Proportions and Angles in the Aesthetic Appraisal of Faces by Expert and Lay Panels

Abstract

Abstract Background: The ability to quantify the aesthetic appearance of a face and the therapeutic improvements made by some medical and surgical techniques could greatly help the objective assessment of care provision. This study set out to analyse biome. characteristics likely to influence facial aesthetic appraisal. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study on a group of young adults from Abidjan, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. For each subject selected, two standardised photographs (full-face and profile) were taken, and expert and lay Panels were asked to appraise them aesthetically. After collecting the appraisal scores, photogratnmetric measurements were made on paper using a graduated ruler and protractor. The data collected were analysed using the statistical software SPSS 20.0 for Windows. An ANOVA followed by a Tukey HSD test WaS used to compare the appraisals on the basis of photogrammettic variables. The statistical significance threshold was set at p <0.05. PCA was used to character'se the subjects ofthe different appraisals. Results: The subjects deemed attractive had a large lower face with a fumed-up nose (p < 0.01). Those deemed unattractive had larger noses and more facial asymmetry, with p < 0.04 and p < 0.0001. There was a gender effect, the mentocervical and interlabial angles being less marked in the females deemed attractive than in the males deemed attractive, with respectively p < 0.04 and p<0.02. Conclusion: Despite the subjective nature of attractiveness, perceived facial aesthetics of Black lvorians depended on balanced features and facial proportions.