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Patients undergoing rhinoplasty for deviated nose often present with asymmetry in other facial subunits

Researchers created a system of objective anthropometric measurements to analyze facial asymmetry, according to a study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

In a single-center retrospective review, the researchers studied facial asymmetry in preoperative photographs from 152 patients who underwent rhinoplasty for a deviated nose and compared it with asymmetry in 60 control patients undergoing septoplasty without external nose deviation.

They classified facial asymmetry into four types depending on which subunit of the face was affected: upper, mid, or lower face only and mixed.

Deviated nose shapes were classified into five types.

Using computer software (MB-Ruler Pro, Version 5.0; Markus Bader-MB Software Solutions) anthropometric measurements were taken on facial photographs using various soft tissue landmarks.

Most facial asymmetry was mixed (51%). Asymmetry rates were 26% in the lower face and 21% in the upper face. Midface asymmetry was only found in 2% of patients.

The distance from the midpoint of interpupil line to the most prominent malar point was significantly different between the patient group and the control group, according to the anthropometric measurements.

The researchers believe that asymmetry in other parts of the face contributes to the overall perception of the deviated appearance of the nose, in this population. As a result, correction of the surrounding facial asymmetry is essential for total correction of a deviated nose. -by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.