For patients who need or are considering facial cosmetic surgery for the nose or the chin, it may be in their best interest to get both procedures at the same time. That’s because, according to an Italian study published in the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, patients seeking both rhinoplasty and genioplasty get better results when the two facial procedures are performed together. The study found that better facial harmony was achieved when the two procedures were done in concert and that the results were maintained for longer after the surgery.
Dr. Randy Sanovich is a facial cosmetic surgeon in Dallas, Texas. He says it is often easier to gain balance with two procedures, even if the patient is just considering one.
“One of the goals of rhinoplasty or genioplasty is to achieve the aesthetic balance of the face,” he says. “Even if you are considering just changing your nose or your chin individually, doing both together can help achieve even greater balance.”
That’s because the nose and chin are so central to the face.
“A lot of what would be considered the balance of the face is determined by the nose and chin,” says Sanovich.
Another benefit noted in the new study was the healing time associated with having both procedures done at once.
“It doesn’t cut the healing time to double up, but it means you only need to go through it once,” Sanovich says. “From a recovery time standpoint, that’s less missed work and less stressing over a major surgery.”
The study also found that among those who underwent two procedures at once, there was a lower instance of revision surgery several years after the initial surgical procedure was performed.
“There is a higher percentage of satisfaction among patients who were able to undergo the rhinoplasty and genioplasty procedures together because the surgeon was able to achieve greater facial balance on the first attempt,” he says. “That translated to the patients in the study being happier with their overall look, and thus fewer patients required revision to try and better match their nose to their chin.”
And then there’s the risk of complications, which are present with any surgical procedure.
“The less surgery you have, the lower the risk of complications, so for that reason, achieving balance the first time can really eliminate a lot of risks,” Sanovich says.
Finally, Sanovich says the cost can often be less to do both procedures at once because you are using the resources all at once – one operating room fee, one anesthesiologist fee, and possibly a better rate on both procedures, depending on the surgeon.