It is said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but what if those eyes are actually performing minute calculations to tell our brain what is beautiful? Is what we find attractive merely a personal preference, or can it be mathematically quantified and measured? Many believe that there are ideal dimensions when it comes to facial beauty. This Golden Ratio has been used for centuries by artists to create work that is pleasing to the human eye, so it is no wonder that it may also have indications in the world of plastic surgery.
What is the Golden Ratio?
The Golden Ratio (1.618) represents the mathematical proportions that the human eye seems to find most pleasing. These dimensions exist all around us in nature, art, architecture, and our own bodies. Man did not manufacture the ratio itself – it is found EVERYWHERE. From the number of petals on a flower to a nautilus seashell’s concentric rings, 1.618 balances the beauty of the world around us and how we perceive it visually.
How does the Golden Ratio Relate to the Human Face?
Take any fashion model, movie star, or beauty icon throughout history, and the chances are that when you measure the ratio of the length of their face to its width, it is close to 1.618. Take it a few measurements further and identify the distance between the pupil of their eye to the center of their chin divided by the distance from the pupil of the eye to the tip of their nose, and, you guessed it, the Golden Ratio makes another appearance. There is no denying that our eyes naturally find some facial dimensions more appealing than others. This is NOT to say that a face without ideal ratios cannot be attractive or beautiful, but our eyes do seem to favor symmetry and balance.
Can Plastic Surgery enhance the Golden Ratio?
It’s easy to see how bringing our faces’ key features into optimal balance can heighten the perceived attractiveness and overall harmony to our face. Your Plastic Surgeon will definitely take your facial features’ ratios into account if you are considering a procedure such as a rhinoplasty. Because our nose is the central feature to our face, its size and shape can significantly impact the appearance of the face in its entirety. Utilizing plastic surgery to refine the width, length, or overall shape of your nose can make the entire face appear more balanced and attractive.
Facial implants may also be used to achieve better facial harmony. It is very common for a Plastic Surgeon to recommend a chin implant with your rhinoplasty procedure, especially when a “weak” or recessed chin is present. When performed together, rhinoplasty surgery, along with a chin implant, can dramatically transform a face and profile.
Facelift Surgery also takes into consideration the Golden Ratio, as the goal is to restore a more refreshed and youthful balance to the face as a whole. Cosmetic injectors have also started to factor in the Golden, or “Phi” Ratio when injecting dermal fillers, as they can utilize fillers to subtly lift the tip of the nose, restore volume to the cheekbones, and build out the chin to achieve more balanced features on their patients!
Is a perfect Golden Ratio essential for your face to be deemed beautiful or attractive? Absolutely not! There are so many different kinds of beauty, and just as many preferences and interpretations of what is beautiful. That being said, humans do seem to be hard-wired to find balance and symmetry appealing, wherever it is found in nature!
Are you interested in learning how certain plastic surgery procedures may enhance your face’s overall balance and attractiveness? Schedule a complimentary consultation with an Edina Plastic Surgery surgeon by calling (612) 688-3177 or clicking here!
