How Much Does a Septoplasty Cost?

The average cost of a septoplasty is $7,525, according to 741 reviews from RealSelf community members.

However, the price can range up to $22,000, depending on a few key factors. Read on to learn what you can expect to pay.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About a Septoplasty

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What affects the cost of a septoplasty?

The cost of septoplasty varies widely depending on a number of factors, including where you have the procedure done, as well as the severity of your deviated nasal septum. This is what affects the cost of septoplasty:

1. Your surgeon’s credentials and level of expertise

A typical plastic surgeon's fee for this procedure ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 (that's just part of the overall cost, which also includes anesthesia and surgical facility fees).

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, and other nasal surgeries. 

However, this is one procedure you definitely want to get right the first time: revision septoplasty and rhinoplasty surgeries are notoriously difficult, and they come with additional fees. Reading patient reviews, looking at photos, and having consultations with more than one qualified surgeon can help you choose one who has the expertise to deliver the best result the first time around. 

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 is high. “The cost of septoplasty surgery will vary widely between regions, and even between providers in the same region,” says Dr. John Cain, a plastic surgeon in Frisco, Texas. 

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.

3. Where your septoplasty is performed

If price is a factor, consider that the facility fees for outpatient surgery centers are frequently lower than what you'd pay to have your surgery performed in a hospital. 

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

However, a growing number of plastic surgeons offer septoplasty in private surgery centers at their practice. If that's an option for you, ask if the center has been certified for safety by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). 

4. The complexity of your procedure

Not all septoplasties are created equal. During a closed septoplasty procedure, the plastic 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 instead make the incision at the base of or across the columella—the strip of tissue separating the nostrils—and lift the skin.) 

However, 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). This can increase the price of your septoplasty procedure.

Many patients also undergo functional septoplasty and cosmetic rhinoplasty procedures simultaneously. There's even a term for this combo: septorhinoplasty. 

“If you’re considering a rhinoplasty and also need a septoplasty, it makes sense to do the two together, because a surgeon typically needs extra cartilage to reshape the outside of the nose. If the procedures are done together, he can use what was removed from the septum,” explains Dr. William Portuese, a plastic surgeon in Seattle, Washington. While this adds the cost of an additional procedure to your bill, you avoid paying surgical facility and anesthesia fees twice, for separate procedures.

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. Because it requires a licensed anesthetist to monitor you throughout the procedure, general anesthesia costs more.

General anesthesia is 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

While septoplasty is a common outpatient plastic surgery procedure, it still requires a decent amount of care before and after surgery. In addition to medical facility costs, anesthesia, and the surgeon’s fees, you can expect to pay for a pre-surgery consultation and CT scan, pain medication, and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection post-surgery. 

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

Is septoplasty covered by insurance?

Yes, septoplasty surgery can be covered by insurance. Many insurance companies consider septoplasty to be a medically necessary surgical procedure and will cover it, as long as your surgeon and anesthesiologist are in-network and you have documentation of the medical condition it's intended to correct.

Septoplasty is a functional surgical procedure that reshapes a deviated nasal septum, the cartilage, and the bone that divides the inside of the nose into two nasal passages. Because a deviated 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.

Before scheduling your septoplasty, make sure to 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. 

Take note: If you plan to undergo septoplasty and rhinoplasty surgery at the same time, you’ll have to pay a portion of the surgical fee out of pocket because insurance doesn't cover elective cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty. 

However, many plastic surgeons offer financing or payment plans. They may also accept medical loans or credit cards. 

Related: Your Guide to Plastic Surgery Financing

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.