How Much Does a Septoplasty Cost?

The average cost of a septoplasty is $11,196, according to hundreds of patient reviews. Prices can range from just $3,000 with insurance to upwards of $30,000 for a complex procedure that’s not covered by insurance.

Major factors that impact the cost of a septoplasty include:

• your surgeon’s credentials and level of experience
• where your procedure is performed
• the details of your treatment plan
• what kind of anesthesia you have
• whether insurance covers a portion of it

We explain each of these factors in more detail below.

During your surgical consultations, ask for a written, total cost estimate that includes:

• the surgeon’s fee
• anesthesia fees (for both the supplies and the provider)
• surgical facility fees
• all pre- and post-op care

You’ll also need to budget for their recommended recovery supplies.

To help make procedures like this one more affordable, most surgical practices offer payment plans, or accept medical loans or third-party financing options.

Why the cost of septoplasty varies

These are the biggest factors that will impact the price you pay.

1. Your surgeon’s credentials, level of expertise, and reputation

A typical surgeon's fee for this procedure ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.

You'll pay more for a board-certified ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or plastic surgeon who has years or decades of experience performing septoplasty, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), and other nasal surgeries. 

However, this is one procedure you really want to have done right the first time. Revision septoplasty and rhinoplasty surgeries are notoriously difficult reconstructive procedures, and they’re more expensive than primary procedures.

Carefully reading patient reviews (both the raves and not-so-great experiences), looking at dozens of patient photos, and consulting with more than one qualified surgeon can help you choose one who has the expertise to deliver the best result the first time.

2. Their practice location 

You'll pay a premium for a surgeon who practices in an area where the cost of living and demand for septoplasty are high.

Sometimes it comes down to whether their office is in an upscale neighborhood (with amenities and decor to match) or the outskirts of town, with a more modest set-up that requires less overhead. To save money, focus on your surgeon’s credentials and patient results, not whether their practice feels like a five-star hotel spa.

3. The type of surgical facility

Facility fees for outpatient surgery centers are frequently lower than what you'd pay to have your surgery performed in a hospital. 

Having an outpatient procedure in a hospital can provide more peace of mind for high-risk patients, with medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes.

A growing number of plastic surgeons offer septoplasty in private surgery centers. If that's an option for you, just be sure to ask if their facility has been certified for safety by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). 

4. The complexity of your procedure

Not all septoplasties are created equal, and anything beyond a standard procedure will add time and money to your final bill.

During a closed septoplasty procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision inside the nasal cavity, across the septum, and straightens it before closing the incision with dissolvable sutures and splints. During an open septoplasty, doctors also make an incision at the base of or across the columella—the strip of tissue separating the nostrils—and lift the skin to access the septum.

If the nasal bones are crooked or the deviated septum is more severe, your surgeon may need to use more advanced techniques such as cartilage scoring, contouring, and straightening the septum with spreader grafts—small, reinforcing strips of cartilage.

Some patients also have their turbinates addressed during a septoplasty to improve their airway. (If you feel you have a chronically stuffy nose or some sort of blockage or nasal obstruction, enlarged or inflamed turbinates could be to blame.) During a turbinate reduction, the surgeon removes excess tissue from the turbinate bones inside the nose.

People wanting to change the appearance of the nose in addition to correcting a crooked septum may undergo functional septoplasty and cosmetic rhinoplasty procedures simultaneously. There's even a term for this combo: septorhinoplasty. 

While this adds the cost of an additional procedure to your bill, you also avoid paying surgical facility and anesthesia fees twice, for separate procedures. Some surgeons also discount the second procedure.

5. The type of anesthesia you have and who administers it

Depending on how complex your surgery is, your doctor will likely give you a choice of local or general anesthesia.

General anesthesia costs more because it requires a licensed anesthetist to monitor you throughout the procedure. It can be administered by either a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist (MD). Anesthesiologist fees will be lower for a CRNA than an MD, but some surgeons and patients prefer the expertise of a doctor.

6. Pre- and post-procedure care

This is a common outpatient plastic surgery procedure, but it still requires care both before and after surgery.

You can expect to pay for:

• a pre-surgery consultation and CT scan
• pain medication
• nasal steroids or sprays to reduce welling
• antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection post-surgery 

Many septoplasty patients also choose to invest in a humidifier to make their recovery time easier.

7. Whether insurance covers part of your procedure

Coverage can make a huge difference. Read on to learn more about insurance coverage.

Is septoplasty covered by insurance?

Yes, septoplasty surgery is often covered by insurance.

• Many insurance companies consider septoplasty to be a medically necessary surgical procedure and will cover it.
• To qualify, you’ll need to choose a surgeon and anesthesiologist who are in-network and have documentation of the medical condition it's intended to correct. Your surgeon’s staff should support you in securing the documentation.

Before scheduling your septoplasty, secure a letter of authorization from your insurance company stating which parts of the surgery can be claimed and what your copays will be, based on your deductible and healthcare plan. 

Your insurance provider will also be able to tell you which surgeons would be covered under your plan. 

If you plan to undergo both septoplasty and cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery, you will have to pay a portion of the surgical fee out of pocket because insurance doesn't cover elective cosmetic procedures.

Is septoplasty worth the money?

Septoplasty is a popular outpatient procedure with a 95% Worth It Rating, based on hundreds of reviews on RealSelf.

Unlike a rhinoplasty, which focuses on cosmetic changes, this is a functional procedure that reshapes a deviated nasal septum, the cartilage, and the bone that divides the inside of the nose.

Because a deviated nasal septum can limit or block the airflow in the nasal passage, it frequently causes chronic issues like nasal congestion, sleep apnea, sinusitis, difficulty breathing, snoring, nosebleeds, and headaches. 

After septoplasty surgery, patients typically have fewer breathing problems and sinus infections, as well as better sleep quality.

In their reviews, happy patients say their surgery corrected unpleasant symptoms of a deviated septum, including trouble breathing through one or both nostrils, chronic sinus issues, and snoring. Many of their reviews also mention improvements in their self-esteem and quality of life.

Those who rated their results “Not Worth It” report problems ranging from asymmetry and other unwanted aesthetic changes to unresolved breathing issues, scar tissue formation inside the nose, lingering post-op pain, and other complications. Problems like these can only be corrected with revision surgery, so again, choose your surgeon carefully.

Septoplasty costs in U.S. states

Browse the average out-of-pocket cost of septoplasty in select U.S. states, according to patient reviews on RealSelf. States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Septoplasty costs in major U.S. metros

Average costs according to patient-reported data, as of July 2023. Cities not listed did not have enough data to display.