OBJECTIVETo study the influence of nasolabial angle alteration on facial profile attractiveness and investigate the perception differences in profile attractiveness among laypeople.

METHODSA young Chinese female with normal hard and soft tissue cephalometric values was chosen as a research object. Profile photograph was taken in a natural head position. Photoshop software was chosen to rotate the nose tip and upper lip, thus changing the degree and direction of nasolabial angle. A total of 33 different profile pictures were achieved. Thirty-three professional orthodontists and 64 non-professionals were chosen to score these 33 pictures.

RESULTSWhen the upper lip position was fixed, the profile was considerably attractive because the angle of nasal tip was not changed or altered. When the nasal tip rotation angle was fixed, profiles with a retroclined upper lip were considered significantly attractive by the layperson and professional groups. Regardless of the direction of the nasal tip rotation, the respondents considered the profile with a retroclined upper lip highly attractive.

CONCLUSIONThe soft tissue profile with a retroclined upper lip looks considerably attractive in Chinese female populations. Therefore, during an orthodontic treatment, appropriate retraction of the incisor is recommended to improve soft tissue profile attractiveness.