Objective Assessment of Lower Face and Neck During 1 Year After Rhytidectomy in Asian: When Your Patient Asks You About the Surgical Outcomes.

[BACKGROUND] The first year after surgery is a period of significant change, during which patients are highly concerned and sensitive about the outcomes.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to measure objectively the improvements and changes in the lower face and neck over the course of 1 year after rhytidectomy in Asian.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] This study included a total of 50 patients, comprising 100 hemifaces, who underwent extended deep-plane rhytidectomy using a composite flap from January 2017 to December 2022. The patients' antero-posterior and lateral photographs at pre-surgery, between 2 weeks and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery were analyzed retrospectively.

[RESULTS] Measurements for each period and site are revealed a general trend where the most significant decrease occurred between 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery. This was followed by a slight increase at 3 months, with a subsequent decrease observed at 6 and 12 months after surgery.

[CONCLUSION] Objective assessment of lower face and neck at each period is considered to be potentially valuable as an evaluation resource for both patients and surgeons.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV] This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.