Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a popular procedure to reshape the nose to improve its appearance or function. If you’re considering rhinoplasty, one of the first questions you’ll likely have is: rhinoplasty, how much will it cost?
Many factors impact the final price of a nose job. This article breaks down those costs to give you a better understanding of what to expect.
We’ll explore surgical versus nonsurgical options, surgeon’s fees, anesthesia costs, and whether insurance might cover any portion of the procedure.
What is rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a surgery that changes the shape of your nose. People may choose to undergo rhinoplasty to improve their appearance, correct breathing problems, or repair damage from an injury or birth defect.
Surgical rhinoplasty requires altering the bones and cartilage inside your nose.
A nonsurgical rhinoplasty, or “liquid rhinoplasty,” uses injectable fillers to change the nose’s shape. The effects are temporary, usually lasting between 8 and 16 months.
Types of Rhinoplasty Procedures
The kind of rhinoplasty you get will affect the price. Here’s a quick rundown of the types of nose jobs people get.
Surgical Rhinoplasty
Surgical rhinoplasty changes the shape of your nose through incisions and surgical techniques.
- Open rhinoplasty involves cutting across the columella, which is the bit of skin between your nostrils, to get better access to the underlying bone and cartilage. Open rhinoplasty is often used when the reshaping will be complex.
- Closed rhinoplasty involves incisions inside the nose, leaving no visible external scars. This type of rhinoplasty tends to cost less and involves less swelling than open rhinoplasty.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty (Liquid Rhinoplasty)
This procedure uses injectable fillers like hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxylapatite to reshape your nose. It can improve symmetry, smooth out bumps, and lift the tip of your nose. This is a temporary fix and requires repeat injections to maintain your new look.
Other types of Rhinoplasty
- Revision rhinoplasty (or secondary rhinoplasty) fixes problems from a previous nose job and tends to be more complicated and costly than a primary rhinoplasty.
- Septoplasty corrects a deviated septum to help you breathe better and may be covered by insurance if it’s medically necessary.
- Tip-plasty focuses on reshaping the nasal tip.
- Alarplasty addresses the size and shape of the nostrils.
Rhinoplasty Cost Factors
The final price tag on your rhinoplasty will depend on several factors, including the surgeon’s fees, facility and anesthesia fees, the complexity of the procedure, and the geographic location where you have the surgery.
Surgeon’s Fees
The surgeon’s fee can range from roughly $9,200 to $12,500, depending on their experience, skill, and how complicated your procedure is expected to be. You’ll likely pay more for a board-certified surgeon with years of experience, but that expertise could give you better results and lower your risk of complications.
Facility and Anesthesia Fees
Operating room fees tend to run from $1,550 to $1,750. This covers the cost of the equipment, the operating room staff, and the facility itself. Anesthesia fees will probably be in the neighborhood of $1,250 to $1,450. The type of anesthesia you choose (general or local with sedation) can affect what you pay.
Procedure Complexity
A first-time nose job, or primary rhinoplasty, is generally less expensive than revision rhinoplasty. That’s because a revision rhinoplasty is more complex. There’s often scar tissue to deal with, and the nasal structures have already been altered.
If you need cartilage grafts to augment or reshape your nose, that will add to the cost as well. Grafts can be taken from your septum, ear, or rib.
Geographic Location
Like pretty much everything else, the cost of rhinoplasty can change depending on where you live. Practices located in big cities usually have higher overhead, and that can translate to higher fees for you.
Will health insurance pay for a nose job?
Whether or not health insurance covers rhinoplasty depends on why you’re getting it.
If you’re getting a nose job for cosmetic reasons, insurance probably won’t cover it. The exception is if the surgery is medically necessary to help you breathe better or to correct a birth defect or injury.
Functional rhinoplasty, like a septoplasty to fix a deviated septum, is often covered. But you should always double-check with your insurance company to understand your specific coverage. Your doctor may also need to provide documentation that shows the surgery is medically necessary.
Financing Options
Because health insurance rarely covers cosmetic rhinoplasty, financing can make the procedure more accessible.
A lot of people use CareCredit to pay for medical procedures. It lets you pay for your surgery over time, in installments.
Some plastic surgery clinics also have their own in-house payment plans.
And you can always consider taking out a personal loan.
Recovery and aftercare costs
Keep in mind that the costs for pre- and post-operative care are usually separate from the cost of the surgery itself.
Surgical rhinoplasty requires a recovery period, and you’ll likely have swelling and bruising. Your doctor may prescribe pain medications and antibiotics. You’ll also need to attend follow-up appointments.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty has a much shorter recovery time. You may have some redness or swelling where you got the injections, but downtime is minimal.
Whatever you decide, remember to follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions to make sure you heal properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a nose job consultation cost?
The cost of a rhinoplasty consultation varies depending on the surgeon’s experience, location, and the complexity of your case. Some surgeons offer free initial consultations, while others may charge a fee ranging from $100 to $300. This fee typically covers the surgeon’s time for examination, discussion of your goals, and assessment of your nasal structure.
Is rhinoplasty 100% safe?
While rhinoplasty is generally considered a safe procedure, like any surgery, it carries inherent risks. These risks can include infection, bleeding, adverse reactions to anesthesia, difficulty breathing through the nose, numbness, and the need for revision surgery. Choosing a qualified and experienced surgeon can significantly minimize these risks.
How much does a nose job actually cost?
The total cost of rhinoplasty typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 or more. This cost includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fees, facility fees, and any pre- or post-operative care. Complex procedures, such as revision rhinoplasty or functional rhinoplasty, may incur higher costs. The final price depends on several factors, including the surgeon’s experience, the complexity of the surgery, and the geographic location. Your insurance may cover part of the cost if the procedure is medically necessary.
The Bottom Line
How much will your rhinoplasty cost? That depends. The price can vary quite a bit, depending on the extent of the surgery, the surgeon’s qualifications, and a few other factors.
Talk with several surgeons. Discuss exactly what you want and get a detailed breakdown of what it will cost. Don’t let the price be your only consideration. Look for a board-certified surgeon with a history of successful outcomes.
Explore your financing options and make sure you know all the costs involved, including the care you’ll need before and after the surgery.