Objective assessment of standard nostril types--a morphometric study.

Nostril type was assigned according to the inclination of the medial longitudinal axis of the nostrils, generally following the Topinard system in a group of randomly selected, healthy young North Americans. The group was composed of 156 Caucasians, 55 Asians, and 32 blacks. The 33 noses with asymmetrical nares were excluded from the remainder of the study. Five other measurements of the soft nose were taken (protrusion of the nasal tip, width of the nose, width of the columella, and length of the right and left columellar rims). Three indices showing the relationships of these measurements were also calculated. The most common nares were Type II in Caucasians (52.8%), Type III in Asians (52.8%), and Type VI in blacks (50.0%). Specific columellar and alar base configurations were associated with many nostril types. These data about nostril types and the soft nose provide important guidelines for reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.