Effect of aging on the shape and position of the eyebrow in an Indian population.

BACKGROUND

The eyebrow is one of the most important structures of the face from an aesthetic point of view. As age increases, the brow changes its shape and position. This age-related change decreases the vitality, youth, and expression associated with the aesthetically ideal face. This article describes changes in eyebrow position in Indian women with aging.

METHODS

This study recruited 80 female subjects for each of the required age ranges (20-30 years and 50-60 years) from the staff and outpatient settings at a tertiary care center in central India. Women who had any condition that could affect the measurements were excluded from the study. Standardized digital photographs in frontal view were captured with the forehead and eyebrows in a maximally relaxed position and with the eyes open. Eyebrow position was determined by measuring from a reference horizontal plane drawn between the medial canthi to vertical points on the upper brow margin at the medial canthus, pupil, and lateral canthus. The result was statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

With aging, the least rise was seen in the lateral segment, which was not statistically significant. This difference was statistically significant at the medial and midbrow positions (p < 0.05). In the younger group, the lateral brow position was significantly higher than the midbrow (p < 0.05). In contrast, the older group showed a nonsignificant difference in the position of the midbrow and the lateral brow. The mean horizontal distance of the brow apex from the midpoint of the pupil for young women was 15.2 mm.

CONCLUSION

The study results imply that the brow does not drop in women with age. It is recommended that in most instances, the lateral brow should be preferentially elevated, whereas the medial brow should undergo minimal or no elevation. Most patients require brow reshaping by restoration of the brow apex lateral to the level of the outer corneal limbus. By comparing eyebrow shape and position in both young and mature women, this study provides objective data that can be used to plan forehead-rejuvenating procedures in Indian women.