Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Gary Wells2 said:Seriously, what is going on with these bumps???

I didn't get them and I'm hoping I won't, so there isn't much you can do for me here.😕>

Gary Wells2 said:What's the deal with these little bumps that pop up after surgery? I just got one... how long does it last and will it eventually go away?

Hey girl, I actually got a bump right at the bridge of my nose about a month and a half after my procedure. Now that it’s been two months, it’s totally gone—it just kind of retreated. There are actually a few different types of these bumps, though. Can you move the bump around, or is it stuck in place? I can't really explain it any other way, but if it moves, it's probably just subcutaneous tissue healing up, which was my case, and it'll vanish. If it's fixed and won't budge, then there's a pretty good chance it's on the bone itself... in a lot of cases like that, people end up needing a revision because the bone starts growing back over the area (that's me talking layman style, obviously). You should really check in with your surgeon, go in for a quick follow-up, and just get some peace of mind!!!! Or maybe someone else here who actually knows their stuff can give you a better breakdown. Good luck!!!!!

Gary Wells2 said:Hey everyone, what is actually going on with these little bumps???

It’s true, they pop up because the bone reacts to the pressure—basically, those bumps show up right where the bone was broken. I actually have one myself, but it isn't really bad enough that I'd consider going back in for another correction, you know? It’s pretty minor compared to how things looked before.

Has anyone here actually gone under the knife with that actress? Or does anyone else have a solid recommendation?🤷

I don't think anyone actually performed surgery under Glumičić
🙏stormyrider4:
Are you people even reading the quotes in this thread, or are you just sitting there waiting for someone to spoon-feed you the same information over and over again??

Can someone please DM me regarding the current pricing for a rhinoplasty revision with Dr. Kujundžić?
Based on his portfolio and what a buddy of mine went through, he does incredible work—he really pays attention to the tip and the overall profile.

I really just want to issue a warning to anyone considering rhinoplasty with Dr. Tončić—please, please take a long, hard look at the photos on his own website! I, unfortunately, didn't study them closely enough before my procedure with him. Now, four years later, I can say without any hesitation that it was the single most foolish decision I have ever made in my life. I think anyone who has left his clinic feeling dissatisfied will understand exactly what I mean—and believe me, I’ve met quite a few people who feel the same way over time. It seems like almost everyone walks away with an asymmetrical nose or various small and large bumps; in my specific case, he reduced one side of my nose so much that I'm now facing a revision surgery because the aesthetic result looks absolutely terrible. Of course, when I tried to actually discuss my dissatisfaction with the doctor, the conversation turned into nothing more than a series of baseless excuses—he basically concluded that "these things just happen." Well, they certainly *can* happen when a procedure is performed unprofessionally and, quite clearly, without any sense of aesthetics! I don't know how else to describe his statement, "your nose looks fine to me," when looking at an obviously ruined nose. And this isn't just my personal opinion, either—I've consulted with several other doctors, and every single one of them was equally horrified by the results.

So, I would truly recommend that everyone thinks very carefully about where they go. Learning from others' experiences can be so helpful, but in my view—aside from the surgeon's actual skill—the outcome depends most heavily on communication with your chosen doctor. You need to lay out your expectations in exhaustive, minute detail; you can't just lie down on the table and expect someone to magically guess exactly what you're picturing in your head!

In my case, my expectations were incredibly realistic, yet I gained absolutely nothing positive from this—just a lopsided, asymmetrical nose with one side far too diminished. Because...

I’m finally going in for nose surgery soon—and I mean FINALLY. After ten years of struggling to breathe through my nose, I’m actually doing this. My doctor (in private practice) originally told me he wouldn't recommend surgery just because of breathing issues, arguing that mouth breathing doesn't really have any side effects unless you're a professional athlete or if I specifically wanted the aesthetic change. I was honestly a little too intimidated by the whole thing, so I backed off. But lately, I’ve been feeling absolutely exhausted and can't get decent sleep; turns out they diagnosed me with mild sleep apnea. So now, the doctor basically gave me the green light, saying, "Now I can finally tell you to go ahead and get it done with a clear conscience." I've read all kinds of horror stories online, but since I've been suffering for so long, I'm honestly just itching to get this over with. They’re doing the aesthetics too, and while I hope it looks great, if I can just breathe normally, that’ll be a massive win for me. I’m counting down the days—my appointment is in two weeks.

Good luck!! I honestly can't believe how much better it is to finally breathe through my nose! I feel significantly healthier now. Plus, I don't have any more
of those chest pains I used to get before the surgery.

I’m thinking about getting rhinoplasty done by Glumičić, but I’ve got this nagging fear that he might leave me with a nose that looks way too thick or just shortens it way too much 😢, especially since I read some stories about girls ending up with noses that look unnatural after their procedure. Now I'm second-guessing everything, can anyone help me out?🤷

stormyrider4 said:I’m seriously considering getting a nose job from Glumičić—but honestly, I’m terrified! What if he gives me a bulbous nose or shrinks it way too much? 😢 I read some stories about girls ending up with a nose that looks way too pointy, even when they didn't ask for that—now I'm totally second-guessing everything. Can anyone help?🤷

I actually know two women who went to him, and let me tell you—he gave them
exactly what they asked for! No bulbous look, no "plastic" vibe... it looked completely natural. Hopefully, that helps a bit!🙂

Just make sure you sit down and get crystal clear with yourself about what you actually want first—then, explain and define those goals to the doctor, and double-check that he truly understands you (regardless of which surgeon you choose!)—okay? Good luck!🙂

restlessdrifter41 said:Can someone DM me what the prices are looking like for a rhinoplasty at Dr. Zgaljardica's office?
Based on the photos and a friend's experience, he seems to do beautiful noses—he really pays attention to the tip and the overall profile.

If you want my honest opinion, I’d suggest steering clear of him. I know a girl who ended up with a ruined nasal pyramid because of how he handled the bone narrowing. On top of that, he was incredibly arrogant about it, basically telling her that risks are just part of the deal and that as a surgeon, he carries zero responsibility for them. He tends to be quite blunt and condescending during consultations; if you're going in alone, trust me, you'll feel it. I'm not saying a plastic surgeon needs to be some sugary-sweet sweetheart—I've had my fill of those too—but a basic level of courtesy shouldn't be too much to ask when you're in this position.

There was actually a woman on a forum once who he told to just go ahead and sue him if she wasn't happy with the results, claiming he'd dodged plenty of lawsuits before and it didn't phase him one bit. My advice? For the kind of money you're talking about—and believe me, it isn't cheap, we're looking at well over $3,000 for a rhinoplasty—you can find someone more skilled, more professional, and far more decent. You're better off seeing Glumičić first.

cosmicmoose112 said:If you want my honest opinion, just stay far away from him. I personally know a woman whose nasal pyramid was completely ruined during a rhinoplasty attempt to narrow her nasal bones. On top of that, he was incredibly arrogant about it—basically telling her that it was an inherent risk and that, as a surgeon, he held zero responsibility for the outcome. He’s quite blunt and condescending during consultations; if you go alone, believe me, you will notice it immediately. Now, I’m not suggesting a plastic surgeon needs to be some sweet, sugary, overly affectionate person—I’ve had my fill of those types—but a basic level of human decency wouldn't hurt in a situation like this.

There was once a girl on a forum who mentioned he actually told her that if she wasn't happy with the results, she should just sue him and find a lawyer, implying he’d dodged plenty of lawsuits before and didn't lose any sleep over it. My advice? For that kind of money—and trust me, it is not cheap, we are talking upwards of $3,000 for a rhinoplasty—you can find someone much more skilled, competent, and ethical. Before you commit, go see Glumičić instead.

I know he isn't exactly the most attractive guy either. I actually went to him for a consultation last year, but I couldn't bring myself to agree to the price. In the end, I didn't choose anyone because I thought I'd wait a bit longer to have the surgery, but now I feel like I need to just get it over with. Honestly, I'm torn between him and Glumičić. Since I've already sat through consultations with both of them, I really don't have the energy to go back and do the whole process all over again.
With Glumičić, my real fear is that he'll give me one of those "cookie-cutter" noses—the kind where people can spot from a mile away that I've had work done, especially since it's him. I have absolutely no desire to become someone's walking advertisement, particularly since I haven't met a single person who hasn't had a bad experience with his bedside manner.

Besides, I'm really worried about the tip and the frontal view. A friend of mine had surgery with him; while her profile looks great, the front view is just... God help us. It's huge, thick, and basically looks exactly the same as before.

It's not like I have a hump or a massive nose; I just want to refine the tip, narrow it slightly, and drop the profile a little. But I definitely do not want a bulbous nose. To me, the frontal appearance is way more important than the profile, and I have a nagging feeling that Glumičić isn't quite the right fit for what I need.

Hi everyone, does anyone here have any firsthand experience with the ENT specialists over at the Mayo Clinic? I’m looking into getting nose surgery and was wondering if anyone knows much about Dr. Davoru Dzepini's work or his reputation there?

Hey everyone. I have a really urgent question. Does anyone happen to know the approximate wait time for an appointment with an ENT specialist? Specifically, I’m looking at either Mr. Tončić or someone over in San Diego. Also, does anyone know how long the wait is for surgery through insurance? Please help!
One more thing, on a slightly different note (not sure if this is the right place for it)—does any girl out there know some makeup tricks to distract from a terrible nose and draw attention to the rest of my face?

Casey Kelly2 said:Hey everyone. I have a really urgent question here. Does anyone happen to know roughly how long the waitlist is for an appointment with an ENT? Specifically, I'm looking at seeing Dr. Tončić or someone in the San Diego area. Also, does anyone know the typical wait time for surgery when using insurance through a major provider like Blue Cross? Please, I could really use some help from you all!!
And on a slightly different note—not sure if this is the right place for it—does any girl out there know any makeup tricks to help distract from a really prominent nose and draw attention to the rest of the face???

In San Diego, you’re usually looking at about a month for an initial exam, and for the actual surgery, I’d guess maybe another month. I'm actually heading in for a follow-up procedure at the hospital in San Diego next month myself.
Best, 🙂

Thanks so much 🙂. Is the wait really that long? I have a deviated septum, but I’m also looking to get some aesthetic work done on my nose at the same time.
I don't know if this is a stupid question, but what exactly does "secondary op" mean?

Casey Kelly2 said:Thanks so much 🙂. Is the wait time really that short? I have a deviated septum, but I'm also hoping to get some aesthetic work done on my nose at the same time.
I don't know if this is a silly question to ask, but what exactly is a secondary op?

A secondary operation is just a follow-up surgery. For my first one, I went through a private specialist.
I'm honestly not sure about the exact waiting list times. As for whether they handle cosmetic stuff,
I assume they do, though; in my case, they actually need to shorten my nose just so I can breathe properly.
The best thing to do is probably just grab a referral and head over to the clinic so you can get all the specifics straight from them.
Good luck! :-)

Just thought I’d chime in with another experience from my time navigating the medical system here.
Not many of these stories floating around, it seems.
A little backstory first.
When I was five, I took a tumble and landed right on my face, which ended up warping my cartilage. It wasn't a huge deal aesthetically—just a tiny bump when looking at my profile and things were slightly crooked from the front. For the most part, I didn't really care.
The real headaches started hitting me in my twenties—serious migraines, sinus issues, and random sore throats out of nowhere.
My allergy tests came back negative.
Then things escalated in my thirties. The headaches got more frequent, and honestly, I spent so much money on meds I probably should have been an honorary shareholder at Pfizer or Merck.
I wanted to just get it fixed surgically, but my plans got totally derailed when my thyroid went haywire unexpectedly, leading to surgery for that, and then a second pregnancy...

Anyway, at 43, I finally got that rhinoseptoplasty behind me.
It’s been four weeks since the procedure. I wouldn't say I’m seeing a massive difference yet, but everyone says it’s too early to tell, so I won't go overboard with either the praise or the complaining regarding Dr. Kujundžić, who performed the surgery.
The guy seems like he really knows his stuff. He’s professional, friendly, actually listens, gives honest opinions, and is willing to negotiate.

During our very first consultation, he immediately recommended a septoplasty and turbinate reduction—which is the kind of work that doesn't change how your nose looks on the outside. Then there was this whole "broken telephone" situation; the nurse scheduling my appointment wrote down "rhinoplasty," so once I arrived at the hospital, I had to listen to him chewing her out about why the records didn't match his findings. 🙄

During the exam, he did ask if anything bothered me aesthetically. I told him—not really, the functionality is what's killing me.
But I did mention—since I'm going through all this hassle anyway, I’d love for him to straighten the bridge a bit, both from the front and the side.

Looking at my nose, he commented that fixing the septum should automatically straighten the front view. As for that little bump on my profile—he said it was so minor he could just "smooth it out" a bit, and he planned the whole thing to be minimally invasive without having to open the nose up completely.

Honestly, the guy seems like the type who wouldn't have blinked if I’d asked for a major cosmetic overhaul, but I preferred getting everything done without too much heavy-duty hammering and cutting. Mainly because once you mess with the bone structure and rebuild it, the nose stays permanently more sensitive to any future trauma.

I had the surgery on the second day after being admitted. Waking up from anesthesia wasn't a shocker; switching to mouth breathing was pretty much an instinctive move.

Now, I don't know about everywhere else, but here they strap you down to the operating table. Those leather restraints—the kind that would hold down a hysterical Nilotic horse—I swear they probably keep those in abundance over in the psych ward. 😁

They were just about to hook up my IV drip when we managed to squeeze in a quick chat. I told them, "Hey, it's nothing personal about the straps..." 😬 They just laughed and told me it's a standard precaution because a lot of patients, right when they're coming out of anesthesia, instinctively try to rip everything off their faces just to breathe better.
And apparently, it’s good practice to keep repeating "breathe through your mouth" ☕ (yeah, sure, that works) so I don't panic later.
I just told them, "Fine, just tie me down. I'll find a way to breathe if my survival instinct kicks in." :-DD

So, yeah, that turned out to be the smallest issue. Even the nasal packing wasn't that bad—though I was dealing with it from Tuesday through Saturday. The only real drag is that everything tastes like nothing (well, hospital food usually tastes like nothing anyway), and you have to think a little harder about breathing while you eat and drink, but you get used to it.

The absolute worst part, though? Sleeping. You can manage during the day, but at night it's tough because your mucous membranes dry out, and it feels absolutely gross.

Taking out the tampon didn't hurt at all, seriously, zero pain. It’s definitely not "pleasant"—how do you even describe it? It’s like someone trying to pull a fitted king-sized sheet out of its tiny storage bag—but it’s over super fast.

Pain? Nothing. Zip. Zero. Not right after the surgery, not later on. Yeah, your nose is more sensitive and tender if you touch it, but on its own? No pain at all.
Bruising—the first day there was a little bit under my eyes, then by the second day, I had massive bruising. I looked like a purple version of a panda, and my eyes were actually a little swollen too.
By the third day, things started fading. By day five, I could pretty much hide the bruises with concealer, but honestly, between the whole setup of gauze and tape covering half my face—which I had to wear for another seven days anyway—it felt like a pointless effort.
I basically went straight from the taxi into home quarantine until they take the clamps off.

The crew at the ENT department is great. All the nurses (at least the ones on the upper floor) are top-tier, the cleaning staff is awesome too, and nobody was being pushy or rude. Everyone was super friendly and easy to talk to.

After everything, I'll cautiously suggest that my nose currently looks way more "aggressive" than before—I wouldn't say it's perfectly flat from the front, and that little bump has turned into this weirdly prominent lump, kind of like the nose of a seasoned heavyweight boxer who's taken way too many hits in the ring.🙄But hey, I can be patient.

The worst part is that I still have these annoying sinus headaches, and my breathing hasn't really improved yet. My nose is running constantly, it gets stuffed up every night, and sometimes during the day too (even though it feels clearer when it isn't blocked).

Whatever, I'm going to wait a few months here before I declare this whole operation a total failure.

And no, I am definitely not listening to Jamie Ross7; I'd be terrified of catching whatever bad luck he's got.

Edit: I was originally scheduled for surgery about fifteen days after my exam, but then they pushed my date back by a month and a half. They claimed it was because they were running short on anesthesiologists.
But I see that the girl who became... what was it, Poison? ...had her first appointment only a few days after mine was postponed.
I don't know if it's just bad luck or a stroke of fortune, but either way, it doesn't hurt to keep it in mind for anyone else getting ready for surgery.

it seems like they tie everyone's hands behind their backs during all of these operations🙂