The nose obviously is a prominent feature on your face; an unattractive nose can draw unwanted attention. The sizes and contour of the face play a major role in the pursuit of the “perfect nose” for each person. Rhinoplasty or a “nose job“, in layman’s terms, is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed by an experienced plastic surgeon who performs surgery on the bone and cartilage of the nose to modify the nose’s appearance. A person has to be at least 17-years-old to have rhinoplasty; by that age, the nose is fully grown.

A successful rhinoplasty that gives the face a natural look consists of first consulting with the plastic surgeon to determine what the patient dislikes about their nose. The consultation requires good communication between both the surgeon and the patient. Depressed or obsessed persons and people who use illicit drugs or nasal medications are not good candidates for the operation; neither is someone who has previously had one or more unsatisfactory plastic surgery procedures. If a potential patient has a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes, he or she can still have a rhinoplasty operation as long as their medical condition is under control.
Younger people tend to adjust better to the change rhinoplasty brings, whereas older people tend to be less satisfied because they are more accustomed to their former nose. Patients should be warned in advance that in some cases, revision surgery may be needed should problems arise after surgery. Complications that could arise in spite of the surgeon’s best efforts include improvement or worsening of the nasal airways, severe bleeding, swelling and bruising after surgery.

It could take more than a year for some complications to occur. If too much cartilage was removed during surgery, the patient could end up with a scooped out nose or ski slope nose. Other potential complications include a pug nose, pinched tip, parrot beak or a high nose.

The average rhinoplasty cost in the United States depends on the location, and ranges between $3,500 to $12,000 which pays for the surgeon, anesthesiologist and the operating room.