Nose jobs are one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in the world, with roughly 1 million rhinoplasty procedures performed globally in 2024. That makes it the fifth most popular surgical cosmetic procedure worldwide, behind eyelid surgery, liposuction, breast augmentation, and scar revision.
Where Rhinoplasty Ranks Among Cosmetic Surgeries
For years, rhinoplasty held a spot in the top three cosmetic surgeries globally. In the most recent data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, it slipped to fifth place, with about 1 million procedures performed in 2024, a 10 percent decrease from the prior year. Eyelid surgery took the top spot with over 2.1 million procedures. Still, a million nose jobs a year is an enormous number, and the procedure remains one of the most recognizable and widely discussed cosmetic surgeries.
In the United States specifically, rhinoplasty numbers are smaller but still substantial. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recorded over 47,000 rhinoplasties in 2023 performed by its member surgeons, though total U.S. numbers across all providers are considerably higher.
Who Gets Nose Jobs
The vast majority of rhinoplasty patients are women. Men account for about 18 percent of all nose reshaping procedures, a ratio that has stayed relatively consistent over the years. That said, rhinoplasty is one of the more popular cosmetic surgeries among men compared to procedures like breast augmentation or facelifts, which skew even more heavily female.
Teenagers make up a smaller share than many people assume. About 10 percent of rhinoplasties are performed on patients age 19 and under, totaling around 4,810 procedures in 2024 according to U.S. data. Most surgeons wait until the nose has finished growing before operating, which typically means age 15 or 16 for girls and a bit later for boys. The remaining 90 percent of patients are adults, with the highest concentration in the 20 to 40 age range.
Cosmetic vs. Medical Reasons
Not every nose job is purely about appearance. Many rhinoplasties address breathing problems caused by structural issues like a deviated septum, collapsed nasal valves, or deformities from injury. In practice, a large number of procedures tackle both concerns at once: reshaping the nose externally while correcting internal airflow problems during the same surgery. Official statistics tend to lump everything under “cosmetic surgical procedures,” which makes it difficult to pin down an exact ratio, but the overlap between functional and aesthetic goals is extremely common.
The distinction matters most when it comes to insurance. Cosmetic rhinoplasty is almost never covered. Insurance will typically cover functional rhinoplasty only under specific conditions: chronic breathing difficulty that hasn’t improved after at least four weeks of medical treatment, nasal deformity from trauma or congenital conditions like cleft lip and palate, recurrent sinus infections unresponsive to antibiotics, or obstructive sleep apnea worsened by nasal obstruction. If your surgery qualifies as medically necessary, you’ll generally need documentation through imaging or endoscopy, plus a record of failed conservative treatments, before a claim is approved.
What It Costs
The average surgeon’s fee for rhinoplasty is $7,637, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That number covers only the surgeon. Anesthesia, the operating room, and other related expenses push the total cost higher, often into the $10,000 to $15,000 range depending on the complexity of the procedure and where you live. Revision rhinoplasty, which involves correcting or refining the results of a previous surgery, typically costs more because the anatomy is more complex to work with.
How Often People Need a Second Surgery
Revision rates are one of the most important statistics for anyone considering a nose job. Roughly 10 percent of rhinoplasty patients seek a revision procedure, though published studies report rates anywhere from 3 to 20 percent depending on the complexity of the original surgery and how “revision” is defined. For straightforward first-time rhinoplasties, the revision rate sits closer to 3 percent. For patients who’ve already had one revision, the likelihood of needing another jumps to around 11 percent.
Revisions aren’t always about something going wrong. In some cases, subtle asymmetries or minor contour irregularities become visible only after all swelling resolves, which can take a full year. The nose continues to change shape as scar tissue matures, and the final result at 12 months sometimes differs enough from expectations that a patient opts for a touch-up. Choosing a surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty specifically, rather than a generalist, is one of the most reliable ways to reduce the chance of needing a second procedure.
What Recovery Looks Like
Recovery is a major factor in how people weigh the decision. The external splint comes off around day five to seven. Most visible bruising and the worst of the swelling fade within the first two weeks, which is when many people feel comfortable returning to work or social activities. But the nose is far from its final shape at that point. Residual swelling, particularly at the tip, lingers for months. Most patients reach their true final result around the one-year mark, and for some, subtle refinements in shape continue even beyond that.
The gradual nature of the result is worth understanding before you go in. At six weeks, your nose will look noticeably better than it did at one week, but it won’t yet reflect the surgeon’s intended outcome. Patience during this period is something nearly every rhinoplasty surgeon emphasizes, and it’s one of the reasons final satisfaction rates tend to be higher when measured at 12 months rather than three.