Lateral View Highlighting the Nasolabial Sulcus in a Female

Description

Viewed in lateral profile, the nasolabial sulcus (nasolabial fold) is traced along the curved junction between the lateral ala of the nose and the adjacent cheek, descending inferolaterally toward the oral commissure. Superiorly, the marking lies just anterior to the malar eminence and lateral to the nasal sidewall; inferiorly it approaches the upper lip, overlying the region of the modiolus where perioral muscles interlace. Subtly implied by the surface contour are the underlying maxilla and the soft tissues of the midface, including the nasolabial fat compartment and the course of the facial artery as it ascends toward the lateral nose. For facial analysis, this sulcus is a dependable surface landmark because it reflects both skeletal projection and age related changes in superficial and deep fat. It guides injection planning in aesthetic medicine, where filler placement must respect the angular artery near the alar base and avoid intravascular injection, a known mechanism for skin necrosis and, in rare cases, retinal artery occlusion with vision loss. Rhinoplasty and midface lifting discussions also return to this line, since altering nasal tip support or midface volume changes how the fold reads in profile. Plastic surgery texts, dermatology lectures on facial aging, and injectables training modules can all use this lateral view to annotate midface proportions and to standardize pre and post procedure photography. It also fits anatomy and physical examination courses when teaching surface anatomy of the nose, cheek, and perioral region with clear, uncluttered background and a single marked reference line. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.