Historical Background

The face can be divided into 3 esthetic zones:  the upper, middle and lower thirds.  The upper zone is mainly comprised of the forehead.  The middle zone is comprised of the zygomatic apparatus or the cheek.  The lower zone is comprised of the mandible or lower jaw.  It is the relative proportionality of these esthetic zones that ultimately determines what we perceive as esthetically pleasing or beautiful.  In many respects, it determines the femininity or possibly the lack of femininity of a person, and similarly the masculinity.  

In severely disproportionate faces, as with craniofacial syndromic patients, the facial zones are significantly distorted.  We find this to be the case in craniofacial syndromes as:  Pierre Robin Sequence, Treacher Collins', Crouzon's or Goldenhar's.  

However, in the general population, disproportionality is rather minor, and small adjustments can result in dramatic improvements.  The same surgical techniques that craniofacial surgeons use to help improve the form and function of syndromic faces, can be applied to the general population, with regard to enhancing facial esthetics - in effect, making the face more beautiful.