Rhinoplasty

Can Rhinoplasty Surgery Be Performed With Another Surgery?

Posted on by Dr. Alev Camcıoğlu

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at improving the shape and function of the nose. Some people undergo this operation because they are not satisfied with the appearance of their nose, while others do so to address breathing problems. However, many patients look to correct or enhance another area while already on the operating table. For instance, blepharoplasty, chin tip correction, or facelift procedures are often requested in combination with rhinoplasty.

Which Other Surgeries Can Be Performed Together with Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty can be combined with a wide variety of procedures. When the face is involved, there is often a need to address the same or neighboring areas. For example:

  • Septoplasty (correction of internal nasal cartilage deviations)
  • Sinus surgeries (in cases of chronic sinusitis or polyps)
  • Chin surgeries (chin tip implant or adjustments to the jawbone)
  • Facelift surgeries (especially for sagging in the mid-face and jawline)
  • Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
  • Brow lift or forehead lift
  • Lip lift

This list could go on. What is important here is to individually assess the benefits and risks of each procedure for the patient. Combining procedures can sometimes be advantageous in terms of both time and comfort. However, adding all these surgical procedures may lengthen the operation time and recovery period, and it also has the potential to increase the risk of complications.

If you compare your face to a painting, you can think of the nose as one of the most prominent figures in the center. If, instead of painting just that central figure, you also want to retouch the background or recolor other elements, you can do it all in one go. Yet, perfecting the overall harmony of the painting may require more time and effort.

Can Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty Be Performed Together?

Septoplasty corrects deviations in the nasal cartilage or bone inside the nose, allowing you to breathe more comfortably. Many patients come not only with the desire to alter their nose’s appearance but also with complaints like “My nose is blocked” or “I can’t breathe comfortably at night.” In this case, both rhinoplasty and septoplasty can be performed together.

The advantage is this: if you’re already having a procedure on the nasal structure, performing the internal cartilage correction at the same time saves time and offers a solution to both problems under a single anesthesia. Particularly septoplasty is frequently added to rhinoplasty procedures. In addition to changing the aesthetic shape of the nose, improving breathing quality significantly enhances a patient’s quality of life.

What’s important here is determining whether there is only a shape deformity in the nose or also a functional problem. If functional issues exist, the surgery is planned accordingly, and a combined procedure called “septorhinoplasty” addresses both aesthetic and functional needs in a single operation.

Can Rhinoplasty and Chin Surgery Be Performed Together?

The harmony of the lower and mid-face can directly influence the outcome of a rhinoplasty. If your jawbone is recessed, your nose may appear larger or more prominent than it really is. This can lead to concerns such as “Will my facial profile still not be what I want after rhinoplasty?”

This is exactly where chin tip implants or corrective procedures for the jawbone come into play. Performing chin surgery along with rhinoplasty allows for a single-stage improvement of the facial profile. Returning to the painting analogy, while you’re painting the central figure (the nose), you can simultaneously revise an important background detail (your jawline).

Naturally, these combined procedures, especially when implants are used in the chin area, require extra caution. Postoperative care involves ensuring the chin implant sets properly, protecting the sutures, and managing the swelling from the nose surgery. However, when the process is well managed, patients can achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing facial profile.

Can Rhinoplasty and a Facelift Be Done at the Same Time?

A facelift targets the sagging facial and neck tissues that occur with aging. It is more frequently preferred by individuals over 40. Some patients may want to lift the drooping tip of the nose that has changed shape over time or that has structural issues, while simultaneously addressing facial sagging in the same session. Since both the mid and lower face, as well as the nose, are treated at once, a more comprehensive rejuvenation and renewal are achieved.

Doing both a facelift and rhinoplasty in one go can increase the likelihood of complications because the operation time is extended and multiple facial areas must heal simultaneously. However, with proper patient selection and an experienced surgeon, it is possible to achieve a more holistic and satisfying result during a single recovery period. It’s similar to renovating both your living room and kitchen at the same time: of course, there’s more work, but as a result, a large portion of your home is updated simultaneously, offering you a comfortable living space for a long time without the need for further major renovations.

Can Blepharoplasty Be Combined with Rhinoplasty?

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) aims to correct excess skin, fat bags, and drooping in the upper and lower eyelids. Combining eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty can be appealing for patients who want a younger and more dynamic look in the mid-facial region. By pairing these two surgeries, patients can correct both the eye area and the nose with a single anesthesia and a single recovery period.

However, it’s important to remember that the eyelid area—especially the lower eyelid—is more sensitive to bruising and swelling. Since rhinoplasty also involves considerable trauma to the center of the face, performing both procedures together may extend the recovery time. In other words, healing two different areas at once may require a bit more patience.

Why Might It Be Advantageous to Combine Rhinoplasty with Other Procedures?

When you’re already on the operating table, addressing complaints about the same or neighboring areas in the same session can save both time and money. For example, many patients prefer handling everything in one go rather than having two separate surgeries with two separate anesthesia sessions. Also, each surgery has its own recovery period, pain, and stress level, so combining these processes under one umbrella can be more practical.

On the other hand, this “all at once” approach can extend the operation and complicate the recovery process. Therefore, the decision to undergo a combined surgery should be made based on the patient’s overall health, expectations, and the surgeon’s recommendations. Although it can be advantageous, sometimes having separate surgeries is a safer and more comfortable option.

How Does Combining Surgeries Affect the Recovery Process?

Having two or more surgeries in the same session increases the body’s healing workload. However, you consolidate into one recovery period the separate swelling, bruising, and bed rest you would otherwise experience with multiple surgeries at different times. From this perspective, it can make sense for patients who think, “I’ll go through the discomfort once, and then I’ll be fine for a long while.”

Yet, even though everything is completed in one operation, recovering multiple areas at the same time requires extra care and patience. Postoperative care procedures can be more extensive, and follow-up visits might be more frequent. For example, if both the nose and chin are operated on simultaneously, factors like chewing functions and nasal packing need to be managed at the same time. Hence, it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s recommendations diligently and to be a bit more attentive than usual after surgery.

Do the Risks Increase with Multiple Surgeries?

In combined surgical procedures, the risks tend to be higher compared to a single operation. A longer operation time means longer exposure to anesthesia. This can affect various factors, from clot formation to infection risk, from bleeding complications to delayed wound healing. Extra caution is advised especially for patients over 40 or those with systemic conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc.).

For instance, if a patient with active sinusitis is considering sinus surgery in addition to nose surgery, infection risk can increase. Careful preoperative assessment and the proper medical treatment are critical before planning such surgeries. In other words, the decision to perform combined surgery is always backed by a detailed risk analysis and a surgical plan tailored to the individual patient.

How to Choose an Experienced Surgeon?

If multiple facial surgeries will be performed together, it’s best to select a plastic surgeon or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist who regularly performs these procedures and is experienced in this area. You can review:

  • Whether they hold board certifications and professional credentials,
  • How frequently they have performed similar combined surgeries,
  • Sample case photos (before-and-after),
  • Patient satisfaction rates

In addition, the hospital or clinic where the surgery will be performed should be accredited and equipped to handle intensive care and emergency situations. The “enjoyable” part of surgery is not the conversation in the doctor’s office or the moment you receive anesthesia on the day of the operation; it’s knowing there is a team and infrastructure capable of rapid, correct intervention in the event of an unforeseen complication.

Choosing a surgeon is also about establishing a relationship of trust. In your consultation, don’t hesitate to ask any questions on your mind and learn all the details of the procedure. Feeling sufficiently informed about the surgery you’ll undergo—both in terms of knowledge and experience—helps make the day of surgery and the recovery process more comfortable for you.