Clinical Experiences of Rhinoplasty with Patients' Assessment of the Results / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate patients' satisfaction following rhinoplasty through analyzing questionnaires. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study materials were 69 patients who underwent rhinoplasty at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, between 1989 and 1996. Causes of nasal deformities, applied surgical procedures, and postoperative complications were retrospectively investigated by reviewing medical records, and patients' satisfaction was investigated through analyzing questionnaires about cosmetic and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Silastic implants were used to augment the flat nose in 35 patients, and were extruded in four patients (11%). Thirty-six (52%) of 69 patients replied to the questionnaires. The results of patients' self-assessment were satisfactory (15 patients: 41.5%), fair (6 patients: 17%), and unsatisfactory (15 patients: 41.5%). There was no significant difference in the satisfaction rate between patients undergoing augmentation rhinoplasty and those undergoing corrective rhinoplasty. Young male patients (10-29 years in age) were much more unsatisfactory with surgical results than the rest of the male patients (67% vs. 11%) Twenty-six patients of 36 responders to the questionnaires underwent concomitant septoplasty and 22 (85%) of them answered that their breathing function was improved postoperatively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that we failed to meet the patients' expectation for cosmetic improvement. Hence, improving surgical skills of the surgeons and explaining the patients preoperatively about limitations and possible unsatisfactory outcomes are needed.