Hilotherapy for the management of perioperative pain and swelling in facial surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hilotherapy is the application of cold compression at a regulated temperature through a face mask. Studies that have evaluated its efficacy have focused on postoperative oedema, pain, and the patient's comfort. However, there is no clear consensus in favour of its use, so we have made a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate relevant published reports. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify studies. Sixty-one records were screened, six of which met the inclusion criteria and four of which were suitable for meta-analysis. All data suitable for meta-analysis were derived from studies of elective and traumatic facial skeletal surgery. Hilotherapy was associated with significant reductions in facial pain on postoperative day 2 (p < 0.00001), and facial oedema on days 2 (p = 0.0004) and 3 (p = 0.02). Patients reported more comfort and satisfaction with hilotherapy than with cold compression (p < 0.00001). The effect of hilotherapy on ecchymosis and formation of haematomas remains uncertain. Well-designed, randomised, controlled trials of its use after aesthetic facial surgery are required.