Influence of steroids on postoperative swelling after facialplasty: a prospective, randomized study

Steroids are widely used in facial aesthetic surgery to reduce postoperative edema. We performed a randomized, double-blind study to try to document the effectiveness of this practice. Fifty consecutive facialplasty patients of one surgeon were randomized to steroid and no steroid groups. Steroid group patients received betamethasone 6 mg IM preoperatively. Postoperative scoring of swelling was performed at approximately days 5 and 9 by a single observer. There were no significant differences between the two groups at either postoperative interval or in the rate of improvement. Subgroups of patients who underwent additional procedures also showed no significant differences. We were not able to demonstrate any statistically significant difference in swelling after facialplasty with this steroid regimen.