24.0: Thursday, March 17, 2005
7738

The American Perception of Beauty and the Golden Ratio

Dimitrios Danikas, MD, Anthony M. Rossi, Jr, MS, Georgia Panagopoulos, PhD, and Anthony N. LaBruna, MD, FACS.

The Greek philosopher Pythagoras (560-480 BC) suggested that all components of the human body and face are in Golden Ratios to each other. The Golden Ratio relates the length and width of a Golden Rectangle as 1 to 1.618... The purpose of our study was to evaluate the presence of Golden Proportions in aesthetically pleasing female faces.

Frontal facial views from Miss America contestants were examined for the possible presence of Golden Proportions. Landmarks of facial anatomy as the lateral canthi, nasal tip, mentum, nasal alae and oral commisure were used to define proportions. Distances were measured with a caliper and ratios were calculated.

Our results revealed that the tip of the nose divides in a Golden Ratio the distance between the lateral canthus and the mentum (Mean ratio 1.59, 95% CI 1.55 – 1.62). Also the distance between the lateral canthi and the width of the face at the same level was in a Golden Ratio (Mean ratio 1.59, 95% CI 1.50- 1.67).

Knowledge of the Golden Ratio and its applications in the anatomy of the face can facilitate the surgical decision making process. Optimum aesthetic results may be accomplished with application of the golden ratio in facial contouring procedures.