# Patient-Reported Perceptions of Nasal Aesthetic and Functional Changes Following Le Fort I Osteotomy: A Postoperative Survey-Based Study

## TL;DR

Patients report improved nasal appearance and breathing after Le Fort I osteotomy surgery.

## Contribution

This study quantifies patient-reported improvements in nasal aesthetics and breathing following Le Fort I osteotomy.

## Key findings

- Postoperative perception scores were consistently higher than preoperative scores across all survey items.
- Patients reported increased satisfaction with nasal aesthetics and perceived breathing comfort after surgery.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Le Fort I osteotomy is associated with improved patient-reported perceptions of nasal aesthetics and breathing.Postoperative perception scores were consistently higher than retrospective preoperative scores across all survey items.

Le Fort I osteotomy is associated with improved patient-reported perceptions of nasal aesthetics and breathing.

Postoperative perception scores were consistently higher than retrospective preoperative scores across all survey items.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Patient-reported outcome measures provide valuable insight beyond objective assessments in orthognathic surgery.Preoperative counseling should address potential nasal aesthetic and breathing changes to align surgical outcomes with patient expectations.

Patient-reported outcome measures provide valuable insight beyond objective assessments in orthognathic surgery.

Preoperative counseling should address potential nasal aesthetic and breathing changes to align surgical outcomes with patient expectations.

Background/Objectives: Le Fort I osteotomy, a commonly performed maxillary surgical procedure, is known to influence nasal aesthetics and perceived breathing function due to its close anatomical relationship with the nasal structures. While objective nasal changes have been extensively documented, patient-reported perceptions of aesthetic appearance and breathing remain clinically important for evaluating surgical success. This study aimed to assess patient-reported perceptions of nasal aesthetic and functional outcomes following Le Fort I osteotomy using a postoperative survey-based approach. Materials and Methods: This study included 200 patients (mean age: 25 ± 4.19 years) who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy at the Department of Orthodontics, Ankara University. Patient perceptions of nasal aesthetics and breathing were evaluated using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire administered six months postoperatively. Perceived preoperative conditions and current postoperative perceptions were assessed within the same survey. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in patient-reported satisfaction with nasal appearance and perceived breathing comfort following surgery. A greater proportion of patients reported increased satisfaction with their nasal aesthetics, believed that others viewed their nasal appearance more positively, and experienced improved nasal breathing in the postoperative period. Conclusions: Le Fort I osteotomy was associated with positive patient-reported perceptions of both nasal aesthetics and breathing function. However, individual anatomical characteristics and patient expectations appear to influence the perceived outcomes. These findings underscore the value of incorporating patient-reported outcome measures into preoperative counseling and postoperative evaluation in orthognathic surgery.