Rhinoplasty is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the world, with hundreds of thousands of procedures done each year in the United States alone. Despite its popularity, the number of nose jobs has actually declined over the past two decades, dropping roughly 27% between the early 2000s and the late 2010s.
How Many Nose Jobs Are Performed Each Year
Between 2014 and 2018, the U.S. averaged over 6.6 million plastic surgery procedures annually, more than double the average from 1999 to 2003. But rhinoplasty bucked that trend. While breast augmentation rose 36% and tummy tucks surged 73% over the same comparison period, rhinoplasty fell by 26.6%. Breast augmentation and liposuction now dominate the top spots, with roughly 282,000 and 201,000 procedures per year respectively.
Even with that decline, nose jobs remain extremely common. Globally, rhinoplasty consistently ranks among the top five cosmetic surgical procedures. The drop in numbers may partly reflect the rise of non-surgical alternatives like injectable fillers, which can smooth bumps or refine the nasal tip without an operating room.
Who Gets Nose Jobs
About 78 to 80% of rhinoplasty patients are women, a ratio that has held remarkably steady over time. Data from a large surgical center found that women made up 79.4% of patients in 2005 and 78% in 2015, with no statistically significant shift. Men account for the remaining 20 to 22%, though male rhinoplasty has grown in visibility in recent years.
Most patients fall between their late teens and late 30s. In 2015, about 13% of patients were under 20, while only 5.6% were over 40. Compared to a decade earlier, fewer teenagers were getting the procedure (down from 27% under 20 in 2005), suggesting a shift toward slightly older patients or more conservative attitudes about operating on younger faces.
Nose Jobs in Teenagers
Rhinoplasty is the single most common plastic surgery performed on teenagers, accounting for nearly half of all adolescent plastic surgery procedures. Still, surgeons generally recommend waiting until the nose has finished growing. Girls typically reach peak nasal growth between ages 8 and 12, while boys hit that milestone around age 13. Clinical guidelines recommend patients be at least 15 years old before considering the surgery.
For girls, timing often ties to puberty. Research shows that patients who had surgery at least two years after their first period had more stable results afterward, since nasal dimensions were less likely to shift with continued growth. Operating too early carries a theoretical risk of disrupting the cartilage growth zones that shape the midface.
Cosmetic vs. Functional Procedures
Not every nose job is purely about appearance. In one study of 200 rhinoplasty patients, only 20.5% had a purely cosmetic procedure, while 13.5% had surgery strictly for functional reasons like a deviated septum or obstructed airway. The majority, 66%, had a combination of both cosmetic and functional goals addressed in a single operation.
This distinction matters for cost. When rhinoplasty corrects a breathing problem, insurance may cover part or all of the procedure since it’s classified as reconstructive rather than cosmetic. You’ll typically need a detailed exam documenting the obstruction and prior authorization from your insurer. A purely cosmetic nose job is an out-of-pocket expense, with surgeon fees varying based on experience, technique, and location.
Satisfaction and Revision Rates
Most people are happy with their results. In one study using a standardized satisfaction questionnaire, patients scored their noses at about 33 out of 100 before surgery and 92 out of 100 three months afterward. That’s a dramatic jump, and it reflects what most large surveys find: the majority of rhinoplasty patients report high satisfaction.
When dissatisfaction does occur, it usually centers on the appearance of the nose not matching expectations, breathing that didn’t improve enough, nostril asymmetry, or visible scarring. About 9% of rhinoplasty patients eventually undergo a revision surgery to correct issues from the first procedure. That rate can climb significantly depending on who performs the initial operation. One study found revision rates of just 3.6% when an experienced attending surgeon worked alone, compared to 22.2% when surgical trainees were involved. Choosing an experienced, board-certified surgeon is one of the most impactful decisions you can make if you’re considering the procedure.