Updated
Rhinoplasty with Dr. Fulvio Correa in Cartagena has a published estimate of USD 6,750–8,250 (COP 21.310.000–26.040.000). That range comes from previous cases and is not a quote: your number is written after a consultation, which costs USD 150 (COP 400,000), virtual or in person. Below is what moves a nose job quote up or down inside that range, what the U.S. figure you may have seen actually measures, and the lines a written rhinoplasty quote in Colombia should spell out before you book a flight.
Rhinoplasty in Colombia: the numbers that are published
| Item | Published figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinoplasty with Dr. Fulvio Correa, Cartagena | USD 6,750–8,250 (COP 21.310.000–26.040.000) | Cost guide |
| Consultation, virtual or in person | USD 150 / COP 400,000 | Cost guide |
| Blepharoplasty (eyelids), sometimes planned in the same trip | USD 3,600–4,400 (COP 11.370.000–13.890.000) | Cost guide |
| Facelift (rhytidectomy) | USD 9,000–11,000 (COP 28.410.000–34.720.000) | Cost guide |
| U.S. benchmark: rhinoplasty, surgeon/physician fee only (2024) | USD 7,500–12,500 | ASPS 2024 statistics report |
The Cartagena ranges are authorized in U.S. dollars. The peso figures use Colombia's official exchange rate (TRM) of 20 October 2026, COP 3,156.32 per dollar, rounded up to the nearest 10,000 pesos; the consultation fee is fixed in both currencies. The eyelid and facelift rows are there to show the pieces of a combined plan. Adding pieces together is not the price of a combination, which is quoted as a whole.
This is an approximate estimate based on previous cases; sometimes the fee has been lower and sometimes higher, depending on the case. The real quote always comes after the virtual or in-person consultation. It does not commit the doctor to charge that amount or to operate.
What moves a nose job quote inside the range
Mayo Clinic puts it plainly: the cost of a rhinoplasty depends on the complexity of the surgery, the surgeon's training and experience, and geography. Inside one practice, geography is fixed, so complexity does most of the work. In practice that means four questions.
1. Is the goal cosmetic, functional, or both? A crooked septum that blocks airflow can be straightened in the same operation, which is often called septorhinoplasty. Mayo notes that a septoplasty is often done at the same time as a rhinoplasty. Breathing work and shape work are planned together, so the consultation has to establish which one you need.
2. How much structure has to change? Mayo describes rhinoplasty as surgery that can change bone, cartilage, skin or all three. For small changes, cartilage may come from deeper inside the nose or from the ear; for larger changes, from a rib, implants or bone from elsewhere in the body. A larger change means a longer operation.
3. Is this a first operation or a revision? A nose that has been operated on before has scar tissue and less predictable structure. Mayo advises waiting at least a year before a second surgery, because the nose keeps changing as swelling settles. If you have had nasal surgery before, say so at the first contact and send the details.
4. Is anything else planned in the same session? Eyelids or a facelift in the same trip changes operating time, anesthesia and how long you stay in Cartagena, and the plan is quoted as one.
What usually does not belong in that list is a brand name for a device. If a quote names a specific technique or instrument, for example an "ultrasonic" rhinoplasty, ask what it changes in your plan, your recovery and your price, and get the answer in writing.
What the U.S. figure measures, and what it leaves out
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) publishes surgeon/physician fee ranges reported by its member surgeons. For 2024, rhinoplasty is listed at USD 7,500–12,500. ASPS presents that as a projected range of surgeon fees, and it discusses anesthesia costs and operating-room fees separately.
So the U.S. number and a written quote in Colombia are not the same kind of bill. A surgeon's fee leaves out anesthesia, the facility, tests and follow-up; the Cartagena range is an estimate for the procedure that becomes a written quote listing what is and is not included. The two ranges overlap, and this page does not claim a percentage saving. If the reason to travel is only a lower price, compare a full written quote from home with a full written quote here, item by item, and add the trip.
Seven lines a written rhinoplasty quote should spell out
If a line is not written in the quote, treat it as not included until someone confirms it in writing.
| Line in the quote | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Cosmetic, septum, or both? Primary or revision? Open or closed approach? |
| Surgeon's fee | Is it stated separately or as part of a total? |
| Anesthesia | Mayo notes rhinoplasty is done with local anesthesia plus sedation or with general anesthesia, depending on complexity. Which type is planned, who provides it, and is it included? |
| Facility | Where exactly is the surgery done, and is it authorized (habilitada) for surgery? |
| Tests before surgery | Which labs or studies, and are they in the quote? |
| Splint, medication and visits in Cartagena | Mayo describes an external splint for about one week. Is the visit when it comes off included, and how many other visits happen before you fly? |
| Follow-up from home | How are check-ins handled once you are back, and what happens if a small revision is ever needed? |
Add one more line that is easy to forget: the currency, and for peso quotes, the exchange-rate date.
The trip is part of the cost
The surgery quote is one part of the budget. The other part is how many nights you stay, and for rhinoplasty the sources give clear floors:
- ASPS and the CDC suggest waiting 7 to 10 days before flying after facial procedures, rhinoplasty included.
- Avianca, Colombia's flag carrier, permits travel 10 days after rhinoplasty or septoplasty, lists cosmetic facial surgery at 14 days and a facelift or two or more facial procedures combined at 15, and asks for a medical certificate issued no more than 10 days before the flight.
Count from the surgery date, add the days before surgery for the in-person evaluation and tests, and keep the return ticket changeable. Lodging, meals and local transport for those nights belong in the same spreadsheet as the quote. The day-by-day plan, Cartagena's sun rules and what to pack are in what to decide before a nose job trip, and the airline table is in flying after plastic surgery.
One cost that does not show up in any quote is time at home. ASPS notes that the contour of the nose can take up to a year to refine, so the final result is judged long after you fly back. Ask, before you pay anything, how follow-up from abroad works.
A low quote is a question, not an answer
A much lower number for what looks like the same plan usually means the plan is not the same. Check:
- Who operates. Mayo Clinic notes that most rhinoplasties are done by plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons or ENT surgeons, and suggests a surgeon who does rhinoplasty often. In Colombia, check the ReTHUS registry and, if membership is claimed, the SCCP surgeon search.
- Where. Ask for the facility's name and address in writing; it is often not the consultation address.
- What is missing. Anesthesia, the facility, tests or follow-up may simply not be in the cheaper number.
The full checklist for comparing surgeons is in how to choose a plastic surgeon in Colombia.
Where Dr. Fulvio Correa fits
Dr. Fulvio Correa is a plastic surgeon in Cartagena and a Miembro de Número of the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery (SCCP). He evaluates rhinoplasty in Cartagena candidates personally, decides whether the plan is cosmetic, functional or both, and then the written quote follows. Surgery takes place at CAPRI Clinic, a different address from his consultation office in Manzanillo del Mar, CC Ramblas local 23. If you live abroad, the international patients program starts with a virtual consultation from front and profile photos; the plan is confirmed in person before surgery. All published estimates are on the plastic surgery cost guide.
To get a written rhinoplasty quote, message Sofía. She coordinates the virtual consultation, the quote and the logistics of your stay; medical decisions stay with the surgeon.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nose job cost in Colombia with Dr. Fulvio Correa? The published estimate for rhinoplasty is USD 6,750–8,250 (COP 21.310.000–26.040.000). It is based on previous cases; your written quote comes after the consultation.
How much is the consultation? USD 150 / COP 400,000, virtual or in person. It is not a surgery price.
Does a septum correction change the price? It can. Straightening a deviated septum in the same operation changes what is done, so the consultation sets whether the plan is cosmetic, functional or both, and the quote reflects that.
How does that compare with the United States? ASPS lists a 2024 surgeon/physician fee range of USD 7,500–12,500 for rhinoplasty. That is the surgeon's fee only, without anesthesia, facility or follow-up, so it is not a total bill.
How many days should I budget in Cartagena? At least 10 days after surgery if you fly Avianca, plus your days before surgery. ASPS and the CDC suggest 7 to 10 days after facial procedures; your surgeon confirms the date after examining you.
Is a revision rhinoplasty quoted the same way? It is quoted per case after the consultation. Mayo Clinic advises waiting at least a year after the first operation before planning a second one.
Prefer Spanish? Read the twin guide: ¿Cuánto cuesta una rinoplastia en Colombia? Precio y cotización.
Sources / Medical references
- Dr. Fulvio Correa — Plastic surgery in Colombia: cost and prices (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty and facelift ranges, consultation fee, TRM of 20 October 2026, ASPS comparison)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — 2024 plastic surgery statistics report (archived copy) (2024 surgeon/physician fee range for rhinoplasty)
- Mayo Clinic — Rhinoplasty (what drives cost, cartilage sources, septoplasty, anesthesia, splint, revision timing, choosing a surgeon)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Rhinoplasty recovery (contour refinement up to a year)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Briefing paper: Cosmetic surgery tourism (7 to 10 days before flying after facial procedures)
- CDC Yellow Book — Medical tourism
- Avianca help center — Travel restrictions for passengers with special medical conditions (10, 14 and 15 days; medical certificate)
- Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica (SCCP) — Rinoplastia, septoplastia, septorinoplastia and surgeon search (in Spanish)
- Ministerio de Salud de Colombia — ReTHUS registry (in Spanish)
Medical Information Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, prescription, an individual treatment recommendation, or a substitute for an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. The suitability, potential benefits, risks, alternatives, recovery, and expected outcomes of any procedure depend on each patient's individual circumstances and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by a qualified healthcare professional. Nothing in this article constitutes an offer, quotation, or commitment by Dr. Fulvio Correa or his team.
If you are deciding where to have surgery, the guide to plastic surgery in Colombia explains how to check a surgeon and a clinic, and how a trip to Cartagena is organized. It also introduces Dr. Fulvio Correa. You can compare procedures, prepare your consultation or contact the office. Estimated ranges are on the plastic surgery cost page. The recovery house — 24/7 nursing, transfers, and supplies — is arranged at the valuation, with no package price.