Preoperative Evaluation of the Rhinoplasty Patient

Clappier M, Tanna N.

What this paper says

A review of what should happen at a rhinoplasty consultation: a detailed medical and nasal history, understanding the patient's concerns, a nasal analysis, and an assessment of whether they are a suitable candidate.

Overview

The authors describe rhinoplasty as one of the most challenging procedures in plastic surgery, requiring both technical skill and aesthetic judgment. They state a thorough preoperative consultation forms the foundation of a successful case. The article reviews the functional, aesthetic and psychosocial considerations that should be covered during that consultation.

Sections of note

Review article; the abstract reports no patient numbers, no outcomes, no complication rates and no follow up.
The consultation should obtain a detailed medical and nasal history.
The surgeon should understand the patient's specific areas of concern.
A nasal analysis should be conducted.
The patient's candidacy for surgery should be evaluated.
The review covers functional, aesthetic and psychosocial considerations.

What it means for a patient

The consultation is where suitability for surgery is decided, not only where the plan is made.
Psychosocial assessment is listed alongside physical assessment, reflecting the recognized link between expectations and satisfaction.
Nasal history matters because previous injury, surgery or breathing problems change what is possible.
This is expert guidance without data on whether following it improves results.

Why this paper matters

Dissatisfaction after rhinoplasty is often traced to the consultation rather than the operation, and consultation practice varies widely. This article sets out a structured framework for it. Whether structured consultation reduces dissatisfaction has not been measured.

Terms

Preoperative evaluation: assessment of a patient before surgery is agreed or planned.
Nasal analysis: a structured assessment of nasal shape and proportions.
Candidacy: whether a patient is a suitable subject for the operation.
Psychosocial considerations: a patient's psychological state and social motivations for surgery.
Functional considerations: matters relating to nasal breathing.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Requiring both high-level technical skills and artistic sense, rhinoplasty continues to be one of the most challenging procedures in plastic surgery despite its popularity. A thorough preoperative consultation of the rhinoplasty patient forms the foundation of a successful case. During the consultation, the physician…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.