Although helped along by cosmetics, hair dyes, and the like, it is the superficial and deep anatomy that determines the appearance of external form. While far from uniform across a large population, certain major features determined by genetics occur much more commonly and thus can be considered characteristic of a regional group.

Below we've collected, grouped, compared, and demonstrated important attributes (for instance, shape, height, fullness, and so on) for each of the major facial features found in people of East Asia or Europe and presented them side-by-side.

Since the fundamental steps of many popular facial plastic surgery operations were first developed decades ago on patients of European ancestry, the differences noted below must be considered by both patients when selecting a cosmetic procedure and plastic surgeons when performing it. What looks natural and attractive in one group does not always appear the same in the other.

Sections devoted to each of these features and attributes as well as any related operations can be found in our Knowledge Base.

			East Asian	European
	Eyes	Shape Exposure Width Crease Fullness Inner fold Outer corner Iris color Lash direction	More almond Less Less Variable/smaller More Present More angled Darker Lower	More oval More More Present/larger Less Absent Less angled Lighter Higher
	Nose	Shape Bridge Spine Tip Length Nostril Flare at base	Wider Flatter Flatter Less rounded Shorter More visible More	Narrower Higher Higher More rounded Longer Less visible Less
			East Asian	European
	Mouth	Nose to upper lip Mouth at rest Lips	Shorter More open Fuller	Longer Less open Thinner
	Chin	Length Projection Shape	Shorter Less More square	Longer More More oval
	Cheeks	Prominence Bone width Fat fullness	Higher More More	Lower Less Less
	Jaw	Front view Side view	More square More square	More oval More angled
	Forehead	Side view	Less forward	More forward
	Skin/Hair	Color Thickness	Darker Thicker	Lighter Thinner

		APSG Infographic 26 Ways to Alter the Appearance of the East Asian Eye

More >

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"Asian" Plastic Surgery - What Exactly Does That Mean?

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Map of East and Southeast Asia

Patient Motivation, Preferences, and Goals

> Comparison of Asian and European Facial Features