Rhinoplasty is a medical procedure that focuses on reshaping a person’s nose. This procedure is becoming more widely known and more and more common. This is more than making a nose smaller. This surgery can make a nose seem more shaped or defined, and it can be performed for both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes. In pop culture, this procedure is called a nose job.
The word rhinoplasty comes from the Latin word rhino, which means nose, and the Greek word plasty, which means molding. This procedure can not only alter the size of the nose or reshape its tip, but it can also change the angle of a nose, restore a nose’s functions in the case of an injury or mutation (i.e. helps the person breathe through their nose).

The open and closed techniques are the two techniques used in rhinoplasty. Each of the two methods of rhinoplasty include an incision inside of the nostrils but the open technique is one where the incision is made in the fleshy bit of skin existing between the nostrils. Here, the skin is divided so that adjustments can then be made to the bone and to the cartilage. With rhinoplasty, bones may have to be broken or chiseled to achieve the desired effect. Additionally, cartilage may have to be trimmed. The rhinoplasty process includes the packing of the nasal passages and the application of an external splint. If bones are broken for the procedure, it could take the individual longer to heal.

In a day’s time, the packs are removed, but the splint is worn for a week. The actual rhinoplasty operation generally takes about an hour or two, and it is performed under general or local anesthesia. It is normal for there to be bruising and swelling following the procedure. This is most common around the nose and eyes, especially right after the surgery. This swelling and bruising can last two or three weeks. Other side effects of the procedure include numbness around the nose, headaches, and some pain.

It can take four to six months to see the final results of the surgery. The individual will have to wait until their nose is fully healed. For a small portion of patients – 5-10% – a follow-up procedure may be needed to make minor adjustments. This follow-up may be included in the overall cost of the rhinoplasty or it may cost extra.

In general, rhinoplasty costs between $2,000 and 9,000. The cost will depend upon three fees: the anesthesia fee, the surgical fee, and the facility fee. The anesthesia fee is from $500 to $1,000 and the facility fee is around $600 and $1,500. The bulk of the cost associated with rhinoplasty is the surgeon’s fee. The more well-known or in-demand the surgeon is, the more, generally, the cost will be. Generally, the better training (i.e. the better known med. school he or she attended) and the better his or her skill and experience, the more money you can plan on paying for the procedure.