Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes and Satisfaction of Rhinoplasty with or without Smasectomy with the Aim of Thinning the Nasal Tip in Patients with Thick Nasal Skin.

[BACKGROUND] Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgeries and a challenging procedure for people with thick nasal skin. There are several techniques to improve the outcome of the operation.

[METHODS] Our study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in Esfahan, Iran in 2020. Seventy participants were equally divided into two groups (35 people). In the control group, only rhinoplasty was performed without SMASectomy and in the intervention group, rhinoplasty was performed with SMASectomy. The results were obtained and the satisfaction of patients and physicians was collected through patient examination and a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of data was calculated by SPSS software version 23 at a significance level of less than 0.05.

[RESULTS] The mean total skin thickness before surgery in the two groups was equally, which showed a significant difference between the two groups at after 12 months ( <0.05). Comparison of 3, 6 and 12 months after rhinoplasty in the two groups showed that the percentage of patient, doctor, hairdresser and nurse satisfaction, in 12 months after rhinoplasty, in the intervention group compared to the control group had a significant increase ( <0.05). Furthermore, in the control group 2.85% and in the intervention group 5.71% bleeding was observed. No other complications were observed in any of the groups.

[CONCLUSION] Overall, SMASectomy, which is performed simultaneously with rhinoplasty, is considered as an important technique in rhinoplasty. As we observed in our study, the complications of these surgeries in patients were very small.