Geography of the nose: A morphometric study

Abstract

The noses of 34 attractive young North American Caucasian women were analyzed quantitatively, based on 19 nasal measurements (6 single and 7 paired linear measurements, 3 angles, and 3 inclinations) and 15 craniofacial measurements (10 linear measurements and 5 inclinations) taken directly from the face of the women. The relationship between the nasal measurements was studied in 16 proportion indices and the relationship between the nasal and the other craniofacial measurements in 13 interareal indices. The findings were also compared with those in 21 women with below-average faces. Two types of facial harmony disruption were identified: disharmony, a normal index with a visually apparent failure of proportionality, and disproportion, an index value outside of the normal range. The percentage of disharmonies and disproportions was significantly higher in the group of 21 women with below-average faces. The study revealed a wide variety of "ideal" noses. Only a small portion of the measurements (12%) and proportion indices (7%) were at the mean value. At least two-thirds of the interareal proportion indices were located in the mean +/- 1 standard deviation portion of the normal range. Only about one-fifth of the interareal indices were disharmonious and 2.8% disproportionate. The disproportions were more areal in the attractive faces and more interareal in the below-average faces. The greatest disproportion in the attractive face was the moderately short columella in relation to the tip protrusion and in the below-average face the long nasal bridge related to the upper-lip height. Disproportions were associated with combinations of normal and abnormal measurements, or with two normal measurements of unequal quality, which resulted in a slightly smaller disfigurement. Analysis of ethnic and racial differences showed the soft nose as the main feature of the most characteristic differences. The study revealed that the key to restoration of facial harmony is the renewal of the uniformity of proportion index qualities by elimination disharmonies and/or disproportionate relationships.

Nasofacial angle and nasal prominence: A quantitative investigation of idealized and normative values

“…A profile silhouette image was created with computer software (Adobe ® Photoshop ® CS2 software). The image was manipulated using the same software to construct an "ideal" profile image with proportions, 3 and linear and angular soft tissue measurements (Farkas et al, 1986;Farkas and Kolar, 1987;Farkas, 1994;Naini, 2011), based on currently accepted criteria for an idealized Caucasian/white male profile, as previously described .…”

“…Farkas anthropometrically measured the 'inclination of the nasal bridge' in relation to 'the vertical', which, although not directly defined, appears to be quite similar to the nasofacial angle, except that the vertical glabella-to-pogonion line is substituted for a vertical line parallel to the Frankfort plane (Farkas et al, 1986;Farkas, 1994). Average values, based on anthropometric studies by Farkas et al (1986), for North American adults of white ethnicity are 31.6° ± 4.6° in males and 30° ± 5.3° in females.…”

“…Average values, based on anthropometric studies by Farkas et al (1986), for North American adults of white ethnicity are 31.6° ± 4.6° in males and 30° ± 5.3° in females. There is ethnic variability, and average values for a Chinese population have been provided as 27.2° ± 3.5° in males and 24.5° ± 3.6° in females, and in an African American population as 32.2° ± 5° in males and 33.4° ± 5.7° in females (Farkas, 1994).…”

Nasofrontal Angle and Nasal Dorsal Aesthetics: A Quantitative Investigation of Idealized and Normative Values

“…4,5 A profile silhouette image was created with computer software (Adobe ® Photoshop ® CS2 software). The image was manipulated using the same software to construct an "ideal" profile image with proportions, 3 and linear and angular soft tissue measurements, 3,[6][7][8] based on currently accepted criteria for an idealized Caucasian male profile, as previously described. 4 The nasofrontal angle of the idealized image (image BK: 130°) was altered in 3-degree increments from 148 to 106 degrees, in order to represent variations in the angle and morphology of the nasofrontal region, ranging from an excessive nasal dorsal hump to a ski slope dorsal morphology ( Figure 2).…”

Submental-Cervical Angle: Perceived Attractiveness and Threshold Values of Desire for Surgery

“…A facial profile silhouette image was created with computer software (Adobe Ò Photoshop Ò CS2 software; Adobe Systems Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). The image was manipulated using the same software to construct an 'ideal' facial profile image with proportions [1] and soft tissue measurements [1,[5][6][7][8][9][10] based on currently accepted criteria.…”