Examining Preoperative Expectations and Postoperative Satisfaction in Rhinoplasty Patients: A Single-Center Study

Background: In Rhinoplasty, understanding patient expectations are pivotal in achieving an optimal surgical outcome. Objective: To understand preoperative expectations and postoperative satisfaction in patients undergoing rhinoplasty for functional, aesthetic, or both. Method: Adult patients undergoing functional, aesthetic, or combined rhinoplasty from March 2017 to June 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Only patients with complete preoperative functional and cosmetic expectation visual analog scales (VAS) and at least one postoperative functional and cosmetic satisfaction VAS were included. Nasal Obstruction and Symptom Evaluation Scale score and Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey score were also collected. Results: In the functional subgroup (mean preoperative functional expectation VAS score [17.98 (22.49)] higher mean (standard deviation) postoperative functional satisfaction VAS score were observed at postoperative time interval <2 months [29.59 (27.08), p = 0.008] and 8-12 months [31.43 (28.25), p = 0.035]. In the aesthetic subgroup mean preoperative cosmetic expectation VAS score [89.69 (17.74)], lower mean postoperative aesthetic satisfaction VAS scores were observed at <2 months [79.09 (20.01), p = 0.0001], 2-5 months [79.79 (20.79), p = 0.032], 5-8 months [72 (18.27), p < 0.0001], 8-12 months [78.15 (24.50), p = 0.021], and >12 months [75 (20.64), p = 0.00020]. In the combined subgroup (mean preoperative aesthetic expectation VAS score [85.85 (18.19)]), lower mean postoperative aesthetic satisfaction VAS scores were observed at 2-5 months [78.94 (20.88), p = 0.01] and at >12 months [75.86 (25.57), p = 0.01]. Conclusion: Although rhinoplasty patients tend to be less satisfied with aesthetic than the functional outcome of surgery, preoperative aesthetic expectations are higher in cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty patients.