Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States. But what many people don't know is it is also one of the most common procedures to combine with another, usually chin augmentation. The two procedures work together well because they help to balance each other out.



If you look at a person in profile, you might notice a large nose appears even bigger when the jaw line is receded as well. To achieve great results, a surgeon may suggest a chin implant to further minimize the size of your nose after rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty can be either a drastic or a minor procedure, depending on what you are looking to have done. It can be as simple as shaving down a bump on the bridge, or as complicated as refining a bulbous tip and straightening a deviated septum.

It is important that you know exactly what you dislike about your nose and what you would like to have changed, because the anatomy and structure of your nose can greatly restrict what a doctor can perform. Do you want just the length reduced? Or do you want to pick up a droopy tip? All of these require different surgical techniques.

After you've decided what you'd like changed about your nose, you might want to examine your complete profile and see if it is contributing to the displeasing appearance of your nose.

If you're unsure of the strength of your chin, a simple test is to look at a picture of your face in profile and measure its length in comparison to your lip line. Ideally, the bottom of the chin should extend as far out as your lower lip does. If your chin appears to be further back, you might discuss what implant options are available.

There won't be quite as many options to consider for chin augmentation as there is for rhinoplasty. The implants used are made of solid silicone and generally come in a few different sizes. It will mainly add length to your chin and might fill out the front of your jaw line slightly. Some surgeons might suggest a specially made implant that is shaped differently than the standard ones, but this will be more expensive.

Recovering from two surgeries at once is often easier than undergoing them on separate occasions. After a combination surgery, you'll probably find that the rinoplasty causes the most discomfort and pain. Chin augmentations result in a mild stiffness and soreness of the jaw area, which may make it difficult for you to eat for a few days. Depending on the extent of your rhinoplasty, it could range from a stuffy nose to major swelling and bruising, enough to keep you in bed for up to a week afterwards.

Having two cosmetic procedures done simultaneously may seem extreme, but you would be surprised how few people will actually notice exactly what is different about your appearance. Chin augmentations are subtle, but when combined with rhinoplasty can provide beautiful balance.