Anthropometric Analysis of the Attractive and Normal Faces in Korean Female

Lee, Jung Soo; Kim, Heung Kyu; Kim, Yang Woo

Abstract

With rapid advancement in techniques of correcting multiple facial anomalies, surgical planning has become more sophisticated, and knowledge of the exact relationship between various areas of the head and face is now indispensible. The importance of capturing the face in proportions has been emphasized by many surgeons. The neoclassical canons are known to modern plastic surgeons, but their usage in surgical planning has been limited to the role of working guides. They are useful, however, in serving as standards. The authors measured 800 normal young Korean females, ranged from 19 to 26 in age, and 21 beauty contestants in Korea, ranged from 20 to 27 in age. Seven vertical and seven horizontal linear measurements were taken from each subject by one examiner. These measurements of normal face and attractive face are compared with each other, and followed by comparison with neoclassical canons. Attractive face of Korean female comprises shorter lower face, especially from stomion to menton, narrower bigonial distance, and longer midface than normal face. It also has wide palpebral fissure and narrow intercanthal distance. Korean female face comprises shorter and narrower lower face than neoclassical canons. We think that it is valuable to take into consideration of this modern concept of beauty when making a preoperative plan for facial plastic surgery.