Objective:
To achieve the optimal outcome in facial plastic surgery, it is essential to consider all the facial characteristics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the facial anthropometric differences between sexes and throughout aging process.
Materials and Methods:
The study of sex differences consisted of 100 patients (50 males and 50 females). The study of aging influences consisted of 90 patients and each of the groups contained 30 patients. (Group I, age 18-40 years old; Group II, 41-64 years old; Group III, age 65 years old or above). To compare the facial characteristics, the CT images were imported into the OsiriX image software.
Results:
Anthropometric analysis of sex differences showed that both the forehead bossing length (FBL) and nasal bone width (NBW) in the male group were significantly greater. The chin height and bigonial width in the male group were significantly greater. The difference of gonial angle between sexes was not significant. The aging study showed the orbital width, height, area, and volume increased with age. The glabellar, orbital, pyriform, and maxillary angles all decreased with increasing age. The mandibular height and width were both significantly reduced in Group III. However, the gonial angle of Group III patients increased significantly.
Conclusion:
The results revealed that Asian males have more prominent superior orbital rims, wider nasal bones, and wider and taller mandibles. Furthermore, the facial bone structure degenerated significantly with advancing age. The gonial angle did not reveal significant differences between sexes but it showed significant greatness in the elderly group.

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