Can artificial ıntelligence detect the anti-aging effect of rhinoplasty?

Abstract

Background: The quest for eternal youth has been a common theme in many cultures for centuries. While we have yet to discover a way to preserve youth eternally, we have made significant progress in understanding the aging process and in developing pharmaceuticals, surgical techniques, and technologies. In addition to rhinoplasty's facial beautification effect, we investigated whether it had a facial anti-aging effect using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based program. We also examined the correlation between patient satisfaction and the anti-aging effect of rhinoplasty.

Methods: This study included 244 patients who underwent functional septorhinoplasty (FSRP) between January 2018 and August 2020 at Inonu University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Preoperative and postoperative photographs in our archive were evaluated using an AI-based age analysis program. In addition, the participants evaluated preoperative and postoperative nose satisfaction with the FACE-Q survey in the postoperative period.

Results: One hundred two males (41.8%) and 142 females (58.2%) were included in the study. The mean preoperative age determined by the program was 25.9 ± 6.1, and the mean postoperative age was 25.7 ± 5.8. Despite the mean follow-up period of the patients was 25.3 ± 8.7 months, our study showed no significant difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative ages. The mean general satisfaction of the patients increased postoperatively.  Conclusion: Despite the average follow-up period, the absence of a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative perceived mean age may be interpreted as a possible anti-aging effect of rhinoplasty. This effect was more prominent in older patients and in women.