Common nasal deformities among rhinoplasty patients in a university hospital in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty has become one of the most common aesthetic procedures in the world. Few studies from the Middle East have described rhinoplasty patients in the region. OBJECTIVE: To investigate common nasal deformities in individuals seeking rhinoplasty at a single institution in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: Retrospective study and chart review. SETTING: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients seeking primary rhinoplasty who were 15 years of age and older were included. The types of external nasal deformities were compared by gender and age groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Types of external nasal deformities. RESULTS: Of the 248 patients investigated, 113 were male and 135 female. The most common external nasal deformity was a broad dorsum (n=163; 65.7%), followed by a bulbous columella (n=154; 62.1%), and deviation (n=150; 60.5%). Upward columella was most common in older patients, and deviation decreased with age. CONCLUSION: The most common deformity among the study population of Saudis was a wide nasal dorsum, bulbous nasal tip and deviated nose. Studying nasal deformity in some ethnic groups has an influence in selecting and practicing specific rhinoplasty approaches. LIMITATIONS: Study conducted in one hospital and may not be generalizable.