The face, with its interrelated sensory organs and tissues, is a picture window onto the world, a principal means of perceiving the universe around us. The face is also part of our individual identities-we recognize ourselves and others recognize us by our appearance.

Since the 1950s, the possibilities of repairing the functions and improving the appearance of faces have expanded. Several historical factors are involved: a youth culture that prizes physical perfection; graying baby boomers in search of hair implants, skin peels, and cosmetic surgeries; and advertising and marketing strategies that link body appearance to health, success, and leisure.

But the most important influences on late-20th-century conceptions of body image may be medical research and new techniques that have dramatically expanded the scope of the possible. This showcase highlights research that has changed scientific notions of the face and the daily lives of millions of Americans.

The face is made up of several different parts. How they fit together and how they function help determine how we look and feel.