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

Abstract

Objective: To compare the facial characteristics of two different groups of attractive women with those of reference women. Materials and Methods: The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 facial landmarks were collected in 71 healthy reference women (18-30 years old) and in 24 coetaneous ''attractive'' women selected during two different beauty competitions; soft tissue facial angles, distances, areas, and volumes were computed and compared using analysis of variance. Results: When compared with reference women, both groups of attractive women shared several similar facial characteristics: relatively large forehead (P Ͻ .001), reduced mandible (P ϭ .008), and rounded face (reduced surface-to-volume ratio, P ϭ .002). They had a more acute soft tissue profile, an increased upper facial width (P Ͻ .001) and middle facial depth, larger mouth, and more voluminous lips (P ϭ .005) than reference women. Conclusions: Both groups of attractive women had several facial characteristics suggesting babyness. Nonetheless, each group of women was characterized by a different development of these features. Esthetic reference values can be a useful tool for clinicians, but should always consider the characteristics of individual faces. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:17-23.)

Il ruolo dell’odontoiatra nella medicina estetica: norme e indicazioni

“…Un lavoro italiano [8] volto a individuare i canoni estetici in giovani donne finaliste ai concorsi di bellezza conclude: in presenza di dati intuibili (una fronte relativamente grande con maggior sviluppo del terzo superiore del viso, una mandibola di ridotte dimensioni, un volto arrotondato con riduzione del rapporto superficie/ volume: tutti segni della giovinezza) una vincitrice mostra un discostamento maggiore delle altre candidate dai parametri medi del gruppo, quasi a sottolineare l'importanza del fattore emotivo.…”

Comparison of soft-tissue orbital morphometry in attractive and normal Italian subjects

“…We focused in particular on the orolabial region and on the relationships among the various parts of the face. 15,23 In contrast, the eyes and soft-tissue orbital region were almost neglected in our previous studies.…”

“…By definition, the normal population has a mean z-score of 0, with a standard deviation of 1. 23 Descriptive statistics of the z-scores were computed within the gender group. The significance of the z-scores was assessed by Student's ttests (if the attractive subject value is equal to the mean value of the normal group, the z-score is zero; the null hypothesis of the test is that the z-scores are null).…”

“…10,15,23 At first, a set of 50 soft tissue landmarks were located and marked by inspection and palpation on the facial skin of each subject using black eyeliner. Subsequently, the three-dimensional (x, y, z) coordinates of the facial landmarks were obtained using three-dimensional computerized digitizers (an electromagnetic three-dimensional tablet, 3Draw, Polhemus Inc, Colchester, Vt; and an electromechanical instrument, Microscribe G2, Immersion Corporation, San Jose, Calif).…”

“…1,21 In our laboratory, we are currently attempting to measure the facial characteristics of subjects considered attractive by the general public. 15,22,23 These subjects' three-dimensional facial soft-tissue dimensions were compared with those collected in healthy subjects of the same gender, age, and ethnicity, and the presence of measurable specific characteristics was assessed. We focused in particular on the orolabial region and on the relationships among the various parts of the face.…”