Fairfax, VA Rhinoplasty: Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

If you live in Fairfax County and have been thinking about changing the shape of your nose, fixing a breathing problem, or both, you do not have to travel far. Dr. Michael J. Reilly sees rhinoplasty patients at his McLean office on Elm Street, which sits inside Fairfax County, and at his Washington, DC office on Reservoir Road. He is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has performed more than 1,000 rhinoplasties, averaging about 100 a year.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most exacting operations in facial plastic surgery. A change of a millimeter or two can alter how the whole face reads, and the nose still has to work well for breathing when surgery is over. That is why experience matters so much. Here is what patients from Fairfax, Vienna, Reston, Oakton, and the rest of the county get when they see Dr. Reilly:

• Training focused on the face and nose. Dr. Reilly is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
• Real volume. More than 1,000 rhinoplasties performed, with an average of about 100 each year.
• Form and function together. He routinely performs cosmetic rhinoplasty alongside functional nasal and sinus procedures, so a shape concern and a blocked airway can often be handled in one operation.
• Recognition from peers. Named a Washingtonian Top Doctor every year from 2016 through 2023, and featured by Washingtonian Magazine as its “Face of Rhinoplasty/Nasal Surgery.”
• A teaching surgeon. He has served on the Georgetown faculty since 2009 and has trained dozens of young surgeons.

Most people who ask about rhinoplasty fall into one of three groups. Some have never liked the shape of their nose. Some had a nose they were happy with until an injury changed it. Others mainly want to breathe better. Plenty of patients have a little of all three. Common concerns include:

• A hump on the bridge of the nose that stands out in profile
• A nasal tip that looks too large for the rest of the face
• A nose that angles too far down or up in relation to the upper lip
• A nose that was broken and healed with a visible deformity
• Trouble breathing through the nose from a deviated septum or another structural problem

If you want to get familiar with terms like columella, dorsum, and septum before your visit, our rhinoplasty glossary explains them in plain language.

1. Consultation. Your first visit is a conversation about what bothers you and what you hope to change. Dr. Reilly suggests bringing photos of facial features you like and ones you do not. He assesses your nasal anatomy, takes photographs, and personally edits them so you can see a likely result before anything is decided. He also encourages patients to go home and think it over. A cosmetic consultation is $165.
2. Surgery. Rhinoplasty is done under general anesthesia and usually takes one to three hours. With an open approach, a small incision across the columella (the strip of skin between the nostrils) gives a clear view of the framework, which helps in more complex cases. With a closed approach, every incision stays inside the nostrils. Bone and cartilage are then reduced, built up, or reshaped. When extra cartilage is needed, it can be taken from the ear.
3. Recovery. A splint stays on the outside of the nose for about a week. Swelling and bruising usually peak in the first 48 hours. Most patients take one week off work and then ease back in over a second week. Contact sports wait six weeks.
4. Results. Roughly 90% of the swelling goes down within six weeks, but the final shape keeps refining for up to a year.

A cosmetic rhinoplasty changes how the nose looks. A functional rhinoplasty changes how it works. In practice the two overlap more than most people expect, because the same cartilage that gives the outside of the nose its shape also holds the airway open. Dr. Reilly trained in head and neck surgery before his facial plastic surgery fellowship, so he plans for both at the same time.

If you have trouble breathing through your nose, bring it up at your consultation even if your main goal is cosmetic. You can read more about cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional rhinoplasty, or browse more before and after galleries.

Dr. Reilly’s Virginia office is at 6862 Elm Street, Suite 800B, McLean, VA 22101. McLean is part of Fairfax County, so patients from the City of Fairfax, Vienna, Tysons, Great Falls, Reston, Herndon, Oakton, Annandale, Springfield, and Burke can have their consultation and follow-up visits without heading into the city. Patients who would rather be seen in DC can use the office at 3800 Reservoir Road in Washington. You can also read about rhinoplasty at our McLean and Washington, DC locations.

Rhinoplasty at our practice ranges from $8,500 to $24,000, with an average of $15,000. Where you fall in that range depends on how complex the surgery is, how long it takes, and whether it is combined with other procedures. You will get an exact quote after your consultation. Full details are on our plastic surgery pricing page.

Insurance does not usually pay for rhinoplasty done only to change appearance. It may cover part or all of a surgery that improves breathing or repairs an injury. A functional rhinoplasty is generally considered medically necessary when one or both of these apply:

• You have nasal obstruction that has not improved after at least four to six weeks of continuous nasal steroid spray, and there is a structural problem in the nose that explains at least part of it.
• You have a history of nasal trauma, a visible deformity, and a CT scan showing a fracture as the likely cause.

Our team will work with your insurance company to check your eligibility before surgery.