Khaberni - The nose may have more influence on facial attractiveness than it seems, as concluded by researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago.
Researchers showed 31 volunteers photographic images of 34 individuals from different racial and ethnic groups, and used eye-tracking technology to determine which facial features the volunteers looked at longer. Then, the participants were asked about their impressions, and the answers were compared with the eye movements.
It turned out that noses previously considered unattractive were looked at longer and revisited frequently. In these cases, people also tended to look more closely at the mouth. However, if a nose appeared attractive, the gaze would often shift to the eyes and linger there.
In some photos, noses with asymmetrical tips were rated worse. However, this association disappeared in the full face picture. Also, the classic "beauty standards" were not confirmed, and strict proportions and angles of the nose were not reliable indicators of attractiveness.
As principal author Robert Galliano explained, an attractive nose makes the face more harmonious because it does not attract attention to itself. The study authors believe this is important for cosmetic surgeons and patients when planning nose surgery.
Galliano summarized by saying: "Unattractive noses draw attention and distract from other facial features such as beautiful eyes or lips. Many of our patients focus on specific details they dislike before nose surgery without thinking about how the nose affects the overall perception of the face. Our study showed that an attractive nose specifically coordinates the face by not standing out."
