Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2/2021

01-04-2021 | Review

The Ideal Eyebrow: Lessons Learnt From the Literature

Author: Anni Ding

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 2/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

The concept of facial aesthetic has been around for centuries, popularised in the Renaissance period by artists such as Da Vinci. The eyebrow is also known as the master line of the face and is used as a reference for other facial angels and contours. The criterion of the aesthetically pleasing eyebrow has been a subject of much debate over the years, ever since make-up artists such as Westmore described the modern concept of the ideal brow in the 1970s. The concept of the ideal brow has evolved over the decades, subjected to influence by cultural trends and differences. This narrative review aims to examine the current evidence in the literature with regard to the ideal eyebrow from an aesthetic point of view, taking into account gender, age and ethnic differences. A set of guidelines are also proposed in order to help clinicians tailor the appearance of the eyebrow to individual patients based on the author’s personal opinion.
Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Prokopakis EP, Vlastos IM, Picavet VA, Nolst Trenite G, Thomas R, Cingi C et al (2013) The golden ratio in facial symmetry. Rhinology 51(1):18–21CrossRef Prokopakis EP, Vlastos IM, Picavet VA, Nolst Trenite G, Thomas R, Cingi C et al (2013) The golden ratio in facial symmetry. Rhinology 51(1):18–21CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Price KM, Gupta PK, Woodward JA, Stinnett SS, Murchison AP (2009) Eyebrow and eyelid dimensions: an anthropometric analysis of African Americans and caucasians. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(2):615–623CrossRef Price KM, Gupta PK, Woodward JA, Stinnett SS, Murchison AP (2009) Eyebrow and eyelid dimensions: an anthropometric analysis of African Americans and caucasians. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(2):615–623CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Cole EA, Winn BJ, Putterman AM (2010) Measurement of eyebrow position from inferior corneal limbus to brow: a new technique. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 26(6):443–447CrossRef Cole EA, Winn BJ, Putterman AM (2010) Measurement of eyebrow position from inferior corneal limbus to brow: a new technique. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 26(6):443–447CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Westmore MG (1975) Facial cosmetics in conjunction with surgery. Course presented at the Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Society meeting Vancouver, British Columbia Westmore MG (1975) Facial cosmetics in conjunction with surgery. Course presented at the Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Society meeting Vancouver, British Columbia
5.
go back to reference Ellenbogen R (1983) Transcoronal eyebrow lift with concomitant upper blepharoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 71(4):490–499CrossRef Ellenbogen R (1983) Transcoronal eyebrow lift with concomitant upper blepharoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 71(4):490–499CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Wolfort FG, Gee J, Pan D, Morris D (1997) Nuances of aesthetic blepharoplasty. Ann Plast Surg 38(3):257–262CrossRef Wolfort FG, Gee J, Pan D, Morris D (1997) Nuances of aesthetic blepharoplasty. Ann Plast Surg 38(3):257–262CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Whitaker LA, Morales L, Farkas LG (1986) Aesthetic surgery of the supraorbital ridge and forehead structures. Plast Reconstr Surg 78(1):23–32CrossRef Whitaker LA, Morales L, Farkas LG (1986) Aesthetic surgery of the supraorbital ridge and forehead structures. Plast Reconstr Surg 78(1):23–32CrossRef
8.
9.
go back to reference Cook TA, Brownrigg PJ, Wang TD, Quatela VC (1989) The versatile midforehead browlift. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 115(2):163–168CrossRef Cook TA, Brownrigg PJ, Wang TD, Quatela VC (1989) The versatile midforehead browlift. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 115(2):163–168CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Connell BF, Lambros VS, Neurohr GH (1989) The forehead lift: techniques to avoid complications and produce optimal results. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 13(4):217–237CrossRef Connell BF, Lambros VS, Neurohr GH (1989) The forehead lift: techniques to avoid complications and produce optimal results. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 13(4):217–237CrossRef
11.
go back to reference McKinney P, Mossie RD, Zukowski ML (1991) Criteria for the forehead lift. Aesthetic Plast Surg 15(2):141–147CrossRef McKinney P, Mossie RD, Zukowski ML (1991) Criteria for the forehead lift. Aesthetic Plast Surg 15(2):141–147CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Matarasso A, Terino EO (1994) Forehead-brow rhytidoplasty: reassessing the goals. Plast Reconstr Surg 93(7):1378–1389 discussion 1390–1391CrossRef Matarasso A, Terino EO (1994) Forehead-brow rhytidoplasty: reassessing the goals. Plast Reconstr Surg 93(7):1378–1389 discussion 1390–1391CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Angres GG (1987) Blepharopigmentation and eyebrow enhancement techniques for maximum cosmetic results. Ann Ophthalmol 17(10):605–611 Angres GG (1987) Blepharopigmentation and eyebrow enhancement techniques for maximum cosmetic results. Ann Ophthalmol 17(10):605–611
14.
go back to reference Baker SB, Dayan JH, Crane A, Kim S (2007) the influence of brow shape on the perception of facial form and brow aesthetics. Plast Reconstr Surg 119(7):2240–2247CrossRef Baker SB, Dayan JH, Crane A, Kim S (2007) the influence of brow shape on the perception of facial form and brow aesthetics. Plast Reconstr Surg 119(7):2240–2247CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Biller JA, Kim DW (2009) A contemporary assessment of facial aesthetic preferences. Arch Facial Plast Surg 11(2):91–97CrossRef Biller JA, Kim DW (2009) A contemporary assessment of facial aesthetic preferences. Arch Facial Plast Surg 11(2):91–97CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Gunter JP, Antrobus SD (1997) Aesthetic analysis of the eyebrows. Plast Reconstr Surg 99(7):1808–1816CrossRef Gunter JP, Antrobus SD (1997) Aesthetic analysis of the eyebrows. Plast Reconstr Surg 99(7):1808–1816CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Ding A, Zhang Y (2020) What is the perfect nose? Lesson learnt from the literature RHINOL 3(3):25–30 Ding A, Zhang Y (2020) What is the perfect nose? Lesson learnt from the literature RHINOL 3(3):25–30
19.
go back to reference Bueller H (2018) Ideal facial relationships and goals. Facial plast Surg 34(5):458–465CrossRef Bueller H (2018) Ideal facial relationships and goals. Facial plast Surg 34(5):458–465CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Asaad M, Kelarji AB, Jawhar CS, Banuelos J, Taslakian E, Wahood W et al (2019) Eyebrow height changes with aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 7(9):24 Asaad M, Kelarji AB, Jawhar CS, Banuelos J, Taslakian E, Wahood W et al (2019) Eyebrow height changes with aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 7(9):24
21.
go back to reference Delyzer TL, Yazdani A (2013) Characterizing the lateral slope of the aging female eyebrow. Can J Plast Surg 21(3):173–177CrossRef Delyzer TL, Yazdani A (2013) Characterizing the lateral slope of the aging female eyebrow. Can J Plast Surg 21(3):173–177CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Knize DM (1996) An anatomically based study of the mechanism of eyebrow ptosis. Plast Reconstr Surg 97(7):1321–1333CrossRef Knize DM (1996) An anatomically based study of the mechanism of eyebrow ptosis. Plast Reconstr Surg 97(7):1321–1333CrossRef
23.
go back to reference Knize DM (2009) Anatomic concepts for brow lift procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(6):2118–2126CrossRef Knize DM (2009) Anatomic concepts for brow lift procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(6):2118–2126CrossRef
24.
go back to reference Russell MD, Brown T, Garn SM, Giris F, Turkel S, İşcan MY et al (1985) The supraorbital torus: “a most remarkable peculiarity” [and Comments and Replies]. Current Anthropol 26(3):337–360CrossRef Russell MD, Brown T, Garn SM, Giris F, Turkel S, İşcan MY et al (1985) The supraorbital torus: “a most remarkable peculiarity” [and Comments and Replies]. Current Anthropol 26(3):337–360CrossRef
25.
go back to reference Sedgh J (2018) The aesthetics of the upper face and brow: male and female differences. Facial Plast Surg 34(2):114–118CrossRef Sedgh J (2018) The aesthetics of the upper face and brow: male and female differences. Facial Plast Surg 34(2):114–118CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Jung GS, Chung KH, Lee JW, Yang JD, Chung HY, Cho BC et al (2018) Eyebrow position and shape favored by korean women. J Craniofac Surg 29(3):594–598CrossRef Jung GS, Chung KH, Lee JW, Yang JD, Chung HY, Cho BC et al (2018) Eyebrow position and shape favored by korean women. J Craniofac Surg 29(3):594–598CrossRef
27.
go back to reference Hwang K, Kim H (2018) Perceptions of healthy-looking and sexy-looking brow thickness. J Craniofac Surg 29(4):1064–1068CrossRef Hwang K, Kim H (2018) Perceptions of healthy-looking and sexy-looking brow thickness. J Craniofac Surg 29(4):1064–1068CrossRef
28.
go back to reference Knoll BI, Attkiss KJ, Persing JA (2008) The influence of forehead, brow, and periorbital aesthetics on perceived expression in the youthful face. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(5):1793–1802CrossRef Knoll BI, Attkiss KJ, Persing JA (2008) The influence of forehead, brow, and periorbital aesthetics on perceived expression in the youthful face. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(5):1793–1802CrossRef
29.
go back to reference Kiranantawat K, Suhk JH, Nguyen AH (2015) The Asian eyelid: relevant anatomy. Semin Plast Surg 29(3):158–164CrossRef Kiranantawat K, Suhk JH, Nguyen AH (2015) The Asian eyelid: relevant anatomy. Semin Plast Surg 29(3):158–164CrossRef
30.
go back to reference Troilius C (2004) Subperiosteal brow lifts without fixation. Plast Reconstr Surg 114(6):1595–1603 discussion 1604–1605CrossRef Troilius C (2004) Subperiosteal brow lifts without fixation. Plast Reconstr Surg 114(6):1595–1603 discussion 1604–1605CrossRef
31.
go back to reference Graf RM, Tolazzi ARD, Mansur AEC, Teixeira V (2008) Endoscopic periosteal brow lift: evaluation and follow-up of eyebrow height. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(2):609–619CrossRef Graf RM, Tolazzi ARD, Mansur AEC, Teixeira V (2008) Endoscopic periosteal brow lift: evaluation and follow-up of eyebrow height. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(2):609–619CrossRef
32.
go back to reference Bruneau S, Foletti J-M, Muller S, Vercasson C, Lauwers F, Guyot L (2016) Does the eyebrow sag with aging? an anthopometric study of 95 caucasians from 20 to 79 years of age. Plast Reconstr Surg 137(2):305e–e312CrossRef Bruneau S, Foletti J-M, Muller S, Vercasson C, Lauwers F, Guyot L (2016) Does the eyebrow sag with aging? an anthopometric study of 95 caucasians from 20 to 79 years of age. Plast Reconstr Surg 137(2):305e–e312CrossRef
33.
go back to reference Matros E, Garcia JA, Yaremchuk MJ (2009) Changes in eyebrow position and shape with aging. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(4):1296–1301CrossRef Matros E, Garcia JA, Yaremchuk MJ (2009) Changes in eyebrow position and shape with aging. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(4):1296–1301CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The Ideal Eyebrow: Lessons Learnt From the Literature
Author
Anni Ding
Publication date
01-04-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01920-x

Other articles of this Issue 2/2021

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2/2021 Go to the issue