Posts by Joshua Murphy7

redranger82 said:Hey there, it’s me again. 😁

I was hoping to get some insight from anyone who has gone through a septoplasty. Specifically, how long does one typically stay in the hospital following the surgery, and how many days pass before you have a follow-up appointment to get the nasal packing removed? I’m heading to a facility in San Francisco, though I don't actually live in the city area.

How long you stay in the hospital really comes down to how you handle the recovery process afterward; that timeframe is mostly just a general guideline once the procedure is done. It's definitely a minimum of seven days, since you'll be dealing with the nasal packing for about five days, and if you don't experience any bleeding after they pull the packing out—and if your temperature stays totally normal—then you're in good shape. However, if you start running a fever or things get messy, you might end up staying longer.
With stuff like this, there aren't any absolute certainties. In my own experience, most people ended up running a bit of a fever or seeing some spotting after the procedure. And of course, right after the operation, they'll move you to the ICU to wake up, where you'll likely remain until the next morning...

But honestly, it isn't that unusual; everything just depends on your body's reaction and the specifics of the surgery, which is what other colleagues always tell me...

In my case, I was on the operating table for about four hours.

Back in January, I underwent an ENT septoplasty at Vinogradski. It was a grueling four-hour procedure; I had gone through all the consultations beforehand and felt prepared by my surgeon, but the reality was quite intense. The internal deviation was severe, and the nasal pyramid itself was essentially shattered, which meant the surgical team—especially the lead doctor—really had their work cut out for them in the OR. They used an open technique, so I have a small incision, but I’ll need to undergo a minor aesthetic follow-up once the mucosa has fully healed and settled. Since this first round focused primarily on functionality rather than looks, they couldn't fully address the external structure of the nose and the tip just yet.
The recovery process is such a wild card; honestly, even the doctors can't predict exactly how things will unfold. I had to deal with nasal packing for five days and a splint for seven. When they removed the splint, they also took out some incredibly unpleasant packing from the outside, and ten days later, they removed the nasal fixation along with more packing. I still have some internal supports, but those should dissolve on their own. Fortunately, I haven't dealt with heavy bleeding or fevers, though everything feels strangely stiff and swollen right now. I expect this sensation to linger for about six months, and it might take up to a year for the fractured bone areas to truly stabilize.
There really isn't a set rule for this kind of thing, but I ended up staying in the hospital for ten days altogether. Total

Sam Kim12 said:That bolded part has already been mentioned.😉

Of course, you have to consider so many different variables, and it's nearly impossible to say how someone else's recovery will go.

I went through a very intense reconstruction when I was 33; it lasted nearly two hours using a closed technique. I had foils and packing inside my nose that stayed in for four or five days, and miraculously, my recovery was lightning-fast😁 (I was lucky!) whereas my neighbor only had a simple septum repair and ended up recovering three times longer than I did......
Recovery depends on so many moving parts that even doctors can't give you a guaranteed timeline, because they simply can't know how your specific body will react to the healing process.

That said, I highly recommend the surgery to anyone struggling to breathe. Looking back, I feel like a fool for waiting and suffering for years just because of what other people were saying. It wasn't until after the surgery that I truly understood the difference between struggling for air and breathing naturally and clearly through your nose.🙏

Thanks for the heads-up,,
Looking back at my medical records and talking with the doctor, it turns out they performed an open septoplasty. Since I had a significant external deviation, they used an open technique, which included a small incision right under my nose. We actually just had the splints and the packing removed yesterday. To be honest, I was under the impression that the surgeon had mapped out all those profile irregularities to ensure the nostrils would be corrected too, but that didn't happen in the end. I'll try to send you a photo via DM so you can see what I mean.

My big worry is that if this falls strictly under "cosmetic" territory, it’ll be treated like pure plastic surgery where you have to foot the entire bill yourself. I really don't believe the hospital will cover it under standard insurance since it's viewed as aesthetic.

Betty Edwards22 said:Hey there,

That isn't an impossible fix—it just falls into the cosmetic category, and usually, doctors prioritize fixing the functional issues first.
Make sure you bring this up with your surgeon at your next follow-up appointment. Tell them exactly how it bothers you; the nasal bridge can be reshaped, and they can trim away excess skin.

I finally went under the knife last week to get my nasal pyramid and septum corrected after dealing with so much misery and sleepless nights. On one hand, the result is great because that bump on the right side of my nose is completely gone. However, when it comes to the lower part of my nostrils—the actual openings I breathe through—nothing seems to have changed at all. One is still narrow and looks pretty ugly, while the other is just the way it always was. My eyes aren't deceiving me; I'm feeling a bit confused and honestly quite disappointed. If they were performing a full reshaping of the nose, I thought this would have been addressed too. I had the procedure done over at Vinogradski Hospital...
Has anyone else gone through something similar, or do I really need to wait a few months for everything to settle into place and heal properly?
I could really use some help or advice here..

Hey, if you're dealing with sinus issues, you should really look into Dr. Baudoin over on Vinogradski—it's a bit of an unusual last name, I know. He primarily focuses on pediatrics, but he actually performs surgery on adults as well, so he might be exactly what you need. Definitely give his office a call and see what he says.

Ryan Ruiz7 said:Hello everyone. Since June, I’ve been bouncing between hospitals—specifically Rockefeller and Mount Sinai—dealing with some pretty serious breathing issues. The official diagnosis is allergic rhinitis coupled with allergic asthma. After finally seeing an ENT specialist, they sent me for a CT scan of my paranasal sinuses. The results show polypoid mucosal thickening in the right maxillary sinus reaching about 1 cm near the roof, and about 0.8 cm at the base of the left one. There is also hypoplasia of the right frontal sinus, though both sides maintain transparency. My doctor is putting me back on Avamys, a corticosteroid therapy I’ve used before, but honestly, it didn't do much last time. It’s getting tough because I’m an active person who loves sports, but right now, my breathing is labored, my sleep is a total disaster, and I feel completely wiped out during the day. I’ve actually been struggling with this kind of condition for over 15 years. I truly believe this mucosal thickening and these nasal polyps are primarily triggered by allergens—things like pine, dust, and ragweed are huge culprits for me. My body reacts with asthma attacks while my nose stays constantly congested; for me, these allergens might as well be lethal poison. I have been dragging this problem along for such a long time, but I finally feel like I understand the root cause, and I’m hopeful that I can turn things around starting with sinus surgery. I know exactly what triggers me, I have my allergy season medication ready, and I know what to avoid and when, but I really want to move forward with the operation. Factually speaking, this is my biggest obstacle right now; I simply cannot live like this. Does anyone have recommendations for surgeons, or can you share your experiences regarding which surgical methods tend to work best? THANK YOU!

As far as I know, Davor Džepina did his specialty training in ORL right here in the USA, and I find myself agreeing with you completely—he really is both an ORL specialist and a plastic surgeon. I’m actually heading into the hospital for surgery with him very soon, and he comes highly recommended to me. He isn't the type to shout about himself or rely on heavy self-marketing, but what truly matters is the depth of experience and the sheer amount of hours he has spent in the operating room. Every one of us is unique, which means our needs and challenges vary; there is no "one size fits all" approach in medicine. If you let your expectations get too high or start daydreaming about perfection, you might end up disappointed, so it is vital to look at everything through a lens of reality and manage your expectations accordingly...

briskmason42 said:He works privately, of course! His focus is on aesthetics because he is both an ORL doctor and a plastic surgeon who belongs to several international plastic surgery societies. That dual expertise is exactly why I am choosing him; I don't want to risk compromising my nasal function after everything is done.
I've read quite a few negative comments about others, but when it comes to him, it's almost exclusively positive, so that's what led me here....

How long are you planning to stay on the ward? What does the pre-op routine look like? How do they actually put you under in the operating room? And once it’s all over, where do you go—did you have to spend time in the ICU, or did they move you straight back to your regular room?

Are you dealing with much pain?

Kevin Hall51 said:Haha Hvaaalllaaa 😁
I actually had my surgery yesterday, and honestly, everything went incredibly smoothly. I handled the whole ordeal pretty well; I didn't deal with any nausea, no vomiting, and surprisingly, my throat didn't feel sore at all from the intubation. Once I was back in my hospital room, I was even able to walk around on my own, though the nurses definitely need to keep a close eye on you for a little while first. Since you'll be hooked up to an IV, you'll probably find yourselves checking in here to post updates every twenty minutes or so. 🤣

I'm still hanging out at the hospital, and everyone here has been wonderful—truly kind people. They aren't pulling my tampon out until Friday, and they're teasing me about it because having that sensation in my nose is just so annoying. There's also this gauze tucked under your nostrils that you have to change a few times a day because of some bleeding.

Getting any sleep is a real struggle, and I know everyone else is complaining about it too. It's tough because you can only breathe through your mouth, which feels so unnatural; personally, I've been trying to catch some shut-eye while sitting up. 🤣

For the most part, I'm just getting my pain meds and fighting off boredom. 😁
If anyone else happens to be staying at the hospital here in Washington, D.C., let me know—it would be great to have some company!

I'm heading over to see Džepina,

Kevin Hall51 said:I am actually going to see Dr. Ivan Rašić 🙂
so I was wondering which doctor you all ended up seeing?

Also, what kind of anesthesia did you go with?

Thanks so much 🙂

Hey there, which doctor are you seeing for your procedure? I’ve actually got mine scheduled at the Vinogradski clinic in about ten months—they're doing an open resection.

Kevin Hall51 said:I’m heading in for a septorhinoplasty at Vinogradski soon, and it's going to be an open surgery.
I finally received the official clearance stamp covering all the tests required for general endotracheal anesthesia, but I noticed that I didn't get the actual referrals for a few specific ones.
The paperwork covers my EKG, chest X-ray, and coagulogram, but the stamp also mentions electrolytes, urinalysis, and a couple of other things.
Now I'm wondering if those extra tests aren't strictly necessary, or if they just handle everything right there at the hospital? My consultation with the anesthesiologist isn't until the day before the surgery.

I actually have an appointment scheduled with Davor Džepina soon; I decided to reach out to him based on a strong recommendation, though I honestly can't say much about his style or how he compares to the rest of the staff yet—I'm really not in a position to be of much help just yet.
Back when I was scouring various online forums asking for advice about my own physician, I remember people chiming in saying he was a fantastic choice and all that kind of thing...

rustytinker82 said:Hi everyone, I'm new here and currently prepping for surgery. Everything is already set and my date is confirmed; I'm undergoing nasal reconstruction, and my surgeon is Dejan Tomljenović over at Mount Sinai Hospital. Has anyone here actually seen him before, or does anyone know what he's like? 😁Thanks!

I was actually told the same thing regarding general anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital. Since the procedure being done a bit further down involves an open incision and the surgeon has quite a lot of ground to cover, they don't really recommend local anesthesia for more intensive requirements; it's just not practical. Usually, those private clinics are the ones where everything is handled with just local numbing...

Megan Harris35 said:They informed me that surgeries are performed exclusively under general anesthesia, unless it's an extremely minor procedure.🤷

I was wondering, does anyone know if nose surgeries are typically scheduled during the summer months?

gentledriver61 said:Wait, isn't Džepina running a private ENT clinic too? 🤔
I haven't had any personal experience with him yet—in fact, I’ve spent quite a bit of time pouring over all the medical reports just to double-check everything.
That said, I have heard nothing but glowing reviews; everyone seems to say he is incredibly meticulous, which is exactly the kind of trait you want when someone is performing nose surgery.

To be perfectly honest, I’m having a hard time placing his face with the name, mostly because I’ve been through every single ENT specialist at Mount Sinai. 😬
Something about that really quiet doctor just keeps pulling my interest.
If you don't mind me asking... what are you heading in for?

Every single person I encountered there was wonderful and highly professional, starting from the nursing staff and moving up, so I certainly don't have any doubts regarding the expertise of the doctors on the team. 🤷

p.s. If any of the nurses happen to be reading this, thank you so much for being so understanding; you all are truly amazing. 👍

I'm scheduled for surgery to fix a deviated septum and some reshaping, and it's actually with him, Davor Džepina. I believe he has a private clinic as well; he's pretty quiet, and I haven't heard a ton about him personally, but I was referred directly to him by another doctor who insisted I see him.

gentledriver61 said:My experiences have been fantastic with almost everyone mentioned above. I can't recommend Dr. Mark Grgić highly enough. 🙏

He’s a true professional—he actually saved my nose and cleared up all my sinus issues.

I personally went to see Dr. Džepina over at the Vineyard clinic, and honestly, the experience was just okay—it wasn't particularly great, but it wasn't terrible either. Based on what I know about him and my own time in his office, it was just middle-of-the-road.

Has anyone here had any personal experiences dealing with doctors out in the Vineyard area?

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, hi!

REGARDING LAB TESTS // SPECIFICALLY URINE CULTURES, URETHRAL SWABS, AND PROSTATE EXPRESSIONS

My own experience has been incredibly frustrating, whether dealing with state-run facilities (like those big infectious disease clinics) or any private lab out there.

I’m constantly dealing with frequent urination—more than ten times a night—along with bladder infections that seem to travel upward toward my prostate and kidneys.

While the doctors at the major infectious disease clinic kept insisting all my results were sterile, I was still suffering from the exact same symptoms. So, I decided to head over to a private specialist, Dr. Smith, and explained everything I was going through. They took a bit more time to properly culture my urine, and finally, they actually identified the bacteria.

After that, I looked up recommendations and found Dr. Soltisik, who also practices homeopathy. Once I explained what the lab had found, he requested new samples and sent them off to a specialized lab in Germany. They confirmed the findings and even detected Escherichia in my urethral swab. Right now, I’ve started taking some soy granules he prescribed, and I'm just waiting to see how things progress.

It's been quite a journey... just a word of caution to you all.

"I feel like I've been fighting off some kind of persistent bacterial infection for ages now,"
between this constant sore throat, my deviated septum making breathing a chore, and an immune system that feels like it's completely hit rock bottom, it honestly feels like my body is just under siege from every direction at once.

Has anyone else dealt with a similar downward spiral? I’d love to hear about your experiences or if there’s anything specific you did to get back on track—maybe certain supplements or lifestyle changes that actually made a difference?

Has anyone here actually heard of or tried laser body diagnostics?

I’ve been hearing whispers about two private clinics over in Washington, D.C.—one near the downtown area and another one closer to the main transit corridor.

The word on the street is that it provides an incredibly detailed look at your internal organ health and can even offer a preliminary diagnosis.

If you have any firsthand experience with this, please let me know!

I’ve heard that Dr. Klapan Ivica spent quite a bit of time honing his skills right here in the USA, specifically working with KB Salata, and he’s received a massive amount of praise for his expertise;
I’m actually looking to follow a similar path and undergo surgery for a deviated septum and rhinoplasty. Beyond just the aesthetics, I’ve been dealing with constant issues—chronic sinus infections and throat inflammation that seem to trigger a domino effect of health problems, from bacterial issues in my urinary tract to a generally weakened immune system!!!

Has anyone else out there dealt with a similar chain reaction of health struggles??