Facial Attractiveness and Behavior of Patients with Cleft Lip and/Or Palate

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between facial attractiveness and behavior of patients with cleft lip and/or palate. The subjects were the 49 patients for whom behavioral data were routinely collected when they were 10 yr. old or older and full face photographs were taken at the same time. There were no statistically significant differences between the attractive and less attractive groups of patients on the six behavioral scores of the Missouri Children's Behavioral Checklist, their ratings of self-esteem and attitude toward clefting. A possible explanation for the discrepancy of our findings from those previously reported in the literature may be the fact that our patients have had good lip repair.