title: Preoperative computer simulation for Asian rhinoplasty patients: analysis of accuracy and patient preference.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preoperative computer simulation (PCS) is a tool for demonstrating potential rhinoplasty results to patients and determining the patient's preferred external nasal appearance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: Dr Yu is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, South KoreaDr Jang is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Dr Yu is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, South KoreaDr Jang is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea jangyj@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Yong Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D066106:Seoul; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: computer simulation; patient preference; patient satisfaction; rhinoplasty