Posts by cosmicbadger83

fadedfalcon13 said:If you don't mind, go ahead and post those photos here—front view and side profile.

My own photos are already on this thread; just search through my posts.

I think it’s a recurring issue where people walk into this with totally unrealistic expectations. They don't seem to grasp that rhinoplasty is easily one of the most delicate and complex procedures in aesthetic surgery. Part of the problem lies with the doctors, too—they don't always take the necessary time to explain the nuances. Look, if there’s underlying asymmetry or irregularities in the bone structure beneath the nose, expecting a perfectly symmetrical result is just plain unrealistic. Sure, the surgeon will aim for symmetry, but after some time passes, the nose might settle back toward its original shape simply because that's what the underlying foundation dictates. There isn't much a surgeon can do about that, and in most cases, it's impossible to predict. You have to keep your expectations grounded in reality. Don't chase absolute perfection. I spent months obsessively staring at my own nose after my surgery, and when you do that, you start seeing flaws that probably aren't even there. The truth is, I have a beautiful nose now (if I do say so myself 😛)—it isn't 100% perfect, but it's as close to perfection as you can realistically get 🙂

casualstag24 said:I’ve been following this thread for two and a half years now, and honestly, it feels like Tončić (the younger) is only the best option for the initial results. Sure, he’s the cheapest, but I’ve chatted via DM and email with plenty of people on this forum who had surgery with him. Everyone says everything looked perfect at first—they were all thrilled. But absolutely EVERY single one of them noticed, about 10 months to a year later, that their nose started drifting crooked or they developed these little pits on the bridge. One girl even had part of her nasal structure basically collapse... I can't say if Tončić fixed it for free, but still...

To make a long story short, Tončić was my top choice for a long time. Thank God I changed my mind when I realized a low price tag isn't worth the massive revisions and extra surgeries later on. 🙄

So now I’m back to square one without a surgeon, and I'm not sure where to turn. Dr. Veir is starting to look like a decent option, provided we find out if the guy actually knows how to handle noses and not just breasts. 😁

I don't know who you've been talking to, but I'm one of Tončić's patients. It's been 13 months since my surgery and nothing has gone wrong; nothing is crooked or collapsing. He removed my bump and narrowed my nose. You can check my previous posts in this thread—I even posted a couple of pictures.

steelfalcon5 said:Honestly, giving birth was easier than what I’m dealing with right now. Yesterday at 11 AM, I had surgery for a deviated septum, sinus issues, and nasal pyramid narrowing. I look like something straight out of a horror movie. My throat is absolutely killing me from the intubation, too. I actually went to the ER just for an injection, but even that barely did anything. My nasal passages feel like they're being burned by acid. The pain and cramping were so intense I ended up vomiting blood. My husband can't even believe how bad I look right now.

Looking at stuff like this makes me glad I wasn't in a general hospital... I had a much better experience in the private clinic, though that sore throat and coughing still wrecked me for days.

I haven't lost my sense of taste (thankfully 😛), but I definitely lost my sense of smell for a bit... it finally started coming back after about two or three months.

wearyviper60 said:I had my nose job six months ago. Generally, I’m happy, but obviously, there are always those tiny details you aren't quite satisfied with. For example, my nose has dropped slightly—not a ton, but I wish it had held its shape better from immediately after the surgery. One nostril sits a bit lower than the other, and there was this bump on the side; that was my biggest fear, thinking it would be obvious, but as time passed, it faded significantly, though a little trace remains. Basically, I just want to tell you all that it's rare for anyone to be 100% satisfied. My nose used to be terrible—just a massive lump—and now it looks great. The profile is perfect, but these are just minor flaws that only I seem to notice. 🙂))

Bottom line: these are usually just small things we obsess over ourselves. My left side still feels a bit swollen; I wake up in a panic every morning, then it settles down during the day and looks fine. At one point, I was convinced I had a bump and thought I'd need a revision, but clearly, that's just part of the healing process. When you're months into recovery, it's easy to forget how much swelling and freshness is actually still there. Six months post-Operation is honestly way too early to make a final judgment on the look. You really need a year, and some doctors say even 18 months.
Overall, though, I am more than happy. A friend sent me some recent photos the other day and I was in shock at the difference. That profile—the very thing I used to dread—is perfect. 😍

Melissa Thomas35 said:Today marks day 17 since my Operation. I’m happy with how my nose looks, but one side is way more swollen than the other (hopefully it's just swelling and not some mistake by the surgeon😲). Can anyone tell me how long it took for your nose to finally settle down?

It’s been 6 months for me, and one side still swells up more than the other when I wake up in the morning. For a while there, I actually thought a bump had formed.

frozenpilot60 said:I’m heading in tomorrow for a nose job with Dr. Tončić, and honestly, I am terrified. 😁
Honestly, I still can't quite believe I'm actually going.
I’ve been wanting to pull the trigger on this for a long time. It was now or never.
It just happened.
By this time tomorrow, I'll already be out of surgery.
I’m actually afraid of my own desires.

frozenpilot60, how are you doing? How did everything turn out?

Karen Clark12 said:Why don't you just shoot them an email with the same questions? They’ll be more than happy to give you all the details on pricing and payment methods—honestly, they'll provide better info than we ever could on this forum.

When I was asking around, I sent inquiries about the operation and some photos. He replied to every single email, but the second I asked about the price, he went completely radio silent. Twice.

crimsonpanther8 said:I'm genuinely glad you're happy with the results and that everything went smoothly. 😍😍
Quick question for the rest of the group: how long does that stiffness at the tip of the nose usually last?
Is there a standard timeline, or does it just vary from person to person?

That's highly individual. The stiffness and swelling are usually at their worst during the first three months. For me, things still feel a bit stiff, and it's been nearly six months now. It’s all pretty normal; you can expect things to settle down for up to a year after surgery. You eventually just get used to it.😁

electricangler32 said:Why are so many people getting revision surgery? Is the work just that bad, or do people just decide they don't like their nose after all?

Rhinoplasty is easily one of the most complicated plastic surgeries out there. The nose is incredibly complex. Estimates suggest any surgeon will have a 5-10% revision rate. The reasons vary and are usually a mix of factors, but from what I've gathered, it often comes down to how unpredictable the healing process is. Especially when you're dealing with functional issues—that adds its own layer of complications. For instance, sometimes the septum shifts again after the initial surgery because the underlying asymmetry is built into the skull structure itself...

Daniel Sullivan36 said:I am loving this! Who did your work?

It was done by Unknown🙂

It’s been five months since my nose surgery... here's the before and after 🙂

Chloe Thompson66 said:Thanks so much, cosmicbadger83, for replying and sharing what you went through. I actually wrote down that doctor's name—I'm definitely going to try and track him down to see how things work these days. My tattoo was also done by someone who was kind of a semi-pro, though it turned out really well. It feels pretty deep since the ink hasn't faded at all even after 12 years, but then again, it’s a decent size at about 12x7cm. I mean, it's not massive, but compared to yours... wow, it's quite a bit!

Honestly, I've been overthinking this for a whole month now. I'm just so terrified of being left with a scar, or even worse, those weird pigment changes. Since I have darker skin, scars tend to show up really easily on me—I mean, just look at my stretch marks, they're super noticeable, and I've got other little marks too....

I am clearly not making any smart decisions here 😢

Chloe Thompson66, you're going to see some pigment differences right after the laser because its whole job is breaking down those pigments, and let's face it, the machine can't tell the difference between ink and melanin. But natural pigment eventually regenerates, and things level out after a while. Personally, I can barely see the difference anymore. The only thing is, for the first two or three years, you have to be careful not to expose that area to the sun and make sure you're using sunblock.

I went through tattoo removal a few years back. Honestly, my luck was on my side because it was a pretty amateur job, so the ink didn't go too deep. I went to a laser center run by Dr. Kostović over in Chicago—back then he was still at that location before moving his practice, though the center is still up and running. The tattoo is completely gone now. If you get incredibly close, you might notice a tiny difference in skin tone, but even that fades over time. Nobody can tell there was ever anything there. As far as I recall, they used a Ruby-Q laser. It took about seven sessions, and since it wasn't a huge piece—only about 1.5cm—each treatment only cost me $83.

Amy Rodriguez4 said:Hey ladies. 🙂

I'm new to the forum, so I thought I'd throw a few questions your way.
So, I’ve finally made up my mind about getting rhinoplasty. Honestly... I actually like my nose when looking at it straight on, but once I see my profile, there's this little bump right in the middle. It’s not like some massive hook or anything, just a small bump right on the bridge. 😢 And that’s just incredibly annoying.
Now I’m wondering which doctor you guys would recommend for this kind of procedure—specifically, someone who won't touch the tip of my nose, but will just take care of that hump.
I was actually thinking about going to Glumicic, but then I read here that he almost always touches the tip of the nose and makes it water, which is exactly what I want to avoid. How does Toncic handle that? Please, help me out here! 😁

Every surgeon ought to respect your wishes, though like you said, there are some who just flat-out ignore them. Toncic will do exactly what you want. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to actually listen to his suggestions once in a while. At first, I wasn't planning on changing a thing—just wanted it a bit more rugged—but in the end, he told me he should slim it down a bit from the front. I'm glad I listened; looking at myself now, it was looking a little potato-shaped, and it looks much better from the front now. 😍

Betty Edwards22 said:What's the point in complaining? Don't worry - be happy.

There’s really no sense in whining... no regrets 🙂 though it's a shame I spent all that time living in discontent. It wasn't some deep-seated complex, and I wasn't suffering or feeling insecure because of it... it was just this constant sensation, like you're forced to wear an ugly knitted sweater your grandma made for you every single day. Nothing catastrophic, but it just isn't right.

northernmaker84 said:Which doctor are we talking about? :-)

Tončić—you can find my take on this somewhere in the older threads. 🙂

So, here’s the deal: I’m a woman in my thirties, juggling a toddler, a job, and a million other responsibilities. But despite all that, my nose has always been a struggle for me—and honestly, it still is. Once you realize you're genuinely unhappy with something, it sticks with you. I couldn't shake that constant, nagging thought: "If only I could change this..."
I just didn't want to spend my entire life feeling dissatisfied. It took me until my thirties to finally find the nerve to go in for surgery. It’s been three months since my procedure, and looking back, I only have one regret... I wish I had done this ten years ago.

neondriver15 said:I agree there’s a risk of complications, but not in the way she described it. I mean, "the body remembers"? Is there some kind of "repository" where the body keeps a tally of how many GABA receptors you've blocked and when?😂 I wouldn't go that far. Any substance or compound you put into your system has an effect and needs to be metabolized—that's just basic pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. It carries side effects, sure. But let's be real: local anesthesia carries risks too. In my view, creating this hype that local anesthesia is just a walk in the park while general anesthesia is some terrifying monster is completely baseless (assuming we're talking about healthy people).

Look, that’s how a doctor explained it to me. It might be a bit of a caricature, but I know that every general surgery counts toward the stats, so go ahead and laugh. Neither of us is an anesthesiologist, so we could spend all week arguing over links and Google searches. All I can tell you is that I’ve been through both. There are valid, clear reasons why some doctors prefer doing their procedures under local anesthesia. My general anesthesia experience was almost fine—no pain, no trauma. Honestly, I even cracked a few jokes while drifting off at the table.