Nose · Side photo

Nose-lip angle

nasolabial angle

Describes how far the nose tip turns up compared with the upper lip. Smiling changes it.

How it's measured

Angle at the base of the nose (subnasale) between the underside of the nose, towards the columella point, and the upper lip, towards labrale superius.

Reference range

Male reference

94–118°

Female reference

96–119°

Source: Community facial analysis formula (public spreadsheet), top range: men 94-118°, women 96-119°. North American averages are about 100° (men) and 104° (women) (North American young-adult norms: Farkas LG, Katic MJ, Forrest CR. Ann Plast Surg 2007;59:692-698, as tabulated by Virdi SS, Wertheim D, Naini FB. Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg 2019;41:9).

In the score

Counts toward the score with weight 7.5 (Community formula point table: nasolabial angle, 7.5 points).

What changes it

• Typical values differ between populations, so the reference range fits some faces better than others.
• Measured on the skin outline, so muscle and soft tissue affect it as well as bone.

One number, one feature

One measurement describes one detail in one photo. Pose, lens and expression move it, and every reference range is an average from limited samples.