Lip morphometry in 600 North Indian adults: a data base study for sexual dimorphism

Anthropometric Analysis of Indian Faces: A Systematic Review

Objective

Facial anthropometric data vary significantly within the Indian population due to the racial, ethnic and geographic diversity. The anthropometric data of a given ethnic community may not match the other due to diverse ethnic variations, and hence, this study is intended to review the facial anthropometric data pertaining to the diverse Indian populace through a systematic literature survey.

Materials and Method

An electronic search done on Medline, Embase and Central databases was utilized to conduct a systematic review of literature. The available data were analyzed based on the various esthetic subunits of the face. The following inclusion criteria were considered: (1) studies depicting the anthropometric data of any ethnic group identified as belonging to India, (2) studies originating from Indian subcontinent, (3) studies which included data of male and female subjects separately and (4) articles in English language only. The following exclusion criteria were considered: (1) atudies conducted on participants with severe malocclusion, developmental craniofacial anomalies, post-traumatic facial deformities or with a history of previous craniofacial or cosmetic surgery, (2) studies which did not specify the anthropometric landmarks used to obtain the measurements, (3) studies in which the statistical analysis was not provided, or if data were grouped across genders and (4) editorials, commentaries, case reports, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and articles not available in English language.

Results

Twenty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the Indians, particularly men, seem to have a mesoproscopic facial phenotype. The vertical and horizontal facial dimensions of the Indian male are comparably larger than the Indian female. There is sexual dimorphism among the Indian population with regard to the upper and lower thirds of the face, with little or no gender difference as regards the middle third of the face. It was observed that the nasal dimensions of the Indian race were not compatible with that of the occidental, oriental or the western race. The overall facial structure and the upper half of the face were critical in determining facial attractiveness in Indian males while the lower half of the face and the mandibular contour were critical in determining facial attractiveness in females.

Conclusion

It is observed that there is a paucity of facial anthropometric data for the Indian population considering the ethnic, racial and geographic diversity. Since the prevalence of craniofacial anomalies and dentofacial deformities in India is high and thus the scope for corrective surgery, it is important to compile baseline facial anthropometric data based on the ethnic diversity of the Indian population.

Lip Anthropometry of Healthy Turkish Young Adults

ABSTRACT

The lips play an important role in evaluating and recognizing the craniofacial complex and our perception of facial beauty and attractiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric measurements of the lips of Turkish young adults and to look for sexual dimorphism. Anterior view photographs were taken of 100 females and 100 males who volunteered to participate in the study. Seven landmarks were determined, stomion (st), sublabiale (sl), subnasale (sn), labiale superius (ls), labiale inferius (li), crista philtre (cp), and chelion (ch). Then, using these landmarks, lower lip height (st-sl), upper lip height (sn-st), philtrum length (sn-ls), upper vermilion height (ls-st), lower vermilion height (li-st), cutaneous lower lip height (li-sl), philtrum width (cp-cp), and mouth width (ch-ch) were measured. It was observed that there was a statistical difference between genders in the parameters of st-sl, sn-st, sn-ls, li-sl, and ch-ch (P = 0.001, for these parameters). Besides, using these distances, 6 anthropometric ratios (ls-st/li-st, sn-ls/ls-st, li-sl/li-st, sn-st/st-sl, cp-cp/ch-ch, and ls-li/ch-ch) were calculated. Among the ratios investigated, sn-ls/ls-st, li-sl/li-st, and cp-cp/ch-ch were statistically significantly larger in males compared females (P = 0.012, P = 0.002, and P = 0.001, respectively). We believe that the results obtained in this study regarding lip anthropometry will help determine the standard values that can be used for the Turkish population aged 18 to 25.

Evaluating the Anatomical Traits of Lip on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Images

BACKGROUND

Lips and mouth are the most recognizable parts of the lower face. The morphometry of the facial organs is important for the balance of the face. Besides congenital anomalies occur on the lips, some kinds of deformities might be seen because of trauma or carcinoma. In this respect, lips are in the study of plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics. Lip morphology also takes an important role in forensic facial reconstruction (facial approximation).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty parameters on the soft tissue and 12 parameters on the hard tissue were measured on three dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) images belonging 50 individuals (25 female, mean age 35.40 ± 9.97; 25 male, mean age 34.32 ± 11.06).

RESULTS

Statistical significance was observed on 4 parameters measured at soft tissue and 6 parameters measured in hard tissue. Statistical significance was not seen between the measurements taken bilaterally. Fourteen equations were developed in order to estimate the lip morphometry using the morphometric traits of hard tissue.

CONCLUSION

We hope that the results of current study will be useful at surgery and forensic sciences.

A Quantitative Analysis of Lip Aesthetics: The Influence of Gender and Aging

INTRODUCTION

The quantitative analysis of sexual dimorphism of facial structures may valuably support reconstructive and feminization surgery, thanks to the estimation of metrical thresholds useful for distinguishing male and female traits. This study aims at verifying the metrical characteristics of female and male lips, to provide indications for aesthetic surgery.

METHODS

Thirty healthy Caucasian volunteers (20 men and 20 women) were divided into two groups according to age: 21-34 years and 45-65 years. Arches and the cutaneous (external) and mucosal (internal) labial surfaces were reproduced by stone models, and digitised using a computerised electromechanical instrument. Area, volume and thickness were measured separately for the upper and lower lips, and compared between sexes and ages by Student's t test, and multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

All lip measurements were larger in males than in females; upper lip thickness best divided males from females, adopting a 9.5-mm threshold (percentage of correct diagnosis: 85 %). Young subjects always showed higher measurements than old subjects; lower lip thickness provided the highest percentage of correct age diagnosis (85 %, adopting a 13.8-mm threshold).

CONCLUSION

This study provides novel thresholds that may contribute to the assessment of adequate reconstruction of lips in aesthetic surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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