Board certification is non-negotiable — Only choose a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Never price-shop on surgeons.
Revision is far more expensive — Revision rhinoplasty (fixing a prior nose job) costs 40–80% more and is harder to find a surgeon for. Getting it right the first time is worth paying more.
Medical financing options — CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit offer 0% for 12–24 months. Many plastic surgery practices offer in-house payment plans. Never go into high-interest debt for elective procedures.
Recovery time affects total cost — Plan for 1–2 weeks off work ($500–$3,000 in lost wages), plus someone to drive you for the first week. Factor this into your total budget.