Eyebrow Position and Shape Favored by Korean Women

Purpose: The shape and position of the eyebrows are among the most important facial features from an esthetic point of view. However, significant cultural differences exist with respect to the eyebrow shape and position that are considered ideal. The purpose of this study was to identify the position and shape of eyebrows preferred by Korean women and to apply these, including forehead lifts, to the clinics. Methods: The authors took full facial photographs in the Frankfort plane of Korean women aging from young childhood to their 50s. On the basis of these, 2 parameters were calculated: first, the height-to-width ratio (HWR), the ratio between the vertical distance from the brow apex to the palpebral fissure and the horizontal distance from the medial canthus to the lateral canthus; and second, the takeoff angle (TOA), the angle between the straight line connecting the 2 lateral canthi and the line from the brow apex through the center of the medial brow segment. The authors then had drawings of “Anastasia arch” eyebrows made; as high eyebrows are considered beautiful in Korea, and the eyebrows of women in their 20s were the highest, the drawings depicted the mean HWR and TOA values for this age group and their various degrees of deviation. These drawings were shown to 300 women aged 21 to 40 years from May 1 to June 30, 2014; they were instructed to choose the drawing they preferred among the 5 drawings differing in HWR and again among the 5 differing in TOA. Results: Among the 99 Korean women in their 20s, the mean HWR and TOA was 1:1.01 ± 0.23 and 12° ± 5.2°, respectively. Regarding the survey, the most preferred HWR was 1:1.0, which was selected by 204 respondents (68%); the most preferred TOA was 10°, which was chosen by 122 respondents (40.7%). Conclusion: This study shows that HWR gradually decreases and TOA increases with age. Furthermore, Korean women's preferred eyebrows have an HWR of ∼1:1 and a TOA of ∼10°. These results could guide plastic surgeons performing periorbital rejuvenation surgeries, including brow lifts, not only for Koreans but also for North-East Asians.