There is not a “set” procedure for rhinoplasty; different patients require different degrees of change. Because of that variability, there isn’t a set cost for nose surgery. The only way to get a firm idea of the cost of a possible procedure would be to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ward. During that consultation, the two of you can discuss the goals of a potential procedure and Dr. Ward can then have a better idea of what would be involved with your surgery, and give you an idea of the cost of the procedure.

Insurance will not cover a purely cosmetic rhinoplasty, if you want to remove a bump on the bridge, for instance. But if your rhinoplasty is for functional purposes, such as to improve breathing, it could be covered by insurance. In some cases, this could be mutual. For instance, if your nose was broken years ago and you now want to fix it, this could be to improve the nasal passages that were compressed when the nose was broken. Of course, while the surgery will improve function, it will also improve the aesthetics. Dr. Ward can discuss with you if at least a portion of your surgery could be covered by insurance.

We offer 0% financing through Mountain America Credit Union.

Patients usually have three areas that come into play when considering nose surgery: cosmetic issues, injury repair, or to improve function.

Cosmetic – If a person feels his or her nose it too bulbous or there’s a bump on the bridge, it can be a real issue. Here are common aesthetic reasons patients seek to make some changes:

Injury – People often injure their nose, but don’t always opt to correct it. Things like touch football games or even simply bumping into an unseen wall in a dark room can alter the look and the function. Dr. Ward can correct both the appearance and the function.

Function – Some people are born with nasal passages that are too narrow. Restricted airflow can lead to snoring and even sleep apnea. Rhinoplasty can open constricted airways and vastly improve breathing function.

Costal cartilage grafting is when a surgeon harvests cartilage from one of the patient’s ribs for use in rhinoplasty surgery. Costal cartilage is preferred because it is easy to access, there is minimal pain and discomfort during and after the harvest, and there is low scar visibility. In addition, the cartilage is firm, straight, and plentiful. Costal cartilage is the superior graft choice when septal cartilage is unavailable. Costal cartilage and perichondrium is plentiful, and donor site morbidity is minimal. Warping of the cartilage is also easily managed.

A: Yes, there are many options! For an answer specified to you, personally, please come in for an appointment. You may want a non-surgical rhinoplasty, which provides real results, but the results, unfortunately, are not permanent. There are also smaller, less invasive options to improve the appearance of the nose.

Non-surgical approaches work for smaller procedures, however, depending on the level of change you want, a surgical rhinoplasty is likely a better option for dramatic or permanent results.

Rhinoplasty recovery doesn’t involve severe pain in the vast majority of cases. There are some dull aching and potential headaches for a short time. Most patients take pain medication for the first day or two after surgery and then can switch to over-the-counter pain medication.

There will be swelling, bruising, and congestion, but this is not associated with pain. Dr. Ward will place a splint on your nose and may place a splint in your nose. He does not pack the nose after surgery. The splints will stay in place for about one week. A cold compress will help minimize swelling. You’ll need to keep your head elevated as much as possible, even when sleeping, for about a week. You’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise that increases blood flow to the face for a number of weeks.

There are general risks that accompany any surgery: anesthesia reaction, infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, scarring, and changes in skin sensation. Specific to this procedure, the patient may have temporary difficulty breathing through the nose, skin discoloration, or continued swelling, possible perforation of the nasal septum (hole in the septum of the nose, or poor cosmetic results. If further changes are needed, revision surgery may be necessary.

For most patients, normal activity can be resumed after about six weeks following rhinoplasty surgery. Always be sure to check with your surgery in case there are specific issues that apply to your situation.

This surprises many patients to hear, but the nose can remain swollen for eighteen months or longer. Depending on the patient, taping the nose, steroid injections, or massaging the nose may be recommended to even out uneven levels of swelling.