title: Measured symmetry of facial 3D shape and perceived facial symmetry and attractiveness before and after orthognathic surgery.
abstract: One aim of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery is to strive for an esthetical appearance. Do facial symmetry and attractiveness correlate? How are they affected by surgery? Within this study faces of patients with orthognathic surgery were captured and analyzed regarding their symmetry. A total of 25 faces of patients were measured three-dimensionally by an optical sensor using the fringe projection technique before and after orthognathic surgery. Based upon this data an asymmetry index was calculated for each case. In order to gather subjective ratings each face was presented to 100 independent test subjects in a 3D rotation sequence. Those were asked to rate the symmetry and the attractiveness of the faces. It was analyzed to what extend the ratings correlate with the measured asymmetry indices and whether pre- and post-surgical data differ. The measured asymmetry indices correlate significantly with the subjective ratings of both items. The measured symmetry as well as the rated symmetry and attractiveness increased on average after surgery. The increase of the ratings was even statistically significant. A larger enhancement of symmetry is achieved in pre-surgical strongly asymmetric faces than in rather symmetric faces.
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterials, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ostwald
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterials, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: berssenbruegge@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berssenbrügge
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterials, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dirksen
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterials, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Runte
authors.affiliation: Fachklinik Hornheide, Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Dorbaumstr. 300, D-48157 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wermker
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleinheinz
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Waldeyerstr. 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D004954:Esthetics; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asymmetry index; Facial attractiveness; Facial symmetry; Optical 3D data acquisition; Orthognathic surgery; Perception