BACKGROUND: There are currently few studies assessing patient satisfaction after rhinoplasty or other aesthetic procedures. This is a retrospective study of patient satisfaction after rhinoplasty performed at the Plastic Surgery Department of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre. METHODS: All (n = 119) patients who underwent rhinoplasty at the Plastic Surgery Department of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre between 2007 and 2009 were requested to fill out a validated questionnaire to assess the degree of postoperative satisfaction. RESULTS: Sixty (50.42%) patients were included in the study. The global satisfaction index with respect to the aesthetic and functional results showed that 85.48% of the patients were satisfied; 88.3% of patients were pleased with the aesthetic results, and 83.3% reported satisfactory functional results and could breathe easily. Regarding the impression of the patients' family and friends, 93.3% reported that they were completely pleased; 93.3% reported that the postoperative nasal form rarely or never limited social or professional activities; 75% of the patients were completely confident that nasal appearance was the best possible, while 76.7% reported that their nasal appearance could not be changed by another surgery and 83.4% did not believe that nasal function could be changed with another surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Rhinoplasty performed at the Plastic Surgery Department of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre resulted in a high level of patient satisfaction.
Rhinoplasty; Patient satisfaction; Outcome assessment; Questionnaires
