Advances in Rhinoplasty Evidence: A Narrative Overview of Recent Meta-analyses (2015-2025)

Overview

The authors screened a decade of reviews and meta-analyses on functional and aesthetic nasal surgery, extracting evidence on diagnostics, techniques, medications, patient-reported outcome measures and functional outcomes.

Sections of note

• 86 articles, reviews and meta-analyses covered.
• Diagnostics: four-phase rhinomanometry shows promise but lacks validation.
• Psychology: BDD screening is gaining relevance.
• Medications: evidence supports perioperative corticosteroids and tranexamic acid; routine antibiotics appear unnecessary.
• Outcomes: NOSE, ROE and SNOT-22 are widely used; the evidence base is described as growing but heterogeneous.

What it means for a patient

• Three practical, evidence-backed points: steroids and tranexamic acid around surgery reduce swelling and bruising; routine antibiotics are not needed; a psychological screen is reasonable.
• Standardised, long-term data are still lacking for many technique comparisons.

Why this paper matters

It is a one-stop summary of the highest-level evidence in rhinoplasty over ten years. Limits: narrative, no new pooling, selection of the 86 sources not detailed in the abstract.

Terms

• Meta-analysis: statistical pooling of results across studies.
• Four-phase rhinomanometry: a refined measurement of nasal airflow across the breathing cycle.
• Patient-reported outcome measure (PROM): a validated questionnaire completed by the patient.
• Perioperative: around the time of surgery.
• Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD): preoccupation with a perceived minor flaw.