Beauty,
as they say, is in the eye of the beholder and ideals of beauty differ from
culture to culture. However, cosmetic surgeons generally agree on the
characteristics required for an aesthetically pleasing nose.
That
your nose suits your face is of course the most important thing and looking at
its proportions in relation to the rest of your features is one way to assess
that.
Front view
When analysing from the front, the face is divided into thirds
and fifths (five equal sections vertically and three equal sections
horizontally).
An ideally proportioned nose is one that takes up a single
section both vertically and horizontally. If the nose extends lower than the
middle third of the face then it is too long. If the nose is wider than the
middle fifth of the face then it is too wide (at least in terms of ideal
Caucasian facial proportions).
A nose that is too large can dominate over
other attractive facial traits such as the eyes or lips. An ideally sized nose,
on the other hand, is harmonious with the rest of the features as well as the
face shape.
Side view
To
assess if the end of the nose projects too far outwards from the face (or not
far enough), a measurement is taken from the top of the nostril crease (alar
crease) up to the root of the nose (radix). Another is taken from the alar
crease out to the nasal tip. The horizontal measurement is then divided by the
vertical measurement. The optimum range for the calculation is 0.55 to
0.60.
Another factor determining how long or short the nose appears
is the nasofrontal angle, this is the angle formed where the nose and forehead
meet. The ideal angle is between 115 and 130
degrees (115-120 for men and 120-130 for women).
Septum
The
septum contains bones and cartilage and runs down the middle of the nose. Viewed in profile, If we draw a hypothetical
line from nose root (radix) to nose tip, this line must have 2 mms distance
from the septum in women and must match with the septum in men.
If
the septum has a convex shape or hump and protrudes over this imaginary line it
is an undesirable shape. Likewise, if the line of the nose is too concave and
dips too far below the line, it is also displeasing.
Equally,
the septum must be straight and not deviated, which creates a lopsided
appearance from the front and underneath.
Columellar and nostril rim
The fleshy external end of the septum is called the columellar. Too much or too little showing is undesirable. There
are three possible configurations for the columella - normal, hanging, or
retracted. The nostril rim (alar rim) can also be normal, hanging or retracted.
Nasal tip
The
nasal tip should be proportional in terms of size and width and not be round
and bulbous. When viewed from below, the nasal tip should be triangular shaped
but without sharp edges or angles (called a soft triangle).
 |
| With a nasal tip rotated at 106 degrees, Scarlett Johansson is said to have a 'perfect' nose. Image credit: Georges Biard |
The
angle of rotation at the nasal tip (the amount the
nose is turned up) is also important. Measured from the lip up, the ideal range
of rotation is 90 to 100 degrees for men and 95 to 110 degrees for women.
A female nose that is
rotated less than 90 degrees to the face looks droopy, long and masculine.
The perfect fit for you
When assessing a patient for rhinoplasty surgery,
these guidelines help a surgeon determine how best to improve the appearance of
the nose, however it’s not a one-size-fits all approach.
Come for a consultation at Ocean Clinic
Marbella and we will consider a number of factors when making a treatment plan.
We will ask you to tell us the aspects of your nose you’re unhappy with,
consider the proportions of your nose in respect of your ethnic background and
assess the surgical possibilities (we can only work with what you’ve got!).
‘Perfect’ proportions in noses don’t
always create the most attractive face, so we always endeavour to assess your
face as a whole and design a nose that’s right for you.
