RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the facial esthetic standards between Paraguayan and Korean beauty pageant contestants as well as to evaluate the deviation in Farkas proportion indexes (PI) from the golden ratio for each group using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetric analysis. METHODS: 3D soft tissue images of 34 Miss Paraguay (MP) and 54 Miss Korea (MK) pageant contestants were obtained. The 3D images were digitized and 52 measurements and ratios were calculated. One-way multivariate analysis of variance was applied to compare the two groups. One-sample t-test was applied to assess the differences between the PI of each group and the golden ratio. RESULTS: The MP group showed greater mouth width, total vermilion perimeter, and lower lip protrusion (P < 0.001) than the MK group. Meanwhile, the MK group showed longer forehead height and total facial height (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). All Farkas PIs in each group showed significant differences from the golden ratio except for PI19 (upper/lower vermilion heights). CONCLUSIONS: Paraguayans favor rectangular faces with wide mouths and large lips, especially the lower lips, whereas Koreans prefer long tapered faces with small mouths and lips. All proportion indexes were significantly different from the golden ratio except for PI19. Therefore, it would be beneficial for clinicians to consider the differences in ethnic preferences in facial esthetics during diagnosis and treatment planning.