Establishing Normative Data on Satisfaction with Nasal Appearance: a Dutch Population-Based Study Using Aesthetic Rhinoplasty Outcome Instruments.

Abstract

Evaluation of aesthetic rhinoplasty increasingly relies on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). However, the absence of population-based normative data limits accurate interpretation of these outcomes. This study aimed to establish population-based normative scores for aesthetic rhinoplasty PROMs in a representative Dutch sample, thereby enhancing their interpretability. A secondary objective was to evaluate the influence of demographic factors on nasal appearance satisfaction. A sample representative of the Dutch general population was obtained via an online panel. Participants completed 4 frequently used aesthetic rhinoplasty PROMs: the Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ), the SCHNOS cosmetic subscale, the FACE-Q rhinoplasty module, and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Average scores were calculated for each PROM, and ordinal regression was employed to evaluate associations between nasal satisfaction and demographic variables, including age, gender, migration background, education, income, and residence. The weighted sample (n=1,134) showed high overall satisfaction with nasal appearance (mean UQ=6.28, SCHNOS-C=11.38, FQnose=75.2, FQnostrils=80.09, NRS=7.67). Aesthetic satisfaction significantly increased with age for all PROMs, with this shift occurring more rapidly in males. Individuals with a non-Western background reported significantly lower satisfaction in FQnose (OR 1.819, p=0.004), FQnostrils (OR 1.586, p=0.031), and SCHNOS-C (OR 0.417, p<0.001). Gender, education, income, and residence did not significantly affect satisfaction. This study provides normative benchmarks for aesthetic rhinoplasty PROMs, filling a critical literature gap. The general population exhibits high nasal appearance satisfaction. The significant influence of age and migration background highlights the complexity of aesthetic perception and underlines the necessity of patient-centered benchmarks to interpret aesthetic rhinoplasty outcomes.