If you've ever wished you could change something about your nose, you're not alone. Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job or nose reshaping, is one of the most popular surgical cosmetic procedures in the United States every year.1
Below we'll dive into everything you need to know about nose jobs, including average costs, different types, whether insurance will cover the procedure and more.
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What Is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that changes your nose shape by modifying or removing bone or cartilage. While considered a cosmetic procedure and often done for aesthetic reasons, it can also be performed alongside a septoplasty, which can help improve breathing. A septoplasty is done to straighten a deviated septum when the bone and cartilage that divides your nostrils becomes crooked.
Surgical vs. Non-surgical Nose Job
A non-surgical nose job, sometimes called liquid rhinoplasty, is a quick in-office cosmetic treatment that involves injectingfillerinto the nose. Liquid rhinoplasty is a much quicker procedure than a rhinoplasty surgery. Fillers can be used to minimize the appearance of unwanted facial features (e.g., a bump on the nose) or soften angles, though these results are only temporary and can last between eight to 16 months.
Non-surgical nose jobs don't require time off for recovery, and side effects are relatively minor, like bruising, swelling and tenderness to the injected area. However, because the results are temporary, you might need to repeat injections every one to three years, which can add up over time. Traditional rhinoplasty, in contrast, is permanent.
Different Types of Nose Jobs
There are various types of nose jobs to address different concerns. Sometimes a nose job is performed to restore the nose after an injury or because of a congenital defect. Nose jobs are also used to correct aesthetic concerns, such as to reduce the length of the nose or width of the nostrils, or to change the slope or angle of the nose.
Before digging into costs, see below for an overview of the 12 most common types of nose jobs.
| Type of nose job | Description |
|---|---|
| Open rhinoplasty | This is the most common type of nose job and is performed via incisions made on the outside of the nose on the columella, the strip of tissue between the nostrils. |
| Closed rhinoplasty | Also called "scarless rhinoplasty," this procedure is performed via incisions made inside the nose. |
| Tip-plasty | Also known as "tip refinement rhinoplasty," this is an open procedure used to reshape only the tip of the nose to raise a drooping tip or narrow a bulbous nose. |
| Alarplasty | Also known as "alar base reduction," this procedure is used to reduce the appearance of flared or open nostrils by reducing the alar, the fleshy tissue that connects your nostrils to your face. |
| Non-surgical nose job | Also known as "filler nose job" or "15-minute nose job," this procedure uses fillers to temporarily change the shape of the nose by smoothing out bumps or softening angles. |
| Ethnic nose job | This procedure encompasses any type of rhinoplasty that works with skin color and physical features and characteristics common among certain ethnicities. |
| Nose augmentation | This procedure involves rearranging, rather than removing or adding to the nose, to make subtle changes to the angles and definition in order to balance the nose's proportions. |
| Secondary or revision rhinoplasty | This procedure is performed on a person who has already had one or more nose jobs and is looking for improvement. |
| Reduction | This is the name for any rhinoplasty procedure that involves removing cartilage or bone to reduce the size of the nose. |
| Post-traumatic rhinoplasty | This procedure is performed following an injury to the nose to repair damage or even reconstruct parts of the nose. |
| Reconstructive rhinoplasty | This procedure is used to rebuild the nose and can entail anything from using skin grafts following skin cancer surgery to reconstructing the entire nose after an injury. |
| Septoplasty | This procedure repairs a deviated septum. |
How Much Is a Nose Job?
The national average cost for a nose job can range between $3,004 and $15,450 depending on the type of nose job and other factors.1Costs will vary based on the extent of surgery, physician fees, anesthesia and surgical center or outpatient costs.
Surgeon's fees vary based on their experience, geographic location and the type of surgery, as some types of rhinoplasty are more complex than others.
Rhinoplasty surgery cost
Here's a look at just how widely costs can range — and how high the price can get — for different types of rhinoplasty procedures.1
| Type of nose job | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Open rhinoplasty | $9,153 |
| Closed rhinoplasty | $7,350 |
| Septoplasty | $8,328 |
| Revision rhinoplasty | $11,533 |
| Ethnic rhinoplasty | $7,868 |
| Alarplasty | $2,925 |
| Tip-plasty | $8,212 |
| Non-Surgical | $1,456 |
Other fees that may be added to the cost of rhinoplasty and other types of plastic surgery include:
- Related appointments, such as consultation and post-surgery follow-up
- Medical tests, such as X-rays and bloodwork
- Pre- and post-surgery prescription medications
- Post-surgery garments and dressings
Liquid rhinoplasty cost
Because non-surgical or liquid nose jobs don't require anesthesia and are quicker than a rhinoplasty surgery, they can be far less expensive, averaging about $1,456.1However, prices can get significantly higher — as high as $5,500 — depending on the amount of filler needed, the brand of filler, the doctor's experience and the location.
Here's the average cost of different injectable fillers that are used in liquid nose jobs1:
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm®) | $707 |
| Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers (Radiesse®) | $693 |
| Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) | $780 |
Does Health Insurance Cover Nose Jobs?
Rhinoplasty isn't typically covered byhealth insuranceunless it is correcting a functional problem, or a defect caused by disease or facial injury. In those cases, a portion of the surgery may be covered, and the amount of insurance benefits that will contribute to the cost of the plastic surgery is based on the patient's insurance plan.
If the rhinoplasty procedure is not deemed medically necessary, it is not covered by medical insurance benefits and not eligible forhealth savings account(HSA) reimbursem*nt. If a portion of the nose job is covered by health insurance, patients may still have to pay some costs out-of-pocket, such as acopay, coinsurance or deductible.
Non-surgical nose jobs are not usually covered by insurance as they are considered cosmetic procedures.
Learn More
CareCredit Financing for Nose Jobs
Find a Nose Job Provider Near You
Nose Job Recovery: What to Expect
What you should expect from rhinoplasty recovery depends on the type of procedure you had.
Recovering from rhinoplasty surgery
After surgery, your nose may be supported with a splint, gauze packing and bandages to protect your nose while you heal. You will likely have some bloody discharge from your nose for a few days. The packing, if used at all, is usually removed several days after surgery, followed by the splints which are removed after seven to ten days.
Stitches are usually removed after seven days. After two weeks your swelling should improve significantly, and even more in the following six weeks. You can return to your usual activities six weeks after surgery. It could take around a year to see the final result due to very subtle swelling, though the greatest result will be seen shortly after surgery.
Recovering from liquid rhinoplasty
You may experience some pain, redness and swelling where the filler was injected. Symptoms should subside within an hour or two and by then you'll begin to see your results. Unless your doctor advises otherwise, most patients can return to their regular activities the next day.
Nose job recovery tips
Here are some things you can do to help recover from a nose job procedure:
- Follow your doctor's recovery care instructions.
- Take medications as prescribed.
- Keep your head elevated and avoid strenuous activities to keep swelling down.
- Use an ice pack to relieve swelling if your doctor says it's fine to do so. Put the ice packs or frozen peas on your cheeks, not directly on your nose.
- Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water to help maintain optimal health while you heal.
Financing a Nose Job With the CareCredit Credit Card
Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for a nose job and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator tofind a doctor or cosmetic surgeonnear you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading theCareCredit Mobile Appto manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.
In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?
Expert Reviewer
Dr. Michael Niccole, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Michael Niccole is the Medical Director ofCosmetiCare Plastic Surgery Center & MedSpain Corona Del Mar, California, which he co-founded in 1982. He has been practicing medicine for 48 years and specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, nose and body. He was voted OC Weekly's "Best Cosmetic Surgeon" for multiple years.
Author Bio
Kristin Driver is a Digital Writer with CareCredit. She specializes in writing about health care, finances and pet care. Her work has been published by Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, Stanford Health Care, Risk & Insurance, Modern Health Care, Risk Insider, CIO Review and more.
