Face
Rhinoplasty
A nose that suits the rest of your face, and breathes as well as it can.
- Sample price
- $11,000 to $17,000
- Surgery
- 2 to 4 hours
- Back at a desk
- About 1 to 2 weeks
What it is
Rhinoplasty reshapes the bone and cartilage of the nose. It can change the bridge, the tip, the width or the angle with the lip, and it can be combined with work inside the nose to help breathing. Most incisions are inside the nostrils, sometimes with a small one across the skin between them.
General anaesthesia. Done in an accredited surgical facility.
It may suit you if
- A bump on the bridge, a wide or drooping tip, or a nose that leans
- Breathing through one side has always been harder
- Your face has finished growing (usually late teens or older)
- You can describe what bothers you, not only a photo you like
It is not for
- Wanting a celebrity's nose on your face
- Expecting a change to fix how you feel about your whole appearance
Recovery, week by week
- Days 1 to 7A splint on the outside, rest with your head raised, breathing through your mouth for a few days.
- Week 1Splint off at the first visit. Bruising around the eyes fades over the second week.
- Weeks 2 to 3Back to desk work and most social plans.
- Weeks 4 to 6No glasses resting on the bridge and no contact sport until cleared.
- Months 6 to 12The tip keeps refining as swelling settles. Final shape at about a year.
Typical timelines. Your surgeon writes your own plan and gives it to you at consult.
Risks to know about
Every operation carries risk. These are discussed in full, with how often they happen in the surgeon's own practice, at your consult:
- Breathing changes
- Asymmetry or a result that needs revision
- Numbness or skin changes at the tip
- Nosebleeds early on
- Risks of anaesthesia
Independent information: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, patient safety.
Your questions
Can I see what it might look like?
Yes. The consult includes photo planning so you and the surgeon agree on the direction. It is a planning tool, not a promise of the result.
Is it covered by insurance?
The cosmetic part is not. Work to treat a documented breathing problem sometimes is. The coordinator explains what to ask your insurer.
How soon can I fly?
Usually after about a week, once the splint is off. Your surgeon confirms it at that visit.
Talk rhinoplasty through with the surgeon.
A private 45 minute consult, in person or by video. You leave with a written plan and the full price.