May 10, 2009
Torgerson, C.S., & Conrad, K. (2009). Esthetic Preferences for Rhinoplasty Outcomes. Arch. Facial Plastic Surgery (submitted).
ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish esthetic preferences with regard to the nasal appearance following rhinoplasty in order to optimize patient satisfaction.
Setting: Mt. Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto and private facial cosmetic surgery centre.
Participants: 143 subjects (53 males and 90 females); mean age range, 18-35 years), with the following cultural representation: English (25%), Asian (14%), European (22%), Indian (12%), Jewish (12%), Mixed (4%), Persian (6%), African (1%), French (4%), West Indian (1%).
Interventions: Participants completed the Rhinoplasty Outcome Preference Survey after being shown pre-and post-operative profiles of male and female patients undergoing rhinoplasty. Post-operative images consisted of computer-generated profiles of small-balanced and large-balanced noses.
Results: Overall, participants favored small-balanced rhinoplasty outcomes for females (61%) but showed nearly equal preference for small and large rhinoplasty outcomes in males (52%:A; 48%:B). This trend was consistent across gender. Cultural groups differing from this pattern included Asian males, who favored small-balanced noses in males (60%).
Conclusions: The small-balanced rhinoplasty is the most-preferred outcome for women among both male and female participants across cultural groups. Rhinoplasty preferences for men in male and female subjects were more variable and displayed cultural differences.
