Background: Minimally invasive lip volumizing and contouring soft tissue filler procedures are frequently requested by both female and male aesthetic patients. Guidance on how to achieve the most beautiful outcome is inconsistent.Objective: To investigate what the most beautiful proportions are in relation to vermillion thickness, the distance of the upper and lower lip in relation to nose and chin, and relation to the bigonial distance.Methods: This study included a total of n = 101 volunteers (52 females, 49 males, 100% Caucasian) who inspected frontal images of modified facial proportions and answered a related questionnaire showcasing the same images. Image presentation followed a randomized sequence both for the eye tracking and for the survey component of this study but was equal for all observers.Results: The most attractive vertical position of lips was the 1:2 ratio in which the distance between lips and chin is double the length as the distance between lips and nose. For the ratio between the width of the lips and the bigonial distance, it was the 1:2.5 ratio, whereas for the thickness of the upper lip vermilion in relation to the upper lip ergotrid it was the 1:3/1:2 (male/female) ratio and for the lower lip vermilion and lower lip ergotrid it was the 1:4 ratio for both genders.Conclusion: The results of this eye tracking and survey‐based investigation revealed that instead of one single universal ratio, multiple facial proportions exist that are perceived as most attractive/masculine/feminine. Regarding the perception of facial aesthetics, it appears there is a distinction between attractiveness and masculinity/femininity: the most attractive male/female face is not necessarily the most masculine or feminine.
11 June 2024 in Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
In an era where globalization and social media significantly reshape beauty standards, it is imperative to delve into the subjectivity of beauty and attractiveness. The lips, a key element in facial aesthetics, contribute significantly to the perception of attractiveness, and also have a profound impact on an individual's self-esteem. To analyze the influence of ethnicity on the aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics, among male and female faces. This study encompassed a sample of 231 study participants (153 women and 78 men) with an average age of 23.2 ± 2.8 years, representing ethnicities such as African, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian. Participants were asked to rate a series of images showcasing various lip variants, providing insights into their aesthetic preferences. Demographic analysis revealed gender and ethnic variations in aesthetic preferences for all the investigated lip parameters. Women were 2.42 times more likely than men to prefer no Cupid's indentation on a female model (p = 0.0019). The study underscores the importance of understanding cultural influences on beauty standards and challenges the notion of a universal beauty ideal. The evolving role of social media trends, such as Cupid's bow indentation elimination, raises questions about the dynamic nature of aesthetic preferences among different ethnicities.
20 April 2025 in Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
The increasing popularity of minimally invasive soft tissue filler injections has been accompanied by a significant rise in filler reversal procedures, highlighting the concerns regarding adverse effects, including the facial overfilled syndrome (FOS). This trend suggests a growing need to understand individual facial regions contributing to FOS and their influence on patient perception. To investigate the influence of exaggerated volumization of facial regions on the perceptions of attractiveness and gender traits using eye-tracking and survey methods to better understand FOS. A total of 50 volunteers (30 women and 20 men) rated frontal images of different modified facial regions (i.e., eyes, cheeks, and lips) and the combination thereof on 5-point Likert scales for attractiveness, unattractiveness, masculinity, and femininity. Their gaze patterns and eye movements were analyzed using eye-tracking technology. Elevating the lateral canthal angle sharply reduces the attractiveness in male and female faces. Accentuating the zygomatic arch generally decreases attractiveness and masculinity, particularly in men, while slightly increasing femininity. Lip volumization in women marginally increases attractiveness without significantly altering femininity. In combined modifications, the decrease in attractiveness is predominantly driven by the eye modification aspect, leading to the most substantial decline in the perceived attractiveness and gender-specific traits. Certain facial modifications such as lip enhancement may increase attractiveness, while cheek enhancements may increase femininity. However, most alterations, particularly those involving the eyes or combinations of treatments, generally decrease attractiveness and impact the perceptions of femininity and masculinity. This underscores the need for balanced aesthetic treatments to prevent overcorrection.
21 March 2025 in Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
The increasing number of esthetic procedures emphasizes the need for effective evaluation methods of outcomes. Current practices include the individual practitioners' judgment in conjunction with standardized scales, often relying on the comparison of before and after photographs. This study investigates whether comparative evaluations influence the perception of beauty and aims to enhance the accuracy of esthetic assessments in clinical and research settings. To compare the evaluation of attractiveness and gender characteristics of faces in group-based versus individual ratings. A sample of 727 volunteers (average age of 29.5 years) assessed 40 facial photographs (20 male, 20 female) for attractiveness, masculinity, and femininity using a 5-point Likert scale. Each face was digitally edited to display varying ratios in four lip-related proportions: vertical lip position, lip width, upper lip esthetics, and lower lip esthetics. Participants rated these images both in an image series (group-based) and individually. Differences in the perception of the most attractive/masculine/feminine ratios for each lip proportion were found in both the group-based and individual ratings. Group ratings exhibited a significant central tendency bias, with a preference for more average outcomes compared with individual ratings, with an average difference of 0.50 versus 1.00. (p = 0.033) CONCLUSION: A central tendency bias was noted in evaluations of attractiveness, masculinity, and femininity in group-based image presentation, indicating a bias toward more "average" features. Conversely, individual assessments displayed a preference for more pronounced, "non-average" appearances, thereby possibly pointing toward a malleable "intrinsic esthetic blueprint" shaped by comparative context.
Background: Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) is a document signed by a patient, which states that they do not want to be resuscitated. In Poland, DNAR is not regulated by law. We aimed to assess people’s perceptions on DNAR and pediatric DNAR in Poland. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed via the snowball sampling method in different voivodeships in Poland in the years 2014–2018. The survey consisted of questions regarding knowledge and attitudes towards DNAR and pediatric DNAR. Results: A total of 1049 responses were collected. Moreover, 82% support introducing DNAR in Poland, but 78% believe that this is not a pressing issue. In a general question, 46% of respondents believe that DNAR should be obtainable only for adults. However, in a specific question, this number drops to 17%, with people agreeing for pediatric DNAR if it contains a boundary—23% agree if both parents agree to the solution and 45% if both parents and the child’s doctor agree to it. Conclusions: Even though someone supports DNAR, it does not mean that they support pediatric DNAR. People outside the medical community are more likely to be against DNAR. Giving a boundary in using pediatric DNAR may lead to the ease of its implementation in a legislative manner.