Evaluation of Facial Profile Esthetics After Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Maxillomandibuar advancement (MMA) surgery has been shown to be a successful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but concerns still exist regarding esthetic outcomes due to the large advancements involved. The objective of this study was to evaluate facial profile changes in patients who underwent MMA surgery for OSA by utilizing panels of external evaluators. Pre- and posttreatment silhouettes of 21 patients (10 females, 11 males; mean age 43.2 [±11.5] years), who underwent MMA surgery for OSA, were generated from profile photographs. Utilizing survey software, the individual silhouettes were shown in random order to surgeons, orthodontists and laypeople, who assessed the esthetics of each via a sliding visual analogue scale (0 to 10). For all evaluators combined, postsurgical esthetic scores were significantly improved in 19 of 21 patients (P < .001). Ninety-five percent of evaluators judged the changes after surgery as positive or neutral. There was a mean increase in postsurgical esthetic scores of 1.9 [±1.9], which was moderately correlated with AHI changes (r=0.48, P < .05). Mean esthetic score changes were significantly different between evaluator groups for 12 of 21 patients (P < .05), with surgeons and orthodontists reporting more positive change than laypeople. Overall, MMA surgery for the treatment of OSA does not have a negative impact on facial profile esthetics, with external evaluators judging the changes as favorable in the majority of patients assessed.