On facial asymmetry and self-perception

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Medical Imaging
• Facial Analysis

Background:

• Self-perception is a long-standing human interest, vital in medical consultations.
• Mirrors and photographs are primary tools for patients to view their appearance, but they distort reality.
• Patients often misunderstand how imaging technologies alter their true appearance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the discrepancies between self-perception and objective appearance due to imaging limitations.
• To explain the impact of facial asymmetry and "facedness" on self-perception.
• To propose technological and counseling strategies to mitigate these issues.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of visual perception principles related to mirrors and photography.
• Discussion of facial asymmetry and emotional expression lateralization ("facedness").
• Review of current technologies used for appearance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Mirrors and photographs create inaccurate representations of facial appearance and asymmetry.
• The phenomenon of "facedness" is reversed in mirrors, leading to misperceptions.
• A significant gap can exist between patient self-perception and third-party (e.g., surgeon) views.

Conclusions:

• Technological limitations in imaging tools significantly impact patient self-perception.
• Addressing "facedness" and imaging distortions is key for accurate preoperative and postoperative consultations.
• Integrating technology and patient counseling can improve the understanding of appearance.