FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Rhinoplasty (nose-job) Surgery

What Does Rhinoplasty Surgery Involve?

How Much Does Rhinoplasty (nose-job) Normally Cost?

What Financing Options Are Available?

How Long Is The Recovery Period For Rhinoplasty?

What Should I Expect The Day Of Surgery?

How Painful Is Rhinoplasty?

When Can I return To School Or Work?

How Will My New Nose Look?

What Techniques Does Dr. Mobley Use?

What Are The Common Risks Of Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is an operation performed on the nose to change its shape to give a more pleasing cosmetic appearance. I perform what is called “open structure” rhinoplasty. This newer approach to rhinoplasty combines a traditional emphasis on cosmetic shape change with a particular focus on maintaining the strength of the nose. A strong nose not only looks good but also works the way it is supposed to. This can improve the nasal passages in cases where nasal blockage is present.

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To fully understand the costs of cosmetic surgery, you must understand the guiding principles of Dr. Mobley’s medical practice: medical practice: Quality, Safety, and a Respect for Cost. Dr. Mobley has not designed the surgical experience to be lowest bid; rather, he wants you to have an exceptionally high-quality medical experience. If this interests you, please read on.

There are three main components that contribute to your final cosmetic surgery fee. The first component is the surgeon’sfee. As this is a medical experience, your final surgeon’s fee can only be determined after a full consultation with Dr. Mobley where he will perform a complete history and physical exam and together you will formulate a treatment plan that best fits your cosmetic goals.

As a reference point, a recent survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed the average professional fee of for rhinoplasty to be $5950; Dr. Mobley's professional fee will tend to be closer to $5200 and can be higher or lower based on individual case complexity. For example, a minor reduction of a dorsal hump would most likely me significantly less.

In certain cases, cosmetic rhinoplasty is combined with medically necessary nasal surgery (click here to view the Functional Nasal Surgery page). In these cases, which are common in Dr. Mobley's practice, professional fees can vary from $4800 to $1500 based on the amount of cosmetic changes desired along with what is being done to improve nasal function.

The second cost component is the facility in which your operation is performed. Dr. Mobley operates exclusively in a state of the art surgical center - not in a in-office surgical room. This surgical center is JCAHO certified, which means it has passed the highest level of federal inspection. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and Dr. Mobley strongly believes that having it performed in a JCAHO certified center is in your best medical interest. Learn more about this surgical center here.

The third (and final) cost component is the anesthesia fee. The training background of the person ultimately responsible for your sedation should be carefully considered; but many do not put much emphasis on this. Nurse anesthetists are members of the surgical team; however, in every cosmetic operation Dr. Mobley performs, a Board-Certified M.D. anesthesiologist who has completed medicalschool, residency, and board certification is responsible for your sedation. This is the level of care Dr. Mobley would insist on for one of his own family members.The average facility and anesthesia fees for a cosmetic rhinoplasty tend run between $2200-$3200.

After your consultation you will leave the office with an easy to understand written quote in which we will list the cost of these three components for your individualized surgical plan. Keep in mind that the facility and anesthesiafees are time-based and so may be increased, or decreased, based on the actual final length of your cosmetic surgery.

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Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have hand picked lending services exclusively for Dr. Mobley's patients. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you. We have provided web links to our financial lenders so that you may research them on your own if you so desire. www.mlendfinance.com


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You will be seen directly by me one to two days after your nasal surgery. Approximately one week after your surgery, I will see you to remove your cast and stitches. As you enter the second week after surgery, you will probably begin to notice that a good amount of the swelling in the nose is resolving. Your nose will continue to improve in shape for several weeks following surgery as the swelling decreases.

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Like all cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty is real surgery and, as such, we place a very strong emphasis on your medical safety. Your surgery will be performed at a JCAHO-licensed surgical center. You will be put to sleep and monitored by an M.D. anesthesiologist, and I will perform the operation. Learn more about this surgical center here.

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In my experience, many of my patients are pleasantly surprised by the minimal amount of discomfort they have in the postoperative period. In my practice, we very rarely use packing - one of the most uncomfortable facets of facial plastic surgery; my patients greatly appreciate this. Medicine for pain is always provided. Most patients take this for 3-7 days following surgery.

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If you do light (office) work, you could return to these activities four to five days after the operation. If you do more physical work, seven to ten days is more appropriate. If you care for young children at home, it is best to have someone available to help with their care for the first four to seven days.

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During your consultation, I will use computer morphing software to give you an idea of how your nose will look after the operation. I will also show you before and after photos of patients that have undergone similar types of cosmetic changes to help give you realistic expectations of what can be achieved from surgery.

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I perform both endonasal and open rhinoplasties. Endonasal is when the operation is done completely through the nostrils. The open approach is performed cutting through the small piece of skin that separates the nostrils (the columella). Depending on your cosmetic goals, we can determine which approach is best for you.

In my opinion, the open approach offers many technical advantages of increased visualization of the anatomy, superior accuracy, and a greatly decreased chance of a subtle asymmetry developing months or even years later. I've learned that many patients have a misconception about the scar left from the open approach. When the incision is properly opened and meticulously closed, the scar is very hard to spot without magnification. Click here to see photographs of how well this incision heals.

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Every type of surgery has risks. It’s my ethical responsibility to educate you on these risks so you can make the best possible decision for yourself while weighing these risks against the benefits of surgery. My training helps me to minimize these risks to the best of my ability, but I cannot eliminate them entirely. Common risks include stiffness in nasal tip, irregularities of bone or cartilage, damage to the nasal skin, and damage to the internal linings of the nose.

The risks above are the most common ones that I think you should be aware of, but they are not a complete list of all possible risks. When I see you in consultation and we begin to formulate your surgical treatment plan, I’ll review with you not only these common risks but also the less likely complications that may occur.

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