Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Facial Vascular Malformation Regarding Quality of Scar, Satisfaction, and Quality of Life

Abstract

Background: Both purse-string sutures for surgical skin lesions and laser coagulation therapy are widely used to treat facial vascular malformations. The ultimate goal of using such treatments is to improve the appearance of these lesions and the patient's long-term satisfaction and quality of life. Objectives: Our study aimed to address the outcome of different therapeutic procedures in patients suffering from facial vascular malformations regarding long-term satisfaction, quality of scars, and quality of life. Methods: This self-control before-after interventional case series study was conducted on 60 consecutive patients with congenital vascular lesions. Patients were treated with purse-string methods along with coagulation, excision, and graft and ablation catheter. Before surgery and at intervals of one week, three weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months after surgery, the subjects were evaluated in terms of satisfaction, quality of scars, procedural outcomes, and quality of life. Results: There were significant changes in patients' satisfaction, quality of the scar, procedural outcomes based on the patient-reported outcome measures, and quality of life within six months after interventions. The improvement of the lesions was independent of gender, age, size, and the location of lesions. Conclusions: Regardless of the therapeutic approaches, significant improvements in postoperative outcomes concerning patients' satisfaction, quality of the scar, daily activities, and quality of life are expected in patients suffering from facial vascular malformations.