Is Nasal Skin Thickness a Prognostic Indicator to Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis?

[BACKGROUND] The size, shape, and symmetry of the nose contribute significantly to the facial aesthetic, so it is understandable why rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures undertaken nowadays. Several factors are associated with the rates of both success and postoperative complications of rhinoplasty.

[AIM] To determine the relationship between nasal skin thickness and postoperative periorbital ecchymosis and edema among patients who underwent rhinoplasty at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

[METHODOLOGY] A prospective study was conducted among all patients operated on for rhinoplasty at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in the Department of Otolaryngology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May and December 2018. To determine the relationship between nasal skin thickness and postoperative periorbital edema and ecchymosis, demographic data (gender, age), mean nasal skin thickness, surgical factors (time of surgery, extent of intraoperative bleeding), and scoring for periorbital ecchymosis and edema were obtained. The statistical analysis was done by comparing means and frequency using analysis of variance.

[RESULTS] A total of 54 patients participated in this study with ages ranging from 19 to 33 years and a mean age of 24.43. According to this study, postoperative edema presentation on the first, third, and seventh days upon examination was higher among patients with thicker nasal skin (6 mm), and results are statistically significant ( = .001). Ecchymosis was also higher among patients with thicker nasal skin (6 mm) on day 1 examinations, but there was no correlation with nasal thickness during the other examinations. Therefore, there is some degree of correlation between ecchymosis and nasal skin thickness overall, but the results are not significant ( = .26).

[CONCLUSION] This study concludes that the severity of edema and ecchymosis correlates with nasal skin thickness. The degree of edema and ecchymosis was higher during the initial postoperative examinations, but following that, it was reduced and completely diminished by the 21st day post-surgery.