In pursuit of perfection.

• Author: Alsever, Jennifer

Utah has more plastic surgery than anywhere else. Here's why.

WHEN NOT IN 12 HOURS OF SURGERY, Dr. Jerry Chidester often dons surgical scrubs and grooves to popular TikTok dances on social media.

Known as "Dr. Chiddy" online, the Draper plastic surgeon not only dances but posts about the benefits of tummy tucks and holds regular Q&A sessions about breast augmentations, liposuction, and similar procedures, which may cost $12,000 to $30,000. In just four years, the young doctor has amassed 100,000 followers, who have created their own online communities in which they share support, photos, and stories of the emotional and physical process of surgery.

Social media plays a huge role in plastic surgery today--for better or worse. Utah, in particular, is ground zero for "mommy makeovers" and home to a multi-billion dollar Mommy Blogger industry, which doctors say has driven much of the growth for their practices. Demand for plastic surgery in general exploded following the COVID pandemic, driven by a surplus of disposable income and Zoom calls. At least three-quarters of plastic surgeons saw an increase in demand, with 30 percent of them saying their business doubled. As many as 79 percent of doctors say patients are willing to spend more money on plastic surgery.

"Utah is like this hidden gem for plastic surgery," Chidester says, who is booked two years out for his procedures.

Years ago, reports emerged that Utah ranked second in the nation for the number of plastic surgeons per capita, prompting a national magazine to call Salt Lake City the "Vainest City in America." Doctors still say the state does more breast implants than any other. Salt Lake City has the highest number of beauty treatment businesses per resident. In recent years, Google searches for "breast implants" were 57 percent higher than the national average, and in 2020, Salt Lake City residents' online searches for "boob job" peaked.

CULTURAL INFLUENCE

Chalk it up to the state's demographics and a culture that prizes outward appearances. In more homogeneous societies--and in the case of Utah, more white people or more people in one religion--tend to have more competition and comparison to others, says Dr. Susan Madsen, founder and director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project, which conducts research to celebrate, educate, and activate women and girls. At least 87.6 percent of Utah's population identifies as white, and 57 percent are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In recent years, LDS women outnumbered men three to two. "For some, there is competition to look better, and it comes...