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Introduction: The soft tissue norms for any population sample aids in formulating a guideline for use in diagnosis, treatment planning and prognosis in orthodontic and orthognathic treatment.

Objective: The present study investigates the soft tissue facial profile (STFP) of Nepalese adults to develop a parameter for diagnostic tool in orthodontics.

Materials and Method: Acceptable profile photographs of one hundred Nepalese adult subjects having normal occlusion and orthognathic skeletal relation were evaluated using soft tissue reference points on forehead, upper lip and chin. Angular measurement was depicted.

Result: The mean Gl-LS-Pog angle for Nepalese female was 163.36o, male was 161.97^o and for combined subjects was 162.66^o. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in mean STEP measurement between the gender groups.

Conclusion: The soft tissue esthetic profile (STEP) is a new simple norms developed as a diagnostic tool useful in orthodontic treatment for Nepalese adults; furthermore it may be appreciated in artistry, portrait photography and in evaluation of beauty peasant.

Esthetics; facial profile; Nepalese; soft tissue.