Facial Anthropometric Analysis of a Representative Subset in an Average Kerala Population: A Pilot Study

Background The Neoclassical canons, originally framed based on the Renaissance artworks, vary across genders, races, and ages. This has been proved in multiple studies conducted on the Western population, but minimal studies exist on the Eastern population and lesser so on the Indian population. This study aims to define the standard Keralite face and assess its variation from the canons. Methods A total of 250 people of Kerala origin aged 18 to 40 years were studied over a period of 1 year in our institute. Standardized frontal and profile photographs of the subjects were taken. Twenty anthropometric measurements were taken and analyzed for variation between genders, from published Indian standards and their conformity to the Neoclassical canons. Results Compared to the Keralite men, there were significant differences in 14 of 19 measurements in Keralite women. The men had wider and longer faces than women. Five of 10 measurements in females and 6 of 10 measurements in males significantly differed from the published Indian norms. The average Keralite face was wider, longer, and rounder. None of the facial proportions fit the Neoclassical canons. Conclusion The average Keralite face significantly differed from the Neoclassical canons and there were some significant variations between genders. This study highlights the need for a larger population-based study with more representation from various regions across India.