Approximate price for rhinoplasty in SF Bay Area?

Question

I’ve gotten 2 quotes for a rhinoplasty in SF Bay Area, CA. One was $25,000, other was $21,000. I’ve heard of people going to Turkey and London for rhinoplasty and they are paying about $6,000. This is just for a primary rhinoplasty for my teen daughter who just has a larger nose with no hump. How can the price differ so much? Does $20,000-$25,000 sound average for California?

Osman Halit Cam, MD · Answer

The prices vary not only between countries also between clinics. The pricing is strongly related with the cost of medicines, hospital charges and nursing stuff expenses. The lower the costs, are the lower the prices.

Thomas Spalla, MD · Answer

Many factors need to be taken into account when looking at varying costs of cosmetic surgery. One of the primary determining factors is local average fees. Surgeons will generally cost their surgeries relatively similar to those in practice in the same area. This is to stay competitive in the local market while also accounting for the relative cost to practice in a certain area. Office real estate costs vary tremendously depending on the region and certainly factors into costs. Additionally, some physicians charge more due to years of practice, reputation, and specialization.

It's very hard to compare prices in the US vs the rest of the world. Costs here in the US are generally higher due to: real estate costs, cost of materials, salaries for the physician and ancillary staff, malpractice costs, anesthesia costs, OR costs/fees, and many more factors.

I am generally not a proponent of going abroad for surgery due to the difficulty in adequately assessing the surgeon and building a relationship with that surgeon. Follow-up may be challenging and is an absolutely imperative aspect of surgery. What happens after can be just as important as what happens intraoperatively. Furthermore, should complications arise and you are unable to return abroad for assessment, you may have significant challenges finding a local surgeon to address your issues. If you do, they are not going to incur the risks of managing someone else's complications without significant costs. Such fees are generally far more than you paid to go abroad in the first place.

I've seen many patients "botched" abroad and desperately look for someone in the US to then assume their care. They often end up at an academic medical center and try to get their insurance to pick up the costs of salvage repair.

I'm not saying that all surgery performed abroad is bad or botched. I have seen some good work too, but the risks are higher than seeking a reputable surgeon in the US.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

Here in the U.S., it probably costs about $6K just to set up the operating room, and have anesthesia, and cover the surgeon's overhead as well. Beyond that, a surgeon will charge what his market will bear. Picking a price is arbitrary. So the $4k difference between your quotes isn't really a difference in anything other than what the surgeon feels he can collect, or what he personally feels his services are worth. You still have to do your research and pick a surgeon based on his skill. But yeah, doesn't sound as though you have to pay that much for a top notch rhinoplasty.

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.The surgery prices can be differ due to the surgeons qualifications. Like if he is a professor the surgery price would be much expensive than the freshman surgeons. Best Regards!

Mehmet Dogru, MD · Answer

hello! In Istanbul, you may have a more high-quality rhinoplasty than the one in California. This is because surgeons in Istanbul have much more experience in the field of rhinoplasty.

Approximate price for rhinoplasty in SF Bay Area?

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Approximate price for rhinoplasty in SF Bay Area?

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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