What procedure is right for you and what will you need to pay to get the right treatment for your needs and goals? Will insurance cover any of the costs? Is there a way to get the results you want and save money at the same time?
When a bargain isn’t a Bargain
If you’re savvy about your finances, you already know that so-called “bargains” can ultimately cost more than quality goods. That’s especially true when it comes to rhinoplasty, which is one of the most complex cosmetic facial plastic surgeries performed today.
Because your nose is the central feature of your face, you can’t hide surgical mistakes or hope that no one notices them. You need to get it right the first time, to save yourself money and emotional distress. Keep in mind that the nose is also a vital organ and an essential part of your respiratory system. It is imperative that it still functions well after surgery. Only an expert can ensure the best result.
Choosing Your Rhinoplasty Surgeon
Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City who specializes in rhinoplasty. He has lectured on innovative rhinoplasty techniques at the International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery, written chapters on rhinoplasty for medical textbooks, and specializes in his patented NatraNose® approach to rhinoplasty procedures.
Cost of Rhinoplasty by Type
When estimating the cost of rhinoplasty, begin by determining which type of rhinoplasty procedure will meet your needs best. To help patients interested in rhinoplasty, Dr. Miller offers the following information:
Primary Rhinoplasty
Your first nose job is considered a primary rhinoplasty. The average price can range from $6,000 to $25,000, depending on your location and the expertise of your surgeon. You might also opt for tip plasty, which is less expensive but only improves the look, angle or shape of the nasal tip.
The nose is a highly complex, finely sculpted structure that consists of a variety of tissue types, including skin, cartilage and bone. Lack of expertise working with any of these mediums can result in a nose that heals incorrectly and calls unwanted attention to itself. However, a beautifully executed rhinoplasty corrects defects in the size, shape and angle of your nose.
With an expert facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Miller, you can expect aesthetic improvements such as:
- Shorter nose
- Straighter nose
- Removal of bumps
- More symmetrical nostrils
- Thinner or wider nostrils
- Thinner nose
- Larger nose
- More defined tip
- Nose proportionate to other facial features
Ideally, your primary rhinoplasty is so successful that after your one-year healing period, your new nose is everything you dreamed it would be. Your choice of surgeon is imperative to ensuring a positive result the first time around:
Unfortunately, if you choose the wrong surgeon for your primary rhinoplasty, you could need at least one revision and potentially more. In fact, up to 10% of patients who undergo rhinoplasty will seek out a revision.
Revision Rhinoplasty
A surgeon who is not board-certified as a facial plastic surgeon, or even a plastic surgeon who doesn’t specialize in rhinoplasty, can leave you with a nose that looks worse than your original nose. Revision surgery may cost between $7,500 to $30,000 to improve your initial results.
Keep in mind that it can take up to a full year to heal after rhinoplasty and determine whether a revision is necessary. Common reasons for needing a revision rhinoplasty include:
- Too much cartilage removed (collapsed nose)
- Over-rotated tip (pig-like nose)
- Difficulty breathing
- Drooping tip
- Crooked nose
- Asymmetric nostrils
- Nose doesn’t harmonize with facial features
- Nose is inappropriate for ethnicity or gender
If your surgeon botched your primary rhinoplasty, you could require multiple revision rhinoplasties to achieve the result you want. When the mistake is minor and you are comfortable returning to your original surgeon for revision, you may not be charged, or you could pay a reduced price. If you changed your mind about what you wanted, or if the mistake is so grave that you no longer trust your surgeon, you may have to pay substantially more for a new surgeon. That’s why seeking out a bargain for your first rhinoplasty isn’t a wise choice.
Revision rhinoplasty is even more challenging than the original procedure. Even a well-executed primary rhinoplasty creates scar tissue in your nose. A nose job that is poorly done could leave a significant amount of scar tissue, while creating structural problems that may be difficult to rectify.
If you need a revision rhinoplasty, it is imperative that you find a surgeon who specializes in this procedure. The quality of your cartilage, bone, and skin have already been compromised by your first surgeon. You now require expertise to compensate for that structural damage. Dr. Miller is an expert at correcting mistakes made by other surgeons to create the best outcome for you.
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty costs about 10 times less than a surgical nose job. Charges range from $600 to about $1,800, depending on your location, the expertise of your surgeon, and the amount of filler that’s required to improve your nose. The best candidate for nonsurgical rhinoplasty is a man or woman who is happy with the length and shape of the nose but would like to address bumps or asymmetries. This procedure is accomplished with the aid of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers.
Dr. Miller also uses liquid rhinoplasty to reshape and reposition your nasal tip. Other than some soreness and swelling directly after the injections, you won’t have any recovery time or side effects from liquid rhinoplasty. You will also see immediate results and if you don’t like them, the filler can be dissolved.
Even though nonsurgical rhinoplasty is much less complex than rhinoplasty surgery, it still requires knowledge about facial anatomy, aesthetics, and harmony. Don’t trust your liquid rhinoplasty to an inexperienced provider. Select a board-certified doctor who is qualified the produce the best possible result for you.
If you’re nervous about rhinoplasty or you want to make some improvements to your nose while saving up for primary rhinoplasty surgery, nonsurgical rhinoplasty with dermal fillers is a great place to start. Many women and men opt for a nonsurgical nose job first, as a way of “auditioning” a potential new nose shape. Others are so happy with their results that they continue touching-up their nose with fillers, without ever moving to surgery. You will need to schedule touch-up procedures periodically to maintain the results of your liquid rhinoplasty. Surgery provides permanent results.
Septoplasty (functional nose job)
If you have a deviated septum, it means the nasal bone and cartilage that divides your nose in half is not straight. The septum can take up extra space in one of your nostrils, making it hard to breathe. Many women and men require a septoplasty to correct this problem. Since a deviated septum is a medical condition that impairs your ability to breathe easily through your nose, your septoplasty may be covered by your medical insurance:
When you combine rhinoplasty with septoplasty, only the portion of the operation that’s medically necessary is eligible for insurance coverage. Aesthetic improvements are not eligible for coverage or reimbursement. Never trust an unethical surgeon who tells you they are covered or try to manipulate the system to pay for your cosmetic surgery.
What you’re paying for
In addition to paying for the expertise and skill of your surgeon, rhinoplasty has several other expenses to consider when making a final decision based on price:
To set up a consultation with an expert in rhinoplasty that can give you the aesthetically pleasing, well-formed nose and the Aesthetic Confidence® it inspires, contact; Dr. Miller in NYC today.
Dr. Philip Miller is a New York facial plastic surgeon known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and more.
