Observational studyPloS one2021
Facial shape affects self-perceived facial attractiveness.
Observational study in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 61 citations in OpenAlex.
- Injectable Filler-Based Chin Augmentation: A Systematic Review of Non-Surgical Volumetric Techniques.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Pooled it
- The effect of orthodontic treatment on smile attractiveness: a systematic review.Progress in orthodontics · 2023Pooled it
- Association Between Facial Profile Attractiveness and Full-Face Attractiveness in Individuals With Convex Facial Profiles.Orthodontics & craniofacial research · 2026Article
- Individual Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Facial Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Pilot Study.Craniomaxillofacial trauma & reconstruction · 2026Article
- Predicting Perceived Profile Attractiveness From Cephalometric Measurements Using Machine Learning.International dental journal · 2026Article
- Facial shape and self-perceived personality traits in young adults.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The role of sagittal maxillary-mandibular relationships on perceptions of facial shape esthetics: A three-dimensional morphometric analysis.American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics · 2026Article
- Influence of facial shape on perceived attractiveness.Progress in orthodontics · 2026Article
- Effect of tooth agenesis on facial soft tissue profile.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Aesthetic and Psychosocial Impacts of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers in Patients with Retrognathic Profiles.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Article
- Influence of body mass index on facial soft tissue morphology in growing non-obese children.European journal of orthodontics · 2025Article
- Risk Factors Associated With Bell's Palsy: A Real-World Analysis of 281,600 Patients.European journal of neurology · 2025Article
- Accuracy of anterior cranial base surfaces acquired from computed tomography imaging.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Aesthetic Impact of Orthognathic Surgery vs. Orthodontic Camouflage in Class II Division 1 Patients with Convex Facial Profile: A Follow-Up Using Combined Frontal and Profile Views.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Nasolabial shape and aesthetics in patients with cleft lip and palate: analysis of 3D facial images.European journal of orthodontics · 2025Article
- Character and Personality Perception and Social Trait Judgment After Facial Surgical and Medical Aesthetic Interventions.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- The Harmony and Balance of the Facial Organs for a Natural Face Beauty: A Novel Perspective for Cosmetic/Aesthetic Interventions.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
- Perception of facial and dental asymmetries and their impact on oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2025Article
- Enhancing Facial Projection: Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Filler Combining Cross-Linked Sodium Hyaluronate Gel With Poly-L-Lactic Acid-b-PEG Microspheres for T-Zone Augmentation.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- A Novel Method of Correcting Lower Facial Asymmetry: Computer-Assisted Surgery with Contralateral Mandibular Outer Cortex Sandwich Grafting.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Facial appearance expresses numerous cues about physical qualities as well as psychosocial and personality traits. Attractive faces are recognized clearly when seen and are often viewed advantageously in professional, social and romantic relationships. On the other hand, self-perceived attractiveness is not well understood and has been mainly attributed to psychological and cognitive factors. Here we use 3-dimensional facial surface data of a large young adult population (n = 601) to thoroughly assess the effect of facial shape on self-perceived facial attractiveness. Our results show that facial shape had a measurable effect on self-perception of facial attractiveness in both sexes. In females, self-perceived facial attractiveness was linked to decreased facial width, fuller anterior part of the lower facial third and more pronounced middle forehead and root of the nose. Males favored a well-defined chin, flatter cheeks and zygomas, and more pronounced eyebrow ridges, nose and middle forehead. The findings of this study support the notion that self-perceived facial attractiveness is not only motivated by psychological traits, but objectively measured phenotypic traits also contribute significantly. The role of social stereotypes for facial attractiveness in modern society is also inferred and discussed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.