Survey results on the personal impact of submental fullness and how others perceive submental fullness were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
The survey of 1,996 men and women in the United States between the ages of 18 and 57 found that 47% of respondents reported being bothered by the appearance of the area underneath their chin, according to a press release from Allergan, which commissioned the survey.
“The results of this survey mimic what I hear from patients on a daily basis — they are bothered by submental fullness and are looking to address the problem,” Shannon Humphrey, MD, a co-author of the survey, stated in the release. “In many cases the submental fullness is genetic and resistant to diet or exercise.
“These findings will help physicians to better understand the impact a double chin has on our patients so we can address this issue and provide them with effective treatment options.”
The survey also found that 49% of survey respondents believe that the area under their chin negatively impacts their appearance, and 45% reported that they felt people noticed the area under their chin.
There were 1,025 women (55%) who reported being bothered by the area under their chin, compared with 971 of men (40%), according to the release
About a third of survey respondents reported altering behavior because of their submental fullness, including shying away from photos and avoiding video chats and conference calls.
Among men, 29% reported growing a beard to hide the area under the chin, with the practice being more prevalent among younger men.When evaluating photographs of individuals with submental fullness, 78% of survey respondents reported being more likely to notice a double chin on woman compared to a man, according to the release.
