As a manager for a major software company, Lizette Stephens often finds herself face-to-face with people all over the world. And while she loves how technology keeps her in touch, she didn't always like how it made her look.
"I noticed that the double chin was very pronounced, and it really, really bothered me," Stephens said.
So Stephens did something about it. After meeting with plastic surgeon Dr. Darrick Antell, she joined a growing number of Americans who are opting for chin implants.
"The availability of cells phones and digital video lets you see your appearance immediately. We're much more aware of how we look and we're much more critical of ourselves," Dr. Antell said.
Experts say that may be part of the reason chin implants saw the biggest surge of any type of cosmetic procedure in the last year.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, chin implants shot up 66 percent in women and 76 percent in men. That's more than breast implants, Botox and liposuction combined.
On average, there was a chin implant surgery every 25 minutes in the U.S., and the biggest increase came in people over age 40. That's not surprising to Dr. Antell, who says whether they're getting them to accelerate their careers or slow down the aging process, chin implants are an attractive option.
"This has a rapid recovery; with this operation, people are back at work within only three days," Dr. Antell said.
It worked for Stephens. After years of shying away from seeing herself on screen, she now sees herself in a whole new light.
"Very happy. It's night and day different, but yet subtle enough that it doesn't make me look like a totally different, new person," she said.
The numbers show that it's about an even split when it comes to men and women getting chin implants. Statistics show that out of the nearly 21,000 procedures last year, 49 percent were done on women and 51 percent on men.
