Can you get a nose job on the NHS?

A nose job, or rhinoplasty, is not usually available on the NHS if done for cosmetic reasons. However the procedure may be provided on the NHS if it's needed to help you breathe.

Tagged: Facial Treatments

Author: Mr. Bryan Mayou, MB ChB FRCS

Date: 15th February 2021

Medically Reviewed by: Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396)

Last reviewed: 12th January 2024

Can you get a nose job on the NHS?

A nose job, or rhinoplasty, is not usually available on the NHS if done for cosmetic reasons. However, the procedure may be provided on the NHS if it's needed to help you breathe.

Will the NHS pay for my nose job?

Rhinoplasty (nose job) is not routinely funded by the NHS if the surgery is only being carried out for cosmetic reasons.

However, this treatment may be funded if the patient has medical problems caused by obstruction of the nasal airway, which is defined as a medical problem that continually impairs sleep and/or breathing. Funding may also be made available if corrective nasal surgery is required because of a complex condition from birth, for example, cleft lip and palate.

The decision whether to grant funding for a nose job is down to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which covers a person’s local hospital.

The clinician in charge of the care of the patient’s specific condition, usually a hospital doctor, can assist them with the funding application, if there is exceptional clinical need for the treatment to be funded. The patient’s clinician must provide evidence of clinical exceptionality when applying to the local CCG for funding.

Will NHS waiting times be impacted by COVID for this type of procedure?

Unfortunately, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on NHS waiting times across the board.

Elective procedures, such as medically-necessary rhinoplasty, have been cancelled in order to divert staff to help with the Covid-19 crisis. The virus has also had an impact on staff sickness.

As a result, NHS waiting times have got longer for many various procedures. Waiting times vary from one hospital trust to another.

Am I better off going privately for my nose job?

If you require a nose job for medical reasons, you could apply for funding from the NHS and join the waiting list for surgery. However with funding far from guaranteed and NHS waiting lists being adversely impacted by the ongoing pandemic, then it may be wise to go private for your nose job.

If you require a nose job for aesthetic reasons, then going privately is the only option available to you.

How much is a nose job at Cadogan Clinic?

A surgical rhinoplasty procedure starts from £6,900 at the Cadogan Clinic. The cost varies depending on the complexity of the procedure required, the technique used and the physical makeup of the patient.

Included in the cost are up to two 30-60 minute consultations with a leading specialist plastic surgeon, 24/7 on-call nurse assistance, a dedicated patient coordinator as a personal point of contact through your journey with Cadogan, a pre-operative medical assessment to ensure you are fit for surgery and comprehensive post-operative aftercare, courtesy of our specialist cosmetic nurses

All quotes given online are guide prices only, subject to confirmation following a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon. Book an appointment with our expert surgeons here at our award-winning premises in Chelsea to discuss the available options.

Treatments mentioned in this article

Face & Eyes

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, reduces the shape and size of the nose for health and aesthetic purposes.

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