Photometric Facial Analysis of Soft Tissue Profile of Adult Efiks

Abstract

Background: It has been established that self-esteem is strongly dependent on facial appearance. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the soft tissue facial norms of Efik adults by photometric analysis. Methods: Standardized photographic records of 364 (248 males, 116 females) Efik adults between 18-45 years were taken in the natural head position using a digital camera. The measured parameters were forehead height (Trichion-Glabella), special upper face height (Glabella-Subnasale), nasal height (Nasion-Subnasale), lower face height (Subnasale-Menton) and maximum facial width (Zygoma-Zygoma). Results: The mean Trichion-Glabella distance in males was 70.72±11.46mm and 93.43±18.85 mm in females, Glabella-Subnasale 79.5±9.65 mm in males and 107.28±16.32 mm in females, Nasion-Subnasale 57.3±6.8 mm in males and 74.8±12.45 mm in females, Zygoma-Zygoma 177.64±16.04 mm in males and 173.31±16.28 mm in females, Subnasale-Menton 89.22±11.8 mm in males and 114.46±16.7 mm in females. There was sexual dimorphism in all measured parameters (p<0.05) with the females having significantly higher values than the males except in the maximum facial width. Conclusion: This study has shown that vertical linear variables that define the soft tissue profile are sexually dimorphic. This study could be useful in orthodontics and facial plastic surgery.