How Much Does a Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Cost on Average? - GoodRx (2024)

The medical term for nose reshaping is rhinoplasty. The surgery might involve altering the bone in your nose, the tissue (cartilage), or your skin — or all of the above. Usually, plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and otolaryngologists (also known as ENTs or ear, nose, and throat doctors) perform nose jobs.

A nose job can dramatically change your life. People can get a nose job to improve their appearance, their breathing, or both. But whatever the reason, it’s important to research your options first because a nose job involves risks and can cost thousands of dollars out of your pocket.

What are the main types of nose jobs?

There are four common types of nose jobs:

• Open rhinoplasty: This is also known as functional rhinoplasty. This surgery involves major changes to your nose. You could receive this type of procedure for both health and cosmetic reasons.

• Closed rhinoplasty: This is less invasive than open surgery and shouldn’t leave visible scars.

• Revision rhinoplasty: This is surgery done after your nose job if you aren’t satisfied with the results or have complications and need your surgeon to make corrections.

• Filler rhinoplasty: This nonsurgical option uses injections of hyaluronic acid fillers to reshape areas of the nose. This is a temporary fix and typically lasts up to 1 year.

What are the risks of nose jobs?

While a nose job may sound like an easy procedure and nothing like, say, heart surgery, there are risks involved when getting a nose job, such as:

• Complications from anesthesia

• Infection

• Breathing problems

• Dissatisfaction with appearance

• Possibility of revision surgery

Later, we will discuss how anesthesia and other factors affect the cost of a nose job.

How much does a nose job typically cost?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average surgeon’s fees for a rhinoplasty added up to $5,483 in 2020. However, that price doesn’t include costs for anesthesia, facilities, or related expenses, such as medication.

Including all patient costs, you could pay as little as $2,500 up to more than $15,000, according to survey data from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). You can find estimated price ranges for cosmetic procedures by entering your ZIP code in the ABCS cost calculator.

We will provide more details about costs throughout this piece.

Factors that affect the cost of a nose job

A number of factors affect the price of a nose job, including the surgeon’s experience, the type of rhinoplasty you have done, and where in the U.S. you have the procedure.

Some of the expenses you may pay for include the following:

• Consultation fees: According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, you can expect to pay $75 to $250 for a consultation fee. That fee is often applied toward the procedure if you decide to schedule with the same surgeon. That said, many surgeons don't charge consultation fees. Often, the consultation includes detailed photographs of your nose to develop a customized treatment plan.

• Surgeon's fee: This will account for most of your costs. Several different boards certify surgeons who perform rhinoplasty. One study published in 2022 found that surgeons with certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery charged more than $10,000 in fees. Surgeons with other surgery credentials charged about $8,500. This study also found that West Coast (Los Angeles) surgeons charged about $12,000 while their middle U.S. and East Coast counterparts charged less than $10,000.

• Anesthesia fees: Prices vary around the country. Norelle Health in New York City states on its website that anesthesia fees typically range from $800 to $2,000 for a nose job. The price depends on the anesthesia provider, the time of the procedure, and whether you receive local or general anesthesia. General anesthesia is usually more expensive.

  See Also

  How Much Does Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Cost? (See Prices Near You) | AEDIT

• Hospital or surgical facility fees: Where you get your nose job can affect your costs, too. Norelle Health indicates that you’re likely to spend $1,000 to $3,000 in facility fees. It’s likely to be more expensive, for instance, to get a nose job at a hospital than in a doctor’s office.

• Medical tests: Costs can vary depending on the type of test your doctor may want you to take. You could be asked to take a CT scan (according to the advice given on some plastic surgery websites, like this one in Burbank, California), so your surgeon can detect any issues with the inside of your nose. Do you smoke? You may be required to take a chest X-ray. Could you be pregnant? You may need to take a pregnancy test. Blood tests also are common. You will have to pay for all of these costs out of pocket unless your nose job is deemed medically necessary.

• Post-surgery garments: You may be charged for post-surgery garments that you need to wear.

• Prescriptions for medication: You may need medications for pain or something else, which may be prescribed or over the counter.

Does insurance cover a nose job?

If a nose job is considered a cosmetic procedure (something you’d like to do to improve your appearance), insurance will not pay for your surgery. But, if a nose job is medically necessary, your insurance plan can be used to pay for your surgery.

For instance, a nose job is sometimes covered when your nose is damaged in an automobile collision or an assault. If your nasal bones are misshapen and cause a deviated septum that makes it hard for you to breathe or sleep, your health plan may cover the bulk of costs for surgery that combines septoplasty (repairing the septum) with rhinoplasty.

Medicare will pay for rhinoplasty if it’s medically necessary. And your state Medicaid plan may cover the surgery for a birth deformity, functional impairment, or injury. Contact your state Medicaid program for details.

Is the procedure worth it?

That depends on your needs.

You’ll want to discuss the pros and cons of a nose job with your physician or surgeon. For many people, a nose job can be beneficial. If it’s cosmetic surgery, you may feel better about your appearance and have increased confidence. If it’s functional surgery, you may find that you can breathe better.

On the other hand, some people end up dissatisfied with their nose jobs because:

• They aren’t happy with the outcome.

• A full recovery can take up to a year.

• They may not feel the results justify what they spent.

• They have to get revisions done. Make sure to ask the surgeon how many procedures they’ve performed and about their personal revision rate.

Talk to your doctor and ask a lot of questions. Only you can decide the value of a nose job.

Are there alternatives I can consider?

The only real alternative to a surgical nose job is a filler or liquid rhinoplasty. Dermal fillers are injected into your skin to change the shape of your nose, although more subtly than with surgery.

According to a survey on online reviews published in 2021, a nonsurgical or liquid rhinoplasty costs an average of $1,074. The website of Jon Kurkjian, M.D., a plastic surgeon in Fort Worth, Texas, says the average cost of a liquid rhinoplasty is $1,500. Clevens Face and Body Specialists in Florida lists their average price for a liquid rhinoplasty as $2,000 to $2,500.

Liquid rhinoplasty may offer an instant preview of what a surgical nose job could look like. In addition to a lower cost, there’s less recovery time. But even with the benefits of a less-invasive option, you’ll want to talk with your healthcare provider about risks, which include potential infection and blindness.