Abstract: Objective To explore the facial symmetry and morphological feature of general population so as to provide criteria for facial reconstruction and cosmetic surgeries.Methods Fifty young women were selected randomly without any facial deformity.The method of photogrammetry was adopted to measure the facial symmetrical distances and angles.The measuring results were compared between the left and right face.Then,single-half face composite portraits were created by computer for 10 cases,which were compared with the original images.The composite portraits and original images were scored respectively.SAS software was used to analysis the results of the two experiments.Results The included angle between the horizontal line and the line connected inner and outer canthus,the included angle between the horizontal line and the line connected the superciliary head and peak,the distance from Al to Ch,the distance from Ch to Go and the distance from Go to Meg showed statistically significant difference between the left and right half face.Scores of composite portraits were significantly higher than that of original images.Conclusion The asymmetry in middle and lower face is more obvious than that in upper face.Absolute facial symmetry does not exist.The concept of symmetry should not be applied independently and simply in the aesthetics of human body.The standardization study of morphological character on facial symmetrical is still in progress.

Key words: Facial symmetry, Quantification, Aesthetics