Rhinoplasty is among the most popular cosmetic surgeries. In order for a rhinoplasty to be successful, several variables must be taken into account including gender. Therefore, it is imperative that a plastic surgeon understands the relationship between the shape of the nose and gender. Rhinoplasty was the fifth most requested cosmetic procedure for women and the second most requested procedure for men in 2003. Indeed, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) found that 119,047 women and 53,376 men had rhinoplasty during that same year.
While the above numbers demonstrate the significant interest in rhinoplasty in both women and men, there are differences in the average shapes of female and male noses. In general, men's noses are typically thought of as being thicker and longer than a woman's nose.
Average nasal shapes, along with other body proportions, have been investigated for centuries by artists. Perhaps the most famous artistic study of body proportions was performed by Leonardo da Vinci in his drawing titled "Vitruvian Man" in which he drew a human physique having ideal body proportions as envisioned by the Roman writer, architect and engineer, Vitruvius.
It may not be surprising that the artistic fascination with body proportions has led to a mathematical description of these same ratios. For example, it has been pointed out that Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa contains a sequence of Golden Rectangles (a golden rectangle is a rectangle whose length to width ratio is equal to 1:1.618) arranged in a spiral. The edges of the innermost golden rectangle outline the boundaries of her nose.
More modern mathematical descriptions of the nose make use of two angles called the nasolabial and nasofrontal angles. The nasolabial angle is formed by the line extending from the center of the base of the nose to the lip and the line extending from the center of the base of the nose to the tip of the nose. The nasofrontal angle is formed by the ridge of the nose and the forehead.
Larger nasolabial and nasofrontal angles result in the nose appearing shorter. In contrast, smaller nasolabial and nasofrontal angles result in a longer appearing nose. The average nasolabial angle varies between a minimum of 90 degrees and a maximum of 120 degrees. In comparison, the average nasofrontal has a minimum of 115 degrees and a maximum of 130 degrees.
Generally speaking, men having both a nasolabial and nasofrontal angle near their lower limits are often viewed as being more attractive, while women having nasolabial and nasofrontal angles near their upper limits are often viewed as being more attractive.
However, it is important to remember that the mathematical perspective of the shapes of female and male noses, presented within the preceding two paragraphs, neglect intangible artistic considerations. Indeed, the success of a cosmetic rhinoplasty is not determined by the measure of an angle, but by how the patient feels about the results of the procedure. A successful cosmetic rhinoplasty is one in which a patient is pleased with the appearance of their nose following their healing from the surgery.
For men and women in La Jolla, rhinoplasty with an experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeon is a must for health and safety and for the most beautiful outcome. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, all of the cosmetic surgeons are board-certified and have exceptional artistic skill and experience. Visit online at http://www.ljcsc.com/