If my Insurance Covers Fixing a Deviated Septum How Much More Should I Pay to Make my Nose Smaller?

Some surgeons might throw in a little lowering of your nasal bridge for free, but  I suspect most will not.  The cost really depends on the individual surgeon and how involved the cosmetic work is.  Also consider that there could be additional fees from the anesthesiologist and operating room, particularly if done In a hospital as opposed to the doctors office.

Rhinoplasty and Insurance coverage varies. Your deviated septum payment could be $1000 or $5000 depending on the carrier. It does not pay for hump removal and that is not free and will vary depending on the skill of the surgeon and the amount of other work that needs to be done.

Insurance won't cover any cosmetic changes to your nose. If you're undergoing a septoplasty and turbinate reduction, your plastic surgeon can perform a cosmetic rhinoplasty at the same time. The costs vary widely by surgeon, region and extent of the cosmetic changes you desire. This might range from $3000-7500. There is unfortunately no way to "game the system" and have your insurance cover the cosmetic portion of the procedure. Trying to do so can backfire and result in a denial of coverage for the entire procedure which would leave you on the hook for a very large medical bill. It's just not worth the risk.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

There is tremendous variation in what surgeons charge for rhinoplasty.  Typically, the turbinates and a functional septoplasty do not pay a ton of money from insurance.  And, with that said, the patients do not what to spend more than they have to for the cosmetic portion.  I have seen cosmetic charges for rhinoplasty combined with functional surgery ranging from $1500 to $35,000. Depending on where you are in the country and what you need, this will make all the difference.  Expect $5000 - $10,000 with the tip guys in the country.  

A deviated septum and turbinates surgery is performed for airflow improvement to the nose and is done out of medical necessity.  This is typically billed to the patient’s insurance, but remember you still have co-pays and deductibles to deal with.  These procedures only improve the airflow dynamics through the nose and do not affect the shape of the nose.  A rhinoplasty procedure is performed for cosmetic purposes and patients have to pay that portion themselves.  The fee for the rhinoplasty procedure is approximately $7,012, which includes the operating room, anesthesia, and the facility fee.  The rhinoplasty procedure takes much longer than the functional breathing surgery.  The rhinoplasty procedure would involve narrowing the nasal tip, possibly narrowing the nostrils, and possibly osteotomies depending upon how much of a hump is present.  This is done with general anesthesia through closed rhinoplasty techniques where the incisions are placed inside the nose.  This surgery is performed in our Medicare certified ambulatory surgery center.