National interdisciplinary rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a complex and multifaceted operation. There are great differences in methodologies between practitioners. Examining the preoperative, operative, and postoperative techniques employed by different practitioners will provide rhinoplasty surgeons with benchmarks by which they can evaluate their own practice.

To assess current trends in rhinoplasty surgery.

A comprehensive questionnaire was sent to 7368 members of the following societies: the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). Subgroup statistical analysis was performed.

The overall response rate was 26%. Plastic surgeons accounted for 68% of the response rate and ear, nose, and throat-affiliated physicians accounted for 28%, with a small minority (4%) being members of both groups. Sixty-five percent of respondents have been in practice 11 or more years. Fifty-two percent of respondents are in private practice, 19% are in academic practice, and the rest are in single- or multispecialty practices. The number of rhinoplasties performed per year is spread fairly evenly up to 50 per year; however, only 9% of respondents perform 50 to 100 rhinoplasties per year, and only 5% perform more than 100 rhinoplasties per year. Most prefer the open approach over the closed approach, with 33% performing open only and 42% using both approaches, but primarily open.

There is no uniform consensus regarding general rhinoplasty trends. Subanalysis shows that, overall, there are statistically significant similarities and differences amongst different specialties.