Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41184659›Full record

SynthesisAesthetic plastic surgery2026

Clarifying the Role of Isotretinoin in Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Analysis of an Emerging Social Media Trend.

James E Fanning, Lacey Foster, Dhruv Manik, Daniela Lee, Jose Foppiani, Maria J Escobar-Domingo, Benjamin Rahmani, John B Park, Bernard T Lee, Samuel J Lin

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

James E FanningDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Lacey FosterDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Dhruv ManikDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Daniela LeeDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Jose FoppianiDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Maria J Escobar-DomingoDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Benjamin RahmaniDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
John B ParkDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Bernard T LeeDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Samuel J LinDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 110 Francis St, Suite 5A, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. sjlin@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA recent TikTok trend of users reporting nasal size reduction after oral isotretinoin has conflated this acne medication as a nonsurgical rhinoplasty option, termed "Accutane rhinoplasty". We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting outcomes of rhinoplasty and oral isotretinoin and analyzed TikTok reels published under this emerging aesthetic trend.

methodsA comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in December 2024 using the MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases following PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting outcomes of rhinoplasty patients treated with oral isotretinoin were included. TikTok Scraper extracted details of English-language TikTok reels posted up to September 2024 under three hashtags: #accutanenosejob, #accutanenose, and #accutanenosejobcheck.

resultsFive articles met inclusion criteria. Studies included a median of 24 patients, with isotretinoin administered postoperatively in all studies and preoperatively in two studies. Two of three prospective studies reported positive findings, including lower frequency of facial acne, reduced facial skin thickness, and higher patient satisfaction. Retrospective studies reported mixed findings, including improved nasal skin appearance, increased rhinoplasty complications, and isotretinoin side effects. TikTok hashtags have 68.5 million views, and 100 reels were included for review. Self-reported physicians represented 10% (10/100) of reels and self-reported patients reporting nasal size reduction after isotretinoin represented 90% (90/100) of reels.

conclusionsCurrent evidence on isotretinoin use in rhinoplasty patients is limited, with small sample sizes and mixed findings. While some studies suggest potential benefits in patients with thick nasal skin or severe acne, the long-term effects and safety profile remain unclear. The popularity of "Accutane rhinoplasty" on TikTok contrasts with the scarcity of rigorous clinical data, underscoring the need for further high-quality studies and greater clinician engagement in online discussions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: Therapeutic study. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

Acne VulgarisDermatologic AgentsIsotretinoinRhinoplastySocial MediaAdministration, OralEstheticsHumansPatient SatisfactionTreatment OutcomeDermatologic AgentsIsotretinoinAccutaneIsotretinoinNasal aestheticsRhinoplasty outcomesTikTok trends

Identifiers

PMID41184659

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.