13 posts shown.
northernmaker84 said:I am so happy for you!🙂 Could you share who you worked with? Thanks. Best regards.
northernmaker84, I will send you a private message.🙂
I went through a referral at the Dubrava Library, so nothing was paid out of pocket. Rather than naming names here, if anyone needs specific details, feel free to reach out via DM...🙂
My apologies, I just realized I typed PM instead of DM...😍...
Hello to all my fellow patients!
I haven’t been posting here regularly, but I just scrolled through the last fifteen pages and thought I should chime in. Perhaps my experience might offer some comfort to someone currently going through the same thing... :-)
It has been exactly five months since my surgery, and I can hardly describe the transformations that have occurred in such a short window. To be honest, right at the start, I wasn't exactly thrilled with how things looked. I was satisfied only when comparing the result to my old nose, which was truly dreadful—though I only realize just how bad it actually was now, looking back at old photos... :-) Generally speaking, I looked as though I had a permanent ski jump stamped onto my face; I could feel these terrible bumps and irregularities under my fingertip... the tip was turned up so sharply it was frightening, there was swelling at the bridge, between my eyes, it was awful, one eye looking east and the other looking west...
BUT...
To everyone currently in recovery, if you are facing similar issues, or those of you just preparing and wondering what to expect: please, believe me, you simply must be patient. Don't spend every waking second staring into a magnifying mirror and crying... It is truly incredible how everything eventually settles. My "ski slope" smoothed out beautifully, the bumps seemed to "melt" across the entire length of my nose, and the bridge is twice as narrow as it used to be... and now, it looks absolutely wonderful!!!!
In my opinion, the nose begins to change immediately after the procedure, essentially as soon as that initial swelling starts to subside... and with every passing week, it kept getting better and better...
So, my friends—patience is key. :-)
By the way, I suspect it isn't even fully finished yet; I feel it will look even better... they say it takes a full year for everything to truly settle into place...
Sunglasses still feel a bit awkward, and the tip still feels slightly "wooden," but I've been blowing my nose like a heavy smoker for quite a while now and, most importantly, I am breathing perfectly...
And, lest I forget, I see many of you share similar anxieties... I actually had a few little accidents after my surgery. My boyfriend accidentally bumped me in his sleep (the man tosses and turns, what can you do? :-)), and I'd occasionally catch myself hitting my own face by mistake (likely out of pure panic that someone else might hit my nose, so I ended up hitting myself instead)... and so on... don't worry, nothing catastrophic will happen if you accidentally bump yourself after surgery (though I understand the fear; I was convinced something "shifted" inside after one of my little bumps, but as it turns out, nothing happened)
Best wishes to everyone!
Amy Richardson86 said:Hey everyone!
Just checking in again... my nose is progressing beautifully. I look completely normal now. The bruising on the sides has mostly cleared up, and the swelling at the bridge has finally subsided. It’s settling down and looks quite natural. All in all... I'm very happy with the results. 🙂
I am truly glad to hear you are recovering so well... I know you had a hundred questions at the start. 😉
But that is perfectly normal... everything felt strange to me initially too. Now, two and a half months post-op, I can barely even remember how I felt back then... 😉
One really has to be patient. When I compare how my nose looked during those first two or three weeks after surgery... it is a completely different story now. And I am just... incredibly satisfied...
Team, how long after surgery should I avoid wearing sunglasses? I completely forgot to ask the doctor during my follow-up, and he didn't mention anything at all...
rowdyfalcon35 said:Can anyone who’s had nose surgery please help me out? Has anyone ever accidentally blown out a piece of bone while blowing their nose?
I didn't blow it out, but I did cough up a tiny fragment... just one week after my surgery, back when everything was still draining down my throat...
Donna Bennett73 said:it looks terrible, honestly, but there's zero pain. I just use cold compresses and call it a day... hoping the swelling subsides soon... though my eye looks fantastic... hehehe
Don't worry, everything will turn out fine...🙂
Uffff, girl... you looked pretty rough... I can't even lie to you about that...🙂
But recovery is actually quite swift... and truly, it doesn't hurt at all...
I hope you're feeling wonderful now...😉
What strikes me more is how differently everyone reacts to such an invasive procedure. It seems pointless for those preparing for surgery to ask others what they'll look like... one only truly knows after the fact...
For me, it was just minor bruising trailing from the bridge of my nose down under my eyes. My facial proportions remained normal, with only slight swelling appearing a day after the bandages came off. My sclera were white as snow; two weeks post-op, I felt like a new person... though my nose felt incredibly tender, as if the surgeon had taken a hammer to every single millimeter of it...😉
Then again, some people's tissue can react wildly to even the slightest bone correction, leaving the face looking like a colorful circus...🙂
Amy Richardson86 said:Hi everyone, back again.
I have a question for those of you who have undergone rhinoplasty... did anyone else take a hit to the nose early on during recovery?
My nose looks fine—straight enough, at least for now—but I can't say I haven't bumped the tip a few times (thankfully, just the fleshy part).
I'm hoping there won't be any lasting consequences from this...😢
Amy Richardson86, you aren't alone. I was constantly on edge... terrified my six-month-old nephew might swing at me, or that my husband might accidentally bump me in bed (he isn't aggressive, he's just a restless sleeper... 🙂). Then, through sheer clumsiness—or perhaps an innate lack of coordination—I’ve managed to knock myself in the nose myself... more than once, actually... But it doesn't seem to be anything serious; I haven't noticed any shifting or swelling...
Still, one really should guard against impacts. I know a woman who, shortly after her surgery, found herself in some crowded pub where a fight broke out, and she took a hit so hard she had to go back under the knife for revision surgery. It isn't an urban legend, I promise... I know her personally. 🙂
Amy Richardson86 As stated by:
Good morning, rhinoplasty nation...😉
Everything is looking up now that Mardi Gras is right around the corner... since I'm already looking like a total disaster, I might as well lean into it. No costume required...😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yes, yes... just wait until they start turning yellow and spreading out... I assume that’s a good sign, meaning they're passing... but honestly, it's pretty ridiculous...
The concept of lanika... quite an interesting proposition. One wonders if the implications are being fully weighed by the collective. It remains to be seen... As stated by:
Where can one actually find that grease...?
You might want to try checking local pharmacies. Personally, I tend to order through a specific company that specializes in all those herbal remedies... though I am honestly unsure if I should mention their name here. I wouldn't want it to look like I'm running an advertisement...
rustygardener172 said:How your nose looks once that mold comes off is completely irrelevant to you. You’ll end up looking quite strange. A pig-like, wide nose... massive nostrils...
So, you can forget all that talk about... "he took the cast off and my nose looks perfect."..
One more thing... try to avoid staring at your nose too much. Believe me, you won't actually see the final result until about six months have passed...
I realize it might seem like a long wait... but the nose takes months to truly settle. My own nose—it's been over a year now—looks completely different than it did immediately after surgery, or even a month out... or even four months...
I know women who were absolutely thrilled at first... but as time went on, they just became increasingly dissatisfied... the peak dropped far too much, and those little bumps remained long after the swelling subsided...
Just have patience...
It’s true... For me, it was quite the shift. I didn't set my expectations too high, so I suppose I was pleasantly surprised, though I remained realistic about the process. It feels surreal... it hasn't even been a full month yet. My eyes feel strange; there is still some swelling at the root, the tip is slightly upturned, and the overall shape is somewhat fleshy. I don't find myself scrutinizing it every single day, but rather once a week when I take a closer look... and every time, it seems just a little bit different. Fortunately, things appear to be improving steadily, but I am fully aware that it will take months before it settles into its final look and shape...
Look, if you aren't absolutely thrilled the moment you pull that mold away, it doesn't mean you've failed... It just takes time. A significant amount of time... before everything truly settles into place. 😉
The implications of this recent development... quite significant. One wonders how the local authorities will respond to such an unexpected shift in policy. It seems we are entering uncharted territory... Asks:
Greetings, everyone. I haven’t weighed in on this thread yet, and I truly appreciate all the thorough information provided so far. However, I do have one question... Has anyone here visited the Oakland KB to see Dr. Drago Boščić? I am curious about his bedside manner... and whether he is prepared to handle aesthetic work alongside a septoplasty... 🙂
The woman lying next to me was treated by Dr. Boščić. He didn't perform her rhinoplasty, so I can't give you a definitive answer on his aesthetic eye. All I can say is that from what I observed, he is perfectly pleasant, composed, and professional with his patients. As for his surgical artistry... I simply don't know. You might want to revisit my previous post regarding my experience at Oakland KB to get a sense of my perspective... 🤷
brightotter21 said:So... I had nose surgery four months ago. Both for function and aesthetics. But even now, when I blow my nose, there’s still some blood... Is that actually normal? And on top of that, the right side keeps getting blocked up constantly. It feels like debris—or rather, congestion—is just building up in there indefinitely. I can't quite wrap my head around it... I'm starting to worry that something might be wrong... 🤔
Hmm, actually, there was one moment right after my surgery where I coughed up a little fragment of cartilage. I'm not entirely sure if that's considered normal or not... though I feel perfectly fine otherwise 😉
Try rinsing with some saline solution, I suppose... nothing else comes to mind, but I don't think it's anything too alarming... perhaps you should just give your doctor a call 🙂
Amy Richardson86 said:By the way, those bruises tend to fade on their own. I feel people give them far too much attention... they disappear quite quickly, especially if you apply some heparin cream.
That's all for now. Best regards...
Beyond heparin, here is one more tip for speeding up bruise recovery... try tea tree ointment. It’s truly phenomenal for various issues, but personally, it cleared my bruises in a remarkably short amount of time. Just apply it generously under the eyes and it vanishes quickly...😉
ruggedpuma11 said:You mention that sleep is a toss-up anyway—partly because of how miserable you feel, and partly because of the constant snoring from everyone else around you😁 —so is there any point in bringing something to read, a laptop, or some other distraction? Will I even be able to focus on words or a screen... really process them at all?😉
Of course, you can bring a book or a laptop, whatever suits you. You won't exactly be out wandering the hospital halls all day, but reading or browsing... it’s perfectly fine. I even managed to sit down for a coffee once, so...😁
Sam Kim12 said:It's as if we weren't even staying in the same hospital or the same ward...🤣 I was at the Oakland Warriors facility just ten days ago, and they didn't even bother providing toilet paper or kitchen rolls because everything was practically disposable🤷
As for the cosmetic side of things, that really depends on the surgeon. I asked my doctor if he could also fix my deviated septum and sinus issues while he's at it—basically handle the aesthetics too—and he said there wouldn't be any problem😁 though he warned me I’d likely deal with some bruising. But looking at this, we clearly aren't talking about the same doctor, since mine isn't operating this Tuesday.
Apparently, there is one specialist (I can't recall his last name) who flat-out refuses to perform any aesthetic procedures...🤷
Yes, that seems to be the case... 🙂
I mean, there might have been toilet paper, but with that thin, pink, single-ply stuff, I wouldn't even use it for my nose, let alone anything else... 🙂
And I have to admit, I barely saw any kitchen rolls. I suppose that depends on whether you manage to get on the good side of that eccentric cleaning lady who starts singing at 6:30 AM... then she either leaves them in the room or she doesn't.🙂
Hello everyone, I thought I might share my own experience...
I underwent septorhinoplasty at the ENT department at the Oakland Warriors less than three weeks ago. In my search for advice and recovery experiences, I pored over nearly 300 pages of this thread. Looking back, I am profoundly relieved that I did so after the procedure rather than before... Having seen that the ratio of satisfaction to dissatisfaction sits at roughly fifty-fifty, I find the prospect somewhat uninspiring...
In any case, the entire procedure was covered by my health insurance and supplemental plan, so there was absolutely no out-of-pocket cost. The day before the surgery, I was admitted for all the standard prep—blood work, urine tests, an EKG... then a meeting with the anesthesiologist and a consultation with the surgeon to hammer out the final details. My primary motivation for going under the knife was a severe breathing issue; my septum was essentially fractured into several pieces, leaving my right nostril completely blocked. Once that was settled, I figured I might as well have the aesthetic side corrected too... By the way, from what I gathered, the ENT specialists at the Oakland Warriors medical center don't typically perform cosmetic corrections. I only managed to arrange it because of a significant personal connection. The surgeon doesn't accept private cash for these things, and he only agreed to handle the aesthetics as a favor to my aunt, who works closely with him. Honestly, if I had gone through the standard channels, I'm not even sure I could have asked him to tweak the appearance on the fly...
Had surgery on Tuesday, discharged on Friday. They removed the tampons—or "sponges," according to my discharge papers—on Friday. It wasn't exactly painless, though since the extraction only lasts a second or two, one can endure it... but that one second was quite something. I was genuinely impressed by the nursing staff; there were so many of them, and I couldn't find a single thing to complain about. They went above and beyond, hovering over everyone with such care... truly a pleasant surprise. As for the pain, nothing too severe, aside from some discomfort in my upper jaw and teeth. I managed with just four painkillers. My biggest struggle, however, was breathing through my mouth and the chronic lack of sleep. Between the roommates snoring and my own dry mouth—which meant constant sipping of water and frequent trips to the restroom—it was just a cycle. In those five days at the hospital, I think I managed ten hours of sleep total. I had a bit of diarrhea, but very little, and today there isn't even a trace left. On the eighth day post-op, I went in for my follow-up. The doctor removed the bandages—I didn't have a cast or any plastic nose immobilization, just a stack of firm small strips—and took off the plastic films. Honestly, more than the actual removal, it hurt when he pulled a bunch of tiny hairs while trying to peel the film away from the mucosa... but the removal itself wasn't bad. I was given drops and an ointment to apply to the incisions. The day after that, I actually swelled up the most. I looked quite bruised and puffy; perhaps once the immobilization was removed, the tissue finally reacted... or perhaps it was just psychological...
Now, for the part everyone is undoubtedly waiting for... the results. To be honest, I am absolutely thrilled. I didn't go in with particularly high expectations because I was genuinely terrified, but I couldn't be more satisfied. My breathing feels almost perfect now; I just hope this stays consistent over time. As for the aesthetics, that is an entirely different matter... He reduced the size, straightened everything, shaved down the hump, and corrected my nasal bridge... Essentially, my nose looks nearly half its original size. It still feels like "my" nose, just in a smaller, more symmetrical form. It sounds ridiculous because the old one was quite unsightly, whereas this new one is actually lovely, but that is the impression I get... There is still some swelling, especially at the root between the eyes—it looks a bit bulbous from the front—and the tip is still slightly upturned, but I am looking forward to seeing the final result with such anticipation...
I saw someone asking what essentials to pack for a hospital stay. Aside from basic hygiene products, you absolutely need straws, a roll of paper towels—which were a lifesaver for me since I was constantly coughing up blood after surgery—soap, and toilet paper... And I definitely wouldn't recommend driving yourself. I wasn't exactly feeling like myself, and I wouldn't have dared to get behind the wheel. I spent the first week after my procedure just resting at home, but now, I've been back at work all week as if nothing even happened...
Best of luck to all the ladies heading in for their braces adjustments soon :-)
Greetings to everyone...