Understanding the impact of eyebrow and lateral canthal height on the perception of character traits: A rating-based analysis of 2081 participants.

[BACKGROUND] Cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States increased by 5% from 2022 to 2023, with notable increase in eyelid surgeries and forehead lifts. These procedures often aim to alter the height and position of the eyebrow and lateral canthus according to cultural preferences.

[OBJECTIVE] To analyze the impact of eyebrow and lateral canthus elevation on the perception of character traits.

[METHODS] In this rating-based analysis, 2081 participants with an average age of 26.51 years (8.4 years) [range: 18-68 years] were included. The survey featured an edited unisex face with 2 different modifications for each eye shape and eyebrows, totaling 9 different images. Participants rated the faces on attractiveness, femininity, masculinity, trustworthiness, dominance, threat, and disgust on a 5 points Likert's scale.

[RESULTS] Increasing eyebrow height reduced attractiveness, femininity, and trustworthiness, and increased masculinity, dominance, threat, and disgust, especially among female respondents. Similar effects were observed with lateral canthus elevation, impacting attractiveness, femininity, masculinity, and trustworthiness negatively, while enhancing dominance, threat, and disgust. Combined eyebrow and lateral canthus adjustments reinforced these trends, highlighting their influence on perceived character traits. Differences in the perception of gender characteristics were observed between the male and female respondents.

[CONCLUSION] Male and female perceptions differ in assessing character traits following the elevation of the eyebrow and lateral canthus. Females perceive eyebrow and lateral canthal elevation or their combination as reducing femininity, whereas males do not share this perception. Additionally, traits such as attractiveness, trustworthiness, masculinity, dominance, threat, and disgust were rated similarly by males and females. These findings are crucial for preoperative discussions and predicting surgical outcomes.