Standards of Facial Esthetics: An Anthropometric Study

Abstract

Aim Anthropometry is an art and science used extensively for measuring the soft tissue proportions. While it is true that error is found in measurements of this kind, a great many trends of growth and development and therapy changes can be recorded with a significant degree of accuracy. Objective Facial proportion varies among the different ethnic groups and today, most of the available studies are done on western population. Hence an Anthropometric study was conducted in the local population. Materials and Methods The study was carried out with the aim of measuring the facial soft tissue proportion in the local population using anthropometry. Study was done using 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females) with Class I skeletal relationship and pleasing profile. Using standard anthropometric landmarks the various anthropometric measurements and facial proportional indices were determined (both horizontal and vertical) and were compared with that for North American Caucasians. Results The statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the facial proportion between the two populations.

Vertical and horizontal facial proportions of Indian American men

“…In horizontal to horizontal facial ratios on Indian American men, mouth face width index was consistent with previous studies done in Indian men [ 11 20 ] and Caucasian men [ 23 ]. The mandibular face width in Indian men [ 11 ] and intercanthal-nasal width in Caucasian men [ 22 ] indices were also similar to the present study whereas, mandibular-face width index in Caucasian men [ 23 ] and Indian men [ 20 ], intercanthal-nasal width in Indian men [ 11 20 ] and Caucasian men [ 23 ] studies showed statistically significant difference ( P <0.001). In the available literature search, I could not find the data on eye fissure intercanthal width, eye fissure nasal width, and eye fissure intercanthal mouth width indices for the comparison.…”

“…The upper lip-nose height index in Indian men [ 11 ], lower face-face height, nose-face height index, and upper lip-nose height index in Caucasian men [ 23 ], upper lip-nose height index and upper lip-mandible height in Indians [ 20 ], nose-face height index and upper lip-mandible height in Caucasian men [ 24 ] studies were also in agreement with present study whereas, lower face-face height and nose-face height index in Indian men [ 11 ], mandibulo-upper face height and upper lip-nose height index in Caucasian men [ 21 ], upper lip-nose height index and upper lip-mandible height in Caucasian men [ 22 ], upper face-face height and nose-lower face height in Caucasian men [ 24 ] studies showed statistically significant differences ( P <0.001). In the available literature search, I could not find the data on ear-lower face height and ear-nose height index for the comparison.…”

“…Among vertical to horizontal facial ratios in Indian American men, upper lip height-mouth width index was consistent with previous studies done on Indian [ 20 ] and Caucasian [ 20 21 23 ]. The upper face index in Indian men [ 20 ], Caucasian men [ 23 ] and mandibular width-face height index in Indian men [ 11 ] studies were also similar with the present study whereas, facial, nasal, and upper face indices in Indian men [ 11 ], mandibular width-face height, facial, and nasal indices in Caucasian men [ 23 ], nasal index in Caucasian men [ 22 ] and upper face height-biocular width, mandibular width-face height, facial, nasal, and mandibular indices in Indian men [ 20 ] studies showed statistically significant differences ( P <0.001).…”

“…A few studies have been conducted on facial proportions in Indian populations in India [ 10 11 12 ]. A study performed by Sadacharan [ 13 ] with 100 Indian American female face dealt with facial proportions.…”

Outer circle versus inner circle: Special considerations while rejuvenating an Indian face using fillers

“…The findings shown in the above tables prove that the width of the bone framework in Indian Men is comparably smaller than their North American Causcasian counterparts and that the width of bone framework in Indian Female is also comparably smaller than their Causasian counterparts. [ 7 ] Indian faces tend to get fuller and tissues descend downwards and medially making it complicated for aesthetic correction. [ 8 9 10 ] Also in signifcant Indian population, the lower 1/3 rd of the face is much shorter in comparision to the upper 1/3 rd and the mid 1/3 rd of the face.…”