Anthropometric nasal analysis of Han Chinese young adults

BackgroundThere are varying degrees of racial differences in the size, shape, proportions of the facial structures.MethodsA total of 900 Han Chinese young adults (501 females and 399 males) were included in the analysis. Measurements taken of the soft tissue of the external nose included 12 items of linear distance and 5 angles. Six proportion indices of the soft tissue of the external nose were determined.ResultsIn the 12 parameters of linear measurement, females were found to have significantly smaller nasal base width, nasal ala length, nasal ala thickness, columella height, columella width, and nasal tip width in comparison to males (all, P < 0.01). In the five angular measurements, females were found to have a smaller nasal tip angle and nasolabial angle (both, P < 0.05) and a larger nostril tilt angle, nasofrontal angle, and nasal tip angle (all, P < 0.001). Nasal depth–nasal width and columella height–nasal depth were both significantly less in males than females (53.25 ± 8.2 vs. 54.56 ± 9.7 and 51.61 ± 11.92 vs. 53.37 ± 12.56, respectively); whereas nasal ala length–nasal height was significantly less in females than in males (29.41 ± 8.95 vs. 30.9 ± 7.02).ConclusionSignificant differences are present in nasal indices of males and females of Han Chinese ancestry. These data may serve as a reference standard for nasal reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.