Changes in patient-reported satisfaction and quality-of-life 6 months after rhinoplasty

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery Vol. 91; pp. 325 - 334
• Main Authors: Luong, K.P., Slijper, H.P., Stubenitsky, B., Hummelink, S., Ulrich, D.J.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2024
• Subjects: Body image; Cohort studies; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life; Rhinoplasty; Surveys and questionnaires; Surveys and questionnaires; Rhinoplasty; Patient satisfaction; Body image; Cohort studies; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.02.038

Rhinoplasty is a challenging and demanding procedure in plastic surgery. Surgical success, patient satisfaction, and improved quality-of-life are important outcomes.
This study aimed to evaluate patient-reported satisfaction with appearance, treatment, and decision outcomes as well as quality-of-life after rhinoplasty using validated questionnaires. The role of patient demographics on outcomes was also studied.
Patients who underwent a primary rhinoplasty were selected for this cohort study. Patient-reported satisfaction with appearance, treatment, and decision as well as quality-of-life were evaluated with the Utrecht Questionnaire and FACE-Q at intake and 6 months postoperatively.
Overall, 380 patients were included. Patients reported a more positive subjective perception of nasal appearance (VAS score) at 6 months post-surgery compared with preoperative scores (7.9 ± 1.6 vs 3.2 ± 1.4, p < 0.05). Furthermore, higher quality-of-life and body image scores were observed at 6 months postoperatively compared with preoperative scores (7.7 ± 3.5 vs 15.2 ± 4.4, p < 0.05). Patients reported high satisfaction with treatment outcome (70.3 ± 23.4) as well as with their decision to undergo surgery (75.9 ± 23.4) on a scale of 0–100 at 6 months postoperatively. Patients reached similar postoperative scores regardless of their intake scores. Patients ≥30 years and patients with a history of cosmetic surgery were less satisfied postoperatively.
Despite differences in appearance satisfaction at intake, most patients showed greater satisfaction with appearance, treatment, and decision outcomes as well as quality-of-life 6 months postoperatively. However, older age and a history of cosmetic surgery influenced these outcomes negatively. These factors should be considered during preoperative management of outcome expectations.