What's more important to a woman as she ages: looking younger or more attractive?
Talking to our female patients (who are about 90% of our patients), we found that women want to look more beautiful rather than younger — it's typically men who focus on recapturing a youthful appearance.
As humans, the concept of beauty is hardwired into our brains. Research shows that within just a few months of being born, babies show a preference for attractive human faces. Babies who are just one year old will choose to play with an attractive doll over a less-attractive one.
But what does being "attractive" mean? Is it all subjective, or can it be measured?
Measuring Human Beauty with the Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio (represented as phi or the Fibonacci numbers) is a powerful system for measuring beauty and pleasing aesthetic proportions. It provides insight into what is generally considered attractive in people and the key features of a beautiful face.
The ancient Greeks described the Golden Ratio — 1:1.618 — as a mathematical system for calculating optimal proportions for all structures found in nature. Today, the Golden Ratio is used in objects and designs such as luxury cars and even Apple's iconic symbol to make them more appealing and attractive to the human eye.
This ratio is exemplified in many ways on a face that is widely considered to have an ideal appeal or proportions. If the distance between one's eyebrows is 1, then the entire length of an eyebrow should equate to 1.618. And if the distance from the base of the nose to the line separating the upper and lower lips is 1, the distance from the mid lip to the base of the chin should be 1.618.
Overview of Female Beauty
In females, faces with a smooth oval shape are considered to be most attractive. They include no sunken temples, and the cheekbones are the widest area. The oval face outline also curves softly down to the chin without sharp angles.
Idealized female facial features include:
- Smooth forehead with a smaller nose
- Arch- or gull-wing-shaped eyebrows
- Eyes set wide apart
- Prominent cheekbones
- Heart-shaped taper to the lower face
- Full red lips
How Can Cosmetic Treatments Combat Signs of Aging?
Aging leads to reduced volume in the face, primarily in the fat layers. This affects the ogee curve in women — a term used for the double S-shaped curve along the cheeks, considered to be one of the determinants of female beauty.
Dermal fillers can be used to restore volume in the face, and a series of targeted treatments can help retain more attractive proportions. A non-surgical thread lift can help pull up and anchor areas of sagging skin. Neuromodulators such as Botox can help prevent and decrease wrinkles. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and microneedling all have the power to revitalize the skin to achieve a more youthful appearance.
