Chinplants

"Chinplants" are officially on the rise. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons chin augmentation is the fastest growing plastic-surgery category for both men and women and across all age groups, up 76% from 2010 to 2011. That's more than Liposuction, Botox, and Breast Implants combined! Most chin implant patients are in their 40's – 50's but there is a notable increase in fit 20 something's seeking a stronger chin.

Some suspect the newfound chin craze in this particular age group may be contributed to a variety of technological advances including smartphones, photo-fixated social media sites (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) & video conferencing (i.e. Skype). We spend more time than ever peering downwards at our smartphones, which can cause our chins to become weaker faster. We are becoming more accustomed to seeing pictures of ourselves on social media sites, and from certain angles the jawline can appear undefined and weak (even if it's unnoticeable in person). Also, more business is being conducted via video conference call, where the jawline can again appear subpar compared to what we see when looking in the mirror.

By using a chin implant to align the jaw with the upper lip, a person's face appears younger and more attractive. The changes are subtle, but the results are undeniable. Rather than using an implant, some surgeons are able to successfully augment the chin area by using your own tissue and bone or injectable filler substances. The surgery can be done under local anesthesia and takes approximately 30 minutes. Over 13,000 chin augmentations were performed last year. Cost ranges from $3,500 – $7,000 depending on where you go, but the average chin implant cost tends to be around $3,775 (according to realself.com).