Changes in facial dimensions assessed from lateral and frontal photographs. Part I--Methodology

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in facial dimensions between 4 and 13 years of age and to provide normative standards that can be used for comparative purposes. The measurements were obtained from serial frontal and lateral photographs available on 20 subjects; 10 boys and 10 girls. The photographs were digitized and displayed on a computer monitor. Thirty-two landmarks were identified and 29 linear dimensions were measured. Analysis of variance was used to compare boys and girls and the repeated measure analysis (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the changes with age. From the findings, the conclusions were made as follows: (1) Proportionately, the total length of the face increased at a rate about two times that of the width of the face. (2) The changes in the dimensions of the eyes were the most stable of all the parameters measured. (3) There was a greater degree of variability in parameters directly affected by variations in facial growth patterns, e.g., chin prominence. The standard deviation was several times greater than the average increment of change. (4) The rates of growth for the vertical length and sagittal depth of the nose were twice as much as the rate of increase for the lateral width of the nose. (5) The incremental changes in the size of the lips were the most variable, but the total change in the vermillion length was the smallest of all the parameters measured. The standardized photographs from which the present measurements were obtained provide a unique opportunity to study facial growth and provides an accurate description of facial changes.