Aestetic complications of septoplasty

Septoplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures in otorhinolaryngology. Despite its proven functional efficacy, it may be associated with aesthetic complications, including external nasal deformities. However, this issue is insufficiently covered in the scientific literature, especially in Russian-language sources. Objective. To analyze and generalize data on the aesthetic complications of septoplasty. Material and methods. A search and analysis of scientific publications focusing on the frequency, causes, and types of aesthetic complications after septoplasty in Russian and English were carried out using the RSCI and PubMed databases for articles in both Russian and English. The following keywords were used: «septoplasty», «septoplasty complications», «aesthetic complications of septoplasty», «prevention of septoplasty complications», «nasal deformity», «columella retraction», and «saddle nose deformity». The review included case reports, as well as retrospective and prospective studies that employed photographic documentation and patient questionnaires. Results. It was found that the frequency of minor aesthetic changes following septoplasty ranges from 21% to 39.5%, while more significant deformities occur in 0.4% to 4.5% of cases. The most common complications include saddle nose deformity, columella retraction, and altered nasal tip projection. The main identified risk factors are excessive cartilage resection and insufficient fixation in key anatomical zones. In addition, the level of patient awareness regarding potential aesthetic outcomes is often inadequate. Conclusions. It is necessary to perform studies using standardized scales and photographic documentation, and providing a transparent description of surgical techniques. Including a discussion of aesthetic risks in the informed consent and performing preoperative photography will help in the prevention and detection of complications.