According to the 2020 statistics of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average cost of a nose job is $5,483. ASPS indicates that this average fee is not a full price as it may not cover the expenses of anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other related costs. The average cost may begin at $10,750 if plus the fees of the surgeon, operating facility, and anesthesia.
The price of a nose job ranges due to a number of different components. The cost of rhinoplasty surgery for many patients may also be different as each nose surgery is a highly customized procedure. The best way to find out the exact cost of your nose job is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
For you to have a better understanding of which factors make up the total cost of the rhinoplasty procedure before your consultation with your plastic surgeon, we’ve broken down the total cost (almost) into 10 parts:
- Plastic surgeon’s experience
- Nose job’s Complexity
- Primary or secondary (revision) rhinoplasty
- Geographic location
- Open or closed rhinoplasty
- Raw materials supplies
- Operating facility
- Anesthesia cost
- Pre- and post-operative care
- Other costs to consider
Table of Contents
- 1. Plastic surgeon’s experience
- 2. Nose job’s Complexity
- 3. Primary or secondary (revision) rhinoplasty
- 4. Geographic location
- 5. Open or Closed Rhinoplasty
- 6. Raw materials supplies
- 7. Operating facility
- 8. Anesthesia costs
- 9. Pre And Post-Operative Care
- 10. Other Costs to Consider
- Will Health Insurance Cover My Cost?
- Final Thought
1. Plastic surgeon’s experience
No doubt surgeon’s fee is a key component in the overall cost of rhinoplasty. A plastic surgeon’s experience and level of expertise in a nose job play a big role in how much you’ll pay as they can help you achieve your goals safely and happily.
Before nose surgery, your plastic surgeon will examine your nasal and facial structure, ask you about your goals, and make sure all of your questions are answered. At the end of your consultation, you’ll be provided with a specific rhinoplasty procedure price.
2. Nose job’s Complexity
Image credit: Dr. Cat Plastic Surgery
The cost of plastic surgery also greatly depends on the complexity or the extent of the procedure and the type of rhinoplasty performed to alter your nose appearance to meet your specific needs.
Big adjustments are complicated and time-consuming, thus making them more expensive than minor changes.
Some patients may only require simple aesthetic enhancements, such as nasal tip refinement or nasal bump removal, while some other patients may have to undergo big changes, like nose reconstructive surgery, e.g. bone and cartilage changes, implants.
A nose job may be done generally for aesthetic or medical reasons.
Aesthetic reasons
Maybe you’re not happy with the shape or size your parents give you and in the pursuit of a more pleasing appearance.
Aesthetic reasons to alter or reshape the nose may include one or more of the following concerns:
- Nose size is disproportionate to other facial features
- Nasal bridge crooked or asymmetrical
- Nasal width too wide or too narrow
- Nasal tip large, drooping, round, bulbous
- Nostrils too narrow or wide
- Bumps on the nose bridge
- The angle between the nose and the upper lip
Medical/functional reasons
To recover from functional injuries, such as breathing problems.
Functional reasons for undergoing rhinoplasty may include:
- Shape nasal deformities from a congenital disability or after injury
- Obstructive disorders such as nasal Internal valve collapse and septal deviation
- Chronic stuffiness and snoring
- Reconstructive purposes
3. Primary or secondary (revision) rhinoplasty
A revision nose job is usually more expensive than your first nose job as it is usually more complex and therefore costs more.
During the revision process, the plastic surgeon corrects mistakes made by less experienced/qualified ones.
There is a high requirement of the surgeon’s technique as the skin, bone, and tissue in and around the nose is not easy to deal with and becomes vulnerable as they have already been worked on before.
In the case of a secondary rhinoplasty, don’t cause additional damage to your nose is the first thing. So choosing a highly qualified and reliable surgeon is the most important thing, and don’t let financial concerns stop you.
4. Geographic location
You’ll pay more for your nose job if the surgery takes place in a city than in a more suburban area as the living costs are often higher in cities.
As you can understand, the average cost of a nose job is impacted by the per capita income, real estate costs, taxes and other local factors.
5. Open or Closed Rhinoplasty
The closed rhinoplasty procedure is more affordable and produces less visible scarring than the open rhinoplasty procedure as it takes a shorter time to complete. However, whether to choose the former or the latter procedure also based on your nose anatomy.
The open procedure and the closed procedure are the two basic rhinoplasty techniques. The main difference between the two procedures is the incisions.
Incisions are made both inside and outside the nose for the open procedures (complex operation), while incisions are only made inside the nose for closed rhinoplasty (simpler operation).
6. Raw materials supplies
Silicone implant, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE), calcium hydroxyapatite and hyaluronic acid are the four major filling materials that may be used in rhinoplasty. Sometimes, rib or ear cartilage grafting is also used.
Silicone implant
Silica gel is the most commonly used plastic material due to its stable chemical properties, suitable for long-term use, and less irritating to the human body.
e-PTFE
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a new type of filling material in plastic surgery. It has strong sculptibility and can be adjusted according to personal needs. It has good biocompatibility and a low degradation rate, which is suitable for long-term use.
Moreover, it has a good fixation effect, and with stable physical and chemical properties. It can grow into other tissues to reduce the risks of displacement or deformation.
Calcium hydroxyapatite
Calcium hydroxyapatite has good biocompatibility, but not good in shape function.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a new material in surgical treatment, with the advantage of short surgery treatment time, small trauma, stable nose size, and high safety, while the maintenance effect is short as it can be absorbed by the human body.
7. Operating facility
A rhinoplasty can be performed in the hospital, doctor’s office, or in an third-party surgery facility. You will pay for the use of the operating facilities, the surgical tools and the rooms used for your nose job surgery.
Choosing a third-party facility may raise the overall cost of your procedure.
8. Anesthesia costs
Rhinoplasty procedure may be performed with the patient under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The fee of an anesthesiologist may be involved. General anesthesia is more expensive than local anesthesia.
9. Pre And Post-Operative Care
Pre and post-operative care fees should be calculated into your total cost. Pre-operative consultations are crucial for you to have a good preparation before the rhinoplasty procedure.
Post-operative follow-up appointments (face to face, over the phone or by email) are also important for your subsequent recovery as you may have many questions after rhinoplasty.
10. Other Costs to Consider
Below expenses may be separate from your surgery. Speak with your surgeon in the consultation if he or she has put these fees in your price.
- Medical tests before and after your rhinoplasty procedure.
- Post-surgery garments
- Lab work
- Pre and Post-Op Prescriptions
You may consider other indirect costs, such as lost wages from the time you ask for off work for the nose job, and the travel expenses to the place where your surgeon is located.
Will Health Insurance Cover My Cost?
Your medical insurance may cover a portion or total of your bill if for medical/functional purposes (such as breathing problems or reconstruction after severe trauma), but may not if for cosmetic reasons.
Final Thought
Nowadays, more and more people begin to pay attention to the nose job. The Plastic Surgery Statistics Report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) demonstrated that rhinoplasty was the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US in 2019, with 207,284 recipients, just follows breast augmentation, liposuction, and eyelid surgery.
Whether you’re seeking rhinoplasty treatment for aesthetic or medical purposes, consult with a professional plastic surgeon to know your final fees and the cost structure, and let him or her help you achieve the results you’ll love.
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