Esthetic soft tissue profile preferences among the Japanese population

The purpose of this study was to determine the facial profile preferences in a sample of 2651 randomly selected panelists (mean age, 29.3 +/- 10.1 years) from Japanese cultural and educational backgrounds. Five facial profile types were computer-generated by an orthodontist to represent distinct facial types. Subjects were asked to rank the profiles in descending order of attractiveness. The ranking was as follows: orthognathic profile, bimaxillary retrusive profile, bimaxillary protrusive profile, mandibular retrognathic profile, and mandibular prognathic profile. The differences in rank scores between all the profile types were statistically significant (p < 0.05).