Last fact-checked: 28 November 2020

Thinking of getting a rhinoplasty in Cabo San Lucas? Get the lowdown from Medical Departures.

Is a Nose Job for Me?

If you have a protruding nose, feel that it's too flat or you are unhappy with its size, rhinoplasty surgery (informally known as a "nose job") can correct it. This cosmetic surgery procedure is now one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available, with hundreds of thousands of Americans having surgery every year. 

A rhinoplasty can:

-Reshape the tip of your nose

-Remove a bump

-Straighten a misshapen nose

-Alter the angle between the nose and upper lip

-Widen or narrow the nostrils

-Correct a deviated septum

It is important that you have realistic expectations of what your rhinoplasty can achieve, and you should be in good general health. Your local physician will be able to confirm your suitability before you book your treatment. 

Rhinoplasty is usually considered to be an aesthetic procedure and not covered by medical insurance—unless it is needed to treat breathing difficulties, an accident, or a congenital condition. This means you’ll have to spend the money out of pocket to get it done, with clinics in the US and Canada often charging up to $10,000. Thus, patients look abroad to destinations like Mexico, with clinics in Cabo San Lucas charging between 50% and 70% less. 

Those price savings aren't the only reason to head south into Mexico. Cabo San Lucas at the tip of Baja California is also a popular holiday destination and you can combine a holiday with your surgery and still save. The coastal region promises clear waters, watersports (fishing, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking), cultural attractions, golf courses, and more. You can relax on the shore prior to your surgery and spend time post-op recovering in a chill setting. Note: your surgeon will advise you to stay out of the sun post-op, so it's a good idea to hit the beach prior to treatment.

Mexico has excellent medical facilities that are on par with the ones in the US, with well-qualified and experienced doctors. The city also hosts a large ex-pat population thanks to its affordable cost of living, great climate, and relatively close proximity to the States. 

While you will discover quality medical facilities in this part of Mexico, as with anywhere in the world, there are also some you would not want to visit. That's why it's always worth putting in the time to ensure that you book in with a clinic and surgeon you can trust. You should take some time checking out the surgeon’s credentials and medical facilities, as well as doing background reading from relevant sites, such as the Rhinoplasty Society.

When using Medical Departures, you only see clinics that have been fully verified by our team. We check out the qualifications, accreditations and experience of the doctors, the expertise of the staff and whether or not the clinic has good quality and modern equipment. We help provide you a safety net so that you can book without fear—as well as take advantage of our Best Price Guarantee. 

Once you and your surgeon have decided what kind of work is needed on your nose, the rhinoplasty procedure should be fairly straightforward. It can take one to three hours, depending on the amount of work required and may be performed under general or local anesthesia. The incisions may be made inside the nose (closed technique), though sometimes they may be made on the outside (open technique). In either case, the stitches are well hidden so that they will be invisible after healing.

After surgery:

• A splint may be worn on the outside of the nose so that the nose acquires the proper shape; sometimes a soft splint is used on the inside of the nose as well to keep the septum in place.
• You will have bandages and find your face and nose are swollen and painful. 
• You will have to eat soft foods until such time as advised by the doctor.
• You should be off work for at least a week; consult with your surgeon as to when you will be able to fly home from Cabo San Lucas, if necessary. 
• The final results of your nose surgery may take as much as six months to a year to become fully apparent.

A rhinoplasty in Cabo San Lucas will cost between USD $2,000 and USD $3,000. In the US and Canada, the same surgery can cost between USD $5,000 to USD $15,000. 

[Please: the above-mentioned average prices are estimates based on data at the time of writing. You can check the clinic pages on our site to obtain the latest, most accurate pricing.]

To get an idea of the prices and quality on offer in Cabo San Lucas, check out the top-rated Marroquin and Sandoval offering rhinoplasty surgery to international patients. You can also take a look at our full list of nose job clinics in Mexico here. 

Book directly through our site or contact the Medical Departures Customer Care Team for a free, personalized quote. 

Sources:

Murray, Don. Mexican Healthcare Is Excellent and Affordable. International Living. 2018. https://internationalliving.com/countries/mexico/health-care/

The Rhinoplasty Society. Website accessed: 28 November 2020. https://www.rhinoplastysociety.org/

Cosmetic Surgery for the Nose. WebMD. 15 January 2018. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-nose-job-rhinoplasty

Visit Los Cabos. Website accessed: 23 August 2020. https://visitloscabos.travel/