Plastic Surgeons Define Ideal Female Lip Dimensions

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Brian J. F. Wong, MD, PhD Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic Department of Biomedical Engineering University of California, Irvine

Dr. Brian Wong

Brian J. F. Wong, MD, PhD
Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of California, Irvine

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Research in facial attractiveness is difficult because of the inherent subjectivity of rating. Most people can look at a face and instinctively tell you whether that face is attractive or not, by subconsciously picking up on biologic cues like fertility, coloration, and proportions.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

JAMA image doi:10.1001/jamafacial.2016.2049Generating Upper to Lower Lip Ratios Lip ratios are adjusted to keep the most attractive surface area constant. A through D, Images as they appeared to raters in the survey; A and E, 1:2 ratio; B and F, 1:3 ratio; C and G, 1:1 ratio; and D and H, 2:1 ratio.

Generating Upper to Lower Lip Ratios
Lip ratios are adjusted to keep the most attractive surface area constant. A through D, Images as they appeared to raters in the survey; A and E, 1:2 ratio; B and F, 1:3 ratio; C and G, 1:1 ratio; and D and H, 2:1 ratio.

Response: Our research used an evidence-based method to find the ideal Caucasian female lip dimensions, finding that 1:2 is the ideal upper to lower lip ratio and an approximately 50% enhancement in total lip surface area for the “average” face is most attractive. By an average face, we refer to facial features which are all well-proportioned to each other.

As they are renowned world-wide for their facial attractiveness, I think the Victoria’s Secret models can be easily compared. I used image measuring software similar to what we used in the paper to measure a few accessible profile images. Models Alessandra Ambrosio and Miranda Kerr fit the 1:2 ratio well. However, their counterparts Doutzen Kroes and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley fit a 1:1 ratio, which goes to show that whole faces are greater than the sum of their parts and attractiveness can also be defined by facial features that are unique, even if they do not fit the ideal calculated ratios.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: I hope this research enhances the research-based guidelines used by physicians who perform lip fillers and other aesthetic alterations. I have no financial or personal conflicts to disclose.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Popenko NA, Tripathi PB, Devcic Z, Karimi K, Osann K, Wong BJF. A Quantitative Approach to Determining the Ideal Female Lip Aesthetic and Its Effect on Facial Attractiveness. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. Published online February 16, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamafacial.2016.2049

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Last Updated on February 17, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD