The Usefulness of 3D-printed Nasal Implant Based on Virtual Plastic Simulation on Asian Rhinoplasty: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

[BACKGROUND] Advances in three-dimensional (3D) imaging simulation surgery and 3D-printing have led to the development of patient-specific implants for Asian rhinoplasty. In this study, we present the results of 50 patients who received patient-specific nasal implants after virtual plastic surgery for rhinoplasty.

[METHODS] Facial photographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan images were obtained preoperatively and at one year postoperatively. We examined whether the patient-specific nasal implant fit exactly well with the nasal bone and was anatomically aligned one year after surgery and how much preoperative virtual simulation surgery matched postoperative clinical results. Additionally, patient and operator satisfaction were evaluated using the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) questionnaire and Global Aesthetic Improvement Satisfaction (GAIS).

[RESULTS] The patient-specific nasal implant was anatomically consistent with the surface structure and was aligned with the nasal bone even one year after insertion. The nasal implant remained parallel to the nasal bone one year postoperatively, with an average distance of 0.71 mm in the sagittal view. There was no statistically significant difference in the distance measured from the implant undersurface to the nasal dorsal skin. The difference in distance was approximately 0.01 mm in the bone region and 0.61 mm in the cartilage region. This indicates that the patient's request was realized by accurately reflecting it in the virtual plastic surgery simulation and patient-specific implants. Additionally, there was an increase in researcher satisfaction (GAIS=1.34) and patient satisfaction (ROE) after surgery by 60%.

[CONCLUSIONS] Patient-specific nasal implants fabricated using virtual surgery simulation may be an alternative material for augmentation rhinoplasty.

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