Background
Understanding the age-related morphological changes of facial soft tissue is fundamental in achieving improved outcomes of rejuvenating procedures. Three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry is a reliable and convenient anthropometric tool to assess facial soft tissue.
Objective
The aim of this study was to establish age-related facial soft tissue morphology in Korean adult females using non-invasive 3D photogrammetry.
Methods
One hundred and ninety-two female participants were divided into three groups based on age: the younger group (aged 20~39 years), middle group (40~59 years), and older group (60~79 years). Thirty-six landmarks were identified via 3D photogrammetric scanning (Morpheus 3D, Morpheus Co., Ltd., Seongnam, Korea). Forty-one facial dimensions were analyzed using the imaging software to find significance between the age groups.
Results
Smaller upper-facial volume (
p
=0.019) and shorter upper-facial height (
p
=0.034) were observed in the older group than in the younger group. In the mid-face, narrowed palpebral fissure (
p
<0.001) with elongated upper eyelid height (
p
<0.001) and widened nose (
p
<0.001) were observed in the older group compared with the younger group. Longer lower-facial height (
p
<0.001) with longer and wider philtrum (
p
<0.001,
p
=0.004, respectively), shorter lower vermilion height (
p
<0.001), wider mouth width (
p
<0.001), and smaller lower vermilion angle (
p
<0.001) were seen in the older group when compared with the younger group. Moreover, greater angles of nasofrontal, nasomental, and labiomental angle (
p
=0.015,
p
=0.015,
p
=0.080, respectively), and smaller nasofacial angle (
p
=0.034) were observed in the older group than in the younger group.
Conclusion
Our results provide clues of aging-related facial morphological characteristics in Korean female population.