Validating Facial Aesthetic Surgery Results with the FACE-Q.

BACKGROUND

In aesthetic clinical practice, surgical outcome is best measured by patient satisfaction and quality of life. For many years, there has been a lack of validated questionnaires. Recently, the FACE-Q was introduced, and the authors present the largest series of face-lift patients evaluated by the FACE-Q with the longest follow-up to date.

METHODS

Two hundred consecutive patients were identified who underwent high-superficial musculoaponeurotic system face lifts, with or without additional facial rejuvenation procedures, between January of 2005 and January of 2015. Patients were sent eight FACE-Q scales and were asked to answer questions with regard to their satisfaction. Rank analysis of covariance was used to compare different subgroups.

RESULTS

The response rate was 38 percent. Combination of face lift with other procedures resulted in higher satisfaction than face lift alone (p < 0.05). Patients who underwent lipofilling as part of their face lift showed higher satisfaction than patients without lipofilling in three subscales (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Facial rejuvenation surgery, combining a high-superficial musculoaponeurotic system face lift with lipofilling and/or other facial rejuvenation procedures, resulted in a high level of patient satisfaction. The authors recommend the implementation of the FACE-Q by physicians involved in aesthetic facial surgery, to validate their clinical outcomes from a patient's perspective.