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Plastic surgeons able to accurately assess apparent facial age of patients

Plastic surgeons are able to precisely gauge the apparent facial age of patients due to training and time in practice, according to study results published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

The researchers conducted an observational study between Mar. 1, 2015, and Apr. 20, 2016, in which seven plastic surgeons evaluated frontal plane photographs of 70 patients for their apparent age. The surgeons each had 3 years of training in facial plastic surgery with a combined mean time of working in facial plastic surgery of 9.4 ± 3.8 years.

Patients were excluded if they had prior facial reconstruction or cosmetic surgery, prior permanent fillers, or if they had used temporary fillers within the last 12 months. The mean patient age was 41.5 ± 13.8 years and the mean patient BMI was 22.5 ± 2.7.

The 70 photographs were presented randomly twice to all seven evaluators. There was no significant difference in the reported apparent age between the first and second photograph viewing for any of the evaluators.

Three evaluators were randomly selected for a more practical assessment of value comparison. Results from the first photograph viewing showed a difference of 0.16 years (58 days). Results from the second photograph showed a difference of 0.05 years (18 days). Neither group had a significant difference in the means obtained by five evaluators, discarding the two evaluators with the highest and lowest reported values (P = .52 and P=.86, respectively).

Overall, the mean difference reported by the three evaluators compared with the chronological age was 0.8 years, or less than 10 months. The reported values were all slightly below the chronological age.

“From a statistical perspective,” the researchers wrote, “the evaluation given by three plastic surgeons is sufficient to have a high level of efficiency in the estimation of perceived age, which will allow us to make rational use of financial resources for medical research, reducing costs that result from the use of more professionals for the evaluation.” – by Talitha Bennett

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.