Gender and nasal shape: measures for rhinoplasty.
BACKGROUND
Gender-specific nasal shapes are recommended for rhinoplasty. This study was conducted to clarify whether there truly are gender-related differences and to determine optimal nasal shapes in a Caucasian population.


METHODS
The authors created female and male composite photographs of "average" (n = 128 each), "optimal" (n = 16 each), and "most unpleasant" (n = 8 each) noses stratified on the basis of each photographed subject's (n = 311) own evaluation of the attractiveness of her or his nose, using a visual analogue scale. These composites were also assessed by 308 independent judges.


RESULTS
Optimal female noses showed a horizontally and vertically lower nasion and were concave to straight in profile as compared with optimal male noses, which had a vertically and horizontally higher nasion and a straight profile. A supratip break was not found in any of the composites. At least half of the judges rated average and optimal male composite noses as female. A significant majority mistook the composite of the most unpleasant female noses as male (frontal view, 62.0 percent; lateral view, 72.4 percent; p < 0.001). Optimal and average female and male noses were found to be independently significantly more attractive than the most unpleasant ones (p < 0.001, n = 308 judges). Women and men with a straight or concave profile were significantly (p = 0.017 and p = 0.006, respectively) more satisfied with the appearance of their nose than those with nasal humps.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender-related differences in nasal shape appear to be subtle, with nasion position being one of the main factors. A nasal hump and a supratip break are not desirable.
Springer
Ingo N
IN
Kiel, Germany; Gold Coast, Queensland, and St. Leonards, New South Wales, Australia From the Departments of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Facial Plastic Surgery and Prosthodontics, Propaedeutics, and Dental Materials, University of Kiel; Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University; and Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, The Royal North Shore Hospital.
Zernial
Oliver
O
Nölke
Frederike
F
Warnke
Patrick H
PH
Wiltfang
Jorg
J
Russo
Paul A J
PAJ
Terheyden
Hendrik
H
Wolfart
Stefan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001504:Beauty; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000941:ethics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome