Photogrammetric Analysis of Orolabial Region in South Indians

In lip reconstructive surgery, knowledge of orolabial dimensions and position according to ethnicity, age, and gender are important to obtain satisfactory results. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of information related to these values in South Indians. The objective of the present study was to quantify the orolabial dimensions and position in South Indians. Evaluation of orolabial features was performed on standardized frontal and lateral of 400 South Indian subjects (200 males and 200 females), aged 18 to 30 years. The measured parameters were evaluated by an independent t-test. Significant sexual dimorphism was found in 12 of 13 measurements. Except upper lip reference to E plane, all other linear measurements such as mouth width, philtrum width, lower lip reference to E plane, upper lip height, cutaneous upper lip, upper and lower vermilion height, cutaneous lower lip height, lower lip height, and labiotragial distance were significantly greater in males than females. Angular measurements, interlabial angle, and labiomental angle were significantly greater in females. Clinically significant sexual dimorphism existed for mouth width, labiotragial distance, interlabial angle, and labiomental angle (mean difference > 3 mm). Out of the four orolabial indices, only intercanthal/mouth width indices showed a significant sexual difference. In both sexes, the triangular shape of philtral column was most common. Comparative analysis between South Indians and North American whites revealed significant differences in all measurements and some resemblance to the Han Chinese. The knowledge of the obtained mean values might be useful in the maintenance of the functional and aesthetic quality of this region during surgical planning.