Facial Plast Surg 2019; 35(04): 420
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693470
Book Review
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery and Rhinoplasty by Derek Steinbacher

Yong Ju Jang
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
30 August 2019 (online)

In this era of hyperspecialized medicine, doctors are often accustomed to approaching surgical issues according to their specialized, thus narrow, points of view. The facial skeleton and soft tissue are the foundation on which individual organs such as teeth, jaws, and nose sit. Furthermore, there is the increasing recognition that the face is more than just the sum of its parts, meaning that the structural problems of each organ are strongly interconnected with each other. Therefore, better patient care calls for a more comprehensive approach to the face and all its parts.

Dr. Steibacher aptly states that “Aesthetic orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty are the complementary procedure, which share in common a similar approach for assessment, diagnosis, and stepwise, targeted treatment, based on the existing deformity and cosmetic goals.” So far, it has been difficult to find a notable textbook in which orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty are addressed holistically. It was a genuine pleasure for me to come across Dr. Steinbacher's book Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery and Rhinoplasty, which addresses the most pressing concerns for us facial surgeons. As stated in his preface, the book is a delightfully well-executed effort to “connect orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty that are most often disconnected, and bring them together with other facial aesthetic maneuvers to create a balanced picture of facial cosmetic improvement.”

Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery and Rhinoplasty accurately lays out the interface between dentofacial, soft tissue, and nasal elements of the face. Throughout the 26 chapters, Dr. Steinbacher offers a systematic and comprehensive approach to diagnosing and devising an optimal treatment plan by including nasal and maxillofacial systems.

The content covers all the important areas of surgery, including analysis and planning, new concepts in treatment sequence and approach, and proper execution and maneuvers to alter the facial structure to achieve an ideal outcome.

Also, the book thoroughly covers augmentative procedures such as fat grafting, soft tissue augmentation, and reduction. Dr. Steinbacher has brought together all the necessary knowledge for orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty in one book. The reading experience is further improved by the book's high-quality photographs, state-of-the-art three-dimensional images, and instructive videos. The most impressive strength of this book would be the level of consistency achieved by a single author. Though many coauthors contributed to each chapter, it is quite evident that Dr. Steinbacher has masterfully directed and curated the content of each chapter. As a rhinoplasty surgeon, I particularly enjoyed the rhinoplasty section of this book for its elegantly and comprehensively described views on rhinoplasty. Altogether, the content of this book will allow surgeons to better understand and perform facial aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Steinbacher should be congratulated for his incredible feat of creating a beautiful textbook with enormous educational value. I have no doubt that this book will serve as a powerful reference for surgeons dealing with oromaxillofacial bone and nose, guiding them toward optimal surgical outcome.