When Aesthetics, Surgery, and Psychology Meet: Aesthetic Nasal Proportions in Patients Having Rhinoplasty and Normal Adults

Abstract

The obsession with facial beauty is not limited to modern culture. Several studies have suggested that facial attractiveness is comparatively independent of culture. AbstractThe aesthetic nasal proportions have played a significant role in rhinoplasty practice. On the other hand, psychological variables also play a crucial role in rhinoplasty. It is of paramount importance for facial plastic surgeons to consider both sides to achieve a more satisfactory outcome. The present study aimed to compare aesthetic nasal proportions between primary rhinoplasty candidates and a demographically matched control group to determine whether patients having rhinoplasty have different aesthetic nasal proportions compared with healthy adults who are not interested in rhinoplasty. Sixty patients having rhinoplasty were selected consecutively from a surgical clinic. A control group (n ¼ 60) with the same demographic characteristics was selected. Photographs were taken using a digital camera on a fixed zoom setting. All images were captured at a distance of 1.5 m. Frontal and right lateral views were used to compare nasolabial angle, nasofrontal angle, nasofacial angle, alar width, intercanthal distance, nasal length, and width-to-length ratio. Independent t tests were used for comparisons. Independent t tests verified that nasofrontal angle, nasal length, and width-to-length ratio were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.01). Effect sizes ranged between 0.11 and 0.69. Aesthetic proportions were not significantly different in four factors. Nasolabial angle, nasofacial angle, alar width, and intercanthal distance were not different (p > 0.05). Four major aesthetic nasal proportions were statistically similar in a group of patients having rhinoplasty and a control group with no interest in rhinoplasty. Surprisingly, the patients having rhinoplasty showed a mean width-to-length ratio closer to aesthetic ideal. Therefore, applying for rhinoplasty may have strong psychological reasons (e.g., body dysmorphic symptoms) compared with realistic aesthetic appraisals.

Aesthetics of numerical proportions in human cosmetic surgery (Assessment of nasolabial angle in patients undergoing rhinoplasty before and after surgery)

“…However, the nose has a special importance because it occupies the central position in the face (13).…”

Aesthetics of Numerical Proportions in Human Cosmetic Surgery

“…However, the nose has a special importance because it occupies the central position in the face. 12 One of the most important parameters in the nose to measure, is tip rotation.…”

“…An arbitrary range of 90 to 115 degrees for the nasolabial angle (in connection with the nasal tip rotation) is common. 12 By measuring this parameter, the far and near obtained number in various researches from the ideal proportion can be identified, and the role of this parameter in assessing postoperative can be assessed. Assessment of some used parameters in facial surgeries and harmony of various facial features are essential to surgeon, who requires facial analysis.…”

A qualitative study of life events and psychological needs underlying the decision to have cosmetic surgery

“…Cosmetic surgery is characterized as a voluntary medical procedure, not always justified by a flagrant aesthetic imperfection, but sometimes by a highly subjective psychological disturbance. For example, Naraghi et al 1 recently demonstrated some psychological factors could be more significant than aesthetic proportions in undergoing facial plastic surgery. Nonetheless, can cosmetic surgery still constitute an adapted response to the patient's psychological suffering?…”