Nasal projection: how far the nasal tip stands out from the face
Quick facts
- Definition
- How far the tip of the nose extends ahead of the plane of the face, measured in profile.
- Reference point
- The pronasale, the most anterior point of the tip, in relation to the face or the lip.
- Not to be confused with
- Tip rotation (how far it points up or down) or the length of the nose.
- Relevance in facial harmonization
- Guides what nonsurgical rhinoplasty can or cannot change and avoids expectations of projection that the product does not deliver.
Nasal projection is the distance the tip of the nose extends ahead of the plane of the face when you look at the face from the side. It is one of the two dimensions that define the shape of the nose in profile, along with tip rotation. A nose can be long and barely projected, short and highly projected, or any combination of the two.
How is tip projection measured?
The measurement starts from the pronasale, the most anterior point of the tip. More than one method is accepted, and what matters is always using the same one so that before and after and different patients can be compared.
| Method | What it compares | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Nasofacial angle | Line of the dorsum relative to the line of the face | Quick reading in profile |
| Relationship with nose length | Tip projection divided by dorsum length | Assessment in cephalometric and surgical analysis |
| Relationship with the upper lip | How far the tip passes the lip | Visual impression of harmony |
Reference values vary with the author, the sex and the origin of the patient. That is why deciding whether a projection is too little or too much depends on reading the whole, not on a single number.
What influences projection?
The tip is held up by the nasal cartilages, mainly the alar cartilages, and by the columella, which supports it from below. The strength of that support, skin thickness and the position of the septum determine how far the tip projects and whether it holds up with age.
Over time, loss of support can make the tip lose projection and droop, which also increases the impression of a larger nose. This behavior is seen along with nasal tip rotation and the nasolabial angle.
What can and cannot facial harmonization change?
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid can change, in selected cases, the contour of the dorsum and the perception of the tip. It does not replace the structural support that surgery rebuilds, and the projection gain is limited and may be temporary.
The nose is an area of high vascular risk, with arteries that communicate with the ocular circulation. Any approach requires anatomical knowledge, detailed informed consent and hyaluronidase on hand.
Also called: nasal tip projection, tip projection.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether nasal projection is adequate?
By profile analysis, comparing the tip with the face using methods such as the nasofacial angle and the relationship with the lip line. The reading is made by the professional, who also considers sex, age and the face as a whole.