title: Postoperative Edema Resolution following Rhinoplasty: A Three-Dimensional Morphometric Assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The final result of rhinoplasty may be masked for several months after surgery because of postoperative edema; however, no objective evidence supports this time estimate. The purpose of this study was to three-dimensionally quantify the decrease in postsurgical nasal edema following rhinoplasty over the first postoperative year.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, three-dimensional, morphometric study of primary, open rhinoplasty patients. Subjects with at least three postoperative three-dimensional images up to 1 year were included. Patients were excluded for closed or secondary procedures or cleft deformities. Images were assessed using three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry (Vectra) and volumetric analysis (Geomagic). Baseline nasal volume (time 0) occurred at the first postoperative visit at 1 to 2 weeks. All subsequent nasal volume measurements were calculated as a percentage of baseline values. Data points from all patients were pooled, and a six-point moving average was used to create an inverse function line of best fit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were included, with 146 three-dimensional photographs quantified. The equation for the inverse function line of best fit of the six-point moving average was y = 1.484 (1/x) + 0.844 (R = 0.85, p < 0.01). According to this equation, approximately two-thirds of edema resolves within the first month, 95 percent after 6 months, and 97.5 percent after 1 year. A plateau is reached at 84.4 percent of the original postoperative volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides quantitative evidence to predict decrement of rhinoplasty edema with time. Three-dimensional morphometric assessment demonstrated a two-thirds decrease in edema at 1 month, a 95 percent decrease at 6 months, and a 97.5 percent decrease at 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors.affiliation: New Haven, Conn.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale University.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavri
authors.affiliation: New Haven, Conn.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale University.
authors.forename: Victor Z
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: New Haven, Conn.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale University.
authors.forename: Derek M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Steinbacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty