Aesthetic Preferences of the Nasolabial Angle: A Three-Dimensional (3D) Study

Historically, the ideal nasolabial angle (NLA) ranges from 90o to 120o. This study was conducted to evaluate the current preferences of NLA of laypeople and clinicians based on 3D female textured and 3D male textured images. Three-dimensional software (Di3DView) was used to create a 3D facial image with a NLA of 70o. The colour images of one male and female adult were remapped onto the generated 3D image, resulting in a colour textured 3D male, and 3D female image, both with the same facial shape and a 70° NLA. This process was repeated for NLA’s of 80o, 90o, 100o, and 110o. Based on a 7-point Likert scale, seventy-two laypeople and fifty clinicians were asked to evaluate the NLA of each rotating 3D image and give a facial attractiveness score. Clinicians and laypeople showed good intra-rater reliability (ICC 0.75 to 0.89). A 90° NLA was found to be most attractive for 3D male textured images (p=0.001). Whilst for 3D female textured images, an 80o and 90° NLA was found to be the most attractive (p=0.001). Laypeople were more critical than clinicians. Both groups would seek treatment for NLA of 70o, 100o, and 110o. We were able to show that 90° NLA’s were preferred for males and 80o-90° NLA’s for females. Laypeople were more critical of obtuse nasolabial angles, and less critical of acute nasolabial angles than clinicians. Obtuse NLA’s angles greater than 90o are no longer considered acceptable.