ANCORA IMPARO RICK RADER, MD ■ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FORGET ME NOT: People were amazed that Jane Goodall was able to recognize one chimpanzee from another. She reported that their facial features were as unique and novel as those of humans.

Unforgettable

Humans remember, recall and recognize faces more than any other physical characteristic. It's no wonder that police ask victims or eye witnesses, "What did he look like?" "Could you recognize her?" or "How would you describe them?"

Typically, when I am driving to work, I listen to the news. I like to know what's going on, what kind of peril we are facing that day and how many new species human kind has forced into extinction. The other day, the news was full of doom and gloom and it appeared there was little I could do about it. Then I realized there was something I could do about it, so I switched to a station that played oldies. In several seconds I was transformed from listening to plummeting stock prices, startling pandemic statistics, and political stalemates, to Nat King Cole.

It was my favorite of his songs. "Unforgettable" was a popular song written by Irving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable." The music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable." The song was published in 1951 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.

I suspect it is the hope of every human that one day, they would meet someone who is indeed, unforgettable. Of course, the ultimate icing on the cake would be that the person would think the same of you. And so Nat King Cole lays it out with…

Unforgettable, that's what you are Unforgettable though near or far Like a song of love that clings to me How the thought of you does things to me Never before has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way And forever more, that's how you'll stay That's why, darling, it's incredible That someone so unforgettable Thinks that I am unforgettable too.

Typically, meeting someone who becomes "unforgettable" begins when you see their face for the first time. Thoughts range from, "wow," "OMG," "what eyes," "now those are lips," to "chiseled cheeks for real."

It has been proved, that facial symmetry is one of the criteria, by which we perceive attractiveness of a face. According to research, there are certain acknowledged features that are universally considered to be key components of a potentially "unforgettable" face. Based on surveys, there are eight elements of a perfect face: perfect forehead, eyebrows, twinkling eyes, pointed nose tip, high cheek bones, full lips, a tapering chin and flawless skin. It's no coincidence that these are the features that are requested by most people seeking plastic surgery consults.