rustygardener172 said:What negative experiences? Honestly, I can't recall any... all I remember is people trashing his reputation rather than actually criticizing his work... but honestly, it doesn't matter to me because my results turned out great😁 hahhahhaha I didn't personally go to see Bastajic for a consultation, but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about him. I actually met a girl who had her nose done by him, and she couldn't stop raving about how amazing he was... she used to be active on this forum, though I'm not sure if she still checks in...
But I went through this entire thread, and there were a few examples mentioned—like someone whose nose structure failed, though it seemed more like their cartilage wasn't healthy to begin with, so I'm really not sure if that was actually his fault.🤷
To be fair, there will always be unhappy patients, and people have been posting stories like that forever, so I try to take everything I read here with a grain of salt.
One huge plus with Bastajic is that he’s located right nearby, and I haven't seen a single piece of negative feedback posted here—I even read somewhere that he's the only member of the American Academy of Plastic Surgery in the US.
Here is an article about him, although if you search on Google, there isn't actually much that comes up—it seems like he doesn't spend much time advertising himself, which I think is actually a really good sign.🙂
Did you actually meet that girl in person? That is so cool!
Just wanted to breathe some life back into this thread
Has anyone been through the revision process lately? I’m currently in the prep stage—starting my round of consultations this week...
I'm particularly curious about Dr. Bastaić.
Does anyone know what the wait times are like for an appointment with Dr. Uglešić, especially since he’s practicing out of the hospital?
I don't have any firsthand experience yet, but looking at other discussions regarding rhinoplasty, it seems like Dr. Glushac over in Miami has done quite a few successful procedures on women—but since Miami is a bit of a trek, I want to explore some closer options first.
I really put in the work today and sat down to read through this entire thread from the very beginning, and while doing that, I stumbled upon some rather negative experiences involving Dr. Glusca. 😢 😢 And honestly, that feeling of dread is creeping back in again.
enivejz - I’ve been scrolling through a few posts lately—some were positive, though they were incredibly brief regarding... Dr. Ljubis Bastaic
@rustygardener172 I noticed he made it onto your shortlist too—did you actually end up going to see him? So, you're actually going to see him for a consultation? Are you having second thoughts because of something negative that happened, or did something specific pull you back from the edge?
Is anyone around? I would honestly love to hear some feedback or get an idea of what kind of pricing we're looking at here. 🙂🙂
@stormyharbor2 How are you holding up during your recovery?
I’ve been following this group for a while now, and I know I might have been a bit of a pest in the private messages to rustygardener172 earlier... but after seeing her results 😍 — especially since she’s heading in for a revision just like I am — I’ve finally decided to go with Dr. Glusca. Since I’m coming from Washington, D.C., my plan is to head out for the initial consultation first, and then I’ll probably look into renting a place in Santa Monica for a bit afterward.
Since I don't have my own car, I was wondering how folks traveling from the D.C. area or nearby managed their transportation for the trip down to Santa Monica—specifically for a quick one-day round trip for that first appointment. Also, would anyone else be interested in making the trip to Santa Monica sometime soon? If we coordinate our schedules, maybe we could share the ride and split the travel costs!
@stormyharbor2/">@@stormyharbor2, how was your experience with Dr. Glusca? Did you also make the trek from D.C.? Are you happy with how everything turned out?
I ended up getting stung by a stonefish this past Friday... I tried soaking my foot in some hot water, which actually helped dull the pain, but the swelling is just relentless. It’s been three days now and my leg is incredibly swollen—honestly, it looks like elephantiasis at this point. Does anyone know of anything effective to help bring this swelling down?
I have to admit, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about today's light, steady breeze, so I think I’ll actually go ahead and brave the commute on my bike tomorrow—even if the forecast isn't looking exactly spectacular right now.
The wind is absolutely brutal whenever I’m out on my bike—it feels like it’s personally targeting me and blowing right in my face every single time! Today was particularly nasty; it felt less like a typical breeze through Chicago and more like some intense, freezing gust coming straight off the Great Lakes. Those sharp, icy blasts hit me so hard my face felt completely frozen, and it really killed my momentum... I’m honestly starting to think I might need to invest in a specialized helmet just to handle these kinds of conditions.
I’m sorry, everyone, but I honestly feel it’s just wrong when someone who can breathe perfectly fine goes to a hospital for cosmetic procedures. Our healthcare system is already struggling to stay afloat, and it feels like common decency should dictate that we prioritize people who actually can't breathe—people who might end up waiting months just to see a specialist because the slots are being filled by folks looking for elective enhancements. I really hope the administration steps in to prevent this; to me, it feels no different than someone using taxpayer money to fund a luxury lifestyle they could easily afford themselves.👎 There is a massive difference between functional, life-saving surgery and an aesthetic makeover funded by the taxpayers... nobody would ever open their own wallet for those kinds of extras, right? Suddenly it's "too expensive" for the individual, yet somehow the state is expected to pick up the tab?
Matthew Newman34 said:Hey everyone... I'm 16 years old and I've been thinking about this for a long time—I'm actually planning on getting rhinoplasty. There are basically two ways I see this going: 1. Paying out of pocket at a private plastic surgery clinic, which would cost a small fortune—something I'm really not thrilled about the idea of 2. Going through my primary care doctor to get a referral to a psychiatrist in the city... if I go that route, I could potentially get the surgery covered by insurance if it's deemed medically necessary (and I honestly believe it will be). A friend of mine actually managed to get ear surgery for free using that exact method. My only real worry is whether they'll actually do a good job if the procedure is "free." I have this nagging fear that the surgeon might not put in the same level of effort just because the insurance company is picking up the tab 😢 btw. I also have a deviated septum... there's a bump right in the middle and the tip looks like a little potato 😢 I wanted to know what you all think... is it possible to fix this and end up with a perfect nose??🙂 Also, if anyone here has gone through this or knows someone who navigated the system the way I'm planning... how did it turn out? Was the nose shaped well, or was the doctor just lazy because it was an insurance matter?? One more thing... I know people say you shouldn't have surgery in the summer, but I honestly can't wait. I'm already working hard to keep my grades up so that in about six months, I could head in for the procedure without feeling guilty about my schoolwork... how risky is it to do this during the summer months??? Thanks in advance for any advice. Bernard
You're way too young and you're still growing; it would be much smarter to just hang in there for a few more years. Personally, myself and a lot of my female friends find guys with rugged features incredibly attractive—think Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Penn, or Adrien Brody... when I see someone with a perfectly smooth "Barbie" nose, I actually feel a bit sorry for them. It’s possible your look will change as you mature, so don't rush into this just for aesthetics. Remember, a surgeon isn't a dentist, you know!
northerntinker13 said:I had my rhinoseptoplasty about six years ago, though back then they wouldn't touch the tip of my nose because they told me I was far too young—I was only sixteen at the time. Now, I’ve noticed that the bridge of my nose has started to slowly settle or drop. It might only be a matter of millimeters to a surgeon, but to me, it feels like miles.🙂So, my doctor mentioned that this is actually a pretty common thing for people who haven't really explored their own bodies much, which honestly caught me a bit off guard. It makes me wonder if anyone else here has gone through something similar or had a similar conversation with their physician? I'd love to hear if there are any shared experiences out there. So, I’m actually planning on heading in for another little procedure very soon! It’s funny, though—I remember people being so kind and gentle when they warned me that getting plastic surgery can become a bit of an addiction, almost like a slippery slope you can't stop sliding down.😁)
I feel exactly the same way. It isn’t even really about the aesthetic side of things for me—it's more about that internal sensation. I honestly get this nagging feeling that my nasal passages are just a bit too tight around the septum area, and whenever I lift the tip of my nose just a tiny bit, it feels like I can finally catch a full, deep breath. It makes such a massive difference in how easy it is to breathe. So, I was just sitting here thinking about my upcoming schedule and realized how much ground I still need to cover. I’ve been bouncing between different offices all week trying to get everything squared away. I actually just finished up my session with one specialist, but now I'm trying to figure out exactly when I'll be heading over to see the auditor. Does anyone happen to know who they're seeing for their review, or which firm they're using this year?
steelangler88 said:I totally get it. But honestly, that’s exactly why I’m hesitating—I don't want to be the reason someone’s life gets ruined. I’m really not about the whole lawsuit thing or trying to tear down someone's reputation. If I hadn't been happy at first (like during those first two weeks when everything seemed fine), I wouldn't have even mentioned which surgeon operated on me. Now, I’m actually starting to regret posting. To be honest, his behavior has rubbed me the wrong way so much that I don't even know what to believe anymore... I am absolutely devastated by all of this, but seeing someone else get screwed over isn't going to bring me any peace. At the end of the day, I just want my nose fixed and nothing more.
But look, by sharing your bad experience and naming the doctor who treated another woman, you’re essentially helping people in the same boat, so you're doing something good... incompetent doctors are dangerous and harmful, and they really need to be called out. Besides, if he had actually been willing to make things right, he could have saved his own reputation. Instead, he’s basically responsible for this himself, not to mention how arrogant and rude he's been. Sharing stories about bad experiences serves as a guide for others—it's how we figure out how to pick a competent doctor in the first place, right?
steelangler88, if we’re talking about dealing with a private contractor, I honestly feel like you should be demanding a full refund at the very least. I’ve heard through the grapevine that getting everything audited and fixed up can end up costing twice as much as the original job... You could certainly take them to court, but if you aren't willing to at least threaten them with some bad PR, then you're basically just letting someone sell you faulty goods and walking away empty-handed. For companies in the plastics industry, their reputation is half the battle, if not more.
steelangler88 said:just to burst everyone's bubble for a second...
I’m actually looking for some solid recommendations for a revision surgery myself, so if anyone has leads, please let me know.🙄
I'm really curious about that too. I remember seeing a post on the septoplasty thread where yeya mentioned she had to go through two different procedures, and while she's happy with the results now, she didn't specify which surgeon she used. Anyway, definitely give me a shout if you manage to find out who she went to!
Hey ladies! I’ve been keeping up with all your updates lately. Jesse Taylor7 and Jerry Torres74, I am seriously so happy to hear you both are feeling better and that your recoveries are going smoothly... how is your breathing holding up? That’s the main thing on my mind right now. Also, does anyone have any recommendations on where to go for those pre-op checkups—you know, the internal medicine stuff, the EKG, and all that? Ideally somewhere I can just use my insurance referral and not sit in a waiting room for three hours... 🙂
By the way, pink butterfly and jadecrane3, is everything okay with you two?
Grace Cruz87 said:It might be a long read, but it’s honestly so helpful! :-))) Thank you so much for sharing your experience; I already have a specific surgeon in mind, though I have to admit, I'm getting those little nervous chills just thinking about it... but I'm sure everything will turn out fine.
Don't let the fear get to you—just try to focus on how beautiful your new nose is going to look...😁
Hey, Jerry Torres7! I find your posts incredibly helpful, so please keep us posted on your recovery—let us know when you’re feeling up to heading out in public again or if there are any big updates regarding your progress...
By the way, those talking noses are actually pretty cute. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mary-Louise Parker’s nose—you know, the lead actress from the show *Weeds*—so I’m definitely not going to let anyone tell me otherwise! Besides, it’s just standard human anatomy anyway.