HFA noses
The nose is assessed from both front and side view
Front
- Width
- Ball on the end of the nose
- Cleft at end of nose
Side
- Profile shape
- Ball at end of nose
WIDTH (front on photo – no smile)
Tips - Width
- The size of the width of the nose is chosen in relation to the size of the mouth, the eyes, and the overall size of the face
- It is a visual impression and cannot be measured exactly
- If the width of the nose looks only slightly larger it is unrated
- A wider nose is a reasonably common feature
- The width is most seen at the end of the nose but sometimes the whole nose is wider from the bridge area to the tip
SHAPE or indent at end of nose – front on (front on photo – no smile)
Tips - Shape - tip
- Look at the end of the nose
- Note the shape and if there is an indentation at the end
- The shape of the nose is separate to the width
- Look for ball shapes or a bell shape with rounded ends
- Sometimes the ball is only seen front on but not side one – give 1 red point
- Sometimes the ball is only seen side on but not front on – give 1 red point
- Note the same feature can be seen on profile – a ball shape at the end – if you have given 1 red point from the front on position DON’T add another red point
SHAPE of nose – profile Look at the SHAPE of the nose on profile. Choose the image as it was BEFORE plastic surgery or BEFORE accidents
*Only add the 1 red point (ball shape) ONCE - front only or profile only but not both
Tip - Shape - profile
- Look at the shape of the nose on profile
- Only take the shape as it was before accidents or cosmetic surgery
- Make sure each profile picture is similar – if not your photos aren’t straight – take them again at a 90-degree angle
- Straight – many noses are straight and sit at approx 45 degrees to the bridge – this type of nose is unrated
- Rounded end – add 1 red point if you DIDN’T add 1 red point for a ball shape front on
- Upturned end – this feature is the same as the ball end and is similar to the “ski jump” nose in Appearance and Circumstance (which was replaced by the ball).
- Downturned - look at the tip of the nose on profile. Where the tip is lower than the junction (columella - where the nose joins the face at the base) the nose gets 1 yellow point as it is downturned.
- Bump – the bump can occur anywhere along the profile of the nose – most commonly in the middle section but sometime higher or lower and near the tip. The bump may be small or elongated. It should be seen on both profile shots – if you see it one side but not the other check your photos again. Sometimes a shadow from the flash can create a bump appearance on one profile but not the other – check in person – check your camera. Some people turn their camera upside down for one profile shot – the flash is often not centred, and this can account for a false bump. A bump is 1 yellow point.
- Curved – this feature is not common. Often the curved nose has a bump as well. A nose with a bump which is also curved will get 2 yellow points
- Upturned – in Appearance and Circumstance an upturned nose (nostrils showing front on) was rated as blue but by 2006 we were unsure (as we rarely see this feature) – we are still testing