Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Thanks so much for the response

Jeffrey Parker42 said:Hey guys, quick question—how long do I have to wait before I can start wearing glasses again after surgery?

Give it at least 3 months—maybe even longer if you're planning on heavy frames.

casualbison3 said:I would suggest waiting at least three months, or perhaps even longer if those frames feel particularly heavy on you.

Since they do feel quite heavy, I think I will take your advice and wait as long as possible...

Jeffrey Parker42 said:Hey there. So, about two weeks ago I had nose surgery—fixing a deviated septum and some reshaping. The initial recovery was smooth enough,
breathing is definitely better, but honestly, the new look is what’s getting to me. I guess I finally get why people say "don't expect miracles."
If I decided to go back under the knife for some minor tweaks, how many months should I wait? I'm thinking about heading out to Seattle this time,
I've heard about the Zambelli clinic, so I wanted to see if anyone here has worked with them or knows what their pricing looks like?

Which facility did you use for the first one?

Does anyone here have any firsthand experience regarding the services provided by the Arcadia Medical Center in Madison?

briskgardener6 said:Has anyone here had any experience with the Arcadia Medical Center in Madison?

Actually, I did have surgery at Arcadia with Dr. Ignatovski. I actually went through his representative, N. S., to set everything up. Honestly, because of all the unprofessionalism and just how poorly I was treated by both her and the doctor after the procedure, I really can't recommend them.

To make a long story short... I just wanted to fix a bump on my nose. During my consultation, I made it very clear that I didn't want anything looking fake—I wanted it to still look like "me." The doctor seemed to agree, but in the end, he didn't really respect what I asked for. He tried to give me this tiny, upturned nose and ended up completely changing my facial structure. They took way too much cartilage, so now I’m dealing with breathing issues I never had before; my nose is mostly blocked, and I basically have to breathe through my mouth at night. And as for how it looks... I honestly get chills every time I see myself in the mirror. I mean, the bump is smaller, which doesn't bother me, but since the tip is in such bad shape, it looks deformed and unnatural. My nose looks too droopy and too long for my liking, and they didn't properly join the bones, so I have these two holes on the sides (it's called an open roof deformity). Overall, I feel like my face looks worse than it did before, especially when I smile. Once it's been a year since the surgery, I'm planning to see a different doctor for reconstructive work using cartilage from my ear.

Ashley Peterson44 said:Yes, I underwent surgery at Arcadia Medical Center with Dr. Ignatovski. I accessed the procedure through his representative, N. S. Given the sheer lack of professionalism and basic human decency I experienced from both her and the doctor following the operation, I cannot recommend them under any circumstances.

To put it bluntly... my goal was to address a bump on my nose. During the initial consultation, I was explicit about not wanting an artificial look; I wanted it to still feel like "my" nose. The doctor agreed, yet he completely disregarded my wishes during the actual procedure. He attempted to give me a tiny, upturned nose, which utterly altered my facial structure. Furthermore, far too much cartilage was removed, resulting in breathing difficulties that I never had prior to the surgery—my nose is largely obstructed, forcing me to breathe through my mouth at night. As for the aesthetics... I shudder every time I see my reflection. While the bump is smaller, it is a moot point because the tip is now structurally compromised; it looks deformed and unnatural. To make matters worse, the nose is too drooping and elongated for my liking, and since the bones weren't properly joined, I am left with two holes on the sides, known as an "open roof." Overall, my face looks worse than it did before. The worst part is when I smile. Once a year has passed since the procedure, I intend to visit a different surgeon for reconstructive work using ear cartilage.

Who would you consider seeing? Can you recommend a top-tier surgeon... perhaps Zambelli or someone of that caliber who is truly exceptional?

A question for those of you who actually know what you're talking about. Most days, I’m dealing with at least one nostril being half-blocked—it’s rarely both, though occasionally everything works fine. But when I’m out running? Forget it. I can't breathe through my nose at all—it feels way too narrow. As soon as I pick up the pace during soccer practice, my mouth just flies open automatically. It’s frustrating, though I suppose I’ve just gotten used to it—life is full of small annoyances, I guess. Could this be a deviated septum? And if so, is there a fix that doesn't involve a massive recovery period where my nose stays looking exactly the same?

briskgardener6 said:Who would you go to? Can you recommend a top-tier surgeon... maybe Zambelli, or someone else who is really great?

After my initial surgery, I actually went to see three different doctors for consultations. I think I liked Zambelli and the surgeon Planinšek the most (they both spotted the exact same issues right away and suggested the same way to fix them). Zambelli seems incredibly focused on his work, and based on the photos I've seen and what others have said, he does a wonderful job. He doesn't do any of that unnecessary sweet-talking or hand-holding—which was a bit much with my first surgeon—so I really appreciated that about him. I haven't had my revision yet, so I can't say too much more than that.

I’d probably suggest getting a few different opinions if you can, just so you can get a feel for things like their specific techniques, their level of expertise, and how they treat you... I guess when it comes to a procedure like this, your intuition is probably everything. It might be best to meet the surgeons in person so you can see for yourself who you feel most comfortable with.

A bit late with this reply... I saw my surgeon for a checkup a week ago, and he claims everything with my nose is fine for now. He basically said there’s plenty of room in there—enough that it should be clear. The issue is, it still doesn't feel clear on one side. He suggested I hit the pool and try diving deep as often as possible to "clear things out." He also prescribed some nasal cream and Sterimar. It’s been nearly three weeks since the surgery, and honestly, my nose isn't behaving the way I expected. Or maybe I just need to wait longer for the mucosa to heal? Any advice?

Carl Young57 said:... it’s been almost three weeks since the surgery, and honestly, my nose doesn't look anything like I thought it would. Or maybe I just need to hang tight while the mucous membrane heals? Anyone got any advice?

Man, that’s nowhere near enough time to see the final result. There are absolutely going to be more changes coming... just gotta have some patience 🙂

Carl Young57 said:Sorry I'm running a bit late with this reply... I was actually at the doctor's for a checkup about a week ago, and he told me everything with my nose looks fine for now. He basically said there's plenty of room in there—like, it should be totally clear. The thing is, though... it still doesn't feel like one side is breathing right. He suggested I hit up the local pool and try diving deep as much as possible to help clear things out? He also gave me some nasal cream and some Sterimar spray. It’s been almost three weeks since the surgery, and honestly, my nose isn't quite where I thought it would be by now. Or maybe I just need to give the mucous membrane more time to heal? Does anyone have any advice?

I'm still struggling to breathe properly too (had my surgery in mid-May, so it's been about a month and a half now)
especially on one specific side
plus, I can feel some thickening on the outer lining—since they did that cartilage correction on the tip (the narrowing part), which makes it even more noticeable—and occasionally, I can feel little bits of leftover suture poking through here and there...
It feels like things might be getting slightly better over time, but I definitely can't say I'm breathing like I should be yet...

Could someone please let me know—or just shoot me a DM if you prefer—what the typical price range looks like for an esresca procedure? I’m specifically looking into the costs for esretica performed by the Actress, Ostojica, or Bagatin. If anyone has any intel or first-hand info on their rates, I’d truly appreciate it. Thanks.

I just shot an email over to the Meister Medical Team San Diego... and here's what they sent back:
Dear ,
Thanks for reaching out. Based on the surgeon's review of the photos you provided, the estimated cost for the rhinoplasty would be $2.25.
Best regards,

The Meister Medical Team San Diego

So, this is how my nose looks normally View on imgur
And this is what happens when I lift it slightly with my finger View on imgur
Do you guys think it’s actually possible to get this done for such a "low" price? 👋

analogbison15 said:I sent an email over to the Meister Medical Team in San Diego... and here’s what they had to say in response:
To whom it may concern,,
Thank you for reaching out to us. The estimated cost for a rhinoplasty procedure to address the nasal tip would be... $2.25 Based on what the surgeon said after looking over those images you sent.
Best regards.

The Meister Medical Team in San Diego

This is what a normal nose looks like. View on imgur
And this is what happens when I give it a little nudge with my finger. View on imgur
Do you honestly think it's possible to get something like this for such a "low" price? 👋

It’s ridiculous—they have two different prices listed for the exact same procedure right there on their own website. 🤷 Well, if they told you that's how it works, then I guess it’s possible.

Drew Perez11 said:Hey there, 🙂 I’ve been lurking here for ages just reading everyone else's stories, so I figured it was finally time to jump in and share my own experience. 🙂
I actually had my surgery yesterday in El Paso... Dr. Boris Pegan came all the way from Chicago to handle it. We sat down before everything kicked off so I could tell him exactly what I wanted, and he took some photos of me first.
I headed into the OR at 11:00, woke up back in my hospital bed around 1:15, and man, that anesthesia absolutely wrecked me—I spent the entire day yesterday throwing up. But honestly, today I feel fantastic and I'm not in any pain at all, except maybe a tiny bit at the tip of my nose, which is totally negligible... and the IV fluids were minimal. 🙂
Anyway, that's the gist of it; I'll let you guys know how things progress. 🙂

Hey, hi! So you went to see Dr. Pegan—how did the whole thing go? What’s his vibe like? And was it a rhinoplasty or a septoplasty you had done?

Hey everyone, I'm 14 and looking into getting my septum fixed. My doctor is out on vacation right now so I can't even book an appointment yet. But seriously, can you actually get a septum surgery at 14 and a half? Also, do I get a say between local or general anesthesia? How long is the waitlist, and how much time am I stuck in the hospital?

Hey everyone, has anyone here actually worked with the Actress? I'm trying to get an idea of what his rates look like, since word on the street is he's basically the top EST surgeon in the country.

George Ramos11 said:Hey guys, anyone here dealt with the Actress before? I'm trying to figure out what his rates are even like, since word on the street is he's the top plastic surgeon in the country.

Man, "word on the street" is a stretch...
Honestly, Glumicic is more like a flashy name for a surgeon who just likes looking the part...

If you actually care about technical skill, Uglešić is the real deal. Plus, I see plenty of women raving about him here.😉

Sophia Harris96 said:Just like you said, "it’s only hearsay."
Honestly, "Actress" feels more like some superficial buzzword surgeons toss around when they’re just playing dress-up in the OR.

Based on professional standards alone, Uglešić is easily the best choice. Plus, I’ve noticed plenty of women around here giving him glowing reviews too. 😉

Anyone here actually dealt with Uglešić before? I'm curious if anyone has any real-world experience with them.