Rachel Harris63 said:If you’re strictly looking at aesthetics, I don't think anyone would agree to operate on you in a hospital setting. Usually, hospitals only step in if you're doing something functional—like fixing a deviated septum—alongside minor cosmetic tweaks. For purely aesthetic work, you'd have to go through a private clinic, and you're looking at roughly $2,200, depending on the surgeon and the scope of the procedure. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.
Actually, they will operate if there is a "significant" deformity. A girl came in for a follow-up right when I arrived to discuss my own appointment, and she was there for purely cosmetic reasons. BUT—she apparently had a pretty awkward issue with her nasal tip. Best to just go in and ask...
Chris Moore3 said:steelangler88, sorry—I haven't read your posts from the very beginning, but if I remember correctly, you mentioned having surgery already? Who did you go to? I actually need to get this done myself, but since I haven't had surgery here in the States, I have no idea what the surgeons are like or who you’d recommend. If you don't mind, could you send me a photo?😉
Whoa, where on earth did you dig up this ancient post?🙂 Honestly, after everything with the Los Angeles Lakers, I really don't feel like rehashing the whole story—everything is great now. If you want the specifics, just shoot me a DM.
jadehawk83 said:I had my nose done seven years ago. Since then, I've dealt with sinus issues more often—something I never struggled with before surgery. When it gets cold, only my left nostril runs, never the right. Plus, there's this tiny little divot where the bump used to be; it's wider than it was originally. But honestly, I'm an outlier here—I went in to fix a bump and ended up with a nose as wide as a boxer's. My mistake, really; I was young and reckless, and I didn't do enough research on the surgeon. Now? I wouldn't go back to him if my life depended on it. I'm currently hunting for top-tier specialists who actually excel at secondary rhinoplasty—specifically for the tougher cases—so if anyone has recommendations, please let me know. It’s hard to trust anyone anymore. To make matters worse, every doctor who sees me now just looks at my nose and asks, "Who did this to you?" 🙂
I hear you... / I also went through the whole "enhancement" process, and if I had known what to expect, I never would have stepped foot in a clinic. In the beginning—back when my nose looked even worse than it does now—it wasn't such a huge deal. But now? I find myself constantly wondering why I ever felt the need to do this. Sure, it looked bad then, but now I'm just sitting here worrying about what else might go wrong. Things are relatively okay for now, but I can't help but wonder what complications will pop up in a few years.😕
All things considered, I don't recommend it. If I’d had any foresight, I probably would've just changed my hairstyle instead. I breathed perfectly fine through my mouth until I was 21; I could have just left well enough alone. *sigh*🙄
I’m looking to connect with anyone who had rhinoplasty done back in the day—maybe 5, 10, or even 20 years ago? I'm curious to know how things have held up over the long haul, both in terms of how it looks and how it actually functions. If you've been through this, I'd love it if you could share your experience with us.🙂
It’s back. This damn inflammation—it’s been three weeks straight now. My nose feels bone-dry, almost like I’m breathing in dust constantly, and my breathing is just... restricted. Plus, this post-nasal drip is relentless. It’s been a full year since my surgery, too. What do you guys think? Is this just standard seasonal allergies, or could it be some lingering side effect from the procedure? Should I be looking into anti-inflammatory sprays? I’m planning to see my doctor at the end of six months, but honestly, I feel like I'm going to lose my mind before then.😢
Hey everyone... I spent the entire day turning my bedroom upside down looking for them, but no luck. Honestly, I don't get it. And meanwhile—clearly while I was asleep last night—they managed to leave another 2 or 3 spots. I’m actually going to lose my mind. Thanks for all the advice...
For the past few weeks—especially over the last two days—I've been getting these sudden, intense itching sensations, mostly on my leg. Sometimes it's an arm, doesn't matter. When I check, there's absolutely nothing there. No redness, no swelling, nothing. After a few seconds, I'll spot this tiny red dot, maybe a millimeter wide, looking like someone just poked me with a technical pen. It looks like a little blood spot, as if I was pricked by a needle. Now, I can't tell if the skin is actually broken or if it's something subcutaneous because it's too small to really judge. There’s no surrounding inflammation, just that one dot. Then it itches for a bit and vanishes. And this is happening more and more frequently lately. I started thinking maybe some demons are living in my bed. It's weird because I'm in a new apartment with new furniture—everything is brand new and freshly laundered (unless some monsters moved in during these last three months...). But then again, it doesn't seem tied to the apartment at all; most often it happens while I'm just walking down the street. I'll feel this sting behind my knee, and I start spiraling, thinking there's something crawling inside my clothes. I've washed all my pants, inspected them thoroughly, and found nothing. I'm going crazy because it's obvious something is biting me, yet I can't see a thing!! 😠 Is it possible I have uninvited roommates? Or could it be something like capillaries bursting? Does that cause a stinging sensation and itch right before it pops? Any ideas are welcome—I'm about to go nuts. 😕
Aaaahhh... so, my nose is almost hitting its one-year anniversary... and the tip still feels a bit stiff.🙂
But honestly, it’s looking really good right now—it feels like everything is finally settling into place, and even the size has leveled out nicely. If only I had the time to head back to the clinic to see the final result in person, that would be amazing.
Anyway, I know I've owed some of you photos for a long time now; I promise I'll send them over as soon as I get back home.👋
Kate Nguyen40 Asks: Greetings, everyone! I have a quick question—did they put "tampons" in for everyone after surgery, or did anyone go through this without them?
I haven't had any issues following my second surgery—honestly, I have no idea why some people struggle. I guess it just depends on certain factors. 🤷
rowdyfalcon35 said:Guys, please help. After he removed the septum, there's this massive indentation at the base of my nose. He told me to just massage it, and if that doesn't work, he’ll take fat from my knee and put it in my nose. Has anyone actually done this???
Fat from the knee?🙂 I won't even ask which "genius" came up with that idea, or where they learned such things. My advice: don't let them touch you with fat, fillers, Aquamide, or any other nonsense. Cartilage grafts solve this issue perfectly—and they're permanent. The real problem? Most "plastic surgeons" either don't know how to do it, don't want to, or simply won't bother. I strongly suggest you shop around, get second opinions from different doctors, and see what they recommend. You need this done right. I dealt with the exact same issue, and my "esteemed doctor" was all too eager to offer to fill the gap with Aquamide! Unbelievable... what a "specialist." 🙄
(So, a hospital ends up fixing a private practitioner's mess...)
rustygardener172 said:My tip stayed swollen for quite a while... I think it didn't really settle down until about six months in. And the whole nose in general... hmm... It’s been a year and four months since my surgery, and only now does it finally feel like it's done. I'm totally happy with everything now.
Oh, absolutely... I didn't think so either, but only NOW is everything actually starting to fall into place. I had my surgery 9 months ago, and it's only in the last 2-3 weeks that I've noticed those famous little "bumps" slowly disappearing—the tip is getting definition and the whole nose just looks... different. As long as the tip doesn't drop, I'll be thrilled.😍
Ashley Gomez said:steelangler88, I totally get what you mean about those indentations on the sides—I’ve started seeing them lately too. My skin feels thin, almost like there's this narrow strip of bone right down the middle, and then everything just drops off on either side. It feels like something is missing in between 🤷 maybe it's swollen bone or something... it's happening on both sides and spans nearly an inch The tip actually looks wider now than it did two months ago. 🙂 It's been six months since my surgery, and honestly, I'm starting to wonder if there's any hope left for me. 😢
Oh, and one more thing. I didn't realize anyone else had mentioned this, and I'm thinking it's impossible... that it'll just stay this way. After my first surgery, things stayed permanent, so I know this is likely how it's going to be. But it drives me absolutely crazy—I can't wrap my head around why they didn't just "close" it up immediately. The doctor promised he'd fix it, but the thought of going under for a third surgery? I just don't have the willpower or the patience for it. Plus, I don't even have the time; I'm working and won't have any vacation time for another six months, and until then, I have zero desire to spend my life bouncing between hospitals. And then I'd have to show up to work looking bruised and discolored for another three months, trying to explain to everyone what happened and why. 🙄 Screw him, though. I was a defective product from the start, and clearly, that's just my fate. 😁
Oh Emily Vaughn46, your nose is honestly stunning!! Seriously, don't touch it. While you *can* fix the tip area, if you look at mine—which I've had done—the profile still looks a bit "off." From a direct side view, it looks flat, but once you tilt it to a three-quarter view, you can see how it curves downward🤷. It drives me crazy, but I've just gotten used to it. So... bottom line, your nose is truly beautiful, and unless it's bothering you immensely, I wouldn't mess with it if I were you.😉
On my end, all the bumps have smoothed out, thank God, and I'm feeling really happy about it. BUT (there's always a "but" with me😁), I haven't seen anyone else mention this specific issue: the upper part of the nose, the bridge/root area—the bony part. It feels like there are "pits" on both sides. Like two vertical indentations, maybe half a centimeter long. Since my bone structure is flat, it looks from the side like pieces of bone are just missing—I don't even know how to describe it. My skin is so thin that every tiny little "imperfection" just shows through. Has anyone else dealt with this? I had the exact same thing after my first surgery on one side, and now that the second side is "fixed," the same thing is happening on the other side. 🙂 I’m kind of hoping that as the tip shrinks more over time, it might become less noticeable, but I don't know how much hope I should hold onto since it's already been 8 months....
I was actually SHOCKED—like, so stunned and horrified that I’m only just processing it now, clearly because I suppressed the memory deep, deep down so it would never resurface 😬—when I saw right after they took off the splint (not to mention all that other junk that was useless) that my nose was still abnormally WIDE!!! But the thing is, that was my specific issue; at the bridge, my nose was actually wider than the base (gross), so I sat down with Dr. Boduen to discuss narrowing it. After the surgery, I had a total SHOCK—the nose looked (aside from being all messy) kind of FLAT, slightly asymmetrical, and WIDE! I honestly think the issue was that the SKIN remained exactly how it was (on the wide nose) even though the bones were reshaped; the skin stayed put, making it look like the nose was still wide. I don't know how to explain it... it was like there was this "excess" skin that felt sort of flabby back then. I kept thinking, "Damn, this looks even wider than before." But it wasn't; that skin settled perfectly after a few days—I don't even know WHEN exactly—but it's gone now, and my nose IS narrower (even though immediately after the procedure, it looked wider and just overall... ugh). Is it possible that's the "issue" you're dealing with?? Because if that's the case (and it's hard to tell when you can't even see yourself and it looks awful...), then you'll be fine, it won't stay like that forever.
Taylor Miller10 said:Here’s my situation... The cast finally came off. I asked my surgeon how things looked—he says everything is fine, just some lingering swelling, but all good. I asked if he actually narrowed the nasal passages—he said yes and told me to come back for a follow-up in a month. Asked about the stitches—he says they'll dissolve on their own. Then I actually look in the mirror (it took some searching to find it), and my nose looks like a complete disaster; it's insanely swollen and looks like it's veering to the right. As for the stitches? I can't see any; not inside, not outside. Now I'm sitting here wondering if my doctor lied to me or if he even touched the width of my nose at all.!!!!!!! I've been Googling, and from what I can tell, if you get rhinoplasty to narrow the nose, there SHOULD be external stitches.
I am beyond disappointed and just honestly sad...😢😢
Does anyone know anything about this... about narrowing this damn nose!!!!?
That was the whole point for me... just to have it look a little slimmer.......
Oh, don't even look in the mirror yet..... I was a total wreck when my cast came off. It was a nightmare—my nose looked massive, totally lopsided, a dent on one side and a huge lump on the other... a total disaster. I 100% know exactly how you feel; I cried for a week straight.😲🙂 but it gets better every single day, and if you didn't have major complications, your nose is going to look great. I actually had a really rough time because there were several errors, my breathing was worse, and my surgeon was incredibly unprofessional—but even with that mess, my nose looked better with every passing day. I know it sounds impossible, but don't stress too much because the daily changes are HUGE. Very few people are thrilled the second the cast comes off... usually, the asymmetry is just extreme swelling. Just stay patient and try to stay positive. I'm crossing my fingers that everything turns out exactly how you wanted.🙂
And for those asking, I had my surgery done in Chicago.
stormycyclist9 said:I honestly don't get why everyone who gets surgery at local public hospitals ends up having such a bad experience—like, nobody seems to get through it pain-free—while people at private clinics supposedly feel zero pain. Speaking from my own experience, I had no pain during or after, and hardly any bleeding. Even when they removed the packing, there was basically zero blood—maybe a tiny bit for two minutes. It’s ridiculous. :S
Actually, my hospital experience was much easier—no tight stitches, no packing... and the ward staff were perfectly professional; honestly, everyone was great. As for the results, 🙂that really comes down to the surgeon's skill, regardless of whether they work at a public hospital or a private clinic. I once paid an absolute fortune for surgery at a high-end private facility and ended up with total crap, yet I didn't pay a dime to the doctor at the hospital and got an amazing nose. That's just how it goes.
Taylor Miller10 said:Okay... I am now COMPLETELY freaking out because my surgery is tomorrow. Septoplasty and rhinoplasty. The only thing absolutely eating at me is how confused I was during the consultation—I told the doctor he should narrow my nasal passages and make my nose look better, but I totally forgot to mention fixing the tip since it's a bit fleshy. Damn it, surely he'll see that? I'm panicking because I'm terrified of ending up looking ridiculous with narrow nostrils and a bulbous nose. For what it's worth, it's not actually long or huge, just kind of chunky.
And there isn't a single thing on this forum about Dr. Maksimilian, who is performing my surgery!!!
HELP, HELP, I'm going to lose my mind!!!!!!!
A good surgeon will know exactly what needs to be done, whether you explicitly stated it or not. Regardless, you'll have one last chat about everything right before the procedure—that's when you tell him exactly what's on your mind. Don't worry 😉 good luck!
wanderingcrane21 said:It’s actually nothing like that typical local numbing you get when, say, you go in for stitches at the hospital... I can't tell you exactly what they gave me, but I know my sister injected something into my IV around 9:30, and I didn't wake up until noon. 🙂 The doctor told me during my first consultation that they give you local anesthesia combined with a sedative to induce amnesia—so you won't remember a thing. Believe me—whatever they used worked perfectly. 🙂 I had the exact same experience under general anesthesia; I just drifted off and woke up much later... so don't worry about it. 😁
God, I hope so. Otherwise, I’m going to jump off the table the second I feel them scraping—and that definitely wouldn't be pretty. Thank you very much!