Relationships between facial features in the perception of profile attractiveness.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to analyse the attractiveness of modifications of lip, nose or chin positions on profile photographs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A profile digital photograph was randomly selected among pictures of 50 models participating to a beauty contest and then reviewed by 10 orthodontists and 10 laypersons who unanimously rated the profile as attractive. The original picture (O) was modified so as to create protrusion and retrusion of the lips of 2,4 and 6mm, thus generating 6 new pictures (O-6, O-4, O-2, O+2, O+4, O+6). From the original picture 7 new pictures were generated: (N) with the nose protruded of 6mm and its combinations with lips protrusion and retrusion (N-6, N-4, N-2, N+2, N+4, N+6). In the same way, picture (C) was created with the chin protruded of 6mm and 6 combinations of protruded chin with protruded and retruded lips were generated (C-6, C-4, C -2, C+2, C+4, C+6). 15 orthodontists and 15 laypersons were asked to rate all the 21 pictures on Visual Analogue Scales (VAS).

RESULTS

The original picture reported the highest VAS scores. Comparing the series "C" and "N", the pictures with Nose protrusion show higher VAS scores if compared with pictures with chin protrusion (p<.05). When nose or chin protrusion is present, the pictures that shows lip protrusion (N+2, C+2) reported higher VAS scores (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of nose or chin protrusion, a compensatory lip protrusion improves the profile attractiveness. Nose protrusion seems to be more tolerated than a similar amount of chin protrusion.