Self-assessment of profile and body image among orthognathic surgery patients before and two years after surgery.

Ninety patients undergoing surgery at two major university hospitals completed self-ratings of their profile, perceived deviations from the ideal profile, and a measure of body image. Identical measures were obtained presurgically and two years following surgery. Patients diagnosed with mandibular hypoplasia perceived themselves significantly more prognathic on the maxillary dimension and most retrognathic on the mandibular dimension; their self-drawings reflected a shorter vertical dimension. These perceptions approached the normal range at the postsurgical assessment. Patients treated for maxillary hypoplasia, however, rated themselves in the mandibular prognathic range both before and after surgery. These patients were also more likely to perceive other deviations from the ideal in their facial features 2 years after surgical correction. Body image did not differentiate among diagnostic categories, but showed overall improvements for all patients from presurgery to postsurgery. Profile drawings appear to be the most statistically and clinically useful method of determining patients' self-assessments of deviations from normal, and their perceptions of treatment needs.