The Ideal Nasal Tip Projection and Rotation Angles in Chinese: A Preference Analysis of the General Population

Abstract

Rhinoplasty to reshape the nasal tip is increasingly popular among Chinese women. Aesthetic standards vary across different ethnic groups and it is key to identify preferences for the ideal nasal tip in China to set surgical goals. Therefore, we administered an online survey to plastic surgeons and the public through social media to rank nasal tip images by aesthetic preference. Images were created from a single photograph to show various dimensions of nasal tip projection to nasal dorsum length ratio (NTP/NDL) and nasal labial angle (NLA). Preferences were compared by age, sex, living area, ethnic background, occupation, and history of plastic procedures on respondents' preferences. Overall, there were 703 respondents, including 441 (63%) women and 50 plastic surgeons. Nasal tip projection to nasal dorsum length ratio of 0.63 was ranked highest by all demographic groups, including women (47%), men (50%), and plastic surgeons (66%). Nasal labial angle of 1068 was first choice overall and preferred by 34%, 34%, and 52%, respectively. Preferences followed a bell curve for NTP/NDL and NLA, with lower rates of preference as parameters diverged further from the first choice. The preference for NTP/NDL of 0.63 and NLA of 1068 was conserved across surgeons, lay people, and all demographic groups. The authors suggest that these proportions could be used as reference for preoperative design in rhinoplasty.

The Ideal Nasion in Chinese: A Preference Analysis of the General Population

“…In addition, we studied the absolute value of nasion parameters instead of the ratio between nasion and tip projection. This is based on our previous study about ideal nasal tip aesthetics, in which we found Chinese overwhelming preferences of nasal tip projection to nasal dorsum length ratio was 0.63, and nasal rotation angle was 106 degrees 10. Therefore, we modified the standardized photograph according to ideal nasal tip parameters at the beginning of the study and investigated different nasion parameters while keeping the nasal tip constant.…”

“…Images were modified using Adobe Photoshop (Adobe Systems Inc., San Jose, CA) to create different nasal parameters. First, we modified nasal tip parameters to ideal Chinese nasal tip projection and rotation according to our previous study 10. After the nasal tip aesthetics were determined, we measured the height of nasion and forehead from the plane of medial canthus (Fig.…”