Preoperative computer simulation for Asian rhinoplasty patients: analysis of accuracy and patient preference.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative computer simulation (PCS) is a tool for demonstrating potential rhinoplasty results to patients and determining the patient's preferred external nasal appearance.

OBJECTIVES

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of PCS in Asian rhinoplasty patients.

METHODS

The records of 224 patients who underwent rhinoplasty were reviewed. Sixty-eight (30.4%) of these patients had received PCS. To evaluate the accuracy of PCS in predicting postoperative results, postoperative photographs and PCS images were graded on a 4-point scale by a panel of 3 otolaryngologists. Postoperative patient satisfaction was compared between the PCS and non-PCS groups. Aesthetic parameters were assessed in the PCS images to determine the patient's preferred external nasal appearance.

RESULTS

The mean overall accuracy of PCS was 86.0% according to the otolaryngologist panel's ratings: 41.2% of the surgical results were rated as identical, 44.1% as similar, 13.2% as approximate, and 1.5% as poor. There were no significant differences between the PCS and non-PCS groups in terms of patient satisfaction or revision rates (P > .05). The most favored nasal appearances were straight dorsum (63.2%), straight columella (50.0%), and convergent alar axis (64.7%). The mean (± standard deviation) preferred nasofrontal and nasolabial angles were 137.5° ± 6.9° and 97.3° ± 8.6°, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative computer simulation is an accurate tool for assessing preferred external nasal appearance and can be a reliable predictor of postoperative rhinoplasty results in Asian patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE