Early Psychological and Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Rhinoplasty: A Prospective Study Across Demographic Subgroups

Background: Rhinoplasty has evolved beyond the correction of nasal structure to encompass improvements in psychological well-being and self-perception. This prospective study evaluated the impact of primary open rhinoplasty on self-esteem and perceived quality of life and examined whether these effects differed across demographic variables, including age, sex, marital status, education, and income.

Methods: Sixty-seven adult patients (27 males and 40 females, aged 18-50 years) who underwent primary open rhinoplasty at a tertiary care otorhinolaryngology clinic were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) before surgery and at three months after the procedure. Quality of life was evaluated using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI).

Results: Both measures of self-esteem showed statistically significant improvement three months after surgery (P < .05), indicating enhanced confidence and self-perception. The mean GBI score demonstrated an overall positive perceived benefit. No statistically significant differences in psychological improvement were observed across demographic subgroups.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that rhinoplasty contributes meaningfully to self-esteem and perceived quality of life. The lack of significant differences among demographic subgroups indicates that these psychosocial benefits are not confined to specific patient characteristics.

Cite this article as: Unsal O, Baran AK, Aydin EP, Turgut S. Early psychological and quality-of-life outcomes after rhinoplasty: A prospective study across demographic subgroups. B-ENT. 2026;21(4):168-174.