Turning Back the Clock: Artificial Intelligence Recognition of Age Reduction after Face-Lift Surgery Correlates with Patient Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Patients desire face-lifting procedures primarily to appear younger, more refreshed, and attractive. Because there are few objective studies assessing the success of face-lift surgery, the authors used artificial intelligence, in the form of convolutional neural network algorithms alongside FACE-Q patient-reported outcomes, to evaluate perceived age reduction and patient satisfaction following face-lift surgery. METHODS: Standardized preoperative and postoperative (1 year) images of 50 consecutive patients who underwent face-lift procedures (platysmaplasty, superficial musculoaponeurotic system-ectomy, cheek minimal access cranial suspension malar lift, or fat grafting) were used by four neural networks (trained to identify age based on facial features) to estimate age reduction after surgery. In addition, FACE-Q surveys were used to measure patient-reported facial aesthetic outcome. Patient satisfaction was compared to age reduction. RESULTS: The neural network preoperative age accuracy score demonstrated that all four neural networks were accurate in identifying ages (mean score, 100.8). Patient self-appraisal age reduction reported a greater age reduction than neural network age reduction after a face lift (-6.7 years versus -4.3 years). FACE-Q scores demonstrated a high level of patient satisfaction for facial appearance (75.1 ± 8.1), quality of life (82.4 ± 8.3), and satisfaction with outcome (79.0 ± 6.3). Finally, there was a positive correlation between neural network age reduction and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Artificial intelligence algorithms can reliably estimate the reduction in apparent age after face-lift surgery; this estimated age reduction correlates with patient satisfaction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.

Readability Assessment of Online Rhytidectomy Patient Information.

Patients frequently access online resources for medical information. The National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association recommend that to be understood by the average American, patient information should be presented at or below the sixth to seventh academic grade level. The popularity of rhytidectomy (facelift) is rising, and providers are frequently using the Internet to attract patients. All rhytidectomy information provided by 100 private practice Web sites in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix was analyzed using Readable.io software. The information was also assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning-Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, Automated Readability Index, Flesch Reading Ease Score, and Fry Reading Graph tools. Analyzed material was written at a higher academic grade level than recommended for the average American. The overall average grade level was 10.99 ± 1.39. Online patient education materials about rhytidectomy provided by private practice clinics in 5 major cities of the United States were written at academic grade levels above the National Institutes of Health and American Medical Association recommended levels. This may lead to rhytidectomy patients having unrealistic or inaccurate expectations related to their surgical procedure.

Procedimentos cirúrgicos e não cirúrgicos para elevação das sobrancelhas: revisão sistemática e fluxograma de abordagem / Surgical and non-surgical procedures for eyebrow lift: systematic review and decision flowchart

Introdução: Realizar levantamento na literatura médica sobre os tratamentos cirúrgicos e não cirúrgicos da ptose de sobrancelha e apresentar um fluxograma de decisão para elevação da sobrancelha. Métodos: Revisão sistemática da literatura disponível no banco de dados da PUBMED seguindo critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Elaboração de um fluxograma para abordagem da queda de sobrancelha baseado na experiência dos autores. Resultados: Foi encontrada uma abundância de artigos descrevendo diversas táticas cirúrgicas e não cirúrgicas para correção da ptose de supercílio. As táticas cirúrgicas mais comuns foram a elevação interna do supercílio, elevação direta, elevação via temporal e ritidoplastia coronal / pré-triquial / endoscópica. Para a abordagem não cirúrgica foram encontradas o uso de toxina botulínica, preenchimento e fios de sustentação. Conclusão: Há diversas táticas cirúrgicas e não cirúrgicas descritas na literatura para elevação da sobrancelha, demonstrando que não há uma tática ideal para todos os pacientes. O uso de fluxograma pode ajudar a realizar uma abordagem sistemática e personalizada e considerando característica de cada paciente.

Introduction: To review the medical literature regarding the surgical and non-surgical treatments of eyebrow ptosis and to present a decision flowchart for eyebrow lift. Methods: A systematic review of the literature available was held in PUBMED following inclusion and exclusion criteria. A flowchart was elaborated to systematize the approach to eyebrow ptosis based on the experience of the authors. Results: Several articles were included describing a variety of surgical and non-surgical correction techniques for eyebrow ptosis. The most common surgical approaches were internal eyebrow elevation, direct elevation, temporal elevation, and coronal/pretrichial/endoscopic rhytidoplasty. The non-surgical approaches found were botulinum toxin injections, fillers, and fixation threads. Conclusion: There are several surgical and non-surgical procedures described in the literature for lifting of the eyebrow, demonstrating that there is no ideal method for all patients. The use of a flowchart can help carry out a systematic and personalized approach according to the characteristics of each patient.

Postoperative revisits and readmissions after facelift surgery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine 30-day rates and reasons for revisit and readmission after rhytidectomy surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was performed of multistate ambulatory surgery and hospital databases. Ambulatory rhytidectomy cases were extracted from State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for New York, Florida, Iowa, and California for 2010 and 2011. Cases were linked to State Emergency Department and Inpatient Databases for visits occurring 1 to 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 6,089 rhytidectomy cases were extracted (87.9% female). The mean age was 61.1 years, and the most common age group was 61 to 70 years (40.2%), followed by 51 to 60 years (33.2%), and 71 to 80 years (12.0%). Overall, 3.6% of patients had a revisit after surgery (42.7% to an ambulatory surgery center, 42.2% to an emergency department, and 15.1% to inpatient admission). The most common primary diagnoses at the time of the revisit were hematoma (17.0%), fever/nausea/diarrhea (4.1%), and urinary tract infection (4.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Rhytidectomy is performed to treat facial aging, and can provide surgical outcomes which may not be achievable with nonsurgical alternatives. The 30-day revisit and readmission rate for this procedure in a large multistate cohort has not previously been reported. The revisit rate is low after rhytidectomy, and the most common reason for revisit is hematoma. These data provide important insight to optimize perioperative management and decrease postoperative revisits. This study does not capture return visits to the physician's office; however, postoperative issues that require presentation to outside facilities are important to distinguish from those managed in the practitioner's office, because they may incur additional, unplanned cost to both the patient and the healthcare system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 128:2714-2717, 2018.

Google Trends as a Resource for Informing Plastic Surgery Marketing Decisions.

BACKGROUND: Celebrities have long influenced the medical decisions of the general population. By analyzing Google search data using Google Trends, we measured the impact of highly publicized plastic surgery-related events on the interest level of the general population in specific search terms. Additionally, we investigated seasonal and geographic trends around interest in rhinoplasties, which is information that physicians and small surgical centers can use to optimize marketing decisions. METHODS: Google Trends was used to access search data histories for three separate areas of interest: Kylie Jenner and lip fillers, Joan Rivers and plastic surgery, and rhinoplasty, which were then analyzed using two-tailed, two-sample equal variance t-tests. RESULTS: The average interest level in fillers increased by 30.31 points after Kylie Jenner announced that she received Juvéderm lip injections. The interest level in plastic surgery was decreased by 21.3% the month after Joan Rivers' death. Between January 2004 and May 2017, the average interest level for rhinoplasty was significantly different in January/December (67.91 ± 20.68) and June/July (70.12 ± 18.89) from the remaining calendar months (63.58 ± 19.67). Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami showed consistently high interest levels throughout the time period, while Tulsa, OK, showed a major interest increase between 2015 to 2016 of 65 points. CONCLUSIONS: A noticeable impact was observed in both celebrity cases on search term volume, and a seasonal effect is apparent for rhinoplasty searches. As many surgeons already employ aggressive Internet marketing strategies, understanding and utilizing these trends could help optimize their investments, increase social engagement, and increase practice awareness by potential patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Surgeon Diagnostic Accuracy in Facial Plastic and Oculoplastic Surgery Clinics.

IMPORTANCE: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relative contraindication for facial plastic surgery, but formal screening is not common in practice. The prevalence of BDD in patients seeking facial plastic surgery is not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of BDD across facial plastic and oculoplastic surgery practice settings, and estimate the ability of surgeons to screen for BDD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter prospective study recruited a cohort of 597 patients who presented to academic and private facial plastic and oculoplastic surgery practices from March 2015 to February 2016. METHODS: All patients were screened for BDD using the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ). After each clinical encounter, surgeons independently evaluated the likelihood that a participating patient had BDD. Validated instruments were used to assess satisfaction with facial appearance including the FACE-Q, Blepharoplasty Outcomes Evaluation (BOE), Facelift Outcomes Evaluation (FOE), Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation (ROE), and Skin Rejuvenation Outcomes Evaluation (SROE). RESULTS: Across participating practices (9 surgeons, 3 sites), a total of 597 patients were screened for BDD: 342 patients from site 1 (mean [SD] age, 44.2 [16.5] years); 158 patients, site 2 (mean [SD] age, 46.0 [16.2] years), site 3, 97 patients (mean [SD] age, 56.3 [15.5] years). Overall, 58 patients [9.7%] screened positive for BDD by the BDDQ instrument, while only 16 of 402 patients [4.0%] were clinically suspected of BDD by surgeons. A higher percentage of patients presenting for cosmetic surgery (37 of 283 patients [13.1%]) compared with those presenting for reconstructive surgery (21 of 314 patients [6.7%]) screened positive on the BDDQ (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.20-3.68; P = .01). Surgeons were only able to correctly identify 2 of 43 patients (4.7%) who screened positive for BDD on the BDDQ, and the positive likelihood ratio was only 1.19 (95% CI, 0.28-5.07). Patients screening positive for BDD by the BDDQ had lower satisfaction with their appearance as measured by the FACE-Q, ROE, BOE, SROE, and FOE. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Body dysmorphic disorder is a relatively common condition across facial plastic and oculoplastic surgery practice settings. Patients who screen positive on the BDDQ have lower satisfaction with their facial appearance at baseline. Surgeons have a poor ability to screen for patients with BDD when compared with validated screening instruments such as the BDDQ. Routine implementation of validated BDD screening instruments may improve patient care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Preoperative Risk Factors and Complication Rates in Facelift: Analysis of 11,300 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a prominent technique for facial rejuvenation with 126 713 performed in the United States in 2014. Current literature on facelift complications is inconclusive and derives from retrospective studies. OBJECTIVES: This study reports the incidence and risk factors of major complications following facelift in a large, prospective, multi-center database. It compares complications of facelifts done alone or in combination with other cosmetic surgical procedures. METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients undergoing facelift between 2008 and 2013 was identified from the CosmetAssure database. Primary outcome was occurrence of major complications, defined as complications requiring emergency room (ER) visit, hospital admission, or reoperation within 30 days of the procedure. Univariate and multivariate analysis evaluated risk factors including age, gender, BMI, smoking, diabetes, combined procedures, and type of surgical facility. RESULTS: Of the 129 007 patients enrolled in CosmetAssure, 11 300 (8.8%) underwent facelifts. Facelift cohort had more males (8.8%), diabetics (2.7%), elderly (mean age 59.2 years) and obese (38.5%) induviduals, but fewer smokers (4.8%). Combined procedures accounted for 57.4% of facelifts. Facelifts had a 1.8% complication rate, similar to the rate of 2% associated to other cosmetic surgeries. Hematoma (1.1%) and infection (0.3%) were most common. Combined procedures had up to 3.7% complication rate compared to 1.5% in facelifts alone. Male gender (relative risk 3.9) and type of facility (relative risk 2.6) were independent predictors of hematoma. Combined procedures (relative risk 3.5) and BMI ≥ 25 (relative risk 2.8) increased infection risk. CONCLUSIONS: Rhytidectomy is a very safe procedure in the hands of board-certified plastic surgeons. Hematoma and infection are the most common major complications. Male gender, BMI ≥ 25, and combined procedures are independent risk factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2: Risk.

Survey of Common Aesthetic Practices Among Oculofacial Surgeons in Parts of the Asia-Pacific.

PURPOSE: An anonymous Web-based survey was performed to assess the current practices, preferences, and complications of aesthetic procedures encountered by oculofacial surgeons in the Asia-Pacific. Results were compared with a similar study carried out in 2007 among members of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: The study survey was sent out via e-mail to 131 oculofacial surgeons in 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific. Survey questions included the demographics of survey respondents, practices, preferences, and complications of aesthetic procedures encountered by the surgeons. RESULTS: Seventy-four respondents (56.5%) attempted the survey between May and December 2012. Only completed surveys (43 surveys) were included in our analysis. Eighty-six percent of respondents performed aesthetic procedures in their practice. The top 3 most common nonsurgical procedures reported were injection of botulinum toxin (94.1% of respondents), tissue fillers (61.8%), and skin resurfacing (11.8%), whereas the top 3 most common surgical procedures reported were blepharoplasty (100% of respondents), brow lift (94.6%), and midface lift (29.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of our study respondents performed aesthetic procedures in their practice. The percentage of practices that comprised aesthetics services was lower than that seen in the ASOPRS study. The percentage of respondents who performed injection of botulinum toxin, tissue fillers, brow lifts, and thread lifts were similar to those in the ASOPRS study; however, the percentage of respondents who performed ablative skin resurfacing was much lower.

Negative predictors for satisfaction in patients seeking facial cosmetic surgery: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Facial cosmetic surgery is becoming more popular. Patients generally indicate they are satisfied with the results. Certain patient characteristics, however, have been described as negative predictors for satisfaction. Psychopathology such as body dysmorphic disorder and personality disorders are notorious. Psychosocial and cultural factors are more difficult to distinguish. This systematic review defines the predictors, other than body dysmorphic disorder, of an unsatisfactory outcome after facial cosmetic surgery. The authors are also interested in whether valid preoperative assessment instruments are available to determine these factors. METHODS: An extensive systematic PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library search was performed. In addition, relevant studies from the reference lists of the selected articles were added. There were no publication-year restrictions, and the last search was conducted on July 20, 2014. All factors described as negative predictors for patient satisfaction after facial cosmetic surgery were identified. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were analyzed, including 11 prospective studies, two retrospective studies, one case study, eight reviews, and five expert opinions. The following factors were identified: male sex, young age, unrealistic expectations, minimal deformities, demanding patients, "surgiholics," relational or familial disturbances, an obsessive personality, and a narcissistic personality. CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates the possible demographic and psychosocial predictors for an unsatisfactory outcome of facial cosmetic surgery. A brief personality assessment tool that could be used to address predictors preoperatively was not found. The authors suggest use of the Glasgow Benefit Inventory to assess patient satisfaction postoperatively. Further research is being undertaken to develop such an instrument.

A review of general cosmetic surgery training in fellowship programs offered by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

PURPOSE: We sought, first, to evaluate the operative experience of surgeons who have completed postresidency fellowships offered by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), and second, to compare this cosmetic surgery training to other surgical residency and fellowship programs in the United States. Finally, we suggest how new and existing oral and maxillofacial surgeons can use these programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the completed case logs from AACS-accredited fellowships. The logs were data mined for 7 of the most common cosmetic operations, including the median total number of operations. We then compared the cosmetic case requirements from the different residencies and fellowships. RESULTS: Thirty-nine case logs were reviewed from the 1-year general cosmetic surgery fellowships offered by the AACS from 2007 to 2012. The fellows completed a median of 687 total procedures. The median number of the most common cosmetic procedures performed was 14 rhinoplasties, 31 blepharoplasties, 21 facelifts, 24 abdominoplasties, 28 breast mastopexies, 103 breast augmentations, and 189 liposuctions. The data obtained were compared with the minimum cosmetic surgical requirements in residency and fellowship programs. The minimum residency requirements were as follows: no minimum listed for plastic surgery, 35 for otolaryngology, 20 for oral and maxillofacial surgery, 28 for ophthalmology, 0 for obstetrics and gynecology, and 20 for dermatology. The minimum fellowship requirements were as follows: 300 for the AACS cosmetic surgery fellowship, no minimum listed for facial plastic surgery and reconstruction, no minimum listed for aesthetic surgery, 133 for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery, and 0 for Mohs dermatology. CONCLUSION: Dedicating one's practice exclusively to cosmetic surgery requires additional postresidency training owing to the breadth of the field. The AACS created comprehensive fellowship programs to fill an essential part in the continuum of cosmetic surgeons' education, training, and experience. This builds on the foundation of their primary board residency program. The AACS fellowships are a valuable option for additional training for qualified surgeons seeking proficiency and competency in cosmetic surgery.

Long-term use of the Fogli temporal lift technique.

BACKGROUND: The temporal lift by galeapexy is a short-scar lifting of the lateral third of the eyebrow and temporal region described in 2003 by Alain Fogli. The senior authors (A.M.V., P.L.T.) have been early adopters of this technique, albeit with some modifications. METHODS: The technique was used in 923 cases, of which 20 percent were performed as an isolated procedure and 80 percent were performed in combination with a minimal access cranial suspension lift. RESULTS: Over 8 years of experience has proven the technique to have good reliability, and to be predictable and safe. Patients with follow-up of 5 years or more were reviewed, and showed a marked improvement of both lateral hooding and eyebrow position in more than 90 percent of cases, with a relapse rate of less than 10 percent after 5 years. The complication rate was below 5 percent. CONCLUSION: Both surgeon satisfaction and patient satisfaction with this technique are high.

The unwritten price of cosmetic tourism: an observational study and cost analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Cosmetic tourism, driven by the promise of inexpensive operations abroad, is increasingly popular despite warnings from professional bodies regarding associated risks. Increasing numbers of individuals have presented to our department requesting NHS treatment of complications from such surgery. We set out to characterize these patients and evaluate costs incurred through their assessment and management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted from 2007 to 2009 on patients presenting to a tertiary referral Plastic Surgery practice with complications of cosmetic tourism surgery. Demographic characteristics, as well as those related to the operation, were recorded. Hospital patient flow pathways were constructed, cost analysis performed using Patient Level Costing, and expenditure and profitability calculated. KEY RESULTS: Nineteen patients presented within the study period. Most operations were performed in Europe or Asia, and were primarily breast augmentation procedures (n=13). The principal complications were wound infection or dehiscence, and poor cosmetic results. Eleven patients received NHS treatment, at a cost of £120,841. The mean cost for all patients' management was £6360 (range: £114-£57,968), rising to £10,878 for those accepted for treatment. For 8 of the 9 patients (89%) for whom full patient level costing was available, the hospital incurred a financial loss. CONCLUSION: The costs to the NHS of managing complications of cosmetic tourism are substantial, and underestimated by central funding agencies.

Impact of the current economy on facial aesthetic surgery.

BACKGROUND: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) survey data showed a 16.7% decrease in the total number of aesthetic surgical procedures from 2008 to 2009, whereas plastic surgeons have seen an increase of 0.6% in their nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the results of two surveys-one administered to potential patients, one to physicians-assessing the impact of the economy on patient choices in aesthetic facial surgery. METHODS: Two surveys were conducted for this study-one from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS) and one from the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF). Both surveys utilized the unique maximum difference (MaxDiff) scaling format, which assesses respondent opinions through attribute/question grouping and multiple exposures to the same parameter, rather than traditional one-time questioning. In this way, MaxDiff analysis helped identify the varied drivers of patients' medical antiaging treatment (MAT) selection. The AAFPRS survey was conducted online through Synovate's Global Opinion Panel to identify an appropriate audience of potential patients. The ASERF survey contained both MaxDiff and traditional questions and was e-mailed to 2267 ASAPS members. RESULTS: Data from the AAFPRS patient survey showed that 53% of respondents had been affected by the economy in their decisions regarding MAT procedures, with many seeking out less-costly options such as microdermabrasion. An overwhelming majority (95%) also reported that they would prefer a longer-lasting treatment over an immediate effect with shorter duration; furthermore, 60% felt that duration of treatment was more important than cost in selecting a facial aesthetic procedure. In the ASERF surgeon-based portion of the study, 61% of plastic surgeons felt that patients preferred long-lasting results over immediate ones, but 63% also reported that cost was a more important factor for their patients than duration. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapolating from the patient-reported survey preferences, the authors conclude that nonsurgical facial aesthetic treatment plans should currently be focused more on longevity rather than on immediate impact. There is currently a disconnect between patient preferences and surgeon perception of those preferences, which may be remedied with increased education for both groups. It is worth noting that many patients would be willing to accept a higher cost if it was correlated with a longer-lasting result.

Improving esthetic results in benign parotid surgery: statistical evaluation of facelift approach, sternocleidomastoid flap, and superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap application.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to analyze the efficacy of facelift incision, sternocleidomastoid muscle flap, and superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap for improving the esthetic results in patients undergoing partial parotidectomy for benign parotid tumor resection. The usefulness of partial parotidectomy is discussed, and a statistical evaluation of the esthetic results was performed. PATIENT AND METHODS: From January 1, 1996, to January 1, 2007, 274 patients treated for benign parotid tumors were studied. Of these, 172 underwent partial parotidectomy. The 172 patients were divided into 4 groups: partial parotidectomy with classic or modified Blair incision without reconstruction (group 1), partial parotidectomy with facelift incision and without reconstruction (group 2), partial parotidectomy with facelift incision associated with sternocleidomastoid muscle flap (group 3), and partial parotidectomy with facelift incision associated with superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap (group 4). Patients were considered, after a follow-up of at least 18 months, for functional and esthetic evaluation. The functional outcome was assessed considering the facial nerve function, Frey syndrome, and recurrence. The esthetic evaluation was performed by inviting the patients and a blind panel of 1 surgeon and 2 secretaries of the department to give a score of 1 to 10 to assess the final cosmetic outcome. The statistical analysis was finally performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data to compare the different group results. P less than .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: No recurrence developed in any of the 4 groups or in any of the 274 patients during the follow-up period. The statistical analysis, comparing group 1 and the other groups, revealed a highly significant statistical difference (P < .0001) for all groups. Also, when group 2 was compared with groups 3 and 4, the difference was highly significantly different statistically (P = .0018 for group 3 and P = .0005 for group 4). Finally, when groups 3 and 4 were compared, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .3467). CONCLUSION: Partial parotidectomy is the real key point for improving esthetic results in benign parotid surgery. The evaluation of functional complications and the recurrence rate in this series of patients has confirmed that this technique can be safely used for parotid benign tumor resection. The use of a facelift incision alone led to a high statistically significant improvement in the esthetic outcome. When the facelift incision was used with reconstructive techniques, such as the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap or the superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap, the esthetic results improved further. Finally, no statistically significant difference resulted comparing the use of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system and the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap.

A quantitative comparison of psychological and emotional health measures in 360 plastic surgery candidates: is there a difference between aesthetic and reconstructive patients?

This study examines the utility of the aesthetic and reconstructive categorization for making treatment decisions in patients seeking facial surgery. A total of 360 patients with aesthetic or combined functional aesthetic deficits were included. Validated psychological scales were used as outcome measures. All subjects showed clinically significant levels of appearance-related distress, with highest levels in the aesthetic and lowest levels in the functionally impaired group. Significant gender differences were not found on any psychological measures. A small negative correlation was found between age and distress. These findings challenge the validity of restricting treatment on the basis of an aesthetic distinction, since this is the group demonstrating the highest level of need. Neither age nor gender is a reliable discriminator. Subjective assessment of noticeability of disfigurement and associated psychological distress may be more useful in prioritizing treatment in systems with limited resources.