What is the perfect nose? Lesson learnt from the literature
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Published version
Author(s)
Ding, A
Zhang, Y
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: The nose, as the central feature of the face, has a pivotal role in determining the overall proportion of the face, and is
a topic of great interest in facial aesthetics.
Methodology: A literature review to elucidate a ‘perfect’ nose from an aesthetic stance.
Results: The width of the nose should be equal to the middle fifth based on neoclassical canon. The ideal mouth to nose width
ratio conforms to the golden ratio. The ideal nose length (RT) is 0.67x midfacial height. A straight dorsum with no supratip break
or a straight dorsum reduced to a level of 2mm below the tip creating a retroussé are both desirable. Numerous rules have been
proposed with regards to ideal tip projection, Goode’s rule is perhaps the most widely used - the ratio of the projection of the
nose measured from the alar crease should be 0.55-0.60 of the nasal dorsal length. The columella show should be 2-4mm. More
recently, it has been suggested that a mathematically averaged nose is attractive.
Conclusion: Whilst many rules/ratios have been described, there’s no universal standard for the ‘perfect’ nose. The neoclassical
norms may no longer represent the ideal, and facial aesthetics may be inciting changes in the standard of beauty.
Key words: nose, nose deformities, nasal surgical procedures, nasal bone, nasal septum
a topic of great interest in facial aesthetics.
Methodology: A literature review to elucidate a ‘perfect’ nose from an aesthetic stance.
Results: The width of the nose should be equal to the middle fifth based on neoclassical canon. The ideal mouth to nose width
ratio conforms to the golden ratio. The ideal nose length (RT) is 0.67x midfacial height. A straight dorsum with no supratip break
or a straight dorsum reduced to a level of 2mm below the tip creating a retroussé are both desirable. Numerous rules have been
proposed with regards to ideal tip projection, Goode’s rule is perhaps the most widely used - the ratio of the projection of the
nose measured from the alar crease should be 0.55-0.60 of the nasal dorsal length. The columella show should be 2-4mm. More
recently, it has been suggested that a mathematically averaged nose is attractive.
Conclusion: Whilst many rules/ratios have been described, there’s no universal standard for the ‘perfect’ nose. The neoclassical
norms may no longer represent the ideal, and facial aesthetics may be inciting changes in the standard of beauty.
Key words: nose, nose deformities, nasal surgical procedures, nasal bone, nasal septum
Date Issued
2020-05-02
Date Acceptance
2020-04-06
Citation
Rhinology Online, 2020, 3 (3), pp.25-30
Publisher
Rhinology
Start Page
25
End Page
30
Journal / Book Title
Rhinology Online
Volume
3
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
©2020 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other
third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/
third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.rhinologyonline.org/Rhinology_online_issues/manuscript_65.pdf
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2020-05-02