Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Ashley Gomez nice nose, honestly, even from the profile view 😍
congrats 🙂

Ashley Gomez said:I think I sent that to everyone☕

Personally, I’m dying to know when you guys started wearing glasses... For me, it’s this super weird, uncomfortable feeling whenever I put them on. Plus, I’ve got this nagging fear that I'm doing it way too early, though god knows how much I miss having my sunglasses🙂

That look is totally awesome on you! Seeing such a sleek, straight profile makes me regret letting my optician make mine look so damn curvy😁

I actually started wearing mine about ten days later. Dr. Glušac told me I could go ahead as long as they were lightweight. Mine were, so there you go...

Ashley Gomez said:I finally put together some before and after photos, so if anyone wants to see them, just shoot me a DM.

It’s been three months since my surgery. The peak is still a bit swollen, and I’m really hoping that little bump at the top settles down soon. As for the profile—from the mold removal stage onwards—I think it looks pretty good... at least, that's how it looks to me.

Could you send some pics my way too? 🙂

Thanks so much for the compliments on my outfit! 😍

I tried on my glasses today, but since my nose shape has changed slightly, they feel way too wide now. I think I'm going to have to head out for some shopping soon. 😁

rustygardener172 said:Your nose looks amazing! Seeing such a nice, straight profile makes me regret letting them make mine look so bulbous.😁

I actually started wearing my glasses about ten days later—Dr. Glušac told me I could go ahead as long as they weren't too heavy. Mine were light enough, so there you go...

Hey girls, can someone send me a photo too? thanks

Ashley Gomez said:Thanks for the compliments on my look 😍

I tried my glasses on today, but they feel way too wide now that my nose shape has changed. I guess I’ll have to go shopping soon 😁

Someone actually told me you aren't supposed to wear glasses for six months straight... so I tried mine on, and honestly, they just don't fit quite like they used to. But hey, I might as well treat myself to some new frames to match the new nose 😁

Your style is great, though. Totally my vibe 🙂

I’ve been following this thread for quite a while now, and I just wanted to say hi to everyone contributing 😉
There’s a mountain of info here, plus all these stories about different doctors performing surgeries, but I always find myself gravitating back toward Dr. Glušac. So, I think I’ll pull the trigger—it’s actually on my "things to do before I hit thirty" bucket list.

Quick question for anyone who’s gone through both the aesthetic and functional side of things:
how long does the recovery actually take? Specifically, how much longer do you have to wear that nasal cast?

Since I live in Washington, D.C., I’m trying to figure out how many days I really need to set aside for the procedure and the downtime.
For instance, if the surgery is on a Wednesday, is there any chance I could get the cast off by Sunday or Monday morning?

Thanks in advance for the help. Best, 🙂

So, I had my surgery on Friday night and didn't get the mold removed until the following Thursday... usually, you're stuck wearing that thing for about 6 or 7 days. But honestly, just because they take the mold off doesn't mean you're fully recovered. That’s when the real fun starts—you'll be dealing with bruising and probably some swelling or a black eye. I'd say you definitely need at least two weeks before you can even think about heading back to work or being out in public. And if your job is physically demanding, you're going to need way more time than that. Personally, I felt like I was recovering pretty well, but even after those two weeks were up, I still didn't feel quite ready to jump back into work... so I ended up extending my time off a bit. :-))

steelangler88...you saw my post, right? If not, no biggie, I can send it again.

Patrick Anderson70, mine started up on Friday night, then the tampon came out Saturday afternoon, and the heavy flow lasted about 6 or 7 days... honestly, I can't even remember exactly 😁 People say you can get away with just 7 days off, but if you ask me, I’d recommend taking at least 10 to 14. I went back out into the world after 7 days, and while the spotting was pretty minimal, my nose was still super swollen... so I stayed home from work for another week. I work with kids, so I was genuinely terrified of getting hurt... kids have way too much energy, and I didn't want to risk some kid accidentally bumping into me.
Everyone's body reacts differently, but if you can swing it, take two weeks of "sick leave"—you definitely won't regret it.
If there's anything else you need to know, just shoot me a question... since I actually went to see him, I can give you some real advice. Good luck!

rustygardener172 said:steelangler88...you saw mine, right? If not, no biggie—I can send it over again.

hitmjeseca, mine was last Saturday night. I stopped using pads by Sunday afternoon, and then the stitches came out about 6 or 7 days later... honestly, I can barely remember the exact timing. 😁 People say you can get away with just 7 days off, but if I were you, I’d aim for at least 10 to 14. I tried heading back out after 7 days, and while the leaking was minimal, my nose was still pretty swollen... so I ended up staying home from work for another week. I work with kids, so I was terrified of getting bumped—they can be pretty wild sometimes.
Everyone recovers differently, but if you have the option, take those two weeks of "sick leave"—you definitely won't regret it.
If there's anything else you need to know, just ask... I've already been through his procedure, so I can give you some pointers. Good luck!

I haven't seen it, please send it over🙂 I've got another surgery coming up soon, so sorry for being such a pain!🙂

I’m feeling a little shy about asking this, but if anyone could give me the quick rundown on what the recovery process looks like after nose tip surgery—specifically involving the cartilage—I’d really appreciate it. Like, should I expect red eyes, bruising under the eyes, or anything along those lines? And just out of curiosity, would I be able to hop on a city bus right after the procedure? Lol

If anyone could share some photos, I’d really appreciate it—and if you wouldn't mind mentioning which surgeon you saw, that would be a huge help. I’m actually looking into getting rhinoplasty myself, but I’m still stuck in that indecisive phase of picking the right doctor... I've chatted with several people, but honestly, I'm a bit terrified of ending up with a result that doesn't look quite right. Plus, I really don't have the budget for "revision" surgeries later on. Thanks so much in advance for the help! 🙂

urbanowl13 said:wearybear18 — I’m actually planning to see Tony Bennett too; after reading everything on this forum, he seems like the most reliable choice to me—I don't know, I just had a feeling he’d be the right one... though my surgery isn't until maybe two months from now, and I'm aiming for a consultation in about a month. I'm only interested in the aesthetic side of things, so I wonder if you can insist on just the cosmetic part, or does he insist on a full exam to check functional needs? (Personally, I feel like I breathe fine and don't need anything fixed internally). Could you explain what happens during the consultation? Is it just a chat, or does he actually perform an exam?

Well, here I am... I’m feeling a bit more relieved today—I finally took the tampons out yesterday. Honestly, what a relief! Regarding your question about the examination... well, there isn't much to it. You simply get settled in, and the process begins. You can certainly ask whatever is on your mind, but the doctor will also ask his own questions—specifically, "What is it about your nose that bothers you?" 😉He examined the exterior of my nose, and when I mentioned wanting it smaller and having the bump removed, he told me it was doable (thank goodness!). He then checked the interior—the septum—using a small instrument. From there, he explained how the procedure would work; in my case, it’s strictly an external correction since my breathing is perfectly fine. Yes, it was Dr. Tony Bennett—the younger doctor. I had quite a few questions and asked to see some before-and-after examples, which he showed me on his computer and even in an album. I ended up spending nearly half an hour with him during the exam. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. Once we finished, I coordinated the surgery date with the nurse at the front desk. She also gave me a list of blood tests to complete and suggested buying a cooling gel—which is a useful tip, because once you get home after the procedure, you’ll want that gel ready and chilled.

Rachel Martinez94 said:Good luck!! 🙂 🙂 Let me know how it goes. 😉

Rachel Martinez94, thank you for the support. I had my surgery this past Monday, and they finally removed the nasal packing yesterday... what a relief! A nurse handled the removal, while Dr. Tony Bennett popped in just to check that everything was looking alright—it was all very quick, and then I was headed home. I'm still wearing the splint, of course, and I am quite eager to get it off this coming Monday. I feel a bit like a freak walking around with this thing on my face, but if they say it's necessary, I suppose I’ll just have to deal with it. Honestly, there hasn't been any pain—not even a little—which I realize sounds almost surreal, but my rhinoplasty, at least, wasn't painful. I’ve been resting until yesterday, using cold compresses on my neck... I'm getting a little tired of being stuck indoors, though I don't exactly plan on making any public appearances while wearing this splint. Removing the packing went fine, and now I’m just anxious to see the results on Monday... I know there will be swelling—everyone seems to mention that—but I'm certain the profile will already look smaller and the bump will be gone! 😁😁

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Could someone please share some photos with me? And if you wouldn't mind, let me know which surgeon you used. I’m actually considering rhinoplasty myself—I just haven't pulled the trigger on a doctor yet. I've spoken to a few different people, but I suppose I'm just terrified they won't get the look right... and frankly, I don't have the budget for a revision later on. Thanks in advance! 🙂

So, you've already consulted with everyone? Well, good for you... I went to see Tony Bennett—highly recommend him, really—but I still have my molds, so I'll let you know how things turn out this coming Monday... 😉 though, I don't particularly doubt the results...

Can someone send me some photos? Thanks. 😁

Also, did anyone deal with breakouts or blackheads for a long time after taking the bandages off? It’s been over a month since my surgery, and my nose has just started acting up... 😁 redness, pimples, and it's spreading outward... it's honestly pretty gross. 😲 I have this feeling that the more I try to cover it up with light powder (that airy, mousse-style stuff), the worse it gets... :/ The swelling hasn't budged either, and the shape of my nose seems to be shifting slightly... but this redness is what’s really killing me. Are you guys using anything specific for this? I used the cream my doctor prescribed a few days ago, and now it feels like my skin has just gone haywire... 🙄

restlessjackal112 said:Can anyone send me those photos? thanks 😁

Also, did any of you deal with breakouts or blackheads for a long time after the bandages came off? It’s been over a month since my surgery and my nose is just going crazy right now... 😁 The redness, the pimples—it's all just spreading further. It's honestly gross... 😲 I feel like the more I try to cover it up with light powder (that airy, mousse kind), the worse it gets... :/ The swelling hasn't really budged either, and the shape of my nose is slightly changing... but this redness is what's really killing me. Are you guys using anything for this? I used the cream my doctor prescribed a few days ago, and now it feels like my skin has totally lost its mind... 🙄

Don't put anything on your skin. Just wash with clean water and give your skin time to heal—it'll be fine.

wearybear18, thanks for the reply!!!

wearybear18 said:Have you actually spoken with all of them? Honestly, good for you... I had an appointment with Tony Bennett—highly recommend him, by the way—but I still have a mold to get made, so I’ll let you know how my Monday session goes... 😉 though I’m pretty confident about the results...

Well, not with *everyone* everyone, per se—just the ones who really caught my eye while scrolling through this forum: Tony Bennett, Glusac, Ignatovski, and Zambelli. I’ve been deep-diving into research for about six months now; I’m looking at both rhinoplasty and chin augmentation, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger... Based on what we discussed, Ignatovski seems to be the most budget-friendly option, but honestly? I’d much rather pay $2000 a premium to ensure someone does the job perfectly the first time, rather than dealing with regret down the road... oh boy! Please, if you have any more before-and-after photos, send them my way—I really need the help to make this decision. 🙂

What really drew me to Glusac's approach was that "closed technique" he uses—because from what I’ve been reading, when you go with an open technique, the recovery period drags on much longer, and there's even a risk of developing those tiny little bumps on the nose, right??!!! So, if anyone here actually knows the specifics—does this closed technique involve removing part of the cartilage? I’m looking to slim down and narrow my nose, which I assume would require taking some of the cartilage away as well?