Objective To explore the clinical effect of surgery-first approach (SFA) for correcting adult skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion deformity patients. Methods A total of 28 adult patients diagnosed with skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion were treated. Bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) and geniplasty were performed without presurgical orthodontics treatment; postoperative orthodontics treatment was carried out after a healing period of 2-4 weeks. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken preoperatively (T1), within a week posoperatively (T2) and six months posoperatively (T3); cephalometric measurements were carried out by the software. Results All the patients were satisfied with the effect, no complications occured. The mean postoperative orthodontics treatment duration was 13.2 months. The mean setback of mandible at Po and B point was (7.74±3.93) mm (P<0.01) and (8.13±3.84) mm (P<0.01), and superior movement lengths were (2.73±1.83) mm and (2.76±1.67) mm, respectively. Compared to T2, Po and B point moved forwardly with (2.36±1.23) mm and (2.66±1.65) mm, and inferior movment were (2.16±1.37) mm and (1.21±0.87) mm, respectively. The mean decrease of SNB and GA was (3.74± 1.61)° (P<0.01), (3.41± 1.87)° (P<0.01), respectively. During postoperative period, both of them increased, although these were no statistical differences. Conclusions SFA combined postoperative orthodontics therapy is feasible for the correction of adult skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion, which has shorter treatment duration than traditional joint orthognathic-orthodontic. With the advantages of earlier improvements in patient's facial aesthetics and dental function, the reduction in difficulty and treatment duration of orthodontic management, and increasing patient acceptance. Key words: Surgery-first approach; Orthognathic surgery; Malocclusion deformity