CC BY 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2023; 50(04): 340-347
DOI: 10.1055/a-2091-6820
Cosmetic
Original Article

Ideal Nasal Preferences: A Quantitative Investigation with 3D Imaging in the Iranian Population

1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
,
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
,
2   School of Medicine, Medical School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
,
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background Though in facial plastic surgery, the ideal nasal characteristics are defined by average European-American facial features known as neoclassical cannons, many ethnicities do not perceive these characteristics as suitable.

Methods To investigate the preferences for nasofrontal angle, nasolabial angle, dorsal height, alar width, and nasal tip projection, manipulated pictures of one male and one female model were shown to 203 volunteer patients from a tertiary university hospital's facial plastic clinic.

Results The most esthetically preferred nasofrontal angles were 137.64 ± 4.20 degrees for males and 133.55 ± 4.53 degrees for females. Acute nasofrontal angles were more desirable in participants aged 25 to 44. The most preferred nasolabial angles were 107.56 ± 5.20 degrees and 98.92 ± 4.88 degrees, respectively. Volunteers aged 19 to 24 preferred more acute male nasolabial angles. A straight dorsum was the most desirable in both genders (0.03 ± 0.78 and 0.26 ± 0.75 mm, respectively). The ideal male and female alar widths were –0.51 ± 2.26 and –1.09 ± 2.18 mm, respectively. More 45- to 64-year-old volunteers preferred alar widths equal to intercanthal distance. The ideal female and male tip projections were 0.57 ± 0.01 and 0.56 ± 0.01, respectively.

Conclusion Results indicate that the general Iranian patients prefer thinner female noses with wider nasofrontal angles for both genders. However, the ideal nasolabial angles, dorsal heights, and tip projections were consistent with the neoclassical cannons. Besides ethnic differences, the trend of nasal beauty is also affected by gender, age, and prior history of esthetic surgery.

Authors' Contributions

K.T.: Methodology, investigation, writing - original draft, project administration.

A.K.S.: Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing - original draft, formal analysis.

A.H.: Investigation, writing - original draft.

A.A.S.: Resources, writing - original draft, writing – review & editing, supervision.


Ethical Approval

The related ethical approval number is “IR.TUMS.AMIRALAM.REC.1400.026.”


Patient Consent

Written and informed patient consent was obtained for publication and academic purposes.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 10 December 2022

Accepted: 15 April 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 May 2023

Article published online:
02 August 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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