shame how society is changing to meet the "expectations" of others. What ever happened to individual uniqueness? Before we know it, we will all look the same.... clones of each other!!
Excellent article Denise! :)
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Hi Pamela-I didn't realize it myself. In fact, if the doggone article wasn't so long I would add the Note: 'how this hub came to be written'. I heard a tidbit on the ABC news on Monday eve the very day that the topic was selected and was curious about why...that led to the research. Go figure! Thanks for the votes.
Hi Beth-Thanks! It was an agonizing all day compilation of three days of research between work and sleep, haha. I actually sat in on a Webinar on Wednesday eve that serendipitously happened to be scheduled. I discovered it while doing research on the Amer Plastic Surgeon society site. Very timely. I have to agree with you on the lack of uniqueness. Somehow, with all the reality shows out there, I DOUBT people are going to be cookie cutter stamped. Thanks for reading. :)
Interesting hub, Dee. A couple thoughts came to me while I was reading this. First, I was reminded of the boy and the dike situation -- get a nose job, then the chin looks out of ratio and needs to be fixed. Would the ears look too big then or the eyes too squinty?
My second thought was that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Today, we think fuller lips are sexier. But whose to say that 5 years from now thinner lips will be sexy? At one time, curvy figures such as Rubens models or Marilyn Monroe had were sexy. Today, pencil thin is in. Do we let society dictate what is beautiful or look to the inner beauty?
MSN is my home page and one day a week or so ago, they featured a slide show of cosmetic surgery gone bad. Wow! Certainly cinched my decision never to have a face lift, Brazilian butt or inject something in my lips to make them fuller!!
Voted up and interesting
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Danette-thanks for your feedback-really appreciate your thoughts on it. I agree. As I researched and read other cosmetic hubs, eh-I don't think so-at least NOT on my face anywhere. And, beauty truly is in the eye...
It was strange how I came to write this hub though, since the topic is NOT one I would normally choose.
Thanks for commenting.
An awesome hub on a subject that I might have been interested in when younger- but after time passes you get used to your face.....I just could not have this type of work done, though I am sure that many braver souls do
Excellent info. on plastic surgery. I would have to think really hard before having anything done. I have a friend who had breast implants done, they are leaking, she is getting ready to have them removed, but the sad part is she's having new implants done. She has also had her lips done. She is beautiful, but???? I do say, " To each his own " Whatever makes one happy. I had permanent eyebrows done and i love them. Thank you Denise, very interesting..
I would love to have face done but to frightened and no money. Vote up and interesting.
Hmmm...don't think I'd ever have plastic surgery on my face. Too chicken I guess. This hub had great information and important things to consider before taking such a risk. Nice job.
VOTED UP AND EVERYTHING ELSE. A lot of information that is helpful to anyone considering getting work on the chin. Okay, this is very interesting because the subject of the video is a local girl from Sacramento. I tried to find her to see if the chin surgery helped her out career-wise, but nothing. I found it strange that she wanted to look older since broadcasting is not a long-lived career for women. I had two friends who held top broadcasting jobs, but were booted out once they turned 40. Another was less than 5' and lasted about four years with her girlish body. I would not alter my face in hopes of getting a job. I find it such a waste for attractive women to depend on cosmetic surgery. The attractive young woman pictured in the video was sadly mistaken when she thought a chin would get her a job. I'm sure she had other skills to bring to the table. If I'm not mistaken, her father is a sports broadcaster and has been one for decades. If she wanted to, she could even approach him for contacts. Never hurts!
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case1worker-I'm with you on that one...I doubt I could actually have someone purposefully and intentionally cut into my face...oooooooohhhhhhhhh, LOL
Hi Ruby-yes, to each his own. I blame society for creating the need to body morph.
writer1-me + face = chicken. I'm right there with you!
Cara-thanks for your feedback. I was contemplating 'lifting' my sagging jowls-just a small tuck behind the ears-wadda ya think?
Arlene-very interesting comments, and I agree. when I saw that I thought: what in the world is the matter with that girl? "OLDER" Puh leassssse ! Everyone else goes under the knife to look younger, haha. Made me wonder who she was listening to! Now, if she had a receded chin, like in the photos included here, and wanted the camera job I could more understand this. That's sad that the 40 somethings got booted out. Geez, it's a dog eat dog world out there isn't it! I'm happy in my own skin-saggy or not, haha.
I tried chin exercises, but they only make me laugh.
Excellent hub, Denise. You've really covered the subject well- loads of useful info and pertinent photographs to go with it. May have taken you all day but the hard work shows. Voted up and away!
Interesting article, Dee. I haven't had any cosmetic surgery as yet, but who knows? The years brings little presents, and leave them in places we didn't know we had, or want. :-) Voted up.
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Arlene-you are funny! haha
Hi Docmo-thanks for your feedback and the votes. :)
Genna-Oh, you are so right! I could find a young photo of myself to replace this butterfly avatar and no one would know the difference, haha. Ah...I have little to complain about and am blessed in many ways. Thanks for the input and vote.
Interesting hub. I believe I will just grow old gracefully, even though my family seems to gradually develop the "turkey neck." Ha. Gobble, gobble. In His Love, Faith Reaper
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Thanks for your comments, Faith-yes, I had info on the ole 'Turkey Neck' as well, but didn't include it. It's part of the neck lift procedure to get rid of the gravity pull as we age. :)
Denise this is very interesting but I would never do it!
Scary! Thanks and voted up!
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Hi rutley-I agree...at least not on my face! (maybe my belly, haha) Thanks for reading and your vote. :)
Fascinating! I wonder if this has to do with this weird jaw defect I have. I think an orthodontist had told me to look into this a while ago but I was like... "Meh, who cares!"
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Simone-you're funny...you don't have a weird jaw, haha. HOWEVER, part of those who sought chin surgery were people who had jaw difficulties as observed by dentists. They usually referred them to orthodontists who took care of that type of surgery in their office. Thanks for commenting.
Fascinating idea! I don't think I would like to do it, but I can understand that some people would find it helpful, especially if they don't like their profile or how they look on camera, but I will stick to my funny face! lol!
Great information here. I may not ever opt for such procedures, but I am sure there is enough information here for those considering such procedures. Have a great day!
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I'm with you, Nell-maybe my gut, but no way my face. I cannot imagine those stars, like Michael Jackson, who've had major surgeries everywhere.
Thanks for your comments.
Hi Sofs-thanks for reading. It was an interesting research project even though I wouldn't want one :) Have a wonderful afternoon.
I love the way you organized and illustrated this hub and how thorough and comprehensive it was.
That said, I had many of the same thoughts as Danette wrote about in her comment as I read it.
In general, I hate the trend that so many people are getting plastic surgery done.
Some of the reality shows on TV show already gorgeous women getting cosmetic surgery in order to look flawless and I think it sets up artificial baselines for what's considered beautiful.
However, the people in the photos you showed here did appear to be good candidates for chin surgery and in those instances I think it's good that this is an option.
Voted this hub up across the board except for funny.
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Hi Gail, thanks for your feedback. I think there is an important distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. I agree that too many people opt for unnecessary surgery. What does that say about our society? Thanks for the votes.
This is a very thorough and well-done article. Good job.
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Hi Chris, thanks for reading and commenting.
This is very informative and the photos of the young lady with the recessive chin in the pink shirt was very dramatic.
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Hello Express10, thank you for commenting. I agree. I had to add some of the photos because I felt the same way-startling!
Loved, loved your post!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Haha, thanks! I'm wondering, "which part?" haha. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I can understand people with receding chins wanting chin implants, but what I think looks really odd is the large cheek implants that some women have that make them look like wooden dolls, and the "six-pack" implants that some men have - often balanced on top of a layer of flab! It doesn't look like much fun to me - fascinating to read about, though:)
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Hi Mazzy-thanks for reading and offering your input. It was fascinating researching. I remember watching that video of the beautiful young woman and wondering WHY she would want to undergo surgery. Well, to each his own. :)
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