Nose Reshaping Patients Often Groom Eyebrows to Compensate for Nasal Deviations -- a No, No, Says ASPS Study

SAN DIEGO -- New research shows that it may not be a good idea for you to tweeze or wax those eyebrows right before having nose reshaping. According to a new study being presented at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Oct. 11-15, in San Diego, many women, and surprisingly men, who desire nose reshaping often groom their eyebrows to compensate for nasal deviations, which can lead to surgical error and less than optimal results.

"Patients often alter their eyebrows to camouflage nasal asymmetry," said study co-author Bahman Guyuron, MD, ASPS member surgeon and professor and chairman, Department of Plastic Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. "The eyebrows serve as important markers in nose reshaping surgery. Failure to recognize asymmetrically positioned eyebrows can cause the surgeon to design the nose reshaping using a faulty midline."

In the study, life-size photographs of 100 nose reshaping patients were randomly selected. Nasal deviations in each patient were measured. The direction that patients altered or shifted their eyebrows was then compared to the direction of nasal deviation.

Of the 27 men and 73 women studied, 96 patients had measurable eyebrow asymmetry (96 percent of men, 96 percent of women). The mean distance that men (1.88 mm) and women (1.4 mm) shifted their eyebrows was not significantly different. The direction that eyebrows were shifted correlated significantly with the direction of nasal deviation in most patients.

"It is very important to get an accurate facial analysis prior to undergoing nose reshaping to reduce the incidence of residual nasal unevenness," said Dr. Guyuron. "Using the middle of the eye as a landmark, instead of the eyebrow, is one way to ensure a proper midline is used and to avoid missing any nasal asymmetry because of altered eyebrow position."

The study, "The Deviated Nose and Groomed Eyebrows: An Important Trap to Avoid," is being presented Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1:25 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center.

Reporters can register to attend Plastic Surgery The Meeting, or arrange interviews with presenters, by contacting ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900, media@plasticsurgery.org or in San Diego, Oct. 11-15, at (619) 525-6330.