Context-dependent aesthetic perception after facial local flap reconstruction for cutaneous malignancies: a multi-observer study integrating patient-reported outcomes and public perspective.
- 1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Türkiye.
- 2Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Abstract
Background
Local flaps are fundamental for reconstruction of facial defects after cutaneous tumor resection, yet perceived aesthetic success may differ among surgeons, patients, and the general public.Objectives
To investigate context-dependent aesthetic perception across facial regions and evaluator groups and its relationship with patient-reported FACE-Q outcomes.Methods
Twenty-three patients undergoing local flap reconstruction after facial tumor resection were evaluated using preoperative and 12-month postoperative photographs. Overall, 203 evaluators-plastic surgeons, non-plastic surgeons, non-surgical physicians, and the general public-rated outcomes on a five-point scale, first using postoperative images alone and subsequently after viewing corresponding preoperative photographs. FACE-Q Face Overall, Natural Appearance, and Psychological Function scales were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.Results
Preoperative context resulted in significantly more critical ratings across perioral, periocular, and malar regions (all p<0.001). Perceptual shifts differed among evaluator groups in perioral (p=0.007) and periocular (p=0.015) regions, with plastic surgeons showing smaller shifts. FACE-Q Face Overall and Natural Appearance scores improved significantly postoperatively. A study-specific summary score derived from the three selected FACE-Q scales was significantly associated with general-public ratings (ρ = -0.56, p = 0.008).Conclusions
Aesthetic assessment after facial local flap reconstruction is context-dependent. Integrating FACE-Q patient-reported outcomes with public perception may provide a more patient-centered assessment of reconstructive success.
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BibTeX
@article{yavuz2026contextdependent,
title = {{Context-dependent aesthetic perception after facial local flap reconstruction for cutaneous malignancies: a multi-observer study integrating patient-reported outcomes and public perspective.}},
author = {Ersin Yavuz and Esra Zeynep Kurtoğlu and Levent Demir and Alp Ercan},
journal = {Frontiers in surgery},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fsurg.2026.1982895},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898458},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Context-dependent aesthetic perception after facial local flap reconstruction for cutaneous malignancies: a multi-observer study integrating patient-reported outcomes and public perspective.
AU - Ersin Yavuz
AU - Esra Zeynep Kurtoğlu
AU - Levent Demir
AU - Alp Ercan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Frontiers in surgery
DO - 10.3389/fsurg.2026.1982895
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898458
AB - Background Local flaps are fundamental for reconstruction of facial defects after cutaneous tumor resection, yet perceived aesthetic success may differ among surgeons, patients, and the general public.Objectives To investigate context-dependent aesthetic perception across facial regions and evaluator groups and its relationship with patient-reported FACE-Q outcomes.Methods Twenty-three patients undergoing local flap reconstruction after facial tumor resection were evaluated using preoperative and 12-month postoperative photographs. Overall, 203 evaluators-plastic surgeons, non-plastic surgeons, non-surgical physicians, and the general public-rated outcomes on a five-point scale, first using postoperative images alone and subsequently after viewing corresponding preoperative photographs. FACE-Q Face Overall, Natural Appearance, and Psychological Function scales were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.Results Preoperative context resulted in significantly more critical ratings across perioral, periocular, and malar regions (all p<0.001). Perceptual shifts differed among evaluator groups in perioral (p=0.007) and periocular (p=0.015) regions, with plastic surgeons showing smaller shifts. FACE-Q Face Overall and Natural Appearance scores improved significantly postoperatively. A study-specific summary score derived from the three selected FACE-Q scales was significantly associated with general-public ratings (ρ = -0.56, p = 0.008).Conclusions Aesthetic assessment after facial local flap reconstruction is context-dependent. Integrating FACE-Q patient-reported outcomes with public perception may provide a more patient-centered assessment of reconstructive success.
SN - 2296-875X
ER -