Types Of Rhinoplasty And Their Costs

There are number of different types of rhinoplasty techniques which may be used during surgery but the desired result of all of these is a same; a better shaped nose. A brief overview of the commonly performed rhinoplasty procedures are as follows.

  • Primary rhinoplasty – this is first-time rhinoplasty in a patient performed for cosmetic, functional or reconstructive reasons.
  • Secondary rhinoplasty – this is also known as revision rhinoplasty and is performed to correct an unsatisfactory outcome from a previous rhinplasty procedure.
  • Open rhinoplasty – in this technique incisions made outside and inside the nose.
  • Closed rhinoplasty – in this technique incisions are made only on the inside of the nose.

 

Costs for these techniques are as follows:

    Primary open rhinoplasty $3,152 – $6,500
    Primary closed rhinoplasty $2,879 – $5,800
    Primary Septoplasty/Turbinectomy $3,500 – $6,500
    Secondary open rhinoplasty $7,000 – $9,000
    Secondary closed rhinoplasty $2,643 – $10,000

 

Breakdown Of The Total Rhinoplasty Cost

The total cost for this procedure depends and varies with differences in the surgeon’s fee, fee for anesthesia, facility care fee and some small hidden costs. The cost is also dependant on the extent of your surgery, the skill level of the surgeon you have the chosen and the surgical techniques you opt for. While insurance companies will not cover rhinoplasty done for cosmetic purposes, they are likely to take care of costs for functional and reconstructive rhinoplasty. A breakdown for the average rhinoplasty cost is given below.

Cost Range: $4,000 – $12,000
Average Total Cost: $5,500
Surgeons fee: $4,000
Anesthesiologist: $700
Facility fee: $800

 

General Information:

Rhinoplasty, or commonly known as a nose job, is an elective cosmetic surgery performed to improve the look of one’s nose.  Most of the procedures are designed to reshape and resize the nose to give the face a more aesthetically appealing look. This is a very common surgery in the United States with more than one hundred thousand patients undergoing the procedure annually.

A common misconception is that rhinoplasty is only performed to change the look of a patient’s nose. Many patients have this surgery to correct internal issues which can affect breathing functions. It is also performed to correct massive facial trauma and birth defects. We will be focusing most of our attention towards the cosmetic side of the surgery and the people who are looking to benefit from a changed look.

The benefits that come with a change in appearance can be incredibly large. If you are self conscious about the appearance of your nose it can negatively affect many areas of your life. By correcting the issue many things can increase including your self confidence. By boosting your self confidence you can see results in many areas of your life. Confidence tends to spill over into your work life and definitely into your love life. You might feel more desirable to the opposite sex and cause you to “put yourself out there” more. In general this is an incredibly positive change that people who have rhinoplasty experience on a regular basis.

 

History:

It is interesting to note that the word “rhinoplasty” is derived from Greek words that literally mean “to mold or shape the nose”. The beginnings of rhinoplasty trace back to ancient India.  In that time period criminals had their noses cut off as a punishment for committing a crime. This technique was used to help reconstruct the noses of these individuals.

There were two individuals who were given large amounts of credit for more modern rhinoplasty techniques. Johann Dieffenbach was one of the first to use external incisions in nose reduction procedures. He was around in the late 1700s to early 1800’s. His predecessor is a man named Jacques Joseph who further expanded upon his methods in the late 1800s to early 1900s. In the 1970’s a man named Dr. Wilfred Goodman helped to create the open technique of rhinoplasty.

At the time most of the surgeries were done with the closed method. After him came an individual named Dr. Jack Gunter who popularized the open technique. We will discuss both of the methods so you have an understanding of how they work.

 

Closed Rhinoplasty Vs. Open Rhinoplasty

There are two different types of rhinoplasty known as either open or closed. By using the closed method all incisions are made within the nostrils leaving no scars visible. One of the biggest draw backs to this procedure is it limits a surgeons options.

The open procedure starts with a small incision in the Columella. This is the little column of skin that separates both of your nostrils.  This allows the skin to be lifted of the tip of the patients nose. Many surgeons find the open technique far more advantageous. The main reason is it allows them to work and see the cartilage in the nasal tip. By having the skin lifted up a surgeon has easier access to every part of your nose that needs to be worked on. As far as the incision, the scar heals up very quickly and with little to no visible marks.

 

New Techniques:

One of the great advances in our time is modern medicine. We as a society are continually learning and creating new techniques for surgery to help different conditions. These advances give surgeons the ability to have multiple ways they can help a particular patient they are going to perform surgery on. Some of the newest rhinoplasty techniques are:

  • Rasping- The definition of this word is to scrape something until smooth. This process is for patients who have a hump on the bridge of their nose. This will make it smaller or even non- existent.
  • Cephalic Resection- In this procedure the surgeon removes a tip of cartilage to help narrow the nasal tip. The main purpose of this procedure is to give the nose a longer look.
  • Spreader Grafts-This procedure is specific to patients who have the following situation: Long upper lateral cartilage, thin skin, a narrow nose, and short nasal bones. It helps people with wide noses or a really long one. The surgeon cuts rectangular cartilage strips and place them in between your septum and upper lateral cartilage.
  • Strut-With this procedure, patients give their noses a rounder look. This is done by putting a rectangular piece of cartilage between the nasal tip and the medial Crura.
  • Plumping Grafts-This technique uses the patient’s own cartilage under the skin if the upper lip is retraced or acute.  This helps with the angle of the nose.
  • Osteotomies-This is a more serious type of procedure for the patient. It is used to help with overly wide noses, fix nasal humps, or even fix twisted noses. Surgeons will use this method if the nose cannot by fixed by other methods. The surgeon actually cuts and breaks the nasal bone so it has to be a last resort.

 

Non Surgical Rhinoplasty:

There are procedures known as non surgical rhinoplasty that can be a solution for some people. One of these methods uses an injected substance which changes the shape and look of the nose. It is not a permanent fix like the normal methods mentioned above. After several months you will have to see your doctor and have it done again.  You can also have nasal inserts put into your nostrils. They are placed between the nose tip and the back of the nose, and the results are only noticeable while being worn.

 

Rhinoplasty Recovery:

After your surgery you will still be full of medication and will probably still be groggy. Once those medications wear off you will experience some pain. Your nose will definitely be swollen and very tender. You may also develop two black eyes as a result of the surgery. It’s like if you were punched directly in the nose. For 24 hours after your surgery you will be recommended to stay in bed and have your head elevated. Most patients have something called a nasal splint inserted into their nose. This will help your nose hold the new shape that was created during the surgery. These splints are generally removed in approximately 1 to 2 weeks post surgery. Swelling is generally the side effect that lasts the longest for most people. Some people have had swelling that stays for 6 months. Most should go away within a few weeks. Here are some tips to reduce the swelling after the procedure:

  • Use a cold compress- Make sure that your surgeon recommends this before you do it
  • Get plenty of rest- Your body heals when you are rested. Give yourself some time to just lay low instead of getting back to a rigorous schedule.
  • Eat a proper diet and keep your sodium intake low- you do not want to be taking on excess water from a high sodium diet
  • Stay Hydrated- you will want to ensure that you are hydrated so drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration will slow down the process of healing.
  • Avoid Certain Medications- let your doctor know about any medications that you are taking. Certain ones will mess with your fluid balance which will lengthen your recovery.
  • Keep your nose safe- Avoid activities that could potentially have your nose bumped. Every time your nose gets hit it will swell up.
  • Avoid Blowing Your Nose- you may feel the need to blow your nose, but do not do it. A decongestant may help with the feeling.
  • NO SMOKING- Most doctors recommend you do not smoke for 4 weeks before and AT LEAST 4 weeks after your surgery. Smoking restricts blood flow which can lead to slower healing times and could lead to complications.

For the first week or so it might be impossible to breathe through your nose. This should not cause alarm because it is a normal part of the healing process. Also you might experience some bleeding from your nose, but unless its substantial it is nothing to be worried about.  You should definitely take a solid week off of work after your surgery.

If you work is extremely demanding you should consider taking more time off. Many patients use accrued vacation time so they can take off work. This allows you to still get paid while recovering from your surgery. After your splints are removed a week or two after surgery you may have to wear a softer splint to ensure your nose holds its shape. Many surgeons recommend that you stay away from contact sports for a solid year after your procedure.

So if you are majorly into sports you will want to consider this when going in to have rhinoplasty surgery. Some patients take a solid year for the nose to be completely healed. Remember to not stress over irregularities in your nose appearance while it is healing. At time the nose will heal disproportionately so try to not get worked up about it. If you feel something is really wrong you can always contact your surgeon and schedule a time to have them look at it.

 

Rhinoplasty Risks:

As with any elective plastic surgery there are inherent risks. Some of these are general to surgery like internal bleeding, negative reactions to anesthesia, and infection. There are a different set of risks that are exclusive to rhinoplasty. These risks include:

  • Loss of smell or permanent numbness
  • Blocked airway
  • Skin death also known as Necrosis
  • Septal Hematoma- At times the patient is not happy with the results of their procedure. This can happen for a variety of reasons from unrealistic expectations to surgeon error. There are a few situations which we will go over that will make patients unhappy with the results.
  • Saddle Nose Deformity- The sign of this is when there is a noticeable indentation in the middle of the nose. This generally happens when the surgeon takes out too much of the boney part of the bridge. This can be rectified with a revision rhinoplasty surgery.
  • The Hanging Columella- This is where the nostrils flare out too much and can again be fixed with a revision surgery.
  • Droopy Nose or The Droopy Tip- Like the name suggests, this is where the nose has a droopy appearance. It generally occurs when someone has a large hump reduced. A revision surgery will fix this as well.
  • Beak Look (Pollybeak Deformation)-The shape of the nose looks like a birds beak or sometimes like a shark fin. Normally this happens when the surgeon did not reshape the nose aggressively enough. Another surgery can fix this problem as well.
  • Too Broad Of A Nasal Tip- This one is pretty simply, a very broad nose tip. Another surgery can correct this as well.
  • Pig Nose or Short Nose- Normal nostrils are facing downward, but a pig nose deformity has the nostrils facing straight out. It gets its name because it resembles the way a pig’s nose looks. Just like the other problems, it can be fixed with another procedure.

Remember you can ask questions about all these issues with your surgeon. Each type of procedure will have different inherent risks and the doctor can describe them to you. Also by being proactive and knowing about these problems you can ensure your surgeon is aware that you don’t want to have two surgeries. Open communication about risks and complications with your surgeon will help to minimize the risk any of these issues.

 

Costs:

The cost of your rhinoplasty surgery is going depend on many different factors. The general average in the United States is approximately just under $4,000. This price is specifically for the surgery alone and does not include other things like anesthesia fees, surgical facility fees, and other miscellaneous fees. 

The best estimate of the total cost of the surgery is between $4,000 and $9,000 for the surgery and the other fee. Also there are other factors that will change the cost of your surgery. One of them is your personal surgery. Every person is different in that they require different amounts of work to achieve the desired results. A slight reshaping of your nose will be less expensive that a massive overhaul. Also costs vary from surgeon to surgeon and region to region.

The large cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas will generally have much higher rates that somewhere in the Midwest. For some patients the extra cost is worth it because these surgeons are generally regarded as experts in the field. It is important for you to get a written estimate from your surgeon which includes all the fees so you will have an accurate number to go off of.

You should also meet with different surgeons so that you will get a good indicator of the average price you will pay for a rhinoplasty in your area.

 

Payment Methods:

Rhinoplasty, like all other elective surgeries, is not covered by insurance. There are exceptions to this which include rhinoplasty to correct massive trauma from an accident or birth defects. Assuming that neither of these applies to you, you have 3 options.

  1. Cash or Check- This is probably the best method you can use to pay for your surgery. You will have no balance to have to worry about. The major issue with this method is that most people do not have the amount needed for their surgery. Many people who pay cash for their surgery actually save up over the course of months or a year to be able to afford it. If you do not want to save up over time the other methods will help.
  2. Credit Card- The good old plastic in your wallet can serve as a finance method for your surgery. It is recommended that you use one with a very low interest rate because the surgery is definitely not cheap. One trick we heard was to apply for a new credit card that has no interest for 1 year. This way you can have the whole year to pay off the card interest free. If you take too long to pay it off, the cost of your surgery is increased greatly with the interest on the credit card.
  3. Finance Companies- Many plastic surgeons work directly with plastic surgery finance companies. These firms specialize in helping individuals pay for their surgeries. If you do not have the cash or a credit card this can be a way for you to pay for it. Ask your surgeon if they know of any good companies to work with and they will most likely refer you to one or multiple.

 

Finding A Surgeon

Now that you have decided that you want this surgery you need to find a surgeon. You can use search engines to find a surgeon in your local area. Another thing you can do is find ones in other areas of the country based on their expertise.

The best thing about the internet is you can find so many different surgeons in a short period of time. You can call the surgeons offices and set up a consultation to meet with them. Most offices do not charge for the consultation. We recommend that you meet with multiple surgeons to find one that you are comfortable with.

Once you meet with the surgeon you need to ask as many questions as you can. Give them any and all information they need so that they can accurately tell you what you can expect to achieve from the surgery. Also this will help them in giving you an accurate price for your procedure. If a doctor does not answer your questions or you feel uncomfortable with them it is time to go to a different surgeon.

 

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has given you adequate information to help in your decision process with regards to your surgery. You can use this as a tool to ask questions about the surgery with your surgeon. Express your concerns and make sure that you have realistic expectations about the results that will come from having this done. Remember that over 100,000 people a year are having some form of rhinoplasty performed so it is a relatively safe and effective procedure. Also make sure you look at every aspect of this surgery.

Take your time in selecting a surgeon that you feel comfortable with as well as a price you can deal with. We always say do not make a rash decision because that’s when problems can arise. Take your time and create your plan of paying for the surgery as well as your post surgery recovery time. Most people don’t think about the loss in income from being off work so you will want to have cash in saving to hold you over while you are recuperating. Also listen to your surgeon when it comes to post surgery procedures. They have done countless surgeries and will tell you everything you need to do to minimize your down time. A

Also if there are any issues make sure that you don’t hesitate to contact your doctor because they might be able to help with any problems. After all, that’s their job, to ensure that your nose gets the desired result. So enjoy the process that is required to get your rhinoplasty surgery.

This can be a life changing surgery for you and it should not be rushed into. Once you feel comfortable with all the things related to the surgery, you are ready to go under the knife. We wish you the best luck with your surgery and in creating the new and improved  you.

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