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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
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Quantitative Assessment Protocol for Facial Soft Tissue Volumetric Changes with Stereophotogrammetry
Published on: December 9, 2025
3D stereophotogrammetry quantitative lip analysis
Adam R Sawyer1, Marlene See, Charles Nduka
1Queen Victoria Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3DZ, UK. drasawyer@hotmail.com
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
|June 28, 2008
Summary
This study found that measuring lip dimensions with lips closed provides more consistent results than with lips parted. Men generally have larger lip dimensions than women, with specific measurements showing significant differences.
Area of Science:
- Aesthetics and facial analysis
- 3D imaging and anthropometry
- Sexual dimorphism in facial features
Background:
- Aging leads to reduced lip volume, a common aesthetic concern.
- Limited research exists on the 3D structural changes from lip augmentation techniques.
- Lack of consensus on standardizing lip position (closed vs. parted) for analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To perform a 3D quantitative analysis of adult lip dimensions.
- To investigate potential sexual dimorphism in lip morphology.
- To compare measurement consistency between lips closed and parted positions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D stereophotogrammetry on 70 young Caucasian volunteers.
- Analyzed linear distances, surface distances, areas, and volumes of the lips.
- Compared measurements between male and female subjects with lips closed and parted.
Main Results:
- Lips closed position yielded more consistent and reproducible measurements.
- All analyzed lip parameters (distances, areas, volumes) were larger in males than females.
- Significant sexual dimorphism observed in mouth width, upper lip height, and vermilion dimensions (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- A novel, objective technique for lip aesthetic assessment using the closed-lip position was developed.
- This method provides consistent measurements for reliable analysis.
- Confirmed that males exhibit greater lip dimensions compared to females.
