Background: Rhinoplasty in the elderly population has recently emerged as an issue in terms of rejuvenation. There, however, is a paucity of published data on geriatric rhinoplasty in Asian patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the motivation of aged Korean patients to undergo the procedure, and to demonstrate our experience of rhinoplasty in patients of 60 years of age and older.
Methods: A total of 20 patients, 11 men and 9 women, underwent rhinoplasty between December 2003 and September 2012 at the Asan Medical Center. Anthropometric measurements were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Two independent ENT surgeons viewed photographs to assess the surgical outcomes. Patient satisfaction was graded using a visual analogue scale (from 1 = dissatisfied, to 4 = satisfied) by telephone interview.
Results: The rhinoplasty performed in our patient cohort aimed to address deviated nose (30%), postinfectious deformed nose (15%), flat nose (15%), saddle nose (10%), and additional cosmetic rhinoplasty for planned septoplasty (10%). Anthropometric measurements showed statistically significant improvements in nasal tip projection, nasal length, dorsal height, and radix height. The mean satisfaction scores were 2.9 for physicians and 2.5 for patients. Three patients (15%) experienced incomplete improvement of nasal obstruction, and 7 patients (35%) expressed aesthetic dissatisfaction about tip shape or dorsal deviation after rhinoplasty. Three patients (15%) underwent revision rhinoplasty.
Conclusions: The aged patients in this study received rhinoplasty to resolve their long-cherished desires. If elderly patients have no risk of general condition, surgeons do not need to discourage a patient's wish to improve their appearance.