Psychological Analysis of Non-surgical Rhinoplasty

Overview

This study tracked how patients perceived their noses before and after non-surgical correction with cross-linked hyaluronic acid, using a validated instrument. The authors also argue the same questionnaire could serve to identify patients likely to be difficult to satisfy.

Sections of note

• 100 adults with no prior surgical or non-surgical rhinoplasty were treated with hyaluronic acid filler from December 2016 to December 2018.
• Injection points were standardized by the authors and divided according to the aesthetic subunits of the nose.
• 74 patients, 65 female and 9 male, completed one year of follow-up and were included.
• The Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation questionnaire was used, consisting of six questions.
• It assesses how patients perceive their nose and how they think people around them view it.
• Results of each question were analyzed per patient, comparing preoperative results over a 12-month time frame.
• The authors note literature showing a higher rate of psychiatric disorders among rhinoplasty candidates and frequent dissatisfaction, and suggest the questionnaire could highlight psychological characteristics before treatment. Level of evidence IV.

What it means for a patient

• The abstract does not report the actual satisfaction scores or how they changed, only that they were analyzed.
• A quarter of those treated did not complete the year of follow-up.
• The proposed second use, screening for difficult-to-satisfy patients, is a suggestion rather than a tested finding.
• Limits: 74 of 100 patients analyzed, single center, no comparison group, and no numeric results in the abstract.

Why this paper matters

Identifying patients unlikely to be satisfied is a recognized problem for both surgical and non-surgical nasal treatment. Repurposing an existing satisfaction questionnaire as a preoperative screen would be practical. The abstract presents no data validating that use.

Terms

• Non-surgical rhinoplasty: Reshaping the nose with injectable filler instead of surgery.
• Cross-linked hyaluronic acid: A gel filler chemically bonded to make it last longer.
• Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation: A validated six-question satisfaction questionnaire.
• Aesthetic subunit: A defined region of the nose treated as a distinct area.
• Level of evidence IV: A ranking indicating a case series or comparable design.