Soft tissue morphology of the naso-maxillary complex following surgical correction of maxillary hypoplasia

Orthognathic surgery is undergone to improve facial and dental aesthetics and to improve function. Three dimensional (3D) soft tissue analysis based on stereophotogrammetry provides a realistic measurement of facial morphology. There is a need for objective assessment of surgery outcomes. The study aim was to evaluate the 3D naso-maxillary complex soft tissue morphology following Le Fort I maxillary advancement and compare the findings with a local reference group. 3D images of 112 volunteers were captured using stereophotogrammetry and viewed by 8 lay people; 40 images (16 males and 24 females) were chosen as the reference group to have harmonious facial appearance. The linear and angular measurements of this group were compared with 35 patients (19 female and 16 male) who had maxillary advancement in the post-surgical group. Facial morphology post-surgery was similar to the reference group, except the nasal base width which was wider by 2.3 mm in males and 2.6 mm in females. In the orthognathic group, the females had a smaller nasolabial angle by 9.7° than the reference group. In conclusion, 3D imaging is a sensitive tool for analysing facial appearance. Compared with a control group, statistical differences were identified in soft tissue morphology which should be considered in surgical planning and patient consent.