Influence of lower lip position for varying degrees of chin prominence in facial attractiveness

Introduction: The oro-facial region is usually an area of significant concern for the individual. Lip protrusion and chin prominence is assumed to be most important factor in assessment of male and female facial attractiveness. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate influence of the lower lip prominence for varying degrees of chin prominence in male and female in the sagittal plane by lay people and orthodontists. Materials and Methods: An idealized profile image of male and female was selected. The image was manipulated to create six images each demonstrating different degrees of retrogenia and progenia altered in 4-mm increments from -12 mm to +12 mm and six images each demonstrating chin and lower lip prominence in 4-mm increments from -12 mm to +12 mm. Laypeople and orthodontists ranked the images from the most to the least attractive by Visual Analog Scale. Results: It was seen that in males, when chin is protrusive- forward lower lip and if chin is retrusive- unaltered lower lip was more attractive. In females, when chin is protrusive- unaltered lower lip and if chin is retrusive- unaltered lower lip was more attractive. No difference of opinion was seen between orthodontists and laypeople. Conclusion: The ideal and preferred sagittal position of chin is on or in front true vertical line, with slight forward lower lip for male while for female chin position on or behind true vertical line with unaltered lower lip position. Overall direction of opinion was same for lay people and orthodontists.