Preparing for Nose Surgery

Patients who are preparing for rhinoplasty, also known as nose surgery, nose reshaping or a "nose job," have a lot of factors to consider. Nose surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. In 2006 alone, people spent over $1 billion on nose surgery procedures.

After choosing a plastic surgeon, there are still a few things nose surgery patients should research before undergoing a cosmetic nose surgery procedure. Patients should know:

1. how long their surgery will take
2. what the procedure entails and what the surgeon will be doing
3. how long their recovery period will take
4. what side effects to expect during the recovery period
5. whether or not medications will be needed during the recovery period (if so, these should be picked up before surgery so that a pharmacy visit is not necessary for a just-released patient)
6. if there are any symptoms that might indicate a problem (i.e., excessive bleeding or pain)
7. their surgeon’s number in case of after-surgery complications
8. how often and when the surgeon will need to check up on the patient after the procedure.

All of these things are important to discuss with your surgeon.

In addition, costs, payment and financing options should be discussed. Patients should not assume their health insurance will cover their nose surgery procedure. Most health insurance plans will only cover nose surgery procedures that are a medical necessity. Cosmetic procedures do not fall under most health insurance plans.

Loans and financing plans are available for plastic surgery procedures. Patients can often get assistance through banks and other financial institutions.

Learn about all aspects of preparing for nose surgery, including the nose surgery procedure, after effects, costs and financing of the procedure and more.

What to Expect

Patients will feel more at ease with having a cosmetic nose surgery procedure if they are completely familiar with all aspects of the procedure and know what to expect from it. Your surgeon should have a discussion with you about your reasoning for getting plastic surgery and your expectations for the procedure.

In addition, it’s important for a patient to know what effects the procedure will have on them and how long they will need for recovery. Medications and follow-up procedures should also be discussed.

Another important thing for patients to ask about are warning signs of problems with the surgery. Problems and confusion can be avoided when cosmetic nose surgery patients know what to expect.

Costs and Financing of Nose Surgery

The average cosmetic nose surgery cost was $3,841 in 2006 in the United States. While this can be quite pricey for some people’s budgets, loans and financing options can help.

Many financial institutions offer loans that are specifically designed to be used on cosmetic surgery procedures. Some surgeons also offer payment plans that allow people to pay for their procedures over time. Many cosmetic plastic surgeons can give patients options and information on costs and financing of nose surgery.

Resources

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). 2006 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from the ASPS Web site: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/media/statistics/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm