Three-dimensional facial analyses of Indian and Malaysian women

Facial Anthropometric Analysis of a Representative Subset in an Average Kerala Population: A Pilot Study

Background The Neoclassical canons, originally framed based on the Renaissance artworks, vary across genders, races, and ages. This has been proved in multiple studies conducted on the Western population, but minimal studies exist on the Eastern population and lesser so on the Indian population. This study aims to define the standard Keralite face and assess its variation from the canons.

Methods A total of 250 people of Kerala origin aged 18 to 40 years were studied over a period of 1 year in our institute. Standardized frontal and profile photographs of the subjects were taken. Twenty anthropometric measurements were taken and analyzed for variation between genders, from published Indian standards and their conformity to the Neoclassical canons.

Results Compared to the Keralite men, there were significant differences in 14 of 19 measurements in Keralite women. The men had wider and longer faces than women. Five of 10 measurements in females and 6 of 10 measurements in males significantly differed from the published Indian norms. The average Keralite face was wider, longer, and rounder. None of the facial proportions fit the Neoclassical canons.

Conclusion The average Keralite face significantly differed from the Neoclassical canons and there were some significant variations between genders. This study highlights the need for a larger population-based study with more representation from various regions across India.

Depiction of ethnic facial aging by forensic artists and preliminary assessment of the applicability of facial averages

Many characteristics of facial aging are common to all. The age of their onset and which characteristics tend to predominate varies among individuals depending on many factors including their genetic makeup, life experiences, environment in which they live, and the regional, ethnic, or socially perceived group to which they belong. Forensic artists are often asked to provide sketches, 2D or 3D digital renderings, or sculptures representative of how an individual may appear at an older age based on a provided photograph, victim or witness description, and/or cranial remains. The challenge escalates when the subject is a member of a regional, ethnic, or other socially perceived group to which the artist has had little or no exposure. We describe aspects of adult facial aging that are of particular relevance to the forensic artist, applicable software tools, and pertinent facial databases, especially those emphasizing non-white populations. We demonstrate that facial averaging offers two key advantages to the artistic portrayal of facial aging: first, the technique requires relatively small reference databases from groups that may present logistical challenges to collect and second, that a facial average provides a useful representation of the gestalt of the age and ethnicity cohort to which a subject belongs. The artist may use an average along with other available information such as photo reference books, eyewitness descriptions, photos of immediate family members, and cranial structure to guide production of a facial composite drawing, digital age progression, or sculpture of the subject in question.

Assessment of age- and sex-related changes in baggy lower eyelids using a novel objective image analysis method: Orbital gray scale analysis

BACKGROUND

Baggy lower eyelids (BLEs) are a common aesthetic problem of aging. Valid and reliable assessment tools for BLEs are required to evaluate the current status and treatment outcome.

AIMS

Age- and sex-related changes in BLEs were assessed with the orbital gray scale (OGS), a novel objective image analysis method.

METHODS

We gathered frontal-view photographs of the faces of the patients who sought for correction of BLEs. Based on the clinical pattern, we classified the BLEs of the subjects into medial (M), medial and central (MC), and medial to lateral (MCL) types. Severity was evaluated using the OGS, a modified method of the linear gray scale analysis.

RESULTS

The BLEs of 1034 subjects were classified. The most common types were MCL type in the men and MC type in the women, respectively. The M and MC types were common in the young subjects, whereas the MCL type was more common in the old subjects (P < .001). The measurements of OGS in 104 subjects showed positive correlation with age, a higher mean value in the men, and a trend toward higher values in the order of M, MC, and MCL types (P < .001 for central and lateral OGS scores). In a multiple linear regression analysis, central and lateral OGS values were significantly related with age, sex, and M-C-L classification type (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The M-C-L classification and OGS were significantly associated with both age and sex, proving that they could be potent objective assessment tools for BLEs.

Marquardt's Facial Golden Decagon Mask and Its Fitness with South Indian Facial Traits

INTRODUCTION

The mathematical ratio of 1:1.618 which is famously known as golden ratio seems to appear recurrently in beautiful things in nature as well as in other things that are seen as beautiful. Dr. Marquardt developed a facial golden mask that contains and includes all of the one-dimensional and two-dimensional geometric golden elements formed from the golden ratio and he claimed that beauty is universal, beautiful faces conforms to the facial golden mask regardless of sex and race.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the goodness of fit of the golden facial mask with the South Indian facial traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 150 subjects (75 males & 75 females) with attractive faces were selected with cephalometric orthodontic standards of a skeletal class I relation. The facial aesthetics was confirmed by the aesthetic evaluation of the frontal photographs of the subjects by a panel of ten evaluators including five orthodontists and five maxillofacial surgeons. The well-proportioned photographs were superimposed with the Golden mask along the reference lines, to evaluate the goodness of fit.

RESULTS

South Indian males and females invariably show a wider inter-zygomatic and inter-gonial width than the golden mask. Most of the South Indian females and males show decreased mid-facial height compared to the golden mask, while the total facial height is more or less equal to the golden mask.

CONCLUSION

Ethnic or individual discrepancies cannot be totally ignored as in our study the mask did not fit exactly with the South Indian facial traits but, the beauty ratios came closer to those of the mask. To overcome this difficulty, there is a need to develop variants of golden facial mask for different ethnic groups.