Cosmetic surgeons aim for the perfect facelift

Exactly what does the perfect eyebrow look like? Should it be 2.4 cm from the middle of the pupil of the eye? Should the apex of the eyebrow lie vertically above the lateral limbus? Should the ends of the eyebrow lie on the same horizontal level? According to a new report for plastic surgeons working in the burgeoning area of facelifts, a “one shape fits all” approach to eyebrows should be frowned on. When positioning and shaping the brow, surgeons need to take into account the aesthetic relation between brow shape and position on the face, says the report (Facial Plastic Surgery 2004:20:193-8). “There is great variation in what is considered to be a beautiful brow, and the facial plastic surgeon must understand the nuanced elements of eyebrow configuration that contribute to the overall balance and harmony of the face,” says the report. It says there have been a number of approaches to the eyebrow. One approach has maintained that as the female brow rises from one side to the other, it should peak above the lateral canthus and not above the lateral limbus. Another approach has been to quantify the eyebrow's position in relation to the eye. “The difficulty with these studies is that these generalised normative measurement values do not instruct the surgeon as to what are the best values to uniquely enhance a particular individual's attractiveness. In reality, the ideal shape, length, and position of the brow must be appropriately altered to fit different shapes of faces,” says the report. It says that plastic surgeons should take a few tips from makeup artists, who match the eyebrow to facial shape, and it makes a number of recommendations for different face shapes. The oval face (typified by Grace Kelly) is, it says, the ideal shape. It is intrinsically balanced, so eyebrow selection is simply a matter of personal taste. Curved brows project a feeling of energy, confidence, and professionalism and work particularly well on an oval or square face. The round face (Cameron Diaz) needs vertical lines to make it appear oval. A high arched brow where the peak is moved out toward the end of the brow is best, and the tail of the brow should be short. The heart face (Madonna) needs curves to soften the face and emphasise the shape. The long face (Claudia Schiffer) needs a flat brow to make it appear more oval. In the square face (Demi Moore) strong angled eyebrows will balance a strong jaw line. The peak of the brow is most effective when directly above the square of the jaw. In the diamond face (Sophia Loren) a rounded brow softens its angularity, whereas a peaked brow helps to narrow the width. The report cautions that the wrong choice can be disastrous. An angulated, highly arched brow can, it says, help make a round face appear more oval, but a round brow will turn the same face into a beach ball.