A heart shaped face considered ‘mathematically beautiful’

If you’ve got a heart-shaped face like Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon, you can class yourself ‘mathematically beautiful’.

Having cheekbones that are as wide as your eyebrows is the most desirable type of face, researchers have discovered.

The conclusion was derived after analysing the average facial measurements from photographs of 55 beautiful female models.

And scientists at the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia were able to quantify the exact idealistic facial proportions.

Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon has the one type of face deemed desirable by experts

If you've got a heart-shaped face like Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon, you can class yourself 'mathematically beautiful'

Having cheekbones that are as wide as your eyebrows is the most desirable type of face, researchers have discovered

If you’ve got a heart-shaped face like Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon, you can class yourself ‘mathematically beautiful’. Having cheekbones that are as wide as your eyebrows is the most desirable type of face, researchers have discovered

They revealed that the ‘average inter pupillary distance’ – the distance between the model’s eyes – was a strict 59.2 mm.

While the vertical distance between your eyes and your cheekbones below should be 13.1mm if you want to class yourself as attractive.

Those measurements add up to a ‘heart-shaped’ face, which can act as a guide to help cosmetic surgeons design perfect looks through fillers or a facelifts. 

Led by Dr Gary Linkov, the researchers used a measurement called WIZDOM, which stands for ‘Width of the Interzygomatic Distance of the Midface’.

This calculates the horizontal distance between the most prominent point of each cheek bone.

However, they admitted the WIZDOM measurements can be manipulated with the use of ‘highlighter makeup and blush’.

They then used this horizontal line as a base to analyse distances to other parts of the face, for the study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Some 13 distances were measured, but only eight were found to be statistically significant in terms of attractiveness.  

REVEALED: THE IDEAL DISTANCES
VARIABLE THE IDEAL DISTANCE
Interpupillary distance 59.2mm
Corneal diameter  11.5mm 
Nasal length  43.6mm 
Medial Canthus (MC) to lip  53.8mm 
WIZDOM-MC  13.1mm
WIZDOM to chin diagonal  98.9mm 
WIZDOM to hairline vertical  86.9mm 
WIZDOM to chin vertical  83.5mm 

Fifty-five stock photographs of female models were obtained from Shutterstock for the study, published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr Allan Wulc, a senior author of the study, selected the pictures after typing in the phrase ‘beautiful young woman not smiling’.

Writing in the journal, researchers said: ‘The notion of “mathematical beauty” implies the existence of ideal facial contours, dimensions, and ratios that, when present, create a harmonious, balanced, and attractive face.

FACE LIFTS: THE FACTS

Face and neck lifts are the third most requested cosmetic procedures in the UK, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). 

A face lift will reposition and enhance the volume of the face and tighten the overlying skin. 

Fat transfers from other areas of the body to the face can also add volume, especially in the cheeks. 

For women who don’t want to go under the knife, non-surgical procedures such as facial fillers can also help to rejuvenate the face and give a more youthful appearance. 

Non-surgical options have surged in popularity in recent years, and have been credited for a dip in the overall number of women having cosmetic surgery.

‘A heart-shaped midface is the quintessential symbol of youth and remains the overarching goal of mid facial rejuvenation. 

‘However, few objective criteria exist to describe mid facial position, whether in the ideal or aged state. 

‘We felt that these parameters might be useful to clinicians looking to find means of quantifying ageing changes, as well as postoperative improvements.’

The researchers added: ‘Interestingly, brow length and WIZDOM measurements were found to be nearly identical, without a statistically significant difference.

‘Therefore, the zygomaxillary points should ideally lie vertically below the tail of the corresponding eyebrow.’

Dr Gary Ross, a facial cosmetic surgeon based in Manchester has welcomed the findings.

He told MailOnline: ‘The face and neck can droop with age, as the skin loses its elasticity and the face appears to lose volume.

‘This equation essentially points out that enhanced volume in your face can make you look more aesthetically pleasing, scientifically speaking.

‘While we’ve always known this, it’s the first time anyone has sought to put an exact parameter on a “beautiful” mid face.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk