Aesthetic impact of the upper component of the nasolabial angle: A quantitative investigation

ObjectiveA quantitative evaluation of the influence of the upper component of the nasolabial angle (NLA-UC) on perceived attractiveness and threshold values of desire for rhinoplasty.Materials and methodsThe NLA-UC of an idealized silhouette male Caucasian profile image was altered incrementally between −24° and 45°. The images were rated on a Likert scale by pre-treatment orthognathic patients (n = 75), laypeople (n = 75) and clinicians (n = 35).ResultsThe results of the present investigation demonstrate that a NLA-UC of between 12° and 24° is ideal, with a range of 8–30° deemed acceptable. Angles above or below this range, up to −4° and 36°, are perceived as slightly unattractive, and anything outside the range of −4° to 36° is deemed very unattractive.In terms of threshold values of desire for surgery, for patients it was 33° and above and −8° and below, and for both clinicians and laypeople it was 36° and above and −8° and below.Patients appear to be more critical than laypeople and clinician groups. This stresses the importance of using patients as observers, as well as laypeople and clinicians, in facial attractiveness research.ConclusionsFrom the results of this study, it is recommended that in rhinoplasty planning, the range of normal variability of the NLA-UC, in terms of observer acceptance, be taken into account as well as the threshold values of the desire for surgery.