In which order should I consider having a rhinoplasty and genioplasty done to maximize results?

Hello and thank you for your question and the pictures. Addressing the shape of your nose is actually one of the most common reasons people seek out and undergo a rhinoplasty. An open septorhinoplasty can best address both your aesthetic concerns and any functional issues with your nose. I would be able to adjust the size, shape, and definition of your nose (particularly the bridge and the tip)!

If you also have a "weak chin" or asymmetry relative to the rest of your facial features, the best way to properly address this is with a chin implant to improve the overall harmony of your facial features, especially from your side profile. It's actually pretty common to need both procedures instead of just the rhinoplasty! I could perform both procedures at the same time.

Rhinoplasty truly is a surgery of millimeters- and whether you're looking for a minor adjustment or a major transformation, it requires exceptional surgical skill to achieve functional and natural-looking results! Because your nose is the DEFINING feature of your face- I would only recommend seeing a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty procedures, and who has significant training and experience performing these surgeries. I actually trained under one of the world leading rhinoplasty experts (who performs 1,000+ nosejobs annually). I also trained under a world-renowned master of complex facial aesthetics!

I recommend for you to setup a formal consultation with me (or another plastic surgeon who is extremely comfortable with both rhinoplasties and chin implants) to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate your options, and develop a personalized plan just for you. I hope this helps!

Dr. Donald Groves
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

If you are truly having jaw surgery where osteotomies are made and plates are applied, do that first, and then the nose. If you are thinking of just getting a chin implant to improve chin projection, then do both that and the rhinoplasty at the same time. Be sure to see a facial specialist for consultation.

The other possibility is to consider rhinoplasty surgery along with chin implant surgery. These procedures are commonly performed at the same operation. Please consider re-asking your question with photographs for a more definitive answer. Thank you for your question. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

If it is a decided fact that you will have a genioplasty, do that first. When I do a rhinoplasty, I'm also looking at the chin, so the nose can be balanced to the chin, and the rhinoplasty is by far the more delicate operation, so we want the chin in its final position before doing the rhinoplasty.

Also, say you have the nose done first. For the genioplasty, the anesthesiologist might want to intubate you through your nose. That means that she would put the breathing tube down one of your nostrils into your lungs, and I don't think you want that *after* the rhinoplasty. So there are lots of good reasons to have the genioplasty first.

The other thing to consider is that a genioplasty is a big deal operation, in my opinion. It'd be nice to get a couple of opinions, from someone who would NOT be doing the operation, as to how useful or how necessary or how meaningful it is. If the asymmetry or other issue of the chin really is too small to take on the risk and expense of a genioplasty, then don't have it, and just the rhinoplasty might make you happy enough with your face to avoid the chin surgery altogether.

We can help figure that out with morphs. I'd love for you to see some excellent professionally-designed morphs of what could possibly be done with your nose. Morphs could also help you identify better just what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. Profile and three-quarter views would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should really be done by the surgeon, or he should direct an assistant as she makes the morphs. Morphs should be made with a constant eye to what actually *can* be done in surgery, for that particular nose, and the surgeon has that information and judgment best.)

Finally, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. It's just not the case that every plastic surgeon is competent to perform a rhinoplasty. It's much better not to have surgery than to have inexpertly performed surgery.

Hello and thank you for your question. You could do either one first or alternatively safely do these two procedures at the same time in one procedure. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon