FORMA FEATURE / NOSENasal bridge & dorsum: measurements, ratios, and research
The dorsum runs from the root toward the tip. Its contour may be straight, convex, or concave; bridge contour and overall nasal projection are distinct. This page separates published measurements from interpretation, preference experiments, and community speculation.
What nasal bridge & dorsum means
The nasofacial angle compares the nasal dorsal line with the glabella-to-chin facial plane. The chin’s position therefore changes this angle even if the nose stays the same.
Facial measurements only become comparable when the view, head position, soft-tissue landmarks, and endpoint definitions are held constant. A number copied from a profile photograph is not interchangeable with a value measured from a clinical scan or a front-facing portrait.
Official measurements, ratios & competing claims
30–40° A traditional nasofacial reference
A clinical reference gives 30–40° for the nasofacial angle.
Clinical guide: A planning reference rather than a universal attractiveness interval. Different landmark or tangent definitions change the reading. Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
33° Male preference in a Japanese sample
A Japanese preference study rated a 33° nasofacial angle highest for its male nasal profiles.
Study: A finite set of profiles and angles was tested. This is population- and stimulus-specific, not proof that 33° is best for all men. Ideal Nasal Angle Preferences Among Japanese People
Practical takeaway
Read the bridge against the chin and tip.
Start with the clinical angle and population preference below, then consider whether the dorsal contour connects coherently to the nasal root and tip.
What changes the answer
The facial reference line includes the chin: changing chin projection changes the measured angle. A straight, convex, or concave bridge can also share the same overall inclination.
Use these ranges to ask a better question about proportion—not to grade a face or choose a procedure by number alone. A qualified clinician still needs to examine function, tissue, skeletal structure, and your goals in person.
Connected facial features
Read or start nasal bridge & dorsum discussions · Explore the interactive atlas