The Association Between Nasal Skin Thickness and Body Mass Index in Preoperative Rhinoplasty Patients: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Objectives: Skin quality plays a major role in aesthetics, particularly in determining the success of rhinoplasty. Efficient preoperative estimation of nasal skin thickness can improve postoperative results and patient satisfaction. This study aimed to report on the relationship between nasal skin thickness and body mass index (BMI) as a possible tool to measure skin thickness preoperatively among rhinoplasty patients. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study targeted patients who visited a rhinoplasty clinic at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2021 and November 2021, and agreed to participate in the study. Data on age, sex, height, weight, and Fitzpatrick skin types were collected. The participant visited the radiology department and underwent ultrasound nasal skin thickness measurement for the five different nasal points. Results: The study included 43 participants (16 males and 27 females). The average skin thickness of the supratip area and the tip was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). The average BMI of the participants was 25.8 ± 5.26 Kg/m2. Participants with a normal BMI or less represented 50% of the study sample, whereas overweight and obese represented one-quarter (27.9%) and one-fifth (21%), respectively. Conclusion: BMI was not associated with nasal skin thickness. Differences in nasal skin thickness were found between the sexes.