Development of facial sexual dimorphism in children aged between 12 and 15 years: a three-dimensional longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate sexual dimorphism of facial form and shape and to describe differences between the average female and male face from 12 to 15 years.

SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION

Overall 120 facial scans from healthy Caucasian children (17 boys, 13 girls) were longitudinally evaluated over a 4-year period between the ages of 12 and 15 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Facial surface scans were obtained using a three-dimensional optical scanner Vectra-3D. Variation in facial shape and form was evaluated using geometric morphometric and statistical methods (DCA, PCA and permutation test). Average faces were superimposed, and the changes were evaluated using colour-coded maps.

RESULTS

There were no significant sex differences (p > 0.05) in shape in any age category and no differences in form in the 12- and 13-year-olds, as the female faces were within the area of male variability. From the age of 14, a slight separation occurred, which was statistically confirmed. The differences were mainly associated with size. Generally boys had more prominent eyebrow ridges, more deeply set eyes, a flatter cheek area, and a more prominent nose and chin area.

CONCLUSION

The development of facial sexual dimorphism during pubertal growth is connected with ontogenetic allometry.