Zachary Nguyen29, my dad and I were just looking at some photos 😁 regarding skin issues—honestly, the tape left my entire face feeling incredibly dry, yet my nose was an oily mess 😁... luckily, it cleared up after about a week. My advice? Just stick to washing with plain water (don't overdo it, maybe 3 or 4 times a day max)... and I used some Johnson & Johnson products 😁. Within a week, I felt like a completely different person
Ashley Young34 said:Yeah, sure—even if Dr. Smith keeps the mold in for seven days, they only keep the swabs in for twenty-four hours.😁 Thanks for the tip! I think I'll try what you did—using those swabs in olive oil😉—but I’m going to wait until the mold is finally off. Honestly, I'm still a little too nervous to start poking around there just yet.😍
My surgeon actually told me not to touch anything at all—just let everything fall out on its own naturally... Watch out that you don't accidentally pull any stitches out; it might be better to just leave everything alone for now.🙂 I'll try to post a new photo of the bandage soon!! Just as soon as I can find a decent shot from earlier.🙂
Ashley Young34 said:..honestly, I'm finding it just as hard to watch 😲
Honey, you should run straight to CVS and grab some warm/cold compresses—just use them to cool down the back of your neck... I kept my neck cool for the first two days and didn't end up bruising at all!!
Ashley Hayes11 said:I usually just lurk and read everything, but this really caught my eye—your nose looks absolutely stunning after what Dr. Thompson did. 🙏I’ve been staring at my own nose for years now, just waiting until I can finally save up enough cash. If I'm still feeling up for it down the road, I'd love to go through with a procedure myself (there's this tiny bump that's super noticeable from the side)... I've been doing some digging online and I'll probably end up seeing Dr. Thompson. Could you tell me how much the surgery actually cost you?
It's about 10,000, plus 250 for the initial consultation... The surgery itself typically ranges from 10,000 to 14,000. It all really depends on how complex the case is.
The tip of my nose had started drifting toward the right side—you’ll be able to see what I mean in the photo I’m planning to post later this afternoon... but they actually managed to straighten it out completely.
So, I went to see Tončić... during my initial consultation, I met his younger counterpart, who did the exam and walked me through the whole surgical plan. Honestly, I was sold right then and there—they are just so incredibly approachable. Plus, the clinic itself looks world-class! It really caught my eye because if someone invests that much into their facility, they clearly know what they’re doing... The actual surgery was performed by the elder Tončić, and let me tell you, the man is phenomenal. He completely calmed my nerves before we started; we just chatted, he cracked a few jokes to get me to relax, and everything felt so easy. Even the nursing staff is wonderful—they actually give you a direct number for the nurses so you can reach out anytime from midnight to noon if you need anything after the procedure. As for the recovery? I wasn't in any pain at all, and I didn't deal with any bruising whatsoever. I am just beyond happy with how everything turned out! I'll try to post a front-facing photo later this afternoon... 😁
Oh, and before anyone asks—no, I haven't become a different person... I just have way more confidence now!! And I am sooo much happier!! I know the swelling around my nose needs a little more time to subside, but even now... it already looks perfect!
Just popped the mold out.... and...... my nose looks completely transformed!!!!!!! It’s still a little swollen right now.. but man... I honestly can't believe it.... 😁 😁 😁 I am beyond thrilled with the results 😁
northernpanther12 said:Look, I never said I couldn't breathe through my mouth—it's just, well, let's just say it's difficult. Breathing through your mouth can really increase the risk of hyperventilating (if you haven't experienced that personally, you might not realize what I mean), so... anyway, I have a surgery coming up this week, and I've been trying to practice breathing through my mouth a bit, though I'm honestly not sure how it's going.🤷
I've actually been breathing through my mouth for the last four days (until about an hour ago)... it feels a little weird and definitely more difficult, but don't worry, you'll manage to get through it. I had the packing removed today, and honestly, it was over in ten seconds flat. It felt pretty jumpy and intense, but it didn't hurt at all. I'm getting the mold removed this Thursday.🙂
Why wouldn't someone be able to just breathe through their mouth? I mean, you could probably hold out for three days... it wouldn't be that big of a deal, right?
I really didn't mean to offend anyone, so please accept my apologies if it came across that way... I’m just suggesting that we shouldn't take everything we read at face value—I definitely wasn't implying that every single thing posted here is nonsense. Of course people have had difficult experiences, and honestly, we should all be grateful to them for sharing those stories so we know what to expect. But I know myself—back when I was first reading through these threads, I almost talked myself out of having the surgery entirely. I just want to encourage Nika by reminding her that there are plenty of us out there for whom the procedure was a total success.. Again, I am sorry if I caused any friction, but I truly didn't call everyone's stories foolishness 🙂
Ashley Young34 said:So, I finally sat down today to run through all my health checks and tests—and honestly? Everything came back looking great. I’m feeling healthy as can be. 😁 I'm all set and ready for my surgery. 😛 Honestly, I’m just counting down the days at this point—really hoping that time flies by and everything wraps up on the right note. 😍
Hey Nika, let me give you a little bit of encouragement too... I've seen plenty of nonsense posted around here, so please don't let any of it get to you. Honestly, none of it is actually that serious. It’s honestly a little uncomfortable having tampons stuffed up your nose—it really makes breathing through your mouth feel like a chore, doesn't it? Honestly, I’m feeling absolutely nothing—no pain at all—and to be perfectly honest, I actually feel pretty great. Just stay brave, honestly—and please, try not to take everything you read on this forum at face value. There’s plenty of nonsense floating around here, isn't there? I'm headed in to get those swabs taken this Monday—once that's out of the way, I'll be sure to check back in and let you all know how everything went. 🙂)
Hey everyone!! So, the surgery is finally over... and honestly? I am beyond thrilled!! They used local anesthesia, so I didn't feel a thing—actually, I don't remember much of anything at all... It’s kind of wild how good I already feel, considering I'm already sitting here on my laptop when I had the procedure just this morning... The nurses were actually telling me that the nose looks perfect!! There’s zero pain, just some dressings for now... and I get the packing removed this Monday!! Anyway, that's all the news from my side for now!
Well, my surgery day has finally arrived... it’s set for Thursday morning at 9:00 AM 🙂 I’m heading in to see Thompson, and I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly 🙂
darkhawk10 said:I feel like Dr. Tončić is a really reliable surgeon—both of them, actually. Has anyone here had nose surgery with them? And what’s the damage? I’m thinking about narrowing mine out a bit, smoothing things over, and maybe shortening the tip just a touch :-))
You're looking at anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on how complex the procedure ends up being... I'm actually heading in to see him for my own surgery at the start of February! I really liked the guy—super professional—and the clinic itself is top-tier... the initial consultation is $83.
Susan Watson31 said:My nose looks completely natural—honestly, the feedback from people who actually know about surgery is nothing but positive. Even those who don't realize I had work done just tell me I look happier, more content, or like I’ve finally gotten some decent rest... The experience of this procedure is unlike any other surgery I've ever had—even though I went in expecting it to be painful, it really wasn't. I actually still have all the painkillers I prepared sitting there, unopened. 🙂 I just had my follow-up appointment (two months post-op) and everything is looking great. It doesn't even feel weird if you touch it anymore... I see some of you asking about skin issues after surgery, but I haven't dealt with any of that—which is a huge relief, considering I had plenty of skin concerns before the surgery and following my accident (you can read about how I used to take care of it in my older posts). My nose used to change shape constantly, swelling up and then dropping, and my pores were super visible, almost like dark spots—now, none of that is an issue. It's beautiful and, more importantly, it functions perfectly. I am just so incredibly glad that I felt relaxed enough to put my full trust in Tony Bennett and his entire team. 🙂 I honestly don't even know how to thank them properly; the transformation they achieved through their expertise is just immeasurable by any standard. The happiness and peace of mind I feel today is a direct result of being in the right hands. And while I still deal with some lingering issues from my accident, everything feels much easier to handle now because when I look in the mirror, I see *myself*—not a nose that's tilting left and right. Anyway, that's all for now. 🙂
Well, you've definitely calmed my nerves a bit! I'm actually seeing Tony Bennett in two months for my own procedure... 🙂 I'm really hoping I end up just as happy with the results as you are. 😁
wanderingmason86 said:It’s because I’ve got this little issue that most ENT specialists don't even recognize as the actual cause of my breathing problems. Honestly—two of them didn't see it at all, though a third one did. But even that third guy can't guarantee any specific outcome. In other words, I’m fully aware of where things stand—I can take the risk and come out on top, or I could end up making things worse. It's entirely my call. So, I’m asking if anyone knows a surgeon who will truly give it their all—at least based on first impressions—so I don't have to spend forever bouncing from clinic to clinic across the country. Not everyone has little bumps or similar issues that get "snipped" away as part of a routine daily procedure. 😉
I’d personally recommend Tony... just book an appointment, you really have nothing to lose. I actually went to see him yesterday, and I was honestly so happy with the experience. He’ll explain absolutely everything you want to know—the risks, what’s doable, and what isn't. Plus, he’s incredibly approachable and kind; he doesn't do that thing where most doctors talk at you until you leave feeling totally confused about what they actually said. He saw me yesterday, too—my airways are perfectly fine, I'm just looking into it for aesthetic reasons. 🙂 The only thing is, the consultation might feel a bit $83, but for me, it was definitely worth it.