Closed Rhinoplasty Cost and Procedure Guide

Is the thought of visible scarring and prolonged bruising keeping you from achieving the perfect profile? Maybe you’ve seen friends with the telltale signs of surgery, or you’re worried about taking off weeks from work. A closed rhinoplasty might be right for you. The technique promises to reshape your nose entirely from the inside. It leaves no external scars and offers a faster recovery timeline than traditional rhinoplasty.¹

And that’s not all. When it comes to costs, a closed procedure also benefits your wallet. You’ll likely pay less for anesthesia and operating room costs since fees are based on time, and a closed rhinoplasty usually wraps up quicker than an open procedure.¹

This guide discusses the differences between the procedures, breaks down the costs of a closed rhinoplasty procedure near you and offers tips for a smooth recovery.

What Is Closed Rhinoplasty?

Closed rhinoplasty is a surgical technique that allows a plastic surgeon to perform a nose job through tiny incisions completely inside your nose. The procedure can transform the shape of your nose by smoothing the bridge, reducing a bulbous nose tip or even minimizing the size of the nostrils. By avoiding external incisions, you may have less swelling and a quicker recovery.¹

Open vs. closed rhinoplasty

During the initial consultation, your surgeon will discuss which approach best fits your needs. Here is a breakdown of the two main options.²

• Open rhinoplasty is the most common type of nose job. Your surgeon makes a small incision across the strip of skin between your nostrils (the columella). This allows them to lift the nasal skin like a hood, giving complete visibility to all nasal structures.³
• Closed rhinoplasty, also called endonasal rhinoplasty, uses no external incisions. Your surgeon works entirely through your nostrils using specialized instruments. While this limits the visibility of some structures, skilled surgeons achieve excellent results for appropriate cases.²

Which type of procedure is right for you?

The choice between the two techniques largely depends on your goals and the structural anatomy of your nose.³

How Much Does Closed Rhinoplasty Cost?

The national average cost* for a closed rhinoplasty is $7,350, but it can range from $2,000 to $12,000. This variation depends on factors such as the extent of surgery, physician fees, anesthesia and surgical center or outpatient costs.⁴

Average cost of closed rhinoplasty by state/district

Here’s the average cost* of a closed rhinoplasty for all 50 states and the District of Columbia:⁴

Does Insurance Cover Closed Rhinoplasty?

Whether your health insurance will cover your closed rhinoplasty procedure depends on whether the surgery is cosmetic or medically necessary. Most plans draw a clear line between these categories.

Keep in mind that even if insurance pays for a portion of the nose job, you may still have to pay some costs out-of-pocket, such as a copay, coinsurance or deductible.

Medicare and Medicaid follow similar guidelines. Like other healthcare services, Medicaid (state-sponsored) coverage for rhinoplasty can vary significantly between states.⁵

How Closed Rhinoplasty Works

Closed rhinoplasty is a precise surgical art. Understanding the process can help you prepare mentally and physically for your transformation. From your first consultation through the final results, each step builds toward your new look.

Preparation

Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation in which your surgeon will examine your nose inside and out and discuss your goals and concerns. They’ll take photographs from multiple angles and may use computer imaging to show potential results.⁷

Tip: Be sure to bring reference photos that show your ideal nose shape and discuss with your surgeon whether these are realistic goals.

Medical clearance comes next. You’ll need blood tests and possibly other evaluations (such as an EKG), depending on your health. Be completely honest about your medical history, medications and supplements. Even seemingly minor details can affect your surgery and recovery.⁷

Your doctor will provide pre-op instructions, but in general, you can expect to follow these recommendations:⁸

• Two weeks before surgery, stop taking blood thinners. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen and many supplements.
• Avoid alcohol and quit smoking — nicotine constricts blood vessels and impairs healing. Your surgeon will provide a detailed list of medications to avoid.
• The week before surgery, prepare your recovery space.
• Stock up on soft foods, fill prescriptions and arrange for help. You’ll need someone to drive you home and stay with you the first night.
• Set up a comfortable area with extra pillows to keep your head elevated.
• On surgery day, arrive with a clean face and comfortable clothes.
• Don’t wear makeup, jewelry or contact lenses.
• Bring a button-front shirt — you won’t want to pull anything over your head after surgery.

Procedure

Closed rhinoplasty takes one to three hours under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make hidden incisions inside your nostrils to access the internal nasal structures.⁹

They’ll reshape bone and cartilage using specialized instruments. Common techniques include removing a dorsal hump with a rasp, narrowing the nose through controlled fractures and refining the tip with precise sutures.

Some cases require cartilage septum grafts for support. Throughout the surgery, your surgeon checks symmetry to ensure your new nose complements your features.¹⁰

Recovery

After your surgery is complete, you’ll wake with a nasal splint and possible internal packing. Knowing what to expect can help you manage expectations for a quick and successful recovery.¹¹

• The first 48 hours require rest with your head elevated — use ice to minimize swelling.
• Swelling peaks around day three.
• Your splint comes off between days five and seven, revealing the first look at your new profile, but keep in mind that there will be residual swelling for several months.
• Most patients return to work by the end of week one or two.
• Swelling is typically reduced by about 80% within 2-3 weeks.¹²
• You can participate in light exercise, but you’ll want to avoid contact sports for six weeks.
• By three months, your nose should look and feel natural.
• Complete healing takes approximately a full year as the final swelling resolves, especially in thick skin.

Potential complications

Common side effects include temporary swelling, bruising, numbness and congestion lasting several weeks. Minor bleeding is normal initially. Serious complications are rare but include infection (watch for fever or unusual discharge), breathing difficulties or asymmetry requiring revision surgery.¹²

Tip: Consider a board-certified surgeon and follow all post-op instructions carefully for optimal healing.

Help Reshape Your Profile With a Closed Rhinoplasty

Whether you’re smoothing a bump, refining the tip or improving breathing, closed rhinoplasty can help you achieve a new profile with minimal downtime and fewer scars. The whole process also takes less time from prep to final sutures than traditional nose jobs, which can help reduce the expenses that drive up surgical costs, potentially saving you money as well.

Financing a Nose Job With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for a nose job and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Pamela Cagle, R.N., has extensive experience in a range of clinical settings, including ER, surgical and cardiovascular. For the past decade, she has leveraged her nursing experience in writing for health and technology publications such as AARP, VKTR, National Council on Aging and others. She is passionate about blending her medical and storytelling expertise to bring authenticity to health and wellness topics.