Nasomental angle: nose and chin in profile
Quick facts
- Definition
- Angle formed by the lines from the tip of the nose to the pogonion and along the nasal dorsum.
- Measures
- The relationship between the projection of the nose and that of the chin.
- Cited range
- Usually cited at around 120 to 132 degrees, as a descriptive reference.
- When it changes
- With a recessed or projecting chin and with changes in the tip of the nose.
- In HOF
- Helps decide whether a complaint of a big nose is, in part, a small chin.
The nasomental angle describes, in profile, how the nose relates to the chin. It is formed by two lines: one that follows the nasal dorsum and another that runs from the tip of the nose to the pogonion, the most anterior point of the chin.
Why does the chin come into the conversation about the nose?
How big the nose looks depends on what surrounds it. A recessed chin (retrogenia) makes the nose look prominent. A well-projected chin can balance the profile. The nasomental angle puts a number on that impression and helps explain the reasoning to the patient.
| Situation in the profile | Likely effect |
|---|---|
| Recessed or small chin (microgenia) | The nose looks bigger |
| Projecting chin | The nose looks smaller |
| Projecting nasal tip | Increases the impression of a big nose |
How to use it in the assessment?
Profile analysis needs a standardized photo, with the head in the Frankfort plane and the face relaxed. Varying the head position changes the angle and misleads the reading. This angle complements the nasofacial angle and the mentolabial angle.
What to watch for?
The chin and nose carry different risks. The nose is a high vascular risk zone, and in any area hyaluronidase should be available when hyaluronic acid is used. The decision to treat one area or the other, or neither, belongs to the qualified professional, according to the rules of their professional council in Brazil. A change of profile is not promised.
Also known as: angle between the nose and the chin.
Frequently asked questions
Does the nasomental angle change if the chin is filled?
It can change, because the pogonion moves forward. That is why the profile assessment is done beforehand, and the effect on how the nose looks varies from person to person.