Ideal Nasolabial Angle: How to Measure and Improve It

Your nasolabial angle plays a pivotal role in how your face appears from the side. As the area encapsulates most of your dominant facial features, the nasolabial angle defines facial harmony and influences the aesthetics. Having the perfect nasolabial angle is the new most sought-after cosmetic trend, but only some are born with an exact 90 to 120 degrees nose-to-lip ratio.

But do you really have an improper nasolabial angle, or are you blessed with the perfect facial structure?

Take our quiz below to get an expert preview of your facial structure! Besides tons of quizzes, downloading the mewing.coach app gives you access to a personalized workout plan, tips, and the best facial exercisers for more symmetry and balance!

But before we get into the treatments, this article will highlight:

• 🤔 Can we objectively define the ideal nasolabial angle?
• 🤕What is the ideal nasolabial angle?
• 🥼 How to measure the nasolabial angle?
• ☀️How mewing can help!

The Concept of Nasolabial Angle

The angle formed between the line going through the midpoint of the nostril aperture and the line drawn perpendicular to the Frankfurt horizontal line while intersecting sub nasally is called the nasolabial angle. It is defined as the almost-straight angle constructed by the two lines crossing through the lower edge of the nose, the base, and the upper lip. An aesthetically pleasing nasolabial angle is crucial for nose aesthetics, facial profile symmetry, and increased confidence.

Defining the ideal nasolabial angle differs in many cultures, but the arbitrary range mentioned in literature equals 90 to 120 degrees. However, these numbers also vary according to gender, with the ideal male nasolabial angle being 90 to 95 degrees. The ideal aesthetic nasolabial angle for women is more obtuse, with 95 to 115 degrees. These measurements also vary according to race groups, beauty standards, etc.

Nasolabial Angle Components

In its construction, the nasolabial angle comprises two parts of the body: the lips and the nose.

• Nasal tip

The nasal tip is the soft rounded area of the nose positioned above the nostrils. The tip corresponds to the point of the nose that is furthest from the face and is crucial in defining the overall nose shape. Your nasolabial angle starts between the tip of your nose and ends with the upper lip. The longer your nasal tip, the sharper the parametric.

The nasolabial angle also includes another part of the nose, the columella, which is the vertical soft tissue between your nostrils that supports the nose tip. Without the columella, there will be no smooth transition to the upper lip. Your nose is pivotal in the nasolabial angle degree, including the nasal tip rotation and nose projection.

• Upper lip

The nasolabial angle usually finishes at the edges of the upper lip. Whether someone has big or small lips will also influence the nasolabial angle measurement. For instance, an upper lip protrusion happens due to reduced nasolabial angles, while an excessive retraction of the upper lip leads to an increased nasolabial angle.

The ideal length between the upper lip and the base of the nose differs in males and females and depends on the location of the surrounding dominant facial features. For females, an ideal length is from 1.0 to 1.2 cm and 1.3 to 1.5 cm in males. Anything longer can look elongated for that person’s facial angles.

Types of Nasolabial Angle

According to the range of degrees in the nasolabial angle, they can be classified as normal, obtuse, and acute. The most agreed-upon aesthetically pleasing nasolabial angle is 110 degrees.

• Acute Nasolabial Angle

When the nasolabial angles are 90 degrees or lower, they are classified as acute nasolabial angles. The tip of the nose is drooping over the lips, most often seen in older individuals. An acute NLA can be considered one of the face features that are not so attractive.

• Obtuse Nasolabial Angle

Nasolabial angles above 130 degrees are referred to as being obtuse and are the result of excessive vertical maxillary growth. Usual symptoms include a gummy smile, large nostrils, pointy tip, etc.

• Normal Nasolabial Angle

The normal ideal nasolabial angle ranges between 90 and 120 degrees, but the results can vary depending on anthropologic differences. The normal ideal male nasolabial angle is 90 to 95 degrees, while women’s is 95 to 115 degrees.

Ideal Nasolabial Angle

An ideal nasolabial angle can vary across cultures, but the accepted angle norm is not the same for men and women, and it can also differ due to ethnicity.

• Nasolabial Angle Ideal: Males vs Females

Latest tests and research put the ideal nasolabial angle ranges from 93.4 and 98.5 degrees for men and 95.5 to 100.1 degrees for women, which indicates a much closer range between male and female nasolabial angle norm. This means that the ideal aesthetic nasolabial angle for women is less obtuse than what was considered before.

Another survey evaluating soft tissue profile characteristics and preferred nasolabial angle found that NLA is an undeniable factor in profile attractiveness. The preferred NLA ranges are 86 to 107 degrees for men and 84 to 123.12 for women. According to the findings, a more attractive NLA is more obtuse in women than men.

• Ideal Nasolabial Angle According to Ethnicity

NLA is also influenced by the person’s ethnic background, with studies revealing that Chinese, African Americans and Native Americans find a more acute NLA more attractive than an obtuse one, connected to fuller, protruding lips. On the other hand, Iranian women ranked similarly to American Caucasians with a preferred obtuse NLA.

A study of the NLA preferences in the Middle Eastern population shows that the younger generations favor a more acute NLA in both men and women. The ideal male nasolabial angle is 89.3°, and the appealing nasolabial angle for women is 90.8°.

Nasolabial Angle vs Nasofacial Angle

Although both are central to the face, nasolabial and nasofacial angles are two different things.

The nasofacial or nasomental angle is formed by the intersection of a line drawn from the nasal bridge (nasion) to the tip of the nose with a line from the tip of the nose to the chin (pogonion). As a crucial factor determining the level of facial profile attractiveness, the nasofacial angle should range between 120 and 132 degrees. If you have a receding chin, the angle deviates from the aesthetically preferred range.

A nasolabial angle is formed at the intersection of a line drawn across the length of the columella to nose’s base (subnasale) and from there to the edges of the upper lip (labrale superius). The ideal angle is between 90 to 115 degrees, depending on gender.

How to Measure Nasolabial Angle

Plastic surgery attending staff measure the NLA with inclinometers, fluid-level devices, and a natural head position estimation operator. According to methods used by plastic surgeons, there are four accepted ways of measuring the nasolabial angle:

• Measure the angle between the columella and the line above the upper lip.
• Inspect the angle between the columella and the line that goes to the base of the upper lip.
• Evaluate the angle between the long axis of the nostril and the line perpendicular to Frankfurt horizontal.
• Examine the angle between the long axis of the nostril and the line that intersects the glabella and pogonion.

For instance, the nasolabial angle can be easily calculated for any given value of N/FH or L/FH (nose and lips) with the formula: NLA = 80.33° + 1.02° (N/FH) and NLA = 14.2° + 1.04° (L/FH). This was estimated according to a given mean value of N/FH, which was 17.42° ± 8.40° and L/FH with 80.68° + 6.45°.

Measuring your nasolabial angle is a delicate procedure that should be left to a professional for preciseness. Professionals use cephalometric radiographs, lateral photographs, direct clinical measurements, life-size slides, modern computer technology, a nasal projectometer, etc. But, for those who want to try this at home, remember that there is no universally accepted method of assessing nasal tip projection and nasolabial angle.

Factors Affecting Nasolabial Angles

Your nasolabial angle can change due to a variety of factors, including aging, lifestyle, genetics, jaw issues, etc.

• Aging

With aging, your skin starts to diminish in quality. Skin aging leads to weakened underlying cartilage, causing droopiness in the nasolabial area. The nose becomes more protruded as the skin begins to sink and the lips smooth out.

• Genetics

If you are of African American descent, you will likely have and be attracted to acute nasolabial angles, while Caucasians have and prefer an obtuse nasolabial angle. If you want to know what your nasolabial angle will look like, evaluate your family and relatives first.

• Orthodontic Issues

The nasolabial angle can reduce and increase due to orthodontic issues too. If a person has malocclusion, the upper or lower jaw will be more protruded. This can lead to an inadequate nasolabial angle that can worsen if not treated promptly.

Mewing as a Natural Approach to Improve Nasolabial Angle

More often than not, an inadequate nasolabial angle is caused by jaw misalignment. Keeping the teeth, lips, and tongue in proper alignment can help better the nasolabial angle. By slowly breathing, placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth, and keeping the teeth properly stacked on top of each other, you can improve symmetry, add volume and define the jawline. This is the whole concept of mewing, and the exercise is so easy you can do it sitting down!

There are many ways how mewing affects the nose, but reducing symptoms of sleep apnea, nasal congestion, and troubles while breathing are some of them. If you want to know what effect mewing has on lip shape, posture, speech, and alternative orthodontic surgery, download the mewing.coach app! Here you’ll get all the tips you need to improve both nasolabial angles and the ogee curve, as well as a personalized mewing workout program!

Nasolabial Angle Surgery

General indications that you need nasolabial angle surgery are if you experience breathing problems, suffer from sleep apnea or snoring, have constant nasal congestion, or you’re unsatisfied with your side profile. The patient is recommended plastic surgery for their nasolabial angle if they want a nasal tip modification, have thick nasal skin, or experience nasal valve dysfunction.

Nasolabial Angle Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a nose surgery performed by a certified plastic surgeon to improve the nasolabial angle. The procedure involves the surgeon fixing pieces of cartilage to the columellar strut in a preferred position. The optimal angle is determined once the posterior end of the graft is fixed temporarily with a needle to the supra-tip cartilaginous dorsum.

Lip Lift Surgery

A lip lift surgery can improve the nasolabial angle appearance because it increases the amount of upper lip seen on the face. Getting an upper lip lift means shortening the distance between the lip and the nose’s base. The ideal range for females was 1.0 to 12. cm, and with a lifting procedure, you get more exposed teeth, fuller lips, and a more youthful appearance. A lip lift will significantly decrease the nasolabial angle transforming the face from too obtuse to acute. With lip lifts, you get a more profound, balanced, and feminine upper lip.

Recovery and expectations

The estimated recovery time after one has undergone rhinoplasty performed is 4-6 weeks, which is required for the bones in the nose to heal after surgery. After a serious procedure like rhinoplasty, patients are advised to give up strenuous exercise, stretching, lifting, and bending to avoid nasal swelling.

Lip lift surgery has a shorter healing period, lasting one to two weeks. However, the lip-lift incisions may take longer to heal and fade, with some reporting up to 8 weeks. Patients might also feel a tightness in the area lasting 4 months.

Non-Surgical Alternatives to Improve Nasolabial Angle

You don’t always have to opt for cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery to get your required nasolabial angle results. Here are a few other tips you can try to avoid them:

Facial Exercises

Facial yoga and mewing can go a long way in adding symmetry to the face. Baby fat and accumulated fat in the face influence the nasolabial angle. Regularly working out can cause weight loss and, thus, an improved nasolabial angle. Mewing can also increase fullness in the lip, decreasing the distance from the upper lip to the tip of the nose.

Fillers and Injectables

Fillers and injectables are the most common ways to improve nasolabial angle appearance. This includes injecting hyaluronic acid fillers into the upper lip to give it more portion and shorten the distance to the tip of the nose. A hooked nose can also be corrected using filler rhinoplasty. The injections work for blunting the nasolabial angle affecting the subnasal area.

Orthodontic Treatments

Regarding orthodontic therapies, nasolabial angles can be treated with tooth extractions, orthognathic surgery, malocclusions and second and third-class corrections, and rapid palatal expansion.

For example, rapid palatal expansion (RPE) is an effective therapy option that corrects the transverse of the maxillary discrepancies. With RPE treatment, there will be changes in the soft tissue related to fixing an increase in nasal soft tissue and bone base.

Final Word

When it comes to your nasolabial angle, the ideal should reflect your individual aesthetics. A balance between the tip of the nose and the upper lip is crucial for side profile attractiveness, but maintaining it is easier said than done.

Besides keeping a healthy lifestyle, mewing and face yoga can improve and prolong ideal nasolabial angles for ages. If you are unhappy with your nasolabial proportions, make sure to consult with a professional. You don’t always have to opt for surgery, but a simple consultation about your measurements will be the first step toward achieving your ultimate nasolabial angle!