Three-Dimensional Facial Asymmetry in Attractive and Normal People from Childhood to Young Adulthood

Abstract

Abstract:We are currently investigating measurable esthetic characteristics in persons considered "attractive" by the media. Three-dimensional soft-tissue facial asymmetry was quantified in 380 attractive (148 males, 232 females) and 669 control (397 males, 272 females) healthy persons aged 4-30 years. The coordinates of 50 facial landmarks were collected by a computerized digitizer, and asymmetry computed. Soft-tissue facial asymmetries reduced as a function of age in all cases. Attractive children were more symmetric than control children, but the reverse was true for young adults. The effect of symmetry on attractiveness seems to change as a function of age.

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.…”

“…They were those admitted to the semifinal stage of the beauty competitions and were measured just before the relevant beauty event. 15 No information about their clinical or surgical history was available. For attractive subjects, the sample size was higher than that used by Farkas 19 in the only previous investigation that analyzed men and women with three-dimensional measurements (171% and 62% higher for women and men, respectively).…”

“…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.…”

“…3,5,6,8,[12][13][14] According to the current theories of evolutionary psychology, the esthetic assessment of adult faces depends on various combinations of averageness, symmetry, neoteny (babyness) and youthfulness, and sexual dimorphism. [1][2][3][4]15 Studies on facial attractiveness focused both on the psychological bases of esthetic perception 1,3,16 and on actual measurements computed for faces ( faces) considered more or less attractive. 2,4,5,12,[17][18][19][20] Unfortunately, previous investigations were mostly performed on two-dimensional images (only Farkas 19 used three-dimensional measurements), did not report global measures such as facial areas, and scantly assessed men.…”