Posts by Ronald Cook17

I was watching some clips from last weekend and it got me thinking about how much of a professional athlete's career is just being in the right place at the right time. We always talk about talent, grit, and training, but we rarely discuss the sheer randomness of roster management.

One day you're the guy everyone is counting on, and the next, you're essentially invisible because of a technicality or a lineup shuffle. It’s such a brutal way to make a living. I remember following a player a few years back who seemed like a superstar in training camp, only to be moved to a reserve list and never heard from again. It’s a weird psychological grind to be ready to go, but the paperwork says you're sidelined.

It makes you wonder how much "depth" actually matters versus just having a few key pieces stay healthy at the exact right moment. Is a deep roster actually a safety net, or does it just create more frustration for the guys waiting in the wings?

How much do you think roster volatility affects the actual chemistry of a team during a long season?

Alex Moore62 said:I’m certainly not saying that only hospital doctors can set things right—far from it!—but I am firmly convinced that hospitals tend to respect established protocols and professional standards much more strictly. Even if things don't go perfectly, a hospital has dedicated teams ready for every conceivable complication or hiccup that might arise during surgery; they can act instantly to save someone's life or health. If something goes sideways at a private clinic—like that one we read about where they supposedly didn't even know how to use the right needle or administer local anesthesia properly, not to mention lacking an anesthesiologist—well, I’m terrified you’d just be out of luck. It feels like their first thought would be calculating the liability of rushing you to an ER to save you, rather than actually focusing on your well-being. That’s what haunts me! And to top it off, you have to shell out a small fortune for it...
That’s why my choice was a hospital—both because of the high-end equipment available if something goes wrong, and because I felt truly confident in the quality of the doctor. To be fair, I did seek a second opinion from another highly recommended specialist at a different hospital, and he confirmed that the plan I was offered was indeed the right way to go.
Personally, I wasn't aware that Jurlina maintains a private practice, mainly because no one ever steered me toward it the way many people do—you know, that subtle nudge to "go private" because you won't get seen by the same doctor for a year or more if you wait in the hospital system. I really appreciate that he never behaved that way, neither with me nor with any of his other patients that I've encountered.
Where does he work, exactly? Does he perform surgeries in a private clinic? Which one?
If I were to choose a private surgeon, I would still insist on having the actual procedure performed in a hospital setting. This means I’d specifically look for a doctor who works privately but still operates within a hospital, for all the reasons I mentioned above.

In my view, serious private clinics are actually much more selective with their cosmetic surgery patients than hospitals are. They aren't reckless enough to take unnecessary risks. After all, if something happens to a patient in a private setting, the clinic's reputation is ruined, whereas in a large hospital, it's often just seen as one of those unfortunate medical realities.
Similarly, private clinics *should* have—though not all of them do—all the necessary resuscitation equipment, anesthesia, and a guarantee of a full medical team present during surgery. That is absolutely vital; having enough staff and the right gear on hand. From what I understand, hospital doctors aren't even allowed to perform cosmetic procedures in a hospital unless the patient pays extra, and even then, they often lack the time because they have to prioritize critically ill patients. At the end of the day, it’s a bit of a mixed bag; there are some private clinics that are better equipped than our top-tier hospitals, while others fall far below acceptable standards.

gentlemaker46 said:The clinic I went to actually documented everything—so I have the paperwork to prove it—but honestly, I’m terrified of even going back there. If the doctor didn't catch this mistake in the first place, I just don't think he's capable of fixing it. I want to demand my money back, though I have no idea how I'd actually manage to get it. To be perfectly honest about doctors in hospitals—the ones who actually know what they're doing usually run their own private practices. In the hospital setting, they mostly just hand over the operating room to interns so they can "learn"... So, really, there's almost no choice. I could sit here and cry for years; I'm still paying off the procedure for this nose, and if only it had actually turned out right... it's just awful.

Oh, come on, please don't be so despondent! I truly don't believe your nose is as catastrophic as you're making it out to be. There isn't anything in life that can't be fixed eventually. And look, you already know they aren't going to refund your money, so why put yourself through the stress of those awkward confrontations? Just try to put Ostojic behind you—you can't change the past, so you might as well look toward the future. Take some time for yourself, clear your head, and you'll figure out a way to resolve this all step by step.

Alex Moore62 said:Well, why on earth would anyone go back to someone like that? 🙏
I really don't think it would be wise for her to return to the same surgeon. If he had known how to do it right the first time, he would have!
I wouldn't dream of letting someone like him touch me for a revision surgery—not even in my wildest dreams. Imagine what kind of disaster he might cause a second time?! At this point, his best bet is just to deal with a lawsuit, requests for compensation, or demands for a full refund.
It’s much smarter to head to a major hospital and see a doctor who comes highly recommended—someone who will give you an honest assessment of what can actually be fixed and how. You shouldn't let some private practitioner lie to you just to drain your bank account.

Of course it isn't smart to go back to the same doctor for a follow-up procedure if they refuse to admit the initial surgery went sideways. That usually implies they lack the skill to fix it. However—and I say this gently—it’s also a bit silly to insist that *only* hospital doctors can handle repairs; that simply isn't true. We all know that surgeons at public hospitals perform these specific types of procedures far less frequently since aesthetic work is largely handled in private practice. It isn't that everyone in a hospital is a specialist, nor is it that every private doctor is dishonest. We shouldn't generalize too much here—it isn't about the setting where they practice, but rather their individual skill level. Besides, even Dr. Jurlina, whom you seem so fond of mentioning, operates in private practice.

mellowraven14 said:The first time around, they removed my septum and shortened my nose—all while placing an implant between the tip and the base. Well, that implant ended up being completely absorbed by my body, which caused the whole structure to collapse, leaving the tip just jutting out awkwardly.
Three months ago, the plan was to trim the cartilage at the tip—essentially using that cartilage to reshape the entire area—but honestly, I’m feeling a bit frustrated with the results. Everything feels somewhat uneven; there are these tiny bumps that might seem minor to some, but they are incredibly visible and driving me absolutely crazy. My primary goal from the very beginning was to smooth out those irregularities and finally get rid of this hooked shape to achieve a more refined profile.
I really need to keep up with the massages—everything still feels incredibly soft and tender—plus I've got some scabbing going on internally. Honestly, though, looking at how things are progressing, I'm not exactly seeing much sign that it’s going to get significantly better anytime soon.
I’m currently undergoing surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital—thankfully, they aren't charging me a dime for this and are working incredibly hard to find a permanent solution.
He told me that I should come back in a few months—at which point he’ll shave down the bridge and install an implant. It’s supposed to look like a tile—apparently the absolute best one on the market—extending from the root all the way to the tip of my nose. He mentioned it would give me more of a Greek profile, and the whole thing will be done under local anesthesia. It shouldn't take more than thirty minutes; he’ll just make an incision through the root area. I am truly hoping this is the final step in this journey—honestly, I just can't live in constant fear of what might happen next, especially when nobody can offer a hundred percent guarantee for anything. This isn't exactly what I originally envisioned or even wanted, which was terrifying at first, but I've had quite enough agony with this process. I'm starting to realize that the classic "sitting down" approach doesn't work for everyone—every body reacts differently, and sometimes, it really does feel like a total lottery.
Well, here we go...

It sounds like you've become a bit of a guinea pig—honestly, I have to wonder, why do you think it’ll actually work this time when the first two attempts didn't quite hit the mark? If you had that bump and a hooked nose before the first surgery, but now you're dealing with a saddle shape, my logical guess is that they just took off way too much during that initial procedure. It’s one of those unfortunate situations where you get exactly what you pay for, I suppose.🤷

Samuel Reyes26 said:Could you maybe list at least two of those four or five top-tier surgeons who aren't part of that initial group of two or three?

Alphabetically speaking, we have Bedekovic, Dzepina, Gulic, Mladina, and Uglies. What sets them all apart—besides their general practice—is their highly specific sub-specialization in head and neck plastic surgery; in my opinion, that provides an extra layer of confidence that they can handle any nasal issue thrown their way. Personally, I’m looking at revision surgery because my first experience was quite frankly a disaster—it was absolutely harrowing, something I wouldn't wish on anyone. This time around, I am going to be incredibly deliberate about choosing my surgeon. My plan is to schedule consultations with all of them, and I'll ultimately decide based on whoever makes the best impression during the appointment...

I can't help but notice that the same two or three ENT specialists always seem to dominate the conversation here—even though there are at least four or five other incredible surgeons out there who deserve a mention, and I've personally heard nothing but glowing reviews about their work. Besides, since how happy you feel with your surgical outcome is such a deeply personal thing, why don't the patients who are thrilled (or even those who aren't quite satisfied) just post their before-and-after photos? That way, this community could actually see for itself who is truly delivering great results.👍