Aesthetic satisfaction scoring - introducing an aesthetic numeric analogue scale (ANA-scale)

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Evaluating aesthetic procedure outcomes objectively is a significant challenge in maxillo-facial and plastic surgery.
• Current scoring systems are often subjective, influenced by patient and surgeon bias.
• A need exists for a standardized, reproducible method for assessing aesthetic results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Aesthetic Numeric Analogue (ANA) scale as an objective tool for evaluating aesthetic procedures.
• To convert subjective aesthetic satisfaction into objective, quantifiable data.
• To establish an internationally uniform evaluation system for aesthetic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Development of the ANA scale by matching verbal descriptions of aesthetic outcomes with corresponding numerical figures.
• Creation of a rating system that translates subjective wording into objective values.
• Clinical feasibility testing of the ANA scale in a surgical case.

Main Results:

• The ANA scale demonstrated feasibility in objectively assessing aesthetic procedure outcomes.
• Viewer's age was identified as a factor influencing the assessment of aesthetic benefit.
• The scale successfully converted subjective ratings into objective figures.

Conclusions:

• The ANA scale provides a pragmatic, simple, and objective tool for evaluating aesthetic satisfaction.
• It is suitable for individual treatment protocols and comparative analysis of different aesthetic surgery techniques.
• The ANA scale enhances reproducibility and standardization in aesthetic procedure assessment.