3D measurement of surface geometry and asymmetry of the face

Symmetry of facial features is an essential criterion for the attractiveness of a person. Asymmetries in this identity-forming area are often perceived negatively and in many cases the restoration of severely damaged facial areas is also indispensable from a medical point of view. With the method presented here facial symmetries can be objectively recorded using a three-dimensional grid model consisting of a combination of different feature points. Two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional pathways on the surface of the face can thus be represented spatially. Within the scope of this work the area enclosed between a two-dimensional path and the three-dimensional surface was also determined. The three-dimensional grid mask was developed on the basis of a puppet model and tested on normal-symmetrical test persons and asymmetrical patients. The system offers practical applications for surgery planning and simulation in the complex facial region and optimizes the evaluation of treatment results.