According to facial analyst Shafee Hassan, there is a growing trend of people becoming less attractive, and it has little to do with the natural aging process.
Hassan, the founder of the facial aesthetics consultancy firm QOVES, has attributed this phenomenon to various modern factors, shedding light on why older high-school yearbooks often feature more attractive individuals.
In a viral TikTok video with 3.2 million views and 333,100 likes, Hassan discusses the reasons behind this trend. He begins by noting how teenagers from the 1950s appeared older compared to today’s teenagers, with more pronounced facial features.
Why are people becoming less attractive?
He introduces the concept of the functional matrix hypothesis, as outlined in “Contemporary Orthodontics” by US orthodontist William Proffit and colleagues.
In simple terms, the functional matrix hypothesis posits that the development of the face is influenced by the forces exerted on it, particularly on the upper and lower jaws.
These forces play a crucial role in defining what is considered an attractive or handsome face. Hassan explains that factors such as tongue position and other forces can push the jaw downward or outward, and new bone will fill the space created by this movement.
To illustrate his point, Hassan presents a case of a young girl with an underdeveloped jaw, attributing it to a long-term sinus infection that affected her jaw’s growth.
He suggests that 70% of individuals in the Western world have some form of malocclusion (misaligned upper and lower teeth) or recession, which resembles the underdeveloped jaw in the example he provides. This, according to Hassan, offers a compelling explanation for the perceived decline in facial attractiveness over time.
Hassan’s hypothesis implies that the way we use our mouths and the foods we consume can significantly impact jaw development, ultimately affecting our facial aesthetics.
While Hassan’s theory has garnered significant attention, some TikTok users remain skeptical. One critic argues that factors like fashion, photo quality, and even smoking cigarettes contributed to the older appearance of past generations. Another suggests that hairstyles could play a role in how we perceive age, and modern hairstyles might alter our perception of older photos.
However, there is support for Hassan’s theory from at least one fellow expert in dentistry, who validates the accuracy of his claims.
In conclusion, Shafee Hassan’s theory regarding the decline in facial attractiveness suggests that modern factors such as diet, sleeping patterns, pollutants, and orofacial habits are contributing to this trend.
By examining the impact of jaw development and malocclusion, Hassan provides an intriguing perspective on why older generations might appear more attractive in historical photos.
While his theory has sparked debate, it underscores the importance of oral health and its potential influence on facial aesthetics in contemporary society.
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