Patient Satisfaction and Early Outcomes Following Mini-Facelift Procedures in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Modified FACE-Q Evaluation

Abstract

The rising demand for facial aesthetic enhancements has made the mini-facelift a popular, less invasive choice compared to traditional rhytidectomy. Within oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS), these procedures are increasingly used to address signs of facial aging. Despite their growing popularity, there's a clear lack of comprehensive data on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), especially when assessed with validated tools in this specific surgical context. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating patient satisfaction and early complications after mini-facelifts, using a modified FACE-Q questionnaire tailored for facial aesthetic procedures. The study included 35 female patients, aged 45–55 years, who underwent mini-facelifts at the Department of OMFS, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College. A key part of the methodology involved adapting the FACE-Q to include OMFS-specific considerations, such as dedicated scales for recovery time and a detailed checklist for complications, including jaw stiffness, relevant due to the anatomical proximity in OMFS. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results showed compelling insights into patient experiences. A significant 82% of participants reported high satisfaction with their overall appearance, confirming the aesthetic effectiveness of mini-facelifts in this setting. Additionally, 78% were content with their recovery time, suggesting a generally well-tolerated post-operative course. The positive psychological impact was evident, with 85% noting a significant improvement in social confidence. Regarding complications, the most common issues were temporary numbness (34%) and jaw stiffness (12%), both typically mild and manageable. Interestingly, a borderline statistically significant association (p=0.048) suggested that younger patients (45–50 years) reported higher satisfaction. This study strongly suggests that mini-facelifts performed in an OMFS setting are associated with high patient satisfaction and a favorable, manageable complication profile. However, the study's small sample size and single-center design are limitations. These factors highlight the critical need for subsequent larger, multi-center investigations to definitively validate these preliminary findings and comprehensively assess the long-term outcomes and sustained efficacy of these procedures.