Posts by Maria Hall92

In case anyone was wondering, I just finished my consultation with the younger Tončić. He took a close look at my nose and figured out exactly what went wrong during my first surgery—apparently, they snapped the cartilage on one side. That’s the culprit behind that little bump right at the tip.
He mentioned he can just shave a tiny bit off, but he has to be incredibly careful because my skin is quite thin. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit pessimistic about the tip; I’m not even sure how much can actually be done. The slope I have now will likely stay the same, and from a profile view, he says there isn't an issue with excess cartilage. Since I also have those surgical scars (which, thank goodness, aren't too obvious), things might be a bit tricky because the skin tends to cling tightly to the structure, but he insists it can be fixed.
It’s such a bittersweet situation, really. I truly believe it’ll look better than it does right now, but I also have this nagging feeling it won't reach that "perfect" look I'm dreaming of.
I’m heading in for the actual procedure this Monday. We’ll have one last chat and take some more photos, and I’m going to try once more to emphasize that I want him to do everything humanly possible.😢*Sigh*... I just don't feel like luck is on my side this time.😢

Kate Taylor59 said:I honestly feel like the anesthesia is better at private clinics... though, I guess that’s not always a guarantee...
What does it actually feel like when they pull the tampons out??
And regarding the surgery itself, I swear the needle for the anesthesia is probably the worst part! xD
I’m heading in for my consultation this Thursday, so if anyone is curious, I’ll report back with my impressions 🙂

Well, let me tell you about my experience during my first surgery at the county hospital (it was a big public facility, like a major metropolitan medical center) 😁 ...
Unfortunately, I had to deal with nasal packing twice. The first time was right after an accident, and I had them in for about five days. Removing them was just... gross. It was such a weird, unpleasant sensation. Those were the kind of tampons that basically unspooled from my nose—it felt like someone was pulling a three-foot-long strand of spaghetti out of my head! But honestly, that wasn't even the bad part compared to the second time. This time, the packing was all in one solid piece, so instead of unspooling, they just pulled the whole mass out at once, scraping against my sinuses and septum. It was a revolting kind of pain. But please, don't be scared! Tončić actually gave me some peace of mind today; he mentioned that they use much gentler types of packing now and that they aren't anything like what you find in those old-school public hospitals 😁. I really hope he’s telling the truth 😉... All in all, the actual removal doesn't take very long. I think a lot of the pain is actually amplified by nerves—you know, the anticipation, the "what if" scenarios, and just pure anxiety
.
So, who are you planning on seeing for your consultation in the end? 🙂

Kate Taylor59 said:I’m looking for a little guidance from anyone who might know 😁...
Has anyone ever had breathing tubes inserted through nasal packing? Do you think that's actually a good idea?
Also, are intense bouts of nausea after anesthesia common for certain people, or is it usually pretty mild?
And regarding the packing—is it more painful when they pull it out after two or three days, or is it better if they do it the very next day?
The doctor I’m seeing for my consultation this Thursday insists that nasal packing is absolutely vital to support the septum and keep everything straight.

I didn't end up needing any breathing tubes... does that sound like a good sign?
As far as the packing goes, I honestly think it's important and isn't too bad if you can manage for about three days. I remember having them in for even longer than that, I think..
During my surgery, I was completely knocked out, so it was definitely general anesthesia. In my opinion, it's a necessary evil; if there's an alternative, take it, because waking up from that "coma" state and trying to come to your senses is quite the ordeal. Personally, I dealt with some pretty uncomfortable pain following my nose surgery, and I can't help but feel things might have been smoother with local or perhaps something less taxing on the system.
But then again, you eventually forget all that discomfort anyway. I actually started thinking about having a second procedure about two years ago, but I was still so caught up in the experience of the first one that it took me this long to finally make the call... though at least now I'm heading to a high-end private clinic instead of some rundown public hospital😁.. which gives me a bit of peace of mind.

rustygardener172 said:I might have been a little confusing when I mentioned those little cartilage bits... here, let me show you with a picture... that "bulgy" part you're looking at is actually the Greater alar cartilage. It’s probably larger on one side for you, just like it is for me. It isn't right at the very tip, but rather on the left side just above the tip... hopefully, that makes more sense now! 😁
http://www.stanprokopenko.com/blog/i...se/anatomy.jpg

And yeah... I actually thought you were talking about the Greater alar cartilage, the part at the top of the nose. I definitely have a bit of that. But what I was actually referring to is my Lateral Cartilage 🙂. That's the part that looks a bit tilted. Honestly though, I absolutely love my nose—it's wonderful, really. Mmm, I'd give myself a big kiss if I could! Hahaha 😂

rustygardener172 said:Yeah, he was actually my first stop. Honestly, based on reading the forums, I was pretty much set on going with him... I even flew into New York City for the consultation just to get everything lined up for surgery... BUT... even though he was charming and had that smooth, likable personality, I just didn't feel that deep sense of trust. This was my second surgery, and I was absolutely terrified of ending up needing a third one. I decided to listen to my gut and seek out a few more opinions. The next doctor I saw was Glušac... and honestly? That was the moment everything clicked 😁
Tončić told me he could address the deviation and try to straighten the bridge, but he wouldn't promise a perfectly straight result because, let's face it, the actual shape of my nose was already quite good, and messing with it was risky.
But Glušac? He looked at the whole picture and said, "I’ll fix your breathing, and we’ll get the nose as straight as possible given your facial symmetry..." He even went a step further and suggested a slightly more upturned tip because he thought it would suit my features better... and I went for it! 😁

You really have a story with a happy ending 🙂. It’s such a relief that you didn't just settle and kept searching for answers... you're actually giving me a bit of inspiration here. If I get a similar vibe from my surgeon, I might just follow in your footsteps 🙂... hehehe

Rachel Barnes5 said:Since I brought up the topic of grafts, I thought I’d jump in and clarify a bit 😉.
Basically, these are small pieces of cartilage—taken from places like the ear, the rib, or the septum—that are precisely shaped and used during secondary procedures, though sometimes they're needed during the initial surgery too.
The idea is to use them to "build up" or reshape parts of the nose, whether you're looking to adjust the tip, the bridge, the root, or even the nostrils. Of course, the cartilage has to come directly from the patient undergoing the procedure 😁, because if you used anything else, the body would simply reject it.
One alternative is using synthetic implants, but honestly, the risk of infection is much higher with those.
I really hope you won't end up needing one!

Thanks... and man, I really hope I don't end up needing one either! 😁 . Does anyone happen to know someone who had to go through this? Did everything turn out okay, or did anyone run into complications?

rustygardener172 said:Honestly, I’m quite happy with my nose. Of course, there are always those tiny little things that bother us... we're human, after all... or rather, women—we are never truly satisfied! 😂

I only wrote that so people would know something I didn't realize back then, just so they don't make the same mistake I did.

In my case, I was waiting for my surgery for less than two weeks.
I actually went to see Tončić for a consultation... and even then, you might find yourself waiting a few weeks. It really all depends on the time of year and how busy the clinic is. Things tend to slow down during the summer, so you might get in sooner, unless you happen to hit someone's vacation time. When I went, I was seen by one of the associates because the senior surgeon was away on leave. 😁 I assume they don't perform surgeries over the weekend either, which probably adds to the wait time...

And let's be real, ladies 🙂... that's why I'm nervous. Honestly, I'm more afraid of myself and what I'll do than I am of how the actual results will turn out! 😛

I've already got my consultation scheduled with Tončić for tomorrow... and hopefully, I won't be stuck waiting three whole weeks. 😁.

Had you been to Tončić's consultations before? How is it that you didn't go to him originally? What was it that put you off?

So, what exactly are we talking about when we mention cartilage grafts?

rustygardener172 said:Basically, you have this tip cartilage where one side ends up larger than the other.
Rhinoplasty is really its own specialized beast. It’s quite complex. Think of the nasal tip as being made of two pieces of cartilage that look a bit like two golf clubs... just try to visualize that in your head. They lean against each other like they're propped up by tees, but the flared ends at the bottom point in different directions—one left, one right.
Total symmetry is a myth for almost everyone. For some, one sits higher while the other sits lower; for others, they’re widely spaced apart. In my case, that "impact zone" on one side is bigger than the other, which makes it look like I have a little bump on the left side, making my nose look slightly crooked. So, I totally get what you're describing.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until after my surgery, so I couldn't ask the doctor to fix that specific part. He ended up leaving it because he felt my tip was narrow enough and considered it part of my unique character.
The way they fix it is by shaving down those cartilages on either side until they’re more or less even. If you’re saying you didn't have this issue before the procedure, but they were touching the tip... then they likely trimmed more on one side than the other. You might not even notice it on someone with thicker skin, but since my skin is quite soft and thin, it’s pretty noticeable to me.
So there you go, ladies... just something to keep in mind for the future.
I honestly wish someone had told me before the operation so I could have asked the surgeon to address it... I just assumed it would be handled as part of the overall process. But that's not how it works. Doctors and patients often operate on completely different wavelengths. A surgeon is going to give you exactly what you asked for and what was agreed upon.
I can't complain about Dr. Glušac, though, because he delivered exactly what we discussed.
I can't imagine going back for a third surgery just for that... I've learned to live with it, and when I stop overthinking it, my nose looks gorgeous and I can breathe like a total gentleman, which was my main goal anyway. 😍

Thanks for the info! I had no idea about the cartilage situation in the tip... mine has one piece sitting almost right in the middle, so it sounds like they definitely messed that part up for me.
And that slope I mentioned earlier? That was actually referring to the bridge of my nose on the left side. I don't know how to explain it properly—it's like that side looks a bit "puffy."
My nose doesn't look terrible, but there are enough tiny details bothering me that I'm worried I'll come across as having too many demands that he won't be able to meet... I really hope I'm wrong.

As for your nose, the most important thing is that you're happy with it. I'm assuming these minor details are negligible in the grand scheme of things. This will be my second surgery, and I highly doubt I'd ever go for a third. Honestly, you're smart if you aren't even considering a third one. 🙂.. you shouldn't mess around with your health.

At least now I know that I need to emphasize every single tiny detail I want changed based on all your experiences.

How long did you wait for your surgery after the initial consultation?
Has anyone here seen Dr. Tončić? How long was the wait for the actual procedure?

Rachel Barnes5 said:Well, if things look different after the surgery, she clearly touched more than just the tip of your nose.
I’d suggest getting a few more consultations under your belt. Try to compare your pre-op and post-op photos side-by-side, because honestly, trying to track down your official surgical records right now might be a massive headache. I'm assuming you can already spot the differences and see exactly what changed.
On the bright side, if you're just looking to reduce the size and don't feel like you need a full "upgrade," that should hopefully keep things relatively straightforward.
It gets a bit trickier if the nose is tilting to one side—especially if you end up needing cartilage grafts or if too much tissue was removed, which, unfortunately, is a pretty common hurdle after a primary rhinoplasty.🙄

I'm actually heading to see Tončić soon, so I'll see what his take is on the whole situation... Isla really just wants to slim it down a bit, that's all. And honestly, it isn't even crooked or leaning to one side. It's straight, but there's this weird slope on the left side. I don't even know how to put it into words! Because of that slant, it looks like it's pointing upward when it's actually not...
Thanks so much for the advice! 🙂

Cure... I honestly have no idea which specific bumps or irregularities you guys are referring to, but ever since my primary surgery, I’ve also ended up with this little bump right on the tip of my nose. It usually happens because the cartilage was trimmed back a bit too aggressively during the procedure; if your skin is on the thinner side, that underlying cartilage can practically poke through, creating that little nub.
The standard fix is using cartilage grafts, but you really need a surgeon who is incredibly experienced and comfortable with those specific types of reconstructions.🤦

Hmm... so, regarding that bump on the tip of my nose—it hasn't actually shortened my nose at all. To be perfectly honest, I haven't the slightest clue what that little thing is actually doing to the shape of my tip; I just know it definitely wasn't there after my accident. It’s like it messed something up. My nose is still the same overall size, but my nasal bridge looks much flatter than it used to be (and let's be real, it's still not quite straight, ugh 😢).

steelangler88 said:Which new hospital are we talking about?
Honestly, I was just over at Naranđin's department, 😁 and the very same day, she performed surgery on this one guy, and you wouldn't believe it—he turned out absolutely fantastic! Meanwhile, I’m clearly just cursed. Seriously, two different doctors, twice, and nothing to show for it. And mind you, this second doctor was easily the best specialist I could find. But man, what a headache... he’s so incredibly stubborn about doing things his own way! It's just infuriating.🙂

The "new" hospital—basically the big municipal medical center in the city. It used to be known as the old Veterans Hospital, but now everyone calls it the "New Hospital."
Anyway, personally, Orange Aljinović really did a number on me regarding my appearance.

Who was the first doctor you saw, and who was the second? Also, how long has it been since that second surgery?

steelangler88 said:Honestly, I feel like I’m losing my mind over these lumps on my nose.😁
I am being completely serious! After the first surgery, I was left with a bump on the left side, and then after the second one, there's a bump on the right! What am I even supposed to do with this? I keep asking myself if there’s any chance these aren't actual permanent lumps but just some lingering swelling that might eventually subside, but if my experience is anything to go by, that isn't happening.😢

AAAAA!!!!
The moral of the story: stay far away from nose surgery.🙏

It’s like you knew exactly what I was talking about. I went through one procedure myself, and now I have this weird little lump right on the tip of my nose... what on earth is that? Did they tell you anything specific about it?
To me, it feels almost like a piece of cartilage, but goodness knows why they left it like that...

In case anyone is wondering, I saw Orange Aljinović at the new hospital. Just a heads-up: don't go there.

Here’s another one. lol..

I’ve booked a consultation with Dr. Tončić. From what I can gather, he has an excellent reputation, and his patients' results look incredibly natural.

My nose actually suffered quite a bit about seven years ago due to a glass injury. It was pretty significant, and about a year after the accident, I ended up at a different hospital for surgery—partly to fix breathing issues and partly for aesthetic correction. Even now, my nose tilts slightly to the left, and the tip has this sort of slant toward the left side too. On top of that, even after the last surgery, there's this little bump on the tip; you might not notice it immediately, but it's definitely there. My nose isn't huge—it's actually pretty average—but all those proportions being off makes it feel much larger than it is.
I’ve already been through all the "charms" of surgical recovery, so I know exactly what kind of ride I'm in for. I’m really hoping for a positive outcome this time, because honestly, the surgeon who handled my previous procedure didn't exactly do wonders—in fact, she didn't help at all. To be clear, everything I just described is how my nose looks *after* her work.🙂.
I still remember the feeling of drifting off and waking up, dealing with that intense swelling, the bruising, and such a long recovery period. I suspect that was largely due to the type of anesthesia used. I’m assuming Dr. Tončić uses a different approach, which, while maybe not sounding "pleasant," might actually be much better for the body and the overall healing process.

The main goal is to reduce the size and straighten everything out. I have so many expectations swirling in my head right now, and I'll admit, a bit of pessimism is creeping in, fearing it might not turn out exactly how I envision.
Does anyone here have experience working with Dr. Tončić? Also, once you finish the consultation, how long is the typical wait time before the actual surgery?