Posts by rowdyrider21

So, after more than a month had passed, I finally made it to my first follow-up appointment with the doctor. Everything seems to be going quite well, and he actually seems really pleased with how things are progressing. He mentioned that he wasn't entirely sure it would turn out this well, mostly because he was concerned about my rather critical tip and the thickness of my skin (or at least, that’s how Dr. Carić described it, anyway). He sent me straight to get some photos taken immediately; even though he noted it might still be a bit early in the process, he felt it was important to document such a significant change so soon. Honestly, I don't even know how to put into words how thrilled I am with the results so far. 🙂

I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind sharing, how long did you all continue using the nasal spray after your surgery?
My nose still feels somewhat stiff at the tip, so I'm a little hesitant about blowing it too hard.

gentleskipper14 said:My vacation actually runs through tomorrow, so I’ll be heading back to the office soon. Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue how I’m supposed to layer on my makeup when everything feels so strangely tacky to the touch 🤷 . Apparently, this numbness lingers for nearly a month. The absolute worst part is when someone tries to make me laugh; the whole area around my nose just tightens up so intensely, it almost feels as though I’ve had a massive dose of Botox injected right there. But, I suppose we’ll all get through it, and things will eventually look great! Oh, by the way, what kind of reactions have you been getting from people? Friends and everyone else... People have actually told me I look quite a bit younger. Then there are those who don't say anything at all—just a few vague little comments and nothing more. Though, I really can't believe my mother told me she actually likes it. That was probably the biggest surprise of all. She wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of the surgery, yet she still ended up supporting me.

From what I’ve read, that numbness can sometimes stretch on for up to two months. It felt exactly the same for me during those first few days whenever someone tried to crack a joke, though I guess it feels significantly better now.
As for the reactions? Hmm, for the people who were aware I was undergoing the procedure, they’ve been wonderful; they love the results, though I think they were mostly just terrified that I wouldn't wake up from the general anesthesia 😁 😵
Then there are the people who had no idea. I've noticed they tend to look at me a bit differently, though I suspect they might just be a little hesitant to ask what happened. They mention that I seem... different, somehow, but they can't quite put their finger on why. Maybe it's because I cut my hair?? 😂 😂 😵 No, that isn't it, but I don't exactly go around telling people I went under the knife for cosmetic work. I don't really care to discuss it too much, at least not while everything is still so "fresh" 🙂

Joshua Scott62 said:Hey everyone,
I was actually thinking about getting rhinoplasty myself, though I’m honestly not quite sure if it’s even necessary for me xD
I feel a bit silly posting these photos here, but I’d really value your honest take on things.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/5262/dsc00979uz.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6245/dsc00983mc.jpg
So, those are the two shots; I’d be pretty grateful if you could just give me a simple yes or no.😁

Surgery???? For what reason??? I suppose it doesn't seem to make much sense! Perhaps it's just that I used to have such a prominent nose, so my perspective is skewed, but looking at this, surgery doesn't seem necessary. It would likely end up looking completely artificial. And I think Kenneth Kim67 made a valid point when mentioning how you might lose your sense of self. I always assumed people sought out nose jobs because they were deeply distressed by their appearance, to the point where they couldn't live a normal life because of it—not because they were merely feeling somewhat uncertain about it.😕 🙂

gentleskipper14 said:Whether we call him Zambelli or just Zambi—which is what my best friend and I usually end up calling him—the doctor really is quite the master of his craft 👍. My mother was honestly terrified about the whole surgery, and she was pretty shaken seeing how swollen I looked right after, but now she tells me she’s actually relieved everything went smoothly, mostly because she thinks my nose looks adorable now.
So, which surgeon did you go with? Are you happy with the results?

It was Dr. Ostojić. I’m already feeling incredibly satisfied with how things turned out, though, mind you, there is still some swelling, and it’s a bit tender to the touch if I'm being honest. I suppose it should all settle down and normalize over the next month or so, and the swelling will eventually subside. But regardless, 👍

gentleskipper14 said:Well, I suppose it’s my turn to weigh in on this discussion.
It’s been about twelve days since my rhinoplasty, and I think I can honestly say I’m already quite happy with the results.
The surgeon dealt with a broken bone, narrowed the nasal passages, lifted a drooping tip, and smoothed out a bump.
The swelling has mostly subsided now; there’s just a bit of lingering puffiness right between the eyes.
I spent a very long time contemplating this surgery. I guess I was most intimidated by those old medical shows on TV where they make it look like they’re hitting people with hammers and all sorts of dramatic nonsense 😲.
Even though I tried to stay composed—especially after some idiots on the street used to mock me or point at my nose while singing songs about Pinocchio—it still got under my skin, I suppose.
And don't even get me started on being compared to Barbra Streisand, only to have someone follow up with: "Well, you're prettier than her, but you still remind me of her." 😕
Personally, I much preferred it when they told me I looked somewhat like Eva Mendes. 😍
To be honest, everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads when I finally told them I was going through with it.
Then came all the unsolicited advice: "You don't need it," or "Your nose is perfectly fine," or "It fits your face so well," or even the classic "There are people with much worse noses than yours..."
But when you truly want something—when you want to fix something that has been bothering you for years—surgery really does seem like the right path. Of course, you do have to save up the cash first.
I should mention that those first three days after the procedure are probably the worst, and during that time, you'll find yourself complaining at least a thousand times over.
A friend of mine had hers done about two months ago, so I had someone to grill with every single question I could think of.
I stumbled upon this thread on the forum this past summer, and I honestly couldn't believe that nose jobs aren't just reserved for celebrities, models, or people whose entire livelihood depends on their looks. Finding out regular people go through this too gave me quite a boost of confidence, and I'm really glad I found it. 🙏

I feel like I almost recognize myself in your post. 🙂 It’s a nearly identical situation for me. I’m currently about a month post-op. And I also couldn't wrap my head around how many people deal with similar issues—just totally normal, everyday Americans... whereas I had always assumed I was somehow alone in this. 🙈
By the way, which surgeon did you go to?

I was just wondering, at what point did you all actually start wearing makeup again after they took the molds off, and when did those stitches finally come out?

Ashley Young34 said:I was wondering if you might be willing to share how your experience has been with Smith lately, because I’m actually thinking about making an appointment with him myself. 😉

I sent over that PayPal transfer to you as well, though I suspect it might not have actually gone through, since I keep getting hit with this persistent error message on my end.
I was actually in the middle of stripping the mold today, and I have to say, Google is just... well, it's something else entirely. 😲 😲 I’m feeling quite pleased with the results, actually! I suppose it’s a bit early to tell for certain, given that my nose is still a little swollen and there is some noticeable puffiness and dark circles under my eyes—though, if I’m being honest, that might just be lingering from the bruising—but I imagine everything will settle down and the swelling will eventually subside. Even so, despite all that, I find myself feeling immensely satisfied already. 🎉 🎉

gentlemaker46 said:For instance, I was actually hoping my discharge summary would detail exactly what was performed during the procedure, but it doesn't say anything beyond the anesthesia used and the medications I received afterward. I'm wondering if anyone else has had their specific surgical details listed, particularly those who were seeing Dr. Ostojic?

I also had my surgery with Dr. Ostojic, and I noticed the same thing—there’s absolutely no mention of the actual procedure itself, which I suppose is quite frustrating since I'd like to know too. 🤷(I think I might ask him about it next time I see him.)

Ashley Young34 said:I mean, I can't help but wonder... why on earth would you opt for general anesthesia? It seems like such an ordeal when you consider everything involved. Personally, if it were up to me, I think I’d just go with local anesthesia instead.😛
I suppose one might wonder whether you can go about searching for those things on your own, or if it’s something a doctor has to formally determine for you. It feels like there's a bit of a gray area there, I guess, depending on how you look at it.😍

Yeah, I suggested we just stick to the general forum. I told him right away that the general board would be the way to go, though he did bring up the local one for a moment. In the end, he insisted that about 90% of patients prefer the general forum anyway, mostly because it’s more comfortable for us, and honestly, it makes his job a whole lot easier too, I suppose. $667 It might end up costing me a bit more in the long run, I suppose, but honestly, I have absolutely no desire to retain any memory of the surgery at all—not even a fragment. I’d much rather just bypass that entire experience so nothing from it lingers as a bad memory. 😛

Ashley Young34 said:That's great😉
I'm honestly quite glad to hear that, though now I find myself wondering about the specific tests that need to be run—are you planning on having him handle all of that, or will you be heading somewhere else altogether...😁
Please, do keep me posted on how everything unfolds, because I think I'll definitely be looking into seeing him myself; I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you this coming Monday.😉

I went in for my testing today, which involved having several vials of blood drawn, followed by some imaging for my lungs and heart, and I’ve managed to get an appointment scheduled for this Friday to go over all the results at the clinic. It’s funny, I actually expected to receive a much longer list of referrals, so it felt a bit sparse.
The doctor mentioned that it's possible to have everything handled through his network within about a hundred yards of the office, but the cost would be roughly $467. Alternatively, I can just use the standard referrals provided by my primary care physician. Honestly, going through the insurance route seems much more affordable for me, and since I don't live in NYC anyway, this setup works out quite well, I suppose.🤷 👋

For those of you who have gone through a private surgical procedure before, I was wondering how you handled the clothing situation when you showed up for your appointment? It might sound like a bit of a silly question, I suppose 😵, but I’m genuinely curious. I was thinking about just showing up in some sweats, because, well, I imagine I'll probably be stuck lying around the recovery room for about five hours after everything is done, and I figured being comfortable would be the best way to go.

Ashley Young34 said:😉

😉
I haven't actually booked my appointment yet, though I am planning to get everything sorted next month.😁
I’m honestly so glad to hear you’re seeing him too😉. If you don't mind, would you mind sharing a little bit about how it went? I'd love to know what the wait time for the actual surgery was like.😁

As for me, I actually have my consultation scheduled for this coming Monday. He managed to squeeze me in a bit earlier since I mentioned I was hoping to move things along quickly for a few personal reasons, if that makes sense. But from what I gather, the wait isn't too bad—maybe just a week or two, at least. I’ve been quite happy with the doctor so far; he’s genuinely kind, and his nurse was lovely as well. He spent quite a bit of time asking exactly what I wanted to change about my nose, and then walked me through all the possibilities, the potential risks, how the procedure itself works, and even the recovery process. He really covered everything in such meticulous detail. I think I was in the office for a little over half an hour. 😕 Now, I suppose I just have to make it through until Monday.
☕ 🙂 🙂

Ashley Young34 said:I've decided to go with Dr. Ostojic 😉
I'm not entirely sure what led me to that conclusion, but I think I'll stick with him; I spent some time looking over his research and publications, and everything seems reasonably solid enough, I suppose.🙂

I actually made the same choice and settled on Dr. Ostojic myself. I'm heading in for my consultation tomorrow. 🎉 So, when are you planning to have the actual surgery? Have you already gotten on the schedule?