Ahmed A Zahrani.
Patients satisfaction with orthognathic surgery; a study in a selected Saudi sample.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;24(2):129-34.

The objective of this study was to assess the patients` perception of the esthetic and functional outcomes oforthognathic surgery in terms of satisfaction or dissatisfaction among a convenient sample of Saudi patients. Data of fifty patients who had undergone orthognathic surgery in three major surgical centers in Riyadh city were collected. The responses of the pre-surgical, surgical and the surgical outcomes were analyzed and the difference in patients`perception between males and females was examined using a non-parametric Chi-square test. Eighty four percent o f the participants reported appearance as the most important motive for their surgery. The overall satisfaction was very high (92%), described by some candidates as far better than what has been expected. The facial dysmorphia regardless of its type or severity was reported by 64% to lead to several psychological distresses, in particular the interpersonal sensitivity. Dissatisfaction with esthetic outcome of orthognathic surgery was reported by few patients (4%) and the overall dissatisfaction was often noted within a short period of time after surgery or in association with insignificant family support and also among those who were not fully convinced for surgical options or with unrealistic expectation. The long term postoperative complications were reported by few patients, as affecting the outcomes of orthognathic surgery. The difference inpatients` concern, self perception, motivation and family support between males and females was statistically not significant. It can be concluded that orthognathic surgery was an accepted treatment for dento-facial deformity of young adult Saudi men and women, requested most often for the improvement of appearance. In spite of the incidence of long-term post-surgical complications, the surgical outcome was reported by the majority of patients as highly favorable. Dissatisfaction on the other hand, was exacerbated by certain personality and may be related to unrealistic expectation in a complex interaction pattern.

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