The question of whether rhinoplasty is covered by insurance often comes up in the field of plastic surgery. The truth is that many cosmetic surgeries are not covered by insurance. However, there are some instances when plastic surgeries are deemed medically necessary and will be covered by insurance.
How Do I Know If Rhinoplasty Will Be Covered by Insurance?
Insurance companies separate plastic surgery procedures into two categories. When a patient looks to undergo plastic surgery willingly with the intent to improve their appearance, insurance companies classify those procedures as cosmetic surgery.
On the other hand, if a patient is seeking plastic surgery to improve or restore function, then insurance companies may deem the surgery medically necessary.
In order to determine if your rhinoplasty will be covered by insurance, you should have a detailed and open consultation with Dr. Robert Garza who is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Nashville. He will help you evaluate your health, and the goals of your rhinoplasty.
How Much is a Rhinoplasty Without Insurance?
In Tennessee, the overall cost of a rhinoplasty will range from $2000 to $8000. The less invasive the procedure, the lower the cost. However, nose jobs that are focused on functionality will typically cost more.
Why is Rhinoplasty Not Covered by Insurance?
A rhinoplasty is not covered by insurance when the patient seeks surgery for only cosmetic purposes.
Will Nose Surgery Improve the Quality of my Life?
Because the nose is a prominent feature of your face, and important to your breathing patterns, nose surgery will create a noticeable impact on your life. Especially if you’re undergoing nose surgery after an injury or to improve your breathing.
Am I a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty in Nashville?
Thankfully, the bar isn’t too high for rhinoplasty candidates. A Nashville plastic surgeon will look for the following in a candidate before considering a rhinoplasty.
- Completed facial growth
- Good physical health
- No active smoking use
- Realistic expectations and a solid understanding of the surgery
When Does the Facial Structure Stop Growing?
Facial growth usually stops at different ages for males and females. For females, their facial structure usually stops growing around the age of 17. For males, their facial growth usually stops around the age of 16. However, everyone is different, so you may see facial growth changes all the way up into your early 20s.
What is the Difference Between a Cosmetic and a Medical Nose Job?
The difference between a cosmetic and a medical nose job is the purpose of the surgery. If you are seeking a rhinoplasty to improve your appearance, then you will receive a cosmetic rhinoplasty.
However, if you’re seeking a rhinoplasty to improve nasal breathing problems, or for other functionality reasons, then you’ll need to receive a medical rhinoplasty.
Cosmetic Reasons for Rhinoplasty
- Change the size or shape of the nostrils
- Narrow the nasal bridge
- Change the shape of the tip of the nose
- Straighten a crooked nose
- Change the angle of the nose
Medical Reasons for Rhinoplasty
- Deviated septum
- cleft lip and palate
- Structural malfunctions or abnormalities from trauma or injury
- Nasal inflammation from allergies
- Polyp removal
- Burn treatment
- Broken nose
- Chronic sinus problems
How Do I Know If I Will Like My Results?
If you’re pursuing a cosmetic rhinoplasty, then your surgeon will help you plan out the exact goals for your surgery.
Are There Any Side Effects After Rhinoplasty?
Immediately after your procedure, you will experience swelling and bruising around your nose. Your surgeon will also place a splint on your nose to ensure your nose heals properly. After a few weeks, you will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Garza to review your recovery process and to determine if you can stop wearing the nose splint.
Nasal congestion is another possible side effect that patients notice during recovery after rhinoplasty surgery.
How Long Does it Take to See Results After Surgery?
For most nose surgery patients, the healing process usually takes up to a year. This is when most patients notice their full results.
How Long Will Rhinoplasty Results Last?
The results of a rhinoplasty are permanent. However, over time, you may notice some additional cartilage growth in your nose. But, this will not directly affect the results of your nose job.
What Will My Consultation Look Like?
- The goals for your surgery: breathing or appearance
- Medical history
- Current medical conditions
- Current medication
- Allergies
- Previous surgeries
- History of drug use
- History of alcohol use
- Current supplements or vitamins
After evaluating your current health and health history, if a rhinoplasty is right for you, your surgeon may go ahead and take measurements of your nose to help prepare you for surgery. We can also take before pictures to help you compare your results after your recovery process.
Can I Change My Nose Without Surgery?
If you want to enhance your nose without surgery, there are a few options we can offer.
At our Nashville office, we can offer Juvederm and Latisse dermal filler injections to improve the size and shape of your nose. While a liquid nose lift won’t be as effective as full surgical nose surgery, a liquid nose job is a fast and effective way to smooth out bumps and create a more even structure.
When is a Liquid Nose Lift Right for Me?
Liquid nose lifts are generally most effective when you want to improve the appearance of the upper two-thirds of your nose. The skin in the upper two-thirds is thinner than the skin around the bottom third of the nose. By injecting the filler into the upper sections of the nose where the skin is thinner, your results will be more prominent.
The thicker skin around the nostrils and the tip of the nose are more closely bonded to the cartilage in the nose. As a result, it takes a significantly larger amount of dermal filler to affect any cosmetic changes in this area.
Will Insurance Cover a Liquid Nose Lift?
Unfortunately, because a liquid nose lift is a treatment for cosmetic purposes, insurance will not cover the cost of this treatment. However, there may be some special cases where you may receive compensation for a liquid nose job if you’re trying to improve your appearance after an injury.
How Long Will a Liquid Nose Lift Last?
This depends mainly on how your body reacts to and absorbs the dermal filler. Generally, most people’s results can last anywhere from six months to up to two years.
How Much Do Liquid Rhinoplasties Cost?
Because there’s no surgery involved, the cost of a liquid nose lift is significantly less than a full-on rhinoplasty.
Are There Any Side Effects From a Non Surgical Nose Job?
Dermal fillers are a fairly low risk cosmetic treatment. However, as with any injections, there are a few small risks, including:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Nausea
Finally, there is a risk of the filer migrating from the initial injection site to other areas of the face, such as around the eyes or to the edges of the nose.
Are There Any Serious Complications of Non Surgical Nose Jobs?
There are a few serious complications that can result from dermal filler injections. However, so long as you’re visiting a licensed provider, your risks for the following conditions will be minimal. Serious complications that can come from dermal injections include:
- Tissue necrosis
- Vascular complications
- Vision impairment
- Vision loss
If you start noticing any of the following side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately.
- Fevers
- Blurred vision
- Increasing redness or bruising
- Hives
- Allergic reactions
Thankfully, these reactions are rare, and can usually be mitigated or avoided with a thorough medical history review.
Surgical and Non-Surgical Facelift in Nashville, TN
Visit Garza Plastic Surgery to learn more about the facial contouring treatments we offer. Find out if surgery or dermal filler treatments are the right options for you. Schedule a consultation today.
