A new study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum reveals that an AI program can generate realistic images of the ideal female breasts, and these ideals vary by race.
Researchers used an online AI image generator to create pictures of Caucasian, African American, and Asian women with “perfect” breasts. They found significant differences in breast shapes, nipple angles, and other features among these groups. This shows that beauty ideals aren’t universal and can help plastic surgeons match patients’ racial identities.
The concept of an “ideal breast” has long been debated. Beauty is subjective, influenced by race, culture, and personal preferences. Past research often focused on Caucasian women, possibly overlooking other racial groups.
With AI’s growth in visual culture, the researchers wanted to see if AI could offer new insights into ideal breast shapes and if perceptions differed by race.
Study author Aaron Lee Wiegmann, a plastic surgery resident, was interested in human aesthetic ideals. He noted that much plastic surgery literature focused on Caucasians, and he believed there were racial nuances in ideal breast appearance.
The team used a public AI image platform. They crafted text prompts like “A topless Caucasian woman with perfect aesthetically ideal breasts standing in three-quarter profile view” and modified them for different races and views.
After generating many images, they selected 150 based on criteria like clear view and visible breast features. Using image software, they measured aspects like breast pole ratios, nipple angles, and the position of the nipple-areola complex.
The AI-generated breasts looked realistic and appealing but sometimes had issues like being too large for the body. Statistical analysis showed differences: Caucasian breasts had a smaller upper part and upward-pointing nipples, while African American and Asian breasts had a larger upper part and nipples pointing straight ahead.
Wiegmann was surprised by the differences. The findings suggest plastic surgeons should discuss racial nuances with patients during breast enhancement consults.
Compared to previous ideals, Caucasian breasts matched the norm, while African American and Asian ones deviated. AI has potential to help patients set goals for surgery but also raises concerns about misuse, like creating false expectations.
The study had limitations, such as measurement subjectivity and unknown AI training data.
Future research could explore ideal breasts for different body types within races and AI biases.
The long-term goal is to use AI to better understand aesthetic ideals and help plastic surgeons achieve great results. The study was authored by Aaron L. Wiegmann, Elizabeth S. O’Neill, Sammy Sinno, and Karol A. Gutowski.
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