Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

Achieve facial harmony with nose reshaping surgery. Refine your profile, improve breathing, or address previous trauma with natural-looking results that complement your unique features.

SURGERY TIME

2-4 Hours

ANESTHESIA

General

RECOVERY

1-2 Weeks

FINAL RESULTS

1 Year

Create Facial Balance & Harmony

Your nose is the central feature of your face—its size, shape, and proportions significantly impact your overall appearance and facial harmony. Whether you're unhappy with a dorsal hump, bulbous tip, crooked nose from trauma, or simply want better facial balance, rhinoplasty can create transformative yet natural-looking results.

Dr. Kim understands that successful rhinoplasty requires both technical precision and artistic vision. He customizes each procedure to your unique facial anatomy, ethnic features, and aesthetic goals—creating a nose that looks like it was always meant to be yours, never obviously "done." Whether addressing cosmetic concerns, breathing difficulties, or both, Dr. Kim delivers results that enhance your natural beauty.

Transformative Benefits

Refresh your entire appearance

Smooth Profile

Remove dorsal hump (bump on bridge) for elegant, straight profile line

Straighten Crooked Nose

Correct deviated or asymmetric nose from injury, trauma, or congenital deviation

Refined Tip

Narrow bulbous tip, define boxy tip, or lift drooping tip for more attractive appearance

Improved Breathing

Correct deviated septum and turbinate issues for better nasal airflow and breathing

Facial Harmony

Create proportionate nose that complements your chin, cheeks, and overall facial features

Natural Results

Preserve ethnic identity and unique features while achieving desired refinements

Am I a Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Determining if nose surgery is right for you

You May Be a Good Candidate If:

  • You have a dorsal hump (bump) on your nose bridge

  • Your nasal tip is bulbous, boxy, drooping, or undefined

  • Your nose is too large or too small for your face

  • You have a crooked or asymmetric nose

  • Your nostrils are too wide

  • You have breathing difficulties from deviated septum

  • You've had nasal trauma causing deformity

  • You're at least 16-18 years old (nose fully developed)

  • You're in good overall health

  • You don't smoke or are willing to quit

  • You have realistic expectations about results

You May Not Be a Candidate If:

  • You're under 16-18 years old (nose still growing)

  • You have unrealistic expectations (wanting someone else's nose)

  • You smoke heavily and won't quit

  • You have uncontrolled medical conditions

  • You have blood clotting disorders

  • You cannot commit to recovery restrictions

  • You've had multiple previous rhinoplasties with complications

  • You're being pressured by someone else

  • You expect perfection or immediate final results

  • You have body dysmorphic disorder

Rhinoplasty: Starting at $10,000

Primary Cosmetic Rhinoplasty

This Includes:

  • Board-certified plastic surgeon with 25+ years experience

  • All surgical fees and anesthesia

  • Open or closed approach (as appropriate for your case)

  • Nasal reshaping, tip refinement, hump removal, etc.

  • Accredited surgical facility

  • Post-operative care and follow-up visits

Variables Include:

  • Complexity of reshaping needed

  • Open vs. closed approach

  • Functional septoplasty for breathing (may be insurance-covered portion)

  • Cartilage grafting needed (ear or rib cartilage)

  • Ethnic rhinoplasty considerations

  • Revision rhinoplasty (significantly more complex and expensive)

Final investment depends on complexity of reshaping and whether functional breathing issues are addressed.

Most patients invest $12,000-$16,000

Pricing Guide: Primary cosmetic rhinoplasty $10,000-$14,000 | Rhinoplasty + septoplasty (breathing) $12,000-$16,000 | Revision rhinoplasty $15,000-$20,000+ | Ethnic rhinoplasty with grafts $12,000-$16,000

Insurance Note: Functional septoplasty portion may be covered by insurance if documented breathing impairment. Cosmetic portion is never covered. Our office assists with insurance documentation and pre-authorization.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Surprisingly, rhinoplasty is not particularly painful—more uncomfortable than painful. Expect significant congestion (like bad cold), pressure, and tightness. Bruising and swelling around eyes is common. Pain medication helps first 3-5 days. The congestion and inability to breathe through nose is most bothersome. Most patients manage well with prescribed pain medication.

  • Most presentable (with makeup covering bruises) at 2 weeks when cast removed. Return to desk work at 1-2 weeks. Physical work at 3-4 weeks. Light walking encouraged immediately. No strenuous exercise, bending, or heavy lifting for 3-4 weeks. No contact sports for 6-8 weeks (risk of nose injury). Swimming after 4 weeks. Gradually increase activity as tolerated.

  • Closed rhinoplasty has NO visible external scars (all incisions inside nose). Open rhinoplasty has tiny scar across columella (tissue between nostrils)—initially pink but fades to nearly invisible thin line over 12-18 months. Most patients cannot even see their columellar scar by 1 year. Internal incisions never visible.

  • Immediate improvement visible once cast removed at 7-10 days, but nose is VERY swollen. 50% of swelling resolves by 2-4 weeks. 80-90% resolved by 3-6 months. Tip swelling lasts longest—takes full 12 months for all swelling to resolve and tissues to fully settle into final shape. Be patient! Final results at 1 year are worth the wait.

  • Yes! Functional rhinoplasty (septoplasty) corrects deviated septum, turbinate enlargement, and weak nasal valves that obstruct breathing. This can be performed alone or combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty. Insurance may cover the functional portion if breathing is documented as significantly impaired. Most patients notice dramatic breathing improvement once swelling resolves.

  • First, wait full 12 months for all swelling to resolve—many "concerns" resolve with time. Revision rate is approximately 10-15% for minor refinements. Revision rhinoplasty can correct issues but is significantly more complex and expensive. Choose your surgeon carefully the first time! Computer imaging during consultation helps align expectations. Most patients are thrilled with their results.

  • Yes, frequently combined with chin augmentation for facial balance, eyelid surgery, facelift, or other facial procedures. Combining saves recovery time and overall cost. However, rhinoplasty alone typically provides dramatic facial transformation. Dr. Kim will advise if additional procedures would benefit your overall aesthetic goals.

  • Insurance covers ONLY the functional portion (septoplasty, turbinate reduction) if documented breathing impairment through medical records and examination. The cosmetic portion (reshaping external nose) is NEVER covered. If combining both, insurance covers functional portion while you pay cosmetic portion. Our office assists with insurance documentation, pre-authorization, and billing.

Ready to Transform Your Profile?

Schedule a consultation to discuss your rhinoplasty options with Dr. Kim

Schedule Consultation
Call: (415) 362-1846