What Is the Perception of an Esthetic Lower Facial Third Profile in the Korean Layperson Population?

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there were differences in perception of facial profile esthetics at the upper lip, gnathic, and genial levels according to observer gender and age in the Korean layperson population.

Methods: Ten male (M1 to M10) and 10 female (F1 to F10) silhouettes with differing facial profiles at the level of the upper lip, mandibular, and chin were created from a male and female facial profile deemed well-balanced and orthognathic by reviewer consensus. These silhouettes were presented to 288 participants who were asked to rank the 5 most attractive male and female profiles. The participants were composed of 144 males and 144 females divided into 4 age groups: group I (under 20 years), group II (20 to 39 years), group III (40 to 59 years), and group IV (over 60 years). The most preferred profile and observer scores were investigated and calculated. Descriptive analysis, χ2 test, and analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis according to age and gender.

Results: The most preferred male and female silhouettes were orthognathic profiles. There was no significant difference according to gender when rating male (P = .281) and female (P = .442) silhouettes. No statistically significant difference was observed even when analyzed according to age groups. Although the difference in observer scores among each ranking showed a statistical difference according to age groups, the overall rankings showed a similar pattern both in male and female silhouettes. In the same age group, no difference in rank scores according to gender was observed. Severe concave profiles were found to have the lowest rank.

Conclusions: An orthognathic profile was rated as the most desirable in the Korean layperson population, with few differences in perception of esthetic facial profile according to age and gender.