Posts by James Brooks9

Hey ladies, I’m letting go of two packs of Novynette for $33 since I’m officially calling it quits on drinking... expiration date is through June 2020..
If anyone's interested, feel free to hit me up with questions and I'll send over some photos..

So, I was told I need to go through an evaluation by an infectious disease specialist. If anyone could just give me the lowdown on what that actually entails—like, am I looking at a marathon of endless appointments and trekking all over different hospitals, or is it more straightforward? I'm really hoping I can get a straight answer here without having to jump through all those hoops mentioned in the first post!! thanks everyone

Joseph Edwards31 said:Unfortunately, that’s just not how it works... In public hospitals, doctors don't really have the luxury of time for the little details because they’re working against quotas and cranking through way too many patients a day. It means their focus slips, they're exhausted, and they're constantly rushing because management is breathing down their necks to clear the surgical schedule for the day. Private practices operate on a completely different wavelength—surgeons are well-rested, sharp, and they aren't rushing; they might only see one patient that entire day. To my endless frustration, I know exactly what it feels like to undergo nose surgery in a state-run hospital.

I’ve actually been through two surgeries at the public hospital under Dr. Mladin, who also maintains a private practice... so I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Before my procedure, Dr. Mladin took the time to walk me through every single detail of what he was going to do, why there was an issue, and all that stuff. When I woke up, I didn't feel any pain during the first or second time, which was a huge contrast to a friend of mine who dealt with the exact same issues through a private specialist... she was in absolute agony, and her boyfriend was right there with her, suffering just as much after his own private procedure. And regarding your point about him only doing one operation a day privately—if that's true, he probably doesn't even have time for more, and I can't imagine when he finds time to sleep given the heavy workload he carries at the public hospital...
Every time I'm at the hospital and he walks by, he always stops, reaches out, and asks how I'm doing—all without any of that fake charm, expensive whiskey, or other nonsense...

Dana Alvarez said:I don't know... I think I get where you're coming from. There's this idea that if you pay extra, you'll actually get better care, and honestly, in most cases, that's pretty much true. But the thing is, most of those surgeons at the major hospitals mostly run their own private practices on the side anyway. From what I've experienced going through various checkups—even with the really good specialists—they all have their own private clinics. So, at the end of the day, it all kind of ends up being the same thing.

I'm right there with you. I’ve seen doctors who pull double duty at both the hospital and their own private practice. When I finally asked my doctor about the actual difference between the two, she told me the only real distinction was the wait time. If you pay for the private visit, you're seen immediately; otherwise, you're just stuck waiting in line...

Brenda Sanders16 said:Awesome, definitely let me know how it goes! I'm planning to be around the forum, so I'll be rooting for you. Good luck!😉

I'll definitely keep you posted👍 and thanks so much🙂

Brenda Sanders16 said:That sounds great—definitely let us know how it goes. Are you going in for purely cosmetic stuff, or is there a functional reason too? And man, you got in so fast... did you see him for your initial consultation first? I haven't caught up on all your older posts if you've mentioned this before, sorry about that.

It wasn't actually that fast on my end; I had my first check-up back in November and they didn't get me scheduled until May... I'm looking at both cosmetic and functional work this time around. I’ve already had two procedures done by Dr. Mladin, but since I'm trying to build a bit of a "pyramid" with my results, I'm heading to Tončić because he's supposedly the specialist when it comes to the aesthetic side of things. At least, that's what everyone keeps recommending. I'll definitely give you guys an update, assuming people are still hanging around this forum...

Dana Alvarez said:👍...man, that really does feel like an eternity, but I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be worth the wait... good luck...

Nah, it hasn't actually been that long; it just feels that way because it hasn't shown up yet... thanks.

Brenda Sanders16 said:It’s probably best if you go first so we can see how it goes for you... hehe, just so I have enough time to find a new doctor before mine fails me.🙂.
Anyway, if you remember, let me know how the consultation goes so I can figure out when your surgery is scheduled...
If not, no big deal, good luck and maybe I'll see you around...🙂)))

Hey ladies, so I’m heading in to see Dr. Miller on May 28th. I guess I’ll be the guinea pig here—the test subject to see if you guys should run for the hills or if you should start counting down the days. Honestly, I booked my surgery twelve months ago, but they won't actually get me on the schedule until late May.

wanderingmason86 said:Just one quick question. My doctor told me to use some AD drops (Vitamin A+D)—specifically to apply them directly to my nasal mucosa. I was busy working on my hair and totally forgot to pick them up, and now when I check the local pharmacies around Washington, D.C., they tell me they’re out of stock everywhere. Does anyone know where I can actually find these?

So, just a thought—AD drops are usually the kind used for kids, often mixed into food to help boost their appetite. They aren't typically manufactured in a spray or dropper format designed for nasal application, so the idea of "instilling" them that way seems off. Are you absolutely certain those are the right drops for what the doctor suggested??

Melissa Sanders48 said:Hey everyone,

just wanted to jump in here and share how things are going.
-it’s officially day 35 post-nose surgery.
-I went with Wilson—total cost was $13,200, which covered my consultations too. I ultimately pulled the trigger on him because he gave me a sense of security. Despite some of the chatter you see on this forum, the guy just felt like a genuine expert who knows his stuff.
-The procedure was a septorhinoplasty (endonasal), focusing on both the septum and the tip.
-It was done under general anesthesia.
-Even though the surgery dragged on for about 3.5 hours (since my nose was broken and had healed crookedly), I didn't deal with much pain or bruising. Honestly, even the doctor seemed surprised; I only had some slight yellowing around my eyes. I suspect that might be thanks to those skin, hair, and nail vitamins I’ve been taking from NaturalWell for the last five months.
-They pulled the packing out on day 5, and the external splint came off on day 10.
-A little over a month later, the profile looks great. It’s straight, looks totally natural, and doesn't look "operated on."
-The tip and the bridge are still a bit swollen, so I'm just waiting for that inflammation to finally settle down.
-I’ve been cleaning everything with chamomile rinses.
-Breathing is good. Some of the stitches have already fallen out, while others won't be removed until the two-month mark.

Hey, when you mention those vitamins, are you talking about the zinc from NaturalWell? That would make sense—my skin has been looking incredible since I started them. Since they worked so well for me, should I keep taking them leading up to my own surgery?

brightotter21 said:I honestly don't know. I know a girl who was at the hospital in Indianapolis last year—she went in for a deviated septum, but they ended up doing some cosmetic work too, and everything turned out fine... I guess it just depends on which doctor you end up seeing.

Which doctor did you and your boyfriend see in Indy?

Well, look, Dr. Williams (I might have misspelled the name) actually wanted to take her tonsils out instead of fixing the septum... I haven't even been back to Indy since my first trip to NYC. If anyone is looking, I’d highly recommend Professor Davis over in Manhattan and Dr. Brown.

So, I’m heading in for surgery soon, and they’ll be doing a correction along with it. I’ve been reading through everyone's comments, and it seems like everyone keeps mentioning how long the bruising lasts. I was thinking it would just be a week and then I'm done... I actually planned a trip to the coast right after. How long am I going to look like a bruised mess???

brightotter21 said:Why do you think it's so bad there? 🤔I’ve heard Dr. Maxim is actually the top specialist in that area.

Look, my boyfriend went in for a consultation there, and since he had a connection at the hospital, he got seen by someone well-known who basically told him he needed to head to Washington, D.C.... and like I mentioned before, a friend of mine went in for a fix after her surgery in St. Louis (it was just a simple deviated septum) because her nose ended up deformed a year later. That was according to the surgeon in D.C., anyway. Oh, and when my boyfriend finally made it to D.C., the doctor was honestly baffled—he couldn't believe how a bunch of "experts" back in St. Louis missed the mark so completely. He was dealing with constant throat issues, and I told him straight up it was from the deviation since I've been through surgery myself. But those doctors in St. Louis? They wanted to go in and rip his tonsils out, which the D.C. doctor strongly advised against. So... yeah. Everyone has their own story, I guess. Take it for what it's worth.

brightotter21 said:Has anyone here actually had nose surgery done at the Mayo Clinic?

A friend of mine went through a septoplasty at the local hospital near Indianapolis, and about a year later, this weird lump started forming on her nose. It’s bizarre—it doesn't look like a typical bump or a crooked profile; it feels more like someone shoved a shard of glass under the skin. She ended up having to head over to New York to get it fixed. Honestly, the ENT department at the place in Indy is pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel... I wouldn't suggest going there if I were you.

wanderingmason86 said:Has anyone here gone through concha reduction or surgery on the lower nasal turbinates? How did it turn out for you?
I'm mainly worried about breathing issues or potential long-term fallout, like chronic dryness in the nasal passages and things like that...

Hey everyone... regarding the turbinates, I had them done during my first surgery along with a septoplasty to fix a deviation. Honestly, I haven't had any major issues since—maybe a bit of dryness here and there, but that’s about it. Occasionally, I’ll get a sudden nosebleed, but even that passed. It's been three years since that procedure and everything is fine. Since then, I've actually had another follow-up surgery, and I have one more scheduled for May 28th. My guess is that because it involves the turbinates, it's likely an allergy thing, so after the surgery, just make sure to rinse with saline several times a day. It really helps prevent that swelling from coming back.