Perfection and Symmetry. Two factors that determine beauty. Or are they?
Symmetry is essential. It has been shown over and over that symmetry is beauty. But not ABSOLUTE symmetry. Absolute symmetry, demonstrated by the picture is unsightly. The picture on the left is the original face that would be considered beautiful and symmetrical. But absolute symmetry is achieved by taking a half and mirroring it onto the other side, a much less attractive (if perhaps weird) face is revealed. This very simple experiment proves that absolute symmetry is not attractive. Some small differences (imperfections) are always normal, and desired. Nobody is perfectly symmetrical and nobody should be.
Perfection is the other factor when considering Cosmetic Surgery. As one of my mentors used to say, “There is only one surgeon who does perfection. His office is on the top floor and he is not taking any new patients.” Patients looking for perfection will always be disappointed. There will always be a little bump here, little line there, a little funny sensation over there.
Absolute perfection and symmetry are not the desired goal of Cosmetic Surgery and anyone claiming to delivery it is not truthful or not realistic.

Martin Jugenburg,MD, FRCSC
Toronto, ON