Rhinoplasty Surgery Costs

Few things determine your overall appearance as profoundly as the shape of your nose. Big, small, crooked, button or with a ridge, the shape of your nose is one of the first things that people notice when they look at your face. Many people, when asked, would like to change the shape of their nose. Rhinoplasty or a “nose job” is the surgical procedure that alters the shape and contour of the nose. The surgery is not technically challenging, relatively speaking, however it needs to be done with a high degree of precision and foresight to deliver the desired results. Because of this, rhinoplasty can be expensive.

 

 

Rhinoplasty costs can range anywhere between four and twelve thousand dollars. Within that broad range of values, there are a number of procedures that are all considered rhinoplasty and each has its own cost. Procedures can be open or closed. A procedure is considered an open rhinoplasty if the outer skin of the nose (between the nostrils) is cut. A closed procedure confines the surgical incisions to areas inside the nose. Most surgeons prefer the open approach to a closed one because there the structures within the nose are easier to see with the open approach plus the open approach allows for more aggressive restructuring of the nose. In general and somewhat counter-intuitively, open procedures are a bit more expensive than closed procedures despite being easier for surgeons. This is due to the fact that a patient’s wishes and anatomy determine if the procedure is open or closed. For example, if a patient wanted to have a small, button, upturned nose but was born with a wide base and has a deviated septum, the procedure will have to be open and, subsequently, will cost more.

 

Most rhinoplasties are primary or secondary. Primary rhinoplasty is simply a patient’s first surgery to reconstruct the nose. Secondary rhinoplasty, on the other hand, is performed on someone who has had a previous nose job. In primary rhinoplasty, there are a number of possibilities for construction of the new nose and they are only limited by the patient’s own anatomy. In secondary or subsequent rhinoplasty, the work of the previous surgeon can determine how much can be done to the nose. Secondary and revision rhinoplasty is much more expensive than primary procedures, mainly because secondary rhinoplasty is much more difficult. As a rule of thumb, secondary rhinoplasty costs about twice as much as primary rhinoplasty. After the second surgery, the cost of further revision is based on detailed examination and assessment on the part of the surgeon.

 

On average, the surgeon’s fees for rhinoplasty are:

 

Primary open – $3,000 to 6,000

Primary closed – $2,750 to $5,750

Secondary open – $6,000 to 12,000

Secondary closed – $5,000 to 10,000

 

Remember that in addition to the surgeon’s fees, the anesthesiologist and the facility that provides the surgical theater and supplies will need to be paid as well. Many surgeons are moving to local anesthesia with intravenous sedation rather than general anesthesia. In addition to faster recovery times and increased safety, it is usually less expensive to have local rather than general anesthesia. It is important to discuss the total cost of the procedure openly and honestly with the surgeon. If the procedure is cosmetic (and most rhinoplasty procedures are) the cost will be the patient’s responsibility completely—health insurance will not cover it. Ask about payment plans and options that the surgeon may offer. Cosmetic surgery is a medical discipline, but it is also a business of sorts. Knowing the cost of rhinoplasty will allow you to prepare for it properly.