Posts by rustygardener172

Maria Hall92... man, so you heard everything? Honestly, that’s probably better—now you know exactly what kind of nonsense they were pulling behind your back 😉
And about those cramps... ugh, I totally thought I was just dealing with some minor annoyance until I actually slept on it 😁 They don't just hit you out of nowhere... you need a little time for things to ramp up. For me, the second day was absolute hell.

Kate Taylor59 said:I don't know... my throat is killing me and nobody can figure out how to fix it. What am I supposed to breathe through? My ass?? I’ve basically been living with a tampon shoved up my nose for three days... hahaha... seriously though...

Did you finally get those tonsils out?

I had my tonsils ripped out about three years ago... then last year I had surgery on my nose... and since then, I haven't even caught a sniffle, let alone a full-blown flu. knock on wood😁

Kate Taylor59 said:let me tell you how it went down...

The guy is honestly great... easily one of the most down-to-earth doctors I've ever met, and a total psychologist at heart too.
...
I immediately started grilling him for photos of his work, asking to see his portfolio. He showed me a little bit, then basically said, "Look, how do you know I won't just show you the absolute best results from my flawless surgeries? You think surgeons don't play that game?" He told me he'd show me more, but you have to understand that everything is unique. Everyone’s nose is different and it is physically impossible to just follow some cookie-cutter template (like, "I want a nose like Severina's"), instead, we work on reshaping *your* specific nose to make it look its best. So I told him straight up: "I love your photos, but honestly, looking at them head-on, I'm not feeling it..." and all that. He turned to my mom and said: "It's not easy for you... it's all in your head. There are people who are never satisfied with anything, and frankly, those are the people I'm afraid of. I wouldn't even operate on them because they're chasing a perfection that doesn't exist... they'll just never be happy......

... I totally trashed my confidence yesterday and almost backed out of the whole surgery... I don't even know...

I am 100% with this man! Most of these insecurities come straight from the brain. People just can't wrap their heads around the fact that a nose can never truly be perfect...and once they fix the one thing bothering them, they'll just find something else to obsess over... and it goes on forever... until they completely wreck their face and there's no saving it anymore.
Just look at Pišekica's nose... seriously, it's the ugliest heap of flesh on a face I've seen in ages. And she used to have such a cute little nose before... 😢 Now, that deformed mess—the skin itself—is probably never going to recover. You can tell her nose has been through the wringer with multiple surgeries, even if she won't admit it publicly... and that was definitely done using an open technique. I've seen similar cases with Glušac (people who had open rhinoplasty). For those who go in for more than four surgeries... he says once the skin starts acting like that, there's no turning back. And everyone reacts differently... for some, the skin stays fine even after five procedures, while for others, it's a disaster after the second. There is no way to predict it. That’s why the idea of going back in to fix that tiny little detail (the tip curvature) on my own nose doesn't even cross my mind. It's there, nobody else notices it, and it's really just in my head whether I'll start obsessing over it or not. But I'm not folding!! My nose is still better than most noses I've seen. 😍

YOU BACKED OUT OF THE SURGERY??

Rachel Fisher97 said:I honestly don't get why they bother having a junior doctor do the consultation if they aren't even the one performing the surgery... In my book, it makes way more sense to lay all your concerns out directly to the surgeon who's actually going to be holding the scalpel. 🤷
I ended up choosing Tončić too, but I’m definitely insisting on seeing the senior attending for my consult because this whole setup feels pretty unprofessional to me..
Anyway, I'm rooting for you! Please, please keep us posted on how the surgery goes and how that new implant turns out. 😍

Look, they operate as a team. But... let's be real... what do you actually know about who's tinkering around with your nose while you're knocked out under anesthesia? The younger docs have to cut their teeth on actual patients if they're ever going to take over the practice down the road.

p.s. You can totally request a consultation specifically during the senior doctor's hours.

Emily Martinez12 said:Guys, I’m constantly reading about all those weird lumps everyone gets after surgery, and then rustygardener172 pops up and I think, "Okay, finally! Someone whose results actually turned out perfect." But now look at this—even she's dealing with more "little imperfections" than I expected. 😢

It's a disaster, honestly. I'm feeling totally discouraged right now.. 😢

Look, it's not like my results are bad. 😁 That little bump at the top was already there before the surgery, and since they didn't touch the tip, they didn't really fix that part either. It would’ve been better if they had, but hey, who could have known? Besides, nobody even notices it except for me. 😁

The second thing is that in my left nostril, right where the stitches were, there’s this fleshy little ball left behind... you can't see it, it doesn't hurt, and it doesn't bother me. This is my second procedure, and since they had to cut through old scar tissue, it's completely normal for the skin to look a bit wonky there while it heals and settles down.

But the third thing is the only one actually stressing me out... Right at the root of my nose, between my eyebrows, there’s something... like a little lump under the skin. You can't see it, but you can fuuuullly feel it when you touch it... you can palpate it and move it left and right. That's what's bugging me!! And that definitely wasn't there before the surgery. 😢
I went to see a dermatologist a few days ago and asked him if he knew what it was. I told him I'd just had surgery. He basically said he had no clue... he thinks it could be a leftover bit of cartilage, a fatty deposit, or maybe a gland, but he insisted I get it removed regardless. He told me I need to go back to my surgeon to have it taken out.
I was thinking about calling Glušac to handle it, but... money is tight right now, and God knows how much he’ll charge me, not to mention the cost of traveling back and forth... I'm considering just going through my insurance, but I'm terrified of those butchers—I'm scared of what kind of scar I'll end up with... I mean, it's right in the middle of my face. 😢 I don't know what to do...

Anyway, it has nothing to do with the nose itself; I'm actually happy with how the nose looks. 😍

Maria Hall92 said:So he’s basically peddling bullshit, huh? 🙂 ..you actually made things easier for me there, let's just hope you're telling the truth 🙂.. did those girls who told you that actually end up going under his knife for their surgery, and how did it turn out?
Honestly, the whole thing feels weird to me—like, how can a plastic surgeon not be able to fix a nose? It's not like I have a door handle stuck on my face instead of a nose 🙂.. anyway, fingers crossed it all works out..
Thanks for the good vibes, I'm gonna need them.. I'll keep you guys posted on everything 🙂). I'm honestly just dreading the day because I'm kind of freaking out (this is my second surgery, and I feel physically sick just thinking about what's coming), I just want it to be over. At least I don't have to go into the office, haha. 😬😬

One girl backed out entirely, and to be honest, I can't even remember the other one.
I don't know if he's straight-up selling lies, but based on what you wrote, what he told me, and what I remember hearing through the grapevine, he definitely sounds like 😁
I was seriously considering going to him... even after all that nonsense, but people talked me into getting a second opinion elsewhere before I made a final call. Because man, he really had me fooled...
When I finally sat down with Glušac, it was a totally different vibe... firm, confident, promising... and that was way more my speed than someone acting unsure... especially since this was my second procedure.

Maria Hall92 said:For anyone wondering, I actually went in for a consultation with Tončić Jr. He checked out my nose and basically concluded that my first surgery totally botched things by snapping the cartilage on one side... which is why there's that weird bump right on the tip.
He mentioned he can just trim it down a tiny bit, but he has to be super careful because my skin is really thin. Honestly, I’m feeling pretty pessimistic about this whole nose tip situation; I don't even know if he can actually fix it. He said the slope I have will probably stay, and looking at me from the profile, he claims there isn't an issue with excess cartilage. Since I also have scars on my nose (thank God they aren't too obvious), it's going to be a bit trickier because the skin kind of clings to the structure, but he promised it'll get sorted out eventually.
The whole thing is just a massive mess, seriously. I mean, I think it'll look better than it does now, but at the same time, I really don't think it's ever going to look exactly how I want it to.
I'm heading in for the actual surgery this Monday. We’ll have one last chat and take some photos, and I’m going to try to emphasize one more time that he needs to do whatever he possibly can.😢 Ughhh... I just don't have any luck lately.😢

That is exactly how I felt after talking to him... like my nose was somehow the worst case study in medical history and he couldn't guarantee anything would work... blah blah... asymmetrical face, bad cartilage, the whole nine yards...
That’s why I gave up on him and went to get a second opinion.
But hey, don't let it get you down... it's pretty obvious that's just his sales pitch to everyone before surgery. He acts like he can't guarantee success just so he can protect himself from lawsuits or having to refund money if things actually go south. That way, he can just say, "Hey, I told you it might not work, and you agreed to it anyway."😁
If I had realized back then that it was just a line he uses, I might have gone to him too. Probably would have. But I genuinely thought he was only saying those things to me until a few other girls told me they had the exact same experience... and now you're here.😁
Good luck on Monday!!!!! Let us know how it goes. I'm sure everything will turn out great!!

Elizabeth Collins5 said:It's like these tiny little bumps that look like pimples, but they're actually rock hard when you touch them. They're all right on the bony part. The most obvious one is on the left side of my nose bridge. Honestly, I hadn't even thought about my nose for ages, then suddenly I notice these things. Now my nose looks slightly crooked, which is freaking me out because I have no clue why this 😕 is happening. All I can do now is sit here and pray it just disappears on its own.

Look, just give Glušac a call and ask him what's up. Or better yet, shoot him an email with a photo attached and see what he thinks.

I actually need to buzz him for something myself, so let me know how it goes! 😁

Elizabeth Collins5 said:Is it actually normal to be seeing bumps popping up all over my nose five months after surgery? They aren't just something you feel when you touch them, either—they're totally visible. 😢 Has anyone else dealt with this? Did the bumps eventually go away, or am I stuck with them?

What kind of bumps are we talking about? Where exactly? Honestly, I wouldn't say that sounds normal at all. I didn't have any bumps pop up on mine. 🤷

Maria Hall92 said:Thanks for the heads-up, I actually had no clue about those little bits of cartilage sitting right at the tip of the nose... I've got this one spot that's almost dead center. So yeah, they definitely messed with that during my last procedure..
And that slope I was talking about? It’s more like the bridge on the left side—I don't even know how to describe it properly. It just looks like that side is slightly "puffed up."

Maybe I didn't make sense using those sticks earlier... here, look at this picture... that "puffed up" area you're feeling is what's called the Lateral Cartilage. Honestly, yours is probably bigger on one side just like mine is. It's not right at the very tip for me, but more on the left side just above the tip... Hopefully, that makes more sense now.😁
http://www.stanprokopenko.com/blog/i...se/anatomy.jpg

Maria Hall92 said:Oh, honey, don't even get me started... 🙂 that’s exactly why I’m freaking out. Honestly, I’m more scared of my own impulses than anything else regarding how this is gonna turn out. 😛

I actually managed to snag an appointment for a check-up with Tončić tomorrow... because there was absolutely no way in hell I was waiting three whole weeks. 😁.

Had you seen Tončić for a consultation before? How come you didn't go with him? What was the dealbreaker?

Yeah, he was actually my first stop. After lurking on these forums, I was pretty much set on him... I even flew into New York City specifically for a consultation just to hammer out the surgery details... BUT... look, even though he’s charming and easy to talk to, he just didn't give me that gut feeling of trust. This was going to be my second surgery, and I was dead set on making sure it didn't end up being my third. I had to listen to my intuition, so I decided to hit up a few more surgeons for second opinions. The next one was Glušac... and honestly? That was the winner. 😁
Tončić told me he could fix the deviation and try to straighten my nose, but he wouldn't promise it would end up perfectly straight... plus, since it's such a complicated mess, he said he shouldn't touch the actual shape of my nose because it's already fine.
But Glušac? He looked at everything and said, "Look, I'll fix your breathing, and I'll get your nose as straight as possible given your facial symmetry..." and then he actually suggested adding a little bit of a cute, slightly upturned tip because he thought it would suit me better... and I was totally on board. 😁

Honestly, I’m pretty happy with how my nose turned out. Of course, there are always those tiny little things that bug you... but hey, we’re human... actually, let's be real—we're women, and we are *never* truly satisfied. 😂

I only shared my experience so people could learn from what I went through; I don't want anyone else making the same rookie mistakes I did.

In my case, I was waiting less than two weeks for the actual surgery.
I also went to see Tončić for the initial consultations... back then, you'd usually be looking at a few weeks of waiting. It all really depends on the season and how slammed they are. Things tend to slow down during the summer, so you might get seen sooner, unless you happen to hit someone's vacation time. When I went in, I ended up seeing one of the younger doctors because the senior one was out on vacation. 😁 I'm pretty sure they don't perform surgeries over the weekend either, which definitely adds to the wait time...

Maria Hall92 said:he’s flat, but on the left side there's this weird slant. I don't even know how to explain it. Because of that tilt, he looks crooked, but he isn't actually...

What you're talking about is just the tip cartilage being larger on one side than the other.
A tip job is a whole different beast entirely. It’s tough work. The tip is basically made up of two pieces of cartilage that look like two golf clubs... try to picture that in your head... they lean against each other like sticks, and those flared ends at the bottom point in opposite directions.
Nobody is perfectly symmetrical. For some people, one sits higher and the other lower, or they're spaced way too far apart... In my case, that "impact zone" is bigger on one side, which makes it look like I have this little bump on the left, making my nose look slightly off-center. So yeah, I totally get what you mean.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until after my surgery, so I couldn't tell the doctor to fix that part too. He didn't touch it because he thought I had a narrow tip and considered it part of my "character."
The fix involves shaving down the cartilage on one side or the other until they’re roughly equal. If you’re saying you didn't have this before the surgery, but they were already touching your nose tip... then they probably trimmed more on one side than the other. You might not even notice it on someone with thick skin, but on me, with my thin, soft skin, it's pretty obvious.
So, ladies... just a heads-up for the future.
I'm honestly gutted that nobody told me this before my procedure so I could have asked the surgeon to smooth it out... I just kind of assumed they'd handle everything since I was already going under the knife. But that's not how it works. Doctors and patients are on completely different wavelengths. He’s only going to do exactly what you specifically asked for and what he agreed to do.
I can't really complain about Dr. Glušac, though, because he did exactly what he said he would do.
I can't bring myself to go back for a third surgery just for that... I've learned to live with it, and when I stop overthinking it, my nose is gorgeous and I breathe like a total gentleman, which was my main goal anyway. 😍

placidbadger28 said:Dr. Dzepina mentioned you really need to keep the tampons in for more than three days, which totally contradicts what Dr. Glusac is saying. I’m leaning toward him because, honestly, his rhinoplasty work looks incredible.

"In most cases, it's absolutely necessary. Those tampons aren't just sitting there; they serve a structural purpose and have to stay put until they've done their job. Pulling them out too early can seriously mess up your postoperative results. I can't really weigh in on what you heard elsewhere since I don't know the specifics of your situation. You have to understand that this surgery plays out differently for everyone, especially regarding how much the stability of key nasal structures needs to be maintained—and that's where the nasal packing plays such a huge role. Of course, if you're worried about being able to breathe, there's always the option of using tampons with breathing tubes built in."

Look, when I had my first surgery, I kept my tampons in for four or five days, and the results were pretty damn mediocre... so, personally? I wouldn't go obsessing over exactly how many days the tampons need to stay in.

Sandra Nelson14 said:I had my rhinoplasty with Glumicic back in month three, and honestly, I was so disappointed...

Oh man... I am seriously sorry to hear that. 😢
You should either demand your money back or insist on a revision surgery. If things are actually looking the way you described, you have every right to push for it.
My only bit of advice is to hang in there just a little longer, because swelling takes forever to go down. It’s only been three months. If your nose feels narrow, those bones definitely had to be broken, and it can take about a full year for that callus tissue around the fracture sites to settle down. And as for the tip? Mine stayed swollen for like five or six months straight.
Still... even at the three-month mark, you can get a pretty good idea of how the final result is going to look... and if you're already this unhappy, that's usually not a great sign.
Some surgeons say you need to wait six months before a revision, others say a year... Honestly, Glusac would probably just jump back in and fix it immediately. 😁 It really just comes down to the individual doctor.
Anyway, please keep us posted on what happens next.

Kate Taylor59 said:I’m not going to go all in on this gamble. I’ve actually decided to head over to the Mayo Clinic for a consultation with Dr. Glusac instead—he's much more convenient for me. Honestly, just imagine the scenario if I drove all the way down to Miami: I'd get there, he'd show me the scans, and I’d just be sitting there thinking, "Yeah, no... this definitely isn't it." Not worth the headache. 👎
Look, I totally get that everyone’s situation is unique, but still—you can kind of guess what kind of nose he’d end up giving you, right? I've been scrolling through some photos online, and it seems like Glusac tends to give most people that wide tip look. Honestly, that part just really bugs me... it’s a bit of a bummer to think about.

That’s exactly how you have to play it. First, go see the guy who’s closest to you, and if things just don't click or he doesn't "get" you, then you move on to the next one. You gotta keep looking until it feels right. Good luck with Dzepina!!

amberbadger81 said:It honestly sounds like he’s the go-to expert for those nightmare scenarios. From what I can remember reading here on the forum, a ton of people with really heavy-duty issues—I'm talking about people whose noses were basically structurally compromised or dealing with severe hunchbacks—all ended up heading straight to him.
For my situation, thank God, nothing is actually complicated; it's purely an aesthetic thing. Honestly, I feel like any one of those surgeons could nail it for me since they're all seasoned pros, but man, picking just one is such a headache!

If you're just looking at the looks of it, my advice is to book a consultation with whichever surgeon's work actually clicks with your vibe first. If you walk out of there and just "feel" it, then stop overthinking it and pull the trigger.👍

amberbadger81 I can't even begin to describe what they’re saying... It’s honestly unbelievable.
Hahshahah, seriously though, you really had to go and do everything all at once, didn't you?! Talk about overkill!🙂
Look, based on everything I’ve heard, I don't doubt his medical skills for a second, but man, his organizational game is absolutely nonexistent. It’s honestly baffling. Doesn't he have any medical staff or an office manager to handle things like scheduling and keeping the whole operation running smoothly? He can't exactly be everywhere at once, answering every call and managing every detail solo. That just doesn't fly. I mean, seriously, how can you be a doctor and just... forget you have a patient scheduled? You can't just have someone walk in from the waiting room and suddenly completely blank on the person you're supposed to be treating. It's wild.😕

Hahshahah, that’s just classic Glusac for you—the guy insists on doing absolutely everything by himself. 😁 So I gave him a call and told him straight up, "Look, I'm coming over," and what does he do? He just starts losing his absolute mind and throwing a complete tantrum about everything. Honestly, some people are just impossible. 🤣 Look, I have to apologize because he really did have to head out. He was totally banking on me showing up later—honestly, you can never pin down an exact time with him. It’s always the same deal: he just tells you, "Yeah, I'll be at the clinic from 9 to 1," and then you just show up whenever and hope for the best. I thought about just wandering around Miami for a bit to kill time while I waited, but I actually had other things lined up for this afternoon. I was planning on heading over to Savannah to catch up with some friends. Glusac even went as far as suggesting I just send him my address so he could swing by my place as soon as his lecture wraps up. 😁 Absolute legend!! I swear, I was the one who suggested I just hop on a plane and head straight to San Diego immediately... I was getting seriously impatient! 😁

amberbadger81 said:The way Glusac handles his billing is honestly hilarious to me—like, does he actually charge people or just wing it?!!!!
It seems like he just does whatever the hell he wants, probably based on whether he thinks you're cool or not!!

Look, seriously... it wouldn't have even been fair if he’d charged me... We had an agreement back in Miami, and I show up there, totally lost, calling him on my cell to ask where the hell I was supposed to be, but the guy completely blanked on me... He’d headed off to San Diego because he was giving some lecture at a big plastics industry conference... so there I am, chasing him down to San Diego... He ended up doing my exam right there in the hotel lobby just a few minutes before his presentation started... while all those plastic industry types mentioned on this forum are literally walking around us. And get this—the guy actually mocked me, saying I should have just stopped them one by one to get their expert opinions since they were all standing right there! 😁

shadowseal372 said:First off, I really want to give a massive shout-out to rustygardener172. Honestly, if it wasn't for her and those photos she shared, I probably wouldn't have even made the trip to see Dr. Glusac..
...
Since this is only my second time posting here, I totally get it—half of you are probably rolling your eyes and thinking this is some kind of sales pitch. But trust me, I’m not here to hawk products or anything; I just genuinely want to help any girls out there who are sitting on the fence, feeling exactly how I felt before rustygardener172 helped me find my footing. 🙂

Don't mention it, honey! 😘
I'm actually super curious about those photos too, so if you ever get a spare minute, shoot me a DM with a few. I'd love to see if our results look similar or if we're dealing with completely different situations. 😬
I am seriously so happy to hear everything worked out for you!!!!