A COMPUTERIZED NONINVASIVE METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN FACIAL VOLUME

The three-dimensional coordinates of 22 standardized soft-tissue facia l landmarks were used in the definition of a three-dimensional model o f the adult human face. The model allows the estimation of the volume of the face in tote and of its parts (upper, middle and lower thirds, nose). Landmark coordinates were collected in 80 healthy young adults (40 men and 40 women selected according to criteria of dentofacial nor mality) by infrared photogrammetry by an automated instrument, and fac ial volumes calculated. Sample variability was larger in women than in men; the nose and the upper third of face had the largest variability regardless of gender. On average, all volumes computed in men were si gnificantly larger than the corresponding values computed in women. Al so the lower-to-middle third face ratio was significantly higher in me n than in women. The sexual dimorphism in human facial volume did not involve the different parts of the face to the same extent: a large pa rt of male facial volume preponderance was explained by the lower thir d of face. The proposed facial model could adequately represent the hu man face in all those research and clinical fields where noninvasive s urface measurements could be employed alone or in support of conventio nal radiographic data.