After healing, minor facial scars have little or no effect on rankings of attractiveness – while some scars are even linked to more favorable rankings, suggests a survey study within the December issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published within the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

“Contrary to our predictions, we found that a single well-healed scar generally doesn’t affect individuals’ first impressions of perceived attractiveness or confidence negatively and will even increase perceived friendliness,” in response to the report by ASPS Member Surgeon Jesse A. Taylor, MD, and colleagues of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

In lots of locations and orientations, facial scars had no major impact on appearance

The researchers designed a web based survey to check the “core tenets” of facial scar design, with the goal of identifying potentially modifiable aspects that improve how facial scars are perceived. Dr. Taylor and colleagues digitally altered facial photographs by adding 14 unique scars in various locations and orientations. Online participants rated 50 different faces by way of confidence, friendliness, and attractiveness. Data evaluation included nearly 89,000 rankings by 1,800 respondents.

On initial evaluation, “the presence of a facial scar didn’t have a major impact on attractiveness,” Dr. Taylor and coauthors write. Average rankings for attractiveness (on a 0-to-5 scale) were 4.25 for scarred faces and 4.26 for unscarred faces. Rankings of confidence weren’t significantly different, while faces with scars were actually rated friendlier than their non-scarred counterparts.

In an extra evaluation, the researchers searched for possible interactions between key aspects considered by plastic surgeons in evaluating facial scars. “We predicted that scars closer to highly viewed structures of the face (i.e., upper lip and lower lid), scars aligned against resting facial tension lines, and scars in the course of anatomic subunits of the face can be rated less favorably,” Dr. Taylor and colleagues write.

The outcomes suggested some subtle interactions: for instance, faces with scars situated on the mid-lower eyelid were rated lower for attractiveness, confidence, and friendliness – but provided that oriented perpendicular to facial tension lines. In contrast, lower lid scars in the identical location were actually rated more attractive, if oriented parallel somewhat than perpendicular to resting tension lines. The researchers note that the results on rankings were small – at most equal to “roughly two percent of the general rating value.”

Research is positive news to patients concerned with facial scars

Minimizing the severity of scars, particularly on the face, is a crucial objective for plastic surgeons. Dr. Taylor and colleagues note the massive industry for scar care is predicted to surpass $34 billion in revenue by 2023. Scar revision is the third most frequent variety of reconstructive surgery procedure, performed in nearly 264,000 patients in 2020, in response to ASPS statistics.

“Our faces are vital to our identities and bear a good portion of the burden for self-expression,” Dr. Taylor and colleagues write. “Yet the social consequences of well-healed facial scars are poorly understood.” The findings could also be “surprising and maybe welcome news” to patients concerned that facial scars or incisions may negatively affect their appearance or how others perceive them.

The study is the primary systematic, large-scale investigation of several techniques surgeons may have the option to make use of to cover facial scars. The researchers note that the findings don’t alter the long-held fundamental principles of facial scar design, based on location, position in anatomic subunit, or orientation along facial tension lines. Nevertheless, Dr. Taylor and coauthors add, “Well-healed scars that even violate all three principles have minimal effects and certain wouldn’t profit from scar revision.”

Source:

Journal reference:

Zapatero, Z., et al. (2022) Facial Scars: Do Position and Orientation Matter. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000009728.