Non-surgical rhinoplasty using polydioxanone threads.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effects of PDO threads non-surgical rhinoplasty on patients' quality of life (using FACE-Q Scale) and first impression assessments. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of 10 adult patients who sought non surgical rhinoplasty to improve tip rotation or reduce the appearance of a dorsal hump. All patients fulfilled the study's enrollment criteria. Prior to treatment, patients completed pre-treatment FACE-Q surveys and pre-treatment photos were obtained. Each patient was treated with the appropriate size and number of PDO threads necessary to achieve optimal correction result (OCR). Two weeks after treatment, the patient completed posttreatment FACE-Q surveys and posttreatment photos were obtained and analyzed. First impression surveys were created using pre- and posttreatment photos, and the survey was completed by 146 blinded evaluators. RESULTS: There was statistically significant improvement in the FACE-Q scores for social function (p = 0.02), psychological function (p = 0.0009) and satisfaction with nose (p = 0.0001). There was significant reduction in scores for appearance related psychosocial distress (p = 0.03). For the first impression surveys, there was a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.029) in the attractiveness scale posttreatment. Although not statistically significant, there was reduction of the dorsal hump (p = 0.15) and increase in the nasolabial angle (p = 0.48) and Goode's ratio (p = 0.16). There were no major adverse events or complications. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the PDO threads alone can be used safely to achieve minor nasal changes especially in tip rotation and appearance of dorsal hump, to improve patients' quality of life, and perceived attractiveness of treated patients.

Narrowing the Wide Tip via Endonasal Approach.

Rhinoplasty is arguably the most complex and intricate surgery performed by facial plastic surgeons. Nasal tip refinement of a broad nasal tip has remained the most challenging part of rhinoplasty as sophisticated techniques are critical to achieve aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound nasal tips that can withstand the contractile forces of healing. Successful tip refinement relies on an in-depth preoperative and intraoperative understanding of the patient's nasal anatomy, well developed arsenal of techniques, the experience of the surgeon, and the aesthetic desires of the patient. Although the approach to gain access to the nasal tip so as to successfully reshape the tip has been a topic of debate over many years, the aim of this article is to outline and demonstrate how the broad nasal tip can be successfully recontoured through an endonasal approach using nondestructive techniques that have been effectively used in open rhinoplasty. We believe that there continues to be a place for endonasal tip rhinoplasty especially in this era in which patients desire less invasive procedures with shorter healing time.

The Goals of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a destructive and insidious entity mostly underdiagnosed and undertreated. It affects not only individuals but the society as a whole. The costs to the populations can be measured not only in morbidity and mortality but also in the financial wellbeing of a society. Financial burden of this disease is staggering. The social fabric of society is also greatly impacted. Physiologic effects of OSA are far reaching. It has been shown that early intervention with treatment of OSA can often prevent and/or reverse many of the negative outcomes associated with this condition.