Nasofrontal angle: forehead and nasal dorsum
- Nerve
- Highlighted area
Quick facts
- Definition
- Profile angle between the tangent of the glabella and the tangent of the nasal dorsum, with its vertex at the nasion.
- Vertex
- Soft tissue nasion, the deepest point between the forehead and the nose.
- Reference range
- Generally cited as between about 115 and 135 degrees, varying by sex and ethnicity.
- Sharp angle
- Deep nasion, with a more marked forehead and dorsum.
- Open angle
- Shallow nasion, with a smooth transition between forehead and nose.
- Relevance in HOF
- Guides the reading of the nasal root when planning nonsurgical rhinoplasty.
The nasofrontal angle is the angle, seen in profile, between the line that follows the glabella and the line that follows the nasal dorsum, with its vertex at the soft tissue nasion, the deepest point between the forehead and the nose. It describes how the forehead transitions into the nose: a sharp angle indicates a deep, well-marked root; an open angle indicates a smooth transition. It is one of the basic measurements in analyzing the facial profile and in nonsurgical rhinoplasty.
How is the nasofrontal angle measured?
On a standardized profile photo, a line tangent to the glabella is drawn passing through the nasion, and another from the nasion tangent to the nasal dorsum, toward the tip. The angle between the two, measured at the nasion, is the nasofrontal angle.
| Reading | Approximate range | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp | Below about 115 degrees | Deep root, prominent forehead and dorsum |
| Within the reference range | About 115 to 135 degrees | Balanced transition |
| Open | Above about 135 degrees | Shallow root, more continuous profile |
The ranges are references from the facial analysis literature and vary with sex, age and ethnicity. In general, female profiles sit on the more open side and male ones on the sharper side. The height of the nasion matters too: a high or low nasion changes the perceived length of the nose even with the same angle.
Why does it matter in HOF?
- Nonsurgical rhinoplasty: volume at the nasal root tends to open the angle, smooth the transition and disguise a hump on the dorsum. Reading the angle helps decide whether the concern is a deep root or the dorsum.
- Glabella: contraction of the procerus muscle and the corrugators marks the area between the eyebrows, just above the nasion, and toxin in the glabella changes the dynamic reading of the area.
- Balance with the tip: the nasofrontal angle is read together with the nasolabial angle, which describes the tip and the columella.
How does it show up in the assessment?
- Profile photo with the head aligned and the gaze on the horizon.
- Palpation of the dorsum: separating a bony hump from a cartilaginous one.
- Glabella at rest and in contraction: wrinkles and muscle mass change the contour above the nasion.
- Previous procedures on the nose, surgical or injectable.
The anatomy of the nose is covered in nose, and complications in nasal vascular occlusion.
Also known as: frontonasal angle, soft tissue nasofrontal angle, G-N-Prn angle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal nasofrontal angle?
There is no single number. The facial analysis literature usually cites an approximate range of 115 to 135 degrees, with women generally on the more open side and men on the sharper side. Harmony with the rest of the profile weighs more than the isolated number.
Does filling the nasal root change the nasofrontal angle?
It can. Adding volume at the nasion tends to make the angle more open and the transition between forehead and nose smoother, which also changes the perceived length of the nose. The nasal root is a high vascular risk area, and the indication depends on assessment by the qualified professional.