Cosmetic Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is the technical term for nose surgery or a “nose job” as you’ve heard it referred to colloquially.  The term is derived from the Greek words Rhinos (“nose”) and Plassein (“to shape”), and this type of surgery often has two completely different functions:  1) cosmetic rhinoplasty, which is surgery to improve the looks and appearance of the patient 2) reconstructive rhinoplasty, which is surgery to actually improve the function of the patient’s nose.

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Explained

Rhinoplasty is the reshaping of the cartilage and bone inside the nose to make a more pleasing and attractive shape.  Some main candidates for cosmetic rhinoplasty are people who have misshapen noses, humps in the nose, a history of nose breaks, or just someone who has a negative impression of their own nose.  Rhinoplasty is generally performed under some type of anesthesia, either general or local anesthesia or some type of sedation.  It is a significant surgery that will generally leave the patient with a few weeks of recovery time before they are looking “normal” again. 

The surgery can be performed two different ways:  closed rhinoplasty or open rhinoplasty.  In closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon makes incisions inside the nostrils themselves, while in open rhinoplasty another incision is made on the piece of skin that is between your two nostrils (called the “columella”).  The surgeon then moves to separate the skin and other tissue away from the bone and cartilage.  He then surgically reshapes the bone and cartilage and then finishes the surgery by placing the skin back in its proper position and then stitching up the points of incision. 

Since your cosmetic rhinoplasty surgeon is a plastic surgeon and he understands that this procedure is being undertaken for cosmetic reasons he will take great care to properly and inconspicuously stitch up the incisions so that no scar remains post operation.   You may have “raccoon eyes” for a period of up to two weeks following the surgery; this is a natural side-effect of this type of surgery and there is basically nothing the surgeon can do to prevent this type of bruising.        

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Costs

Cosmetic rhinoplasty is an elective procedure that is generally performed by a plastic surgeon.  Since it is elective and not a medically necessary procedure, cosmetic rhinoplasty is not usually covered by your insurance policy.  That means the entirety of the cost will have to come out of your own pocket.   An average rhinoplasty surgery will probably cost $3,000-5,000, but that is just an estimate and it can vary wildly depending on your location and the doctor performing your procedure.  Some general categories of fees include:  the hospital fee, anesthesia, surgeon’s fee, medical tests before and after the surgery, and any medications needed after the surgery. 

Potential Health Risks

As with all types of surgery, there are potential risks of cosmetic rhinoplasty, however they are rather uncommon and are usually not terribly severe.  There is a chance of infection, as well as severe bleeding and potential doctor error.  You can also lose some function in your nose and you can experience some difficulty breathing.  Most of these issues are generally correctible and are not usually severe.