The nasal bones tell you something about the nasal structure — the angle of the dorsum, the approximate size of the nasal aperture — but they underdetermine the soft tissue shape considerably.

The specific shape of the nasal tip, the width and form of the alae, the overall profile — these are influenced by factors including genetics, age, and individual variation that the bone cannot capture precisely.

Forensic reconstructors use population-based norms and professional judgment to make these determinations.

Similarly, the ears cannot be reliably inferred from skull morphology alone.

Ear shape is largely determined by cartilage, which leaves no direct skeletal evidence.

Reconstructors must make choices about ear shape that are essentially arbitrary within a plausible range.