The concept of beauty has changed over time and does vary amongst different cultures. But the basic tenets of beauty, proportion and symmetry, are timeless and unchanging. Thousands of years ago Nefertiti was considered the most beautiful of all women with her arched brows, high cheekbones, and slim nose. In the 1950s, Grace Kelly was viewed as a natural beauty because of her very symmetric and proportioned facial features and small slightly upturned nose. Leonardo Da Vinci was the first to apply scientific and mathematical analysis to the study of the face. Contemporary studies have confirmed the importance of symmetry and balance of facial features. If a line is drawn done the center of one’s face and mirror images are of made of each half, the closer these two reconstructed faces match the more attractive one is deemed. The classic example is that of Denzel Washington whose two facial halfs look remarkably similar. Lack of symmetry and proportion is a major reason why many patients seek plastic surgery for facial appearance improvement.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana