Have you ever wondered what makes a face attractive? The concept of beauty is subjective, but Prof. Federico Hernandez Alfaro and his research team have been working to understand what makes a face aesthetically pleasing.
The result of all these years of research is the "Barcelona Line," a new reference plane for determining the ideal positioning of the maxilla and mandible in orthognathic and orthofacial surgeries.
For years, cephalometry, the process of measuring the skull and facial structures, has been used to diagnose and plan orthognathic surgery (OS), a procedure that aims to correct facial deformities. However, this approach has its limitations, and there's been a growing recognition that traditional methods may not accurately reflect our modern perception of beauty.
In a study published in the prestigious British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Barcelona Line was validated as a new reference plane for maxillo-mandibular sagittal positioning in patients with dentofacial deformity. The Barcelona Line is defined as a tangent line passing through the nasion (the intersection point between the forehead and nasal bones), and is perpendicular to the natural orientation of the head.
The study found that the Barcelona Line can be established as a simple and reproducible diagnostic and planning tool for Orthognathic Surgery. The researchers analyzed the opinions of specialists and non-healthcare workers alike, and found that the younger the rater, the greater the agreement on what constitutes a beautiful face.
But what does this mean for the average person?
It suggests that a protrusive face, characterized by a prominent chin and angular features, is perceived as more attractive by modern-day beauty standards, permeated by racial mixture.
So if you're considering orthognathic surgery, the Barcelona Line is a valuable reference point for your surgeon to consider, as it can be easily traced on a photograph of the individual in a relaxed position, looking at the horizon and smiling, making it a simple and accessible reference for facial analysis,” explains Professor Hernández Alfaro, who adds how the Barcelona Line has been adopted by the international medical community as a guide for planning facial and orthognathic surgeries.
Thus, the Barcelona Line represents a step forward in our understanding of facial beauty and its relationship to skeletal structure.
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