Perceptions about external aesthetic components in humans are influenced by the observer, for a number of reasons. This research demonstrates that intercultural and ethnic differences exist among cosmetic surgeons and individuals from non-medical backgrounds, in terms of assessing lip volume and lip proportions. In a globalized world, even though supposedly reliable ideals and surgical objectives exist in reconstructive plastic surgery, the results of our study show that individual and culturally dependent perceptions exist, when it comes to lip aesthetics.
An online survey that allowed the user to vary the lip fullness on a face model by varying the volume of the upper and lower lips, as well as the upper to lower lip ratio, was devised. This survey was sent to more than 9000 plastic surgeons and people with no medical educational background.
The recorded demographic data was collected and evaluated using an analysis of variance. From this data, the preferred lip volume and lip ratio were determined.
Three months after sending the survey, 1011 people (14% response rate) from 35 countries and 4 continents returned the survey in full. Analysis of the surveys revealed statistically significant differences in lip volume: cosmetic surgeons from Asia prefer a larger lip volume, unlike surgeons working in Europe. The average population in Asia, on the other hand, prefers a lower lip volume, which suggests that Asian surgeons have different ideas to those of their potential patients.
With regards to lip ratio, 60% of respondents considered the 1.0:1.0 lip ratio of upper to lower lip as the "ideal". Ethnic origin does not seem to play a decisive role in the preferred lip ratio. However, various preferences for the upper to lower lip ratio could be seen among the respective subcategories: age, sex and country of origin.
In summary, the results of our research show that cosmetic surgeons should assume that they may have different ideas and preferences to those of their patients, and that this should be taken into account when planning a lip procedure. This applies to surgical and nonsurgical procedures on the lips, lip volume and upper to lower lip ratio. An in-depth consultation, with a definition of the desired and agreed on surgical outcome, is a prerequisite for achieving an optimal aesthetic result that will be acceptable to both the patient and the surgeon. The results of our research also seem to indicate that it is useful to make an initial investigation into other relevant cosmetic surgical procedures, in order to familiarize themselves with their potential patient's expectations.
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Perceptions about external aesthetic components in humans are influenced by the observer, for a number of reasons. This research demonstrates that intercultural and ethnic differences exist among cosmetic surgeons and individuals from non-medical backgrounds, in terms of assessing lip volume and lip proportions. In a globalized world, even though supposedly reliable ideals and surgical objectives exist in reconstructive plastic surgery, the results of our study show that individual and culturall...
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