Effects of aesthetic rhinoplasty on quality of life, anxiety/depression, and self-esteem of the patients

Psychological functioning of rhinoplasty must be evaluated in the community of Iran as the most prevalent center of rhinoplasty worldwide. Making a realistic public view about rhinoplasty psychological outcomes is necessary. In the present study, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem alteration in rhinoplasty patients among the Iranian population were assessed.

This is an observational trial study conducted on 41 patients who underwent rhinoplasty in 2017–2018. The Persian version of standard questionnaires “World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-26),” “Hospital Anxiety and Depressive Scale (HADS),” and “Eysenck Self-Esteem Questionnaire” were used for this aim. Therefore, questionnaires were filled pre and within 6 months postoperatively and then compared. Demographics including age, gender, marital status, and educational level association with the mentioned factors were assessed as well.

The results revealed that rhinoplasty brought significant improvements in all aspects of QOL, including physical (P value = 0.011), psychological (P value = 0.002), relationships (P value = 0.019), environment (P value = 0.032), and general health (P value = 0.005). Depression (P value = 0.010) and self-esteem (P value = 0.004) scores change significantly in a positive manner as well. Anxiety improvement was the least (6.8%) with no significant change (P value = 0.334). None of the demographics including age, gender, marital status, and educational level showed association with psychological indices (P value > 0.05) except for age association with relationships domain of WHOQOL that was significantly higher among those younger than 30 years old (P value = 0.040).

Rhinoplasty can improve most of the psychological indices in the Iranian population, regardless of the candidate’s gender, marriage status, educational level, or age group.

Level of evidence: Level II, therapeutic study.