Variation in Lip Shape and Aesthetics in the Young Female Population: A Statistical Atlas Study.

Background: The distribution of lip shapes in young females and how morphological variation relates to attractiveness are poorly defined. Objectives: We hypothesized that among young female lip images generated by a statistical atlas model, those with more full lips compared with those with less full lips would be perceived as more attractive as measured by anonymous survey participants. Method: A statistical atlas of lip morphology was created using photographs of 700 women aged 18-35 years. The average lip shape was determined by coregistering and averaging images. Morphological variation was analyzed using principal component analysis. The relationship between attractiveness and observed lip morphologies was assessed using publicly distributed surveys. Results: In total, 428 survey responses were obtained. We developed a statistical model of variation of lip shape in the population and its relationship to attractiveness. The most attractive lips were significantly fuller than the average shape in the population, with greater vertical height and surface area. Conclusion: A statistical atlas can provide a visual guide to variation in lip shape in the population. The most attractive lip shapes vary significantly from the population average, lending support to procedures that increase lip height and surface area.

ChatGPT vs. web search for patient questions: what does ChatGPT do better?

PURPOSE: Chat generative pretrained transformer (ChatGPT) has the potential to significantly impact how patients acquire medical information online. Here, we characterize the readability and appropriateness of ChatGPT responses to a range of patient questions compared to results from traditional web searches. METHODS: Patient questions related to the published Clinical Practice Guidelines by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were sourced from existing online posts. Questions were categorized using a modified Rothwell classification system into (1) fact, (2) policy, and (3) diagnosis and recommendations. These were queried using ChatGPT and traditional web search. All results were evaluated on readability (Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kinkaid Grade Level) and understandability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool). Accuracy was assessed by two blinded clinical evaluators using a three-point ordinal scale. RESULTS: 54 questions were organized into fact (37.0%), policy (37.0%), and diagnosis (25.8%). The average readability for ChatGPT responses was lower than traditional web search (FRE: 42.3 ± 13.1 vs. 55.6 ± 10.5, p < 0.001), while the PEMAT understandability was equivalent (93.8% vs. 93.5%, p = 0.17). ChatGPT scored higher than web search for questions the 'Diagnosis' category (p < 0.01); there was no difference in questions categorized as 'Fact' (p = 0.15) or 'Policy' (p = 0.22). Additional prompting improved ChatGPT response readability (FRE 55.6 ± 13.6, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT outperforms web search in answering patient questions related to symptom-based diagnoses and is equivalent in providing medical facts and established policy. Appropriate prompting can further improve readability while maintaining accuracy. Further patient education is needed to relay the benefits and limitations of this technology as a source of medial information.

Surgical Management of Facial Paralysis: Demographic and Socioeconomic Associations.

Objective: To determine demographic and socioeconomic variables associated with whether surgery is performed for patients with facial paralysis (FP). Background: Management of FP may include elective surgery dependent on patient goals of care and physician experience. Methods: The 2016 State Inpatient Database and State Ambulatory Surgery Services Database for six states were queried to identify patients with FP. These patients were then stratified based on receiving surgery for FP. Demographic and socioeconomic information was collected. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify predictors of undergoing FP surgery, as well as the hospital setting in which surgery was performed. Results: Of 20,218 patients with FP, 515 underwent surgery. Black patients were significantly less likely to undergo surgery (p < 0.001), as were patients with Medicaid or self-pay insurance (p < 0.001). Those living in rural areas were also less likely to receive surgery (p = 0.001). Individuals receiving surgery in the inpatient setting were more likely to have private insurance, whereas those in the ambulatory setting were more likely to have Medicare (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Several variables are correlated with whether FP is managed surgically, including insurance status, race, and type of residential area.

An update on rib grafting in rhinoplasty: which rib is right?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In revision or posttraumatic rhinoplasty, the quantity and quality of septal cartilage available for grafting is often deficient and auricular cartilage often provides insufficient strength for structural nasal reconstruction. Accordingly, rib cartilage serves as a reliable, abundant source of cartilage for grafting. However, the various sources of rib cartilage carry respective benefits and weaknesses. This review examines recent studies, novel applications and a comparison of the primary sources of rib cartilage, including autologous cartilage, irradiated cadaveric rib and fresh frozen cadaveric cartilage. RECENT FINDINGS: Options for rib cartilage include autologous, irradiated cadaveric rib, and more recently, reports on fresh frozen cadaveric cartilage. Studies continue to conclude that autologous and irradiated donor cartilage carry equivalent results, have similar rates of complication and have a comparable cost profile. SUMMARY: Regardless of the source, rib cartilage plays an important role in structural rhinoplasty, especially in revision cases. Although the risks, benefits and long-term results of autologous and radiated homologous cartilage have been evaluated in observational studies, fresh frozen rib cartilage will need further follow up before widespread use, although preliminary literature shows promise.

Perceptions of Patients with Facial Paralysis: Predicting Social Implications and Setting Goals.

The goal of this article is to better understand the social impact of facial paralysis. Patients with facial paralysis may suffer from impaired social interactions, disruption of self-concept, psychological distress, and decreased overall quality of life. Vigilance in detecting patients suffering from mental health issues may result in providing early referral for psychological evaluation and psychosocial support resources complementing facial reanimation treatment.

The Valuation of Rhytidectomy in Different Economic Markets.

This study demonstrates that the trend of how rhytidectomy is valued can be used to determine not only the pricing of this good but also how receptive developing economic markets are to the export of cosmetic facial plastic surgery. This study seeks to analyze and compare the value of rhytidectomy in an established market and an emerging market. A cross-sectional survey was administered through public online forums to 162 casual observers in the United States and 74 casual observers in India. Participants were shown pre- and postoperative photos of 10 patients who underwent cosmetic rhinoplasty and 2 patients who did not undergo surgery. Observers were asked to quantify the perceived change in attractiveness, change in age, and willingness to pay (WTP). There is a similar nonlinear trend between WTP and change in attractiveness in both the United States and India. Baseline values of rhytidectomy in the United States and India have a similar ratio of 2.122 compared with the ratio between both countries in the 2018 Big Mac index. The comparison of the trend in WTP in the United States and India shows that facial cosmetic surgery functions as a luxury good in both an established market and an emerging market. Our model successfully approximates the relationship between each country's purchasing power parity. Since the market behavior of rhytidectomy can be predicted based on purchasing power parity, there may be an untapped market for facial cosmetic surgery among populations with growing economies.

Cosmetic outcomes following transoral versus transcervical thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Central neck scars following thyroidectomy can negatively impact patient quality of life. Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy can reduce postoperative cosmetic burden. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of patients seen between June 2018 and January 2019. Scar cosmesis was determined using the validated Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measuring color, contour, and irregularity. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (80% female, mean age 43.7 years) were analyzed, with 60% and 40% receiving transcervical and transoral thyroidectomy. Median time from surgery was 3.4 (range: 1-37.1) weeks. Mean SCAR score was greater for transcervical recipients (4.69 vs transoral 0.99, P < .001), indicating worse cosmesis. Mean surgeon-rated total VAS score was similarly increased for transcervical recipients (72.84 vs transoral 16.73, P < .001). Interrater reliability for both SCAR and total VAS scores was excellent (intraclass correlation 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90-0.95 for both). CONCLUSION: Transoral thyroidectomy provides significantly enhanced early cosmesis over the transcervical approach.

Normal Gaze Patterns of the Face in Lateral View.

Importance: Current efforts to quantify the attentional distraction of facial deformities have been limited to deformities that are best perceived when the face is in frontal view, and there remains a paucity of knowledge of societal perception of the face in lateral view. To date, no attempts have been made to characterize the fixation patterns of the face in lateral view. Objective: To characterize the fixation patterns and gaze patterns of the face in lateral view. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial at an academic tertiary medical center. Eighty participants (mean age 23.6 ± 1.7 years, 52.5% female) gazed freely at 11 images of faces in lateral view for 10 s each as an infrared eye-tracker recorded eye movements in real time. Main Outcomes and Measures: Recorded eye movements are superimposed on the images to visualize areas of interest (AOIs) that attract the most attention. Fixation duration targeted at each AOI is transformed into relative fixation of the entire face and neck. Hotelling's test of variance followed by post hoc t-testing assessed for the significance of fixation differences between the mouth and cheeks. Results: Participants spent an average of 6.0 (95% CI 5.8-6.2) s gazing at the face and neck areas of each image. Of this attention, 2.8 s or 49.8% (45.4-54.2%) was directed toward the eye, followed distantly by the nose (mean, 95% CI) (16.4%, 14.5-18.3%), cheek (12.0%, 11.4-14.5%), neck (4.6%, 3.8-5.4%), and mouth (4.0%, 3.4-4.6%). These differences were found to be significant by Hotelling's analysis and post hoc testing. A student's t-test also indicated observers directed significantly more attention within the eye-nose-cheek triangle [4.6 s or 79.5% (75.6-83.5)] compared with the eye-nose-mouth triangle [4.1 s or 71.2% (66.9-75.5)] (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Relevance: When perceiving novel faces in lateral view, casual observers preferentially directed attention toward the eye, nose, and cheek. These findings suggest that we draw from a slightly different collection of features to build a schema of the sagittal face, which may serve to complement the central triangle and build upon a three-dimensional model of the "normal" human face. Level of Evidence: NA.

Postoperative respiratory complications and disposition in patients with type 1 laryngeal clefts undergoing injection or repair - A single institution experience.

OBJECTIVE: Identify incidence and factors associated with respiratory complications after type 1 cleft repair. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent cleft repair over a 5-year period performed by a single surgeon. Primary endpoint was respiratory complications (oxygen desaturation <90%). Fisher's exact test was used to identify differences between repair types (endoscopic carbon dioxide laser-assisted repair and injection laryngoplasty). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of respiratory events. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included. Thirty-four (62%) patients underwent endoscopic carbon dioxide laser-assisted repair and 21 (38%) underwent injection laryngoplasty. Average hospital stay for each group was 1.6 days (SD = 3.1) and 0.6 days (SD = 0.9), respectively. Desaturations occurred in three patients (9%) in the laser-assisted repair group and one patient (4%) in the injection group. All occurred within 3 h after surgery and resolved with supplemental oxygen, oral airway placement, and/or mask ventilation. Two affected patients had comorbid diagnosis of asthma (one had poor medication compliance), and one had a history of developmental delay and hypotonia. In the injection group, desaturations occurred in one patient with a history of tracheal stenosis and double aortic arch. No correlation existed between repair type and desaturation (p = 0.57). No variables were significant predictors of events. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, respiratory events after type 1 laryngeal cleft repair occurred early in the postoperative period, in children with cardiac and pulmonary comorbidities. This suggests postoperative admission may only be necessary for a select group of patients undergoing type 1 cleft repair. However, further research is needed to determine criteria for same-day discharge.

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty.

To date, patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the surgery's impact on quality of life have not been quantified. Here, we employed structured interviews and a web-based survey to better characterize patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the impact of Asian blepharoplasty on self-reported domains of happiness, self-esteem, attractiveness, social life, and professional life. Structured interviews were conducted to inform a web-based survey regarding Asian blepharoplasty. Survey respondents used visual analog scales to rate their satisfaction with their eye shape, motivations for undergoing Asian blepharoplasty, and perceived outcomes after surgery. A total of 315 participants (mean 25.7 [18-58] years) of East or Southeast Asian descent were included. 185 participants expressed no desire for Asian blepharoplasty, 76 expressed some desire, and 54 had already undergone surgery. There were statistically significant differences regarding baseline satisfaction, perceived social limitation, and perceived professional limitations regarding eye shape (p < 0.0001). The Looking Glass Self index (comprised of media exposure, low self-esteem, and negative stereotypes related to eye shape) is negatively associated with preoperative satisfaction with eye shape (rho = -0.29, p < 0.01). The desire for social-professional advancement and the Looking Glass Self index significantly predict self-reported improvements in professional and social life, respectively (both p < 0.01). Asian blepharoplasty may be driven by functional, social, or economic patient motivations. Some patients may see Asian blepharoplasty as a potential solution for sociological concerns. These expectations should be further explored in physician-patient discussions regarding candidacy for surgery and establishing expectations for postoperative outcomes.

Association Between the Use of Social Media and Photograph Editing Applications, Self-esteem, and Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance.

IMPORTANCE: Social media platforms and photograph (photo) editing applications are increasingly popular sources of inspiration for individuals interested in cosmetic surgery. However, the specific associations between social media and photo editing application use and perceptions of cosmetic surgery remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether self-esteem and the use of social media and photo editing applications are associated with cosmetic surgery attitudes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based survey study was conducted from July 1 to September 19, 2018. The web-based survey was administered through online platforms to 252 participants. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Each participant's self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (scores range from 0-30; higher scores indicate higher self-esteem) and the Contingencies of Self-worth Scale (scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate higher self-worth). Cosmetic surgery attitude was measured using the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate higher acceptance of cosmetic surgery). Unpaired, 2-tailed t tests were used to assess the significance of self-esteem and cosmetic surgery attitude score differences among users of various social media and photo editing applications. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the association between social media investment and cosmetic surgery attitudes. RESULTS: Of the 252 participants, 184 (73.0%) were women, 134 (53.2%) reported themselves to be white, and the mean age was 24.7 (range, 18-55) years. Scores on the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale from users and nonusers across applications were compared, with lower self-esteem scores noted in participants who reported using YouTube (difference in scores, -1.56; 95% CI, -3.01 to -0.10), WhatsApp (difference in scores, -1.47; 95% CI, -2.78 to -0.17), VSCO (difference in scores, -3.20; 95% CI, -4.98 to -1.42), and Photoshop (difference in scores, -2.92; 95% CI, -5.65 to -0.19). Comparison of self-esteem scores for participants who reported using other social media and photo editing applications yielded no significant differences. Social media investment had a positive association with consideration of cosmetic surgery (R, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.04-0.66). A higher overall score on the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale was noted in users of Tinder (difference in means, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.34-1.23), Snapchat (difference in means, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.71), and/or Snapchat photo filters (difference in means, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.16-0.72). Increased consideration of cosmetic surgery but not overall acceptance of surgery was noted in users of VSCO (difference in means, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.32-1.35) and Instagram photo filters (difference in means, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.01-0.76) compared with nonusers. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study's findings suggest that the use of certain social media and photo editing applications may be associated with increased acceptance of cosmetic surgery. These findings can help guide future patient-physician discussions regarding cosmetic surgery perceptions, which vary by social media or photo editing application use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Stretched Earlobe Piercings Negatively Impact Casual Observer Perceptions.

Patients with stretched earlobes seek reconstruction to mitigate social stigma. To date, there have been no studies measuring the impact of stretched earlobe piercings on casual observer perceptions. One-hundred seventy-three casual observers were enrolled via public-access web sites. Participants were randomly shown frontal and profile views of six subjects with stretched earlobe piercings and four controls. Participants evaluated photos for first impressions using a survey containing choices regarding personal attributes. Latent class analysis was performed to categorize observer ratings. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), bootstrap analysis, and permutations testing were used to evaluate the relationship between perceived attractiveness, success, and approachability scoring and stretched earlobe status. Latent class analysis categorized responses into three classes: positive, negative, and neutral. Patients with stretched earlobe piercings were significantly less likely to be classified as positive by observers without body modifications (i.e., tattoos and piercings) in comparison to control photos (30.9 and 40.1%, p = 0.007) and more likely to be classified as negative (38.5 and 28.1%, p = 0.002). These changes were abolished when photos were evaluated by observers with body modifications (p > 0.05). ANOVA revealed that stretched earlobe piercings and observer body modification status have a significant effect on rated approachability (F [1,1726] = 4.08, p = 0.04) and successfulness (F[1,1726] = 9.67, p = 0.002; F [1,1726] = 70.33, p < 0.0005). No significance was found for rated attractiveness (p > 0.05). Patients with stretched earlobe piercings were more likely to be classified as having negative affect display and being less approachable and successful compared with controls when evaluated by observers without body modifications. This effect was abolished when photos were evaluated by observers with body modifications. These findings validate patient motivations for seeking stretched earlobe repair.

Objectively measuring social attention of thyroid neck scars and transoral surgery using eye tracking.

OBJECTIVE: Measure the social attention of thyroid neck scars and transoral surgery using eye tracking. METHODS: Observers viewed images of patients with thyroid neck scars, control patients with no scars, and patients who underwent transoral thyroidectomy as an eye-tracking monitor recorded their eye movements. Hotelling's multivariate analysis, followed by planned posthypothesis testing, were used to compare fixation times for the central triangle (CT), peripheral face, and neck between the three groups. To assess if these gaze patterns would normalize with transoral surgery, a two-sample t test was done to assess for differences in neck fixations between control and transoral patients and between transoral and traditional thyroidectomy. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty participants completed the eye-tracking experiment (mean age 24.3 years, 65 females). Observers directed the majority of their attention to the CT in both control and scar patients. Observers paid more attention to the neck (103.72 ms, P < .0001, 95% confidence interval [CI] [55, 152] ms) and less to the peripheral face (115.50 ms, P = .01, 95% CI [19, 211] ms) in patients with neck scars than in control patients. Furthermore, transoral surgery eliminated this attentional distraction wherein there was no difference in the fixation time to the neck (-39.198 ms P = .16, 95% CI [-93.978, 15.5816] ms) between controls and those who underwent transoral surgery. CONCLUSION: Observers directed their gaze away from the face and toward the neck in patients with thyroid neck scars. Furthermore, this distraction was eliminated with tranoral surgery. These findings shed light onto the altered observer perceptions of patients with thyroid neck scars. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:2789-2794, 2019.

Assessment of the Influence of "Other-Race Effect" on Visual Attention and Perception of Attractiveness Before and After Rhinoplasty.

IMPORTANCE: The "other-race effect" describes the phenomenon in which individuals demonstrate greatest recognition ability among faces of their own race. Thus, in our multicultural world, it follows that race influences social interactions. However, the association of race with perception of plastic surgery outcomes has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To objectively measure how the other-race effect influences perception of white and Latin American patients undergoing rhinoplasty by using eye-tracking technology and survey methodology. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In the first part of the study, 134 participants viewed 32 paired facial images of white and Latin American patients, either prerhinoplasty or postrhinoplasty, on an eye-tracking system that recorded observer scan paths. In the second part of this study, the same patient images were individually graded by a separate group of 134 participants for degree of racial identification and perceived attractiveness. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was to measure the influence of patient and observer race on perception of rhinoplasty outcomes. For the eye-tracking part, planned hypothesis testing was conducted using an analysis of variance to compare patient race, rhinoplasty status, and attractiveness with respect to visual fixation time. RESULTS: Of the 134 eye-tracking participants, 68 (51%) were women and the mean (SD) age was 26.4 (7.7) years; of the 134 graders, 64 (48%) were women and the mean (SD) age was 25.0 (6.9) years. Rhinoplasty did not affect racial identity scores among either same-race or other-race evaluators. Visual fixation times for white faces were significantly increased compared with Latin American faces among all casual observer groups (white observers mean change, -20.14 milliseconds; 95% CI, -29.65 to -10.62 milliseconds; P < .001; Asian observers mean change, -39.04 milliseconds; 95% CI, -48.95 to -29.15 milliseconds; P < .001; and African American observers mean change, -20.73 milliseconds; 95% CI, -37.78 to -3.69 milliseconds; P < .02), with the exception of Latin American observers (mean change, -7.8 milliseconds; 95% CI, -29.15 to 14.39 milliseconds; P < .51). With respect to attractiveness, white graders reported a significant postrhinoplasty increase across both races (white patients mean change, 8.07 points; 95% CI, 5.01-11.12 points; P < .001; and Latin American patients mean change, 3.69 points; 95% CI, 0.87-6.49 points; P = .01), whereas Latin American graders only observed a significant attractiveness increase in their own race (Latin American patients mean change, 10.50 points; 95% CI, 1.70-19.32 points; P = .02). Neither perceived attractiveness nor rhinoplasty status influenced fixation times. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Both patient and observer race influence visual attention and perception of attractiveness before and after rhinoplasty. These findings underscore the importance of counseling patients that the influence of rhinoplasty, as perceived by the casual observer, may vary by race or ethnicity of the observer group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Assessment of Casual Observers' Willingness to Pay for Increased Attractiveness Through Rhinoplasty.

IMPORTANCE: Contingent valuation, or willingness to pay, is an established economic concept that has been applied in other areas of medicine and may be useful for understanding the economic forces that determine the cost of cosmetic procedures. OBJECTIVE: To determine the monetary value of changes in attractiveness achieved through rhinoplasty, as perceived by society. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional survey administered via public online forums to 228 casual observers. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Participants were shown preoperative and postoperative photographs of 12 patients who underwent cosmetic rhinoplasty and 4 patients who did not undergo any surgery. They were asked to rate (1) the change in overall attractiveness of the patients, and (2) the monetary value they would associate with these changes. RESULTS: Completed surveys were obtained from 228 casual observers; 144 were female (63.2%); median age, 25 years (median income bracket, $50 000-$75 000). Multilevel, mixed-effects, linear regression was used to characterize the association between monetary value and change in attractiveness. There was a significant association between the change in attractiveness from a rhinoplasty and its monetary value as perceived by society. The baseline value of a rhinoplasty without any change in attractiveness was $3769.98 (95% CI, $3541.59-$4007.10; P < .001). To increase 1 standard deviation in attractiveness was worth an additional $2353.77 (95% CI, $2197.57-$2512.81; P < .001), while increasing 2 standard deviations in attractiveness was worth an additional $5453.07 (95% CI, $5052.57-$5865.51; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: There is a significant association between the societally perceived value of cosmetic rhinoplasty and the change in attractiveness after surgery. The average value of a rhinoplasty in our study approximates the actual average cost of cosmetic rhinoplasty, suggesting that willingness to pay may be a useful concept for studying the value of cosmetic procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Comparison of Objective Outcomes in Dynamic Lower Facial Reanimation With Temporalis Tendon and Gracilis Free Muscle Transfer.

Importance: Facial paralysis affects patients' physical, social, and psychological function. Dynamic smile reanimation can mitigate these effects, but there are limited data to guide the surgeon in selecting the best reanimation procedure for each patient. Objective: To compare quantitative changes in oral commissure symmetry and smile excursion following temporalis tendon transfer (T3) and gracilis free muscle transfer. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective case series of 28 adults with unilateral facial paralysis seeking dynamic lower facial reanimation at a tertiary academic medical center between July 1, 2010, and July 30, 2014. Data were analyzed from May 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016. Interventions: Minimally invasive T3 (n = 14) compared with gracilis free muscle transfer (n = 14). Main Outcomes and Measures: Measured symmetry of the oral commissure between the healthy and paralyzed sides in the horizontal, vertical, and angular dimension and excursion of the paralyzed commissure following reanimation compared with the healthy commissure. Results: Of the 28 patients, 19 (68%) were women; mean (SD) age was 51.7 (17) years. Commissure symmetry during smile improved significantly for the T3 patients in the vertical and angular dimensions, and the gracilis free muscle transfer patients had significant improvement in the vertical and horizontal dimensions. Commissure excursion significantly improved in both groups following surgery, with a larger improvement seen in the gracilis free muscle transfer group (11.3 mm; 95% CI, 7.0 to 15.5 mm) compared with the T3 group (4.8 mm; 95% CI, 0.2 to 9.3 mm), with a mean difference of 6.5 mm (95% CI, 0.7 to 12.4 mm; Cohen d, 0.86). Postoperative smile excursion of the paralyzed side was within 1.0 mm of the healthy side in the gracilis free muscle transfer group (95% CI, -2.1 to 4.0 mm). Conclusions and Relevance: Temporalis tendon transfer and gracilis free muscle transfer both improve oral commissure symmetry and excursion in facial paralysis. The improvement in smile excursion appears to be larger in patients treated with gracilis free muscle transfer and, on average, the excursion approximates the contralateral healthy side.

The Importance and Psychology of Facial Expression.

Facial expression is of critical importance in interpersonal interactions. Thus, patients with impaired facial expression due to facial paralysis experience impaired social interactions. Numerous studies have shown that patients with facial paralysis and impaired facial expression suffer social consequences as demonstrated by being rated negatively with regards to attractiveness, affect display, and other traits. This has been demonstrated subjectively and objectively. Fortunately, reconstructive surgeries that restore the ability to express emotion can restore normalcy in these patients.

Societal Identification of Facial Paralysis and Paralysis Location.

IMPORTANCE: When able to identify facial paralysis, members of society regard individuals with facial paralysis differently. They perceive a decrease in attractiveness, more negative affect, and lower quality of life. However, the ability of lay people in society to accurately identify the presence of facial paralysis has not yet been defined. OBJECTIVE: To determine societal members' ability to (1) identify paralysis in varying degrees of paralysis severity and (2) localize the defect on the face. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective observational study conducted in an academic tertiary referral center using a group of 380 casual observers was carried out. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Surveys were designed containing smiling and repose images of normal faces and faces with unilateral facial paralysis of 3 severity levels (low, medium, and high) as categorized by House-Brackmann (HB) grade. The photographs were then shown to casual observers in a web-based survey. After reviewing both normal faces and faces with varying degrees of paralysis, they then indicated (1) whether paralysis was present and (2) if so, where the paralysis was on the face. RESULTS: A total of 380 participants (267 [70.3%] women and 113 [29.7%] men with a mean [SD] age of 29 [12] years) successfully completed the survey, viewing 2860 facial photographs in aggregate. The accuracy rate of identifying paralysis increased from low-grade through high-grade paralysis. Facial paralysis was identified in 249 (34.6%) of 719 facial photographs with low-grade paralysis, 448 (63.2%) of 709 with medium-grade paralysis, and 696 (96.7%) of 720 with high-grade paralysis (χ2 = 912.6, P < .001); 6.2% (44/731) of normal faces were incorrectly identified as having paralysis (χ2 = 912.6, P < .001). Participants correctly localized paralysis in 157 (63.0%) of 249 low-grade photographs, 307 (68.5%) of 448 medium-grade photographs, and 554 (79.6%) of 696 high-grade photographs (χ2 = 32.5, P < .001). In general, participants tended to identify facial paralysis more accurately in smiling vs repose faces (48.6% vs 20.6%, 92.4% vs 33.7%, and 96.7% vs 96.6% in low-, medium-, and high-grade paralysis, respectively) (χ2 = 62.2, P < .001; χ2 = 262.6, P < .001; χ2 = 0.0, P = .96, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The ability of individuals to identify the presence of facial paralysis increased as paralysis severity increased. Further, smiling increased accurate identification. However, even when individuals can identify paralysis, they are not necessarily able to accurately localize the paralysis on a face. This may speak to a phenomenon in which perception of a facial defect comes from a holistic interpretation of a face, rather than a clinically accurate specification of the defect location. These findings are important in the future counseling of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

A Dual Approach to Understanding Facial Perception Before and After Blepharoplasty.

IMPORTANCE: Blepharoplasty consistently ranks among the most common facial plastic surgery procedure sought by both men and women. Despite the popularity of blepharoplasty, there has been little research focused on quantifying how eyelid surgery changes facial perceptions. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of blepharoplasty on facial perceptions and measure patient-reported ratings of fatigue before and after surgery to compare observer and patient perceptions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A web-based survey experiment was conducted from January to February 2017, featuring photographs of female patients before and after blepharoplasty. Observers were randomly shown independent images of each patient and asked to rate perceived age, attractiveness, health, and energy level. Respondents saw only preoperative or postoperative photographs of each patient to reduce bias due to priming. Patient-reported outcomes were also collected. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A multivariate mixed effects regression model was used to quantify the changes in each domain after surgery. Ordinal rank change was calculated to provide a measure of clinical effect size across the domains. To analyze patient-reported outcomes, a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney tests were performed to determine if there were differences in patient-perceived tiredness based on operative status. RESULTS: A total of 401 participants (243 women, 152 men, and 6 not specified; mean age 25.9 years [range, 18-73 years]) successfully completed the survey and evaluated before-and-after photographs of 10 female patients (mean age, 59.8 years). The multivariable mixed effects model revealed that individuals are perceived as appearing significantly younger (-1.04 years; 95% CI, -1.70 to -0.37 years) and more attractive (coefficient, 4.92; 95% CI, 3.91-5.93) after blepharoplasty. Ratings of perceived health (coefficient, 4.33; 95% CI, 3.28-5.37) and energy level (coefficient, 9.83; 95% CI, 8.51-11.16) also improved significantly. After undergoing blepharoplasty, patients had significantly improved ratings of energy level compared with those who had not undergone blepharoplasty. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This is the first study, to date, aimed at quantifying the perceptions of facial aesthetic changes following blepharoplasty. The data demonstrate that individuals are rated as appearing more youthful, attractive, and healthy following blepharoplasty. Furthermore, both patients and casual observers perceived a significant improvement in energy level following blepharoplasty, a meaningful finding as the appearance of fatigue is a chief concern of the patients before they undergo blepharoplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.