Future Direction in Rhinoplasty: Functional Improvements for a Better Outcome

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Plastic Surgery
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• The nose serves crucial aesthetic and physiological roles, impacting facial appearance and upper airway function.
• Rhinoplasty, a surgery addressing nasal aesthetics, can unintentionally alter nasal function.
• Understanding functional outcomes of rhinoplasty is essential for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review current literature on functional rhinoplasty and septoplasty.
• To summarize surgical maneuvers and their impact on nasal function.
• To delineate physiological and perceived functional changes following rhinoplasty.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Analysis of surgical techniques in rhinoplasty and septoplasty.
• Evaluation of reported functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• Rhinoplasty can affect olfaction, sleep apnea, oxygenation, cognition, cardiovascular function, and voice.
• Surgical maneuvers in rhinoplasty can lead to both positive and negative functional alterations.
• The literature highlights challenges in quantifying functional outcomes post-rhinoplasty.

Conclusions:

• Functional outcomes are a critical consideration in rhinoplasty and septoplasty.
• Further research is needed to standardize the assessment of functional results.
• A comprehensive approach integrating aesthetic and functional goals is recommended for rhinoplasty.