A 3-Dimensional Facial Analysis of Nasal Geometry Across Ethnicity, Sex, and Nasal Implants

Mixed heritage faces have long been celebrated for their beauty, but there is limited data on the nasal characteristics of these faces. We aim to quantitatively compare nasal geometry across ethnicities and sexes to test the hypothesis that the Eurasian nose has an intermediate morphology between Chinese and White noses. To compare nasal geometry, we customized a computer program to quantitatively analyze a database of 72 three-dimensional facial scans of 43 Chinese (25 men, 18 women), 18 Eurasian (7 men, 11 women), and 11 White (9 men, 2 women) people. We then analyzed 3 commercial nasal implants (Bistool, Medpor, and Silicone) to assess how closely each implant simulated the Eurasian nose. Two-dimensional analysis of nasal and prominence indexes revealed that the Eurasian nose had intermediate readings between Chinese and White noses, whereas the Eurasian nasion most closely resembles a saddle shape on 3-dimensional analysis. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the saddle shape of the nasion possibly creates a saddle point to maximize light scatter and thereby enhance overall facial beauty. Among the implants analyzed, the Bistool implants most closely match the shape index of the human nasion, recreating the saddle point geometry most accurately. Through determining an intermediate nasal morphology, we aim to provide a guideline for rhinoplasty to allow surgeons and patients to reach a more objective consensus on the aesthetic outcomes. Due to the limited sample size of volunteers in this study, future studies are encouraged to further validate the findings of this study for practical implementation.