Soft-Tissue Facial Characteristics of Attractive and Normal Adolescent Boys and Girls

Abstract

Objectives: To identify possible esthetic canons in facial size and shape of Italian adolescent boys and girls. Materials and Methods: The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 facial landmarks (forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, jaw, ears) were collected in 231 healthy, reference adolescents (10-17 years old) and in 93 similar age group ''attractive'' adolescents selected by a commercial casting organization. Soft-tissue facial angles, distances, areas, and volumes were computed. Comparisons were made with analysis of variance. Results: Attractive adolescents had wider, shorter, and less deep faces than reference adolescents, with a relatively larger forehead and maxilla, and a reduced mandible relative to the maxilla. Lips were larger and more prominent, and the nasolabial angle was reduced, but in older boys the effect was reversed. The prominence of the soft-tissue profile, and of the maxilla relative to the mandible, were larger in attractive boys, but smaller in attractive girls than in their reference peers. In the horizontal plane, attractive ''young'' adolescents had a flatter face, while the opposite pattern was observed in the ''old'' adolescents, with a relatively more prominent chin. Attractive adolescents had smaller noses than reference subjects of the same age and sex. Conclusions: Overall, all the measurements appeared sufficiently homogenous, and the quantitative characteristics of an ''attractive'' face well defined. Esthetic reference values can be used to determine optimal timing and goals in orthodontic treatment.

Soft-Tissue Facial Characteristics of Attractive Italian Women as Compared to Normal Women

“…Similar procedures were followed in the past for both adult women 1,3,13,14,20,25 and children. 8,9 Therefore, the procedure differs from those commonly used in psychological investigations, where two-dimensional records are used. 11,12,22,26,27 Additionally, we tried to link measurements to ratings: even if the human visual system possesses a better sensitivity than the current measurement methods, 11,28 health professionals cannot rely only on perception, but they need objective data for their diagnosis and treatment.…”

“…[2][3][4][5] Orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons, therefore, should have a deep understanding of the facial characteristics that are currently considered by the public as ''attractive.'' 2,3,6,[7][8][9] psychology, the esthetic appraisal of adult faces depends on various combinations of averageness, symmetry, neoteny (babyness) and youthfulness, and sexual dimorphism.…”

“…The faces of attractive children, female adolescents, and adult women share several characteristics of babyness: a large face with a large forehead, a relatively large and more prominent facial middle third, reduced vertical development, full and prominent lips, and a more convex soft tissue facial profile than in the normal coetaneous population. 6,[8][9][10][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] In contrast, for postpubertal adolescent boys and adult men, attractiveness seems to be positively influenced by facial markers of high testosterone levels, with a relative increment of the facial lower third (more prominent chin, less prominent lips). 6,[9][10]12,18,20 On the other hand, several studies demonstrated that secular trends and even the cultural background can influence the perception of beauty, at least for adult subjects.…”

“…6,[8][9][10][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] In contrast, for postpubertal adolescent boys and adult men, attractiveness seems to be positively influenced by facial markers of high testosterone levels, with a relative increment of the facial lower third (more prominent chin, less prominent lips). 6,[9][10]12,18,20 On the other hand, several studies demonstrated that secular trends and even the cultural background can influence the perception of beauty, at least for adult subjects. 4,13,15,17,21 In our society, the perception of attractiveness is extremely influenced by media.…”

The role of the golden proportion in the evaluation of facial esthetics

“…[20][21][22] The authors analyzed different facial features (distances, angles, volumes, areas, and ratios), defining some characteristics of facial attractiveness typical for age and sex. Among the others, a large forehead, a wide face (especially in the middle third), a small nose, a large mouth, and a flat profile are the main facial characteristics that seem to be correlated with a better esthetic perception.…”