Rhinoplasty

Rush's board-certified surgeons are experts in rhinoplasty (commonly known as a nose job or nose reshaping) to help you breathe more easily.

Rush's board-certified surgeons are experts in rhinoplasty (commonly known as a nose job or nose reshaping) to help you breathe more easily.

Rhinoplasty is an intricate surgery that reshapes the cartilage, bones and soft tissue of your nose to improve its function and form. Your surgeon might remove cartilage or bone, or use cartilage grafts to reshape your nasal contours.

Types of Rhinoplasty

  • Functional rhinoplasty corrects issues that make it hard for you to breathe through your nose — if your nasal passages are too narrow, for example, or if your nose was broken and healed crookedly. In many cases, correcting these problems is also an opportunity to reshape the way your nose looks.
  • Cosmetic rhinoplasty changes the appearance of your nose by making it more symmetrical, fixing its proportions to better fit your face, straightening it, removing bumps, or changing the size or shape of your nostrils or the tip of your nose.
  • Revision rhinoplasty fixes previous nose surgery if you weren't happy with the results.
  • Ethnically sensitive rhinoplasty refines the shape of your nose while preserving features that characterize your ethnic identity. You'll enjoy an enhanced but still natural-looking result.

Most functional rhinoplasty is covered by insurance, while cosmetic rhinoplasty is not. Cosmetic rhinoplasty is usually recommended only after the nose has finished growing, which is typically age 14 to 15 for girls and a little older for boys.

If you have an issue with your nasal septum (the thin wall of bone and cartilage that separates the nostrils), a procedure called septoplasty can fix it without changing the appearance of your nose. If you need — or want — both procedures, it may be possible to have them at the same time.

Depending on your goals and anatomy, your surgeon may hide the surgical incisions inside the nose, or use a small incision through the skin between the nostrils. Rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia and doesn't require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Rhinoplasty Providers at Rush

Rush plastic and reconstructive surgeons see patients for rhinoplasty in Chicago, Oak Park, Oak Brook, Winnetka and Aurora/Fox Valley.

Meet our rhinoplasty providers
stethoscope Meet our rhinoplasty providers

Rush Excellence in Rhinoplasty

  • World-renowned surgeons: At Rush, we have experienced rhinoplasty surgeons in both otorhinolaryngology/ENT and plastic surgery. All of our providers have extensive training and experience in these complex surgeries and are leaders in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
  • National leaders in care: U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center's otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery program among the best in the nation, and our plastic and reconstructive surgeons are pioneers in new techniques that improve your comfort and results.
  • A personalized approach: Your unique anatomy and your personal goals for your rhinoplasty drive your surgeon's approach. At Rush, our surgeons are as skilled at listening as they are at surgery — so there's no such thing as a cookie-cutter nose job.
  • Convenient care close to home: Our facial surgeons see patients at multiple locations, with hours that accommodate your busy schedule.