Aesthetic comparison of the ideal nasal radix height in brazilians

Geraldo Augusto Gomes,Shiro Tomita,Glaucio Serra Guimarães,Carla Freire De Castro Lima,Manuela Salvador Mosciaro,Tiago Binotti Simas

doi:10.1590/s1808-86942011000300011

Abstract

The harmony of the facial profile is widely influenced by the height and form of the nasal dorsum. A few millimeters can make the lateral view aesthetically more or less pleasing and adequate in a subject's face. Professionals working with facial aesthetics should focus not only on the surgical techniques for proposed outcomes, but also with the subtleties and subjectivity that characterize aesthetic concepts and judgment. Material and MethodsA prospective survey to evaluate the preferences of a group of healthcare professionals working with facial aesthetics, a group of fine artists, and lay people about the best nasal radix height; the survey involved comparing 3 different nasal radix heights using computer-altered photographs of women with measurements close to the Caucasian standard. Results and conclusionThe lowest position of the nasal radix - close to the height of the pupil - was preferred (53%), followed by the middle position (superior crease of the eye). The highest position, resembling classic Greek statues, was considered the worst. The authors aos evaluated the effect of age, gender, and educational level on the choice of the best and worst female profiles.

Highlights

Harmony and symmetry are universal elements of beauty
Seventeen of the 66 available profiles met these criteria. b) Exclusion criteria: The 17 images selected initially were measured based on linear and angular measures described for classical facial proportions using the Image J 1.38X software (National Institute of Health, USA)
The third step consisted of a critical evaluation by three persons with varying experience on this topic: (1) healthcare professionals with experience in esthetic surgery that involve changes in the profile of subjects; (2) university trained plastic artists - painting, drawing, and sculpture; (3) 60 male and 60 female subjects aged from 18 to 30 years with no experience in facial esthetics and at least of undergraduate level

Summary

Introduction

Harmony and symmetry are universal elements of beauty. Artists and healthcare professionals have studied essentially abstract themes such as harmony and the difference between beauty and ugliness throughout history, to find the most agreeable facial proportions.[1]Reis[2] (2006) studied subjective evaluations of the face and found that the nose was the most frequent element described as responsible for a non-esthetic aspect in esthetically challenged male and female subjects. Harmony and symmetry are universal elements of beauty. Artists and healthcare professionals have studied essentially abstract themes such as harmony and the difference between beauty and ugliness throughout history, to find the most agreeable facial proportions.[1]. Reis[2] (2006) studied subjective evaluations of the face and found that the nose was the most frequent element described as responsible for a non-esthetic aspect in esthetically challenged male and female subjects. Subtleties in the size and shape of the nose may positively or negatively affect our esthetic judgment; these points have been widely debated and studied.[3]. Maneuvers that change the shape of the nose may be required even if the main purpose of surgery is to correct function, and will affect the face.[4,5]

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Discussion

Conclusion