Facial aesthetics and the assignment of personality traits before and after orthognathic surgery

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.

Abstract

Even after orthognathic surgery, the facial aesthetics were still rated lower than control subjects who had not received surgery.

Main

Sinko K, Jagsch R et al. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012; 41: 469–476

The facial aesthetics and ascribed personality traits, before and after orthognathic surgery in a selected group of 16 young female patients, were rated by volunteers. These scores were compared with eight control subjects who had a skeletal Class I pattern. Changes in hairstyle, among other factors, were excluded by computer manipulation. Following surgery, patients 'were rated significantly more beautiful, more pleasant, and more attractive', yet both facial aesthetics and ascribed personality traits were still scored lower compared with the control group. Pre-operatively, those patients with Class III profile were judged more 'aggressive', 'dominant' and 'less flexible' than those with Class II and Class I profiles. This study would refute 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' but concurs with the stereotypical view of some that 'what is beautiful is good'.