Preoperative computer simulation for Asian rhinoplasty patients: analysis of accuracy and patient preference.

[BACKGROUND] Preoperative computer simulation (PCS) is a tool for demonstrating potential rhinoplasty results to patients and determining the patient's preferred external nasal appearance.

[OBJECTIVES] The authors evaluated the effectiveness of PCS in Asian rhinoplasty patients.

[METHODS] The records of 224 patients who underwent rhinoplasty were reviewed. Sixty-eight (30.4%) of these patients had received PCS. To evaluate the accuracy of PCS in predicting postoperative results, postoperative photographs and PCS images were graded on a 4-point scale by a panel of 3 otolaryngologists. Postoperative patient satisfaction was compared between the PCS and non-PCS groups. Aesthetic parameters were assessed in the PCS images to determine the patient's preferred external nasal appearance.

[RESULTS] The mean overall accuracy of PCS was 86.0% according to the otolaryngologist panel's ratings: 41.2% of the surgical results were rated as identical, 44.1% as similar, 13.2% as approximate, and 1.5% as poor. There were no significant differences between the PCS and non-PCS groups in terms of patient satisfaction or revision rates (P > .05). The most favored nasal appearances were straight dorsum (63.2%), straight columella (50.0%), and convergent alar axis (64.7%). The mean (± standard deviation) preferred nasofrontal and nasolabial angles were 137.5° ± 6.9° and 97.3° ± 8.6°, respectively.

[CONCLUSIONS] Preoperative computer simulation is an accurate tool for assessing preferred external nasal appearance and can be a reliable predictor of postoperative rhinoplasty results in Asian patients.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE] 3.