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The ideal auricular size: A perceptual analysis
Sebastian Gaus1, Katie Elisabeth Anne Poser1, Maximilian Poser1
1Department of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery (Head: Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Maximilian Fichter), Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 12, Leipzig, 04275, Germany.
Background:
Surgical correction of ear shape and size is a common procedure in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. However, objective reference values for ideal auricular proportions remain limited.
Objective:
To systematically evaluate public perception of ideal ear size using digitally modified full-face images and provide gender-specific aesthetic reference values.
Methods:
141 dental students assessed a set of 16 male and 16 female clone images with ear sizes ranging from 4.9 to 7.9 cm. Participants identified the most and least attractive sizes, as well as thresholds for "too small" and "too large."
Results:
The most attractive ear sizes were between 5.7 and 6.3 cm for male faces and 5.5-6.1 cm for female faces, corresponding to approximately one-fourth the height of the head in both sexes. Ears ≥6.5 cm were generally perceived as too large. Correlation analyses revealed consistent individual judgment patterns.
Conclusion:
This is the first systematic analysis to define perceived ideal ear size in full-face views of young Caucasian adults. The findings offer clinically relevant guidance for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, emphasizing the importance of age- and gender-sensitive planning.
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