Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Alex Moore62 said:I’ve honestly never heard anything about the ENT department at Holy Spirit, so I assume it isn't anything special; if it were, people in Washington, D.C. would be talking about it.🤷 It certainly isn't as reputable as Rebro.
I know quite a few people who have had surgeries at Vinogradska, but I don't know a single soul who went to Holy Spirit, so I personally wouldn't recommend them to you. As for Rebro, it's common knowledge that they are top-tier—their ENT department used to be over at Šalat before they moved into the newly built Rebro facility.
Personally, I haven't had great experiences with Vinogradska, so I wouldn't suggest it either. Since I struggled with sinus issues for so many years, believe me, I've visited plenty of ENT specialists. The most skilled and effective one turned out to be Dr. Jurlina at Rebro. He was the first person (after years of bouncing between different clinics) to provide a high-quality assessment, accurate diagnostics, and an effective treatment plan—my allergies really wreak havoc on my nasal mucosa, and I had a severe deviated septum—and he eventually performed two surgeries on me.
Before my first surgery, I did seek a second opinion from the only decent ENT at Mercury (I can't recall the name right now; I'm not digging through my files), and he completely agreed with Dr. Jurlina's diagnosis. I didn't go there because I doubted Dr. Jurlina's decision—I know I can rely entirely on his expertise and experience—but rather because a friend gave me the chance to see another good doctor, so I figured, why not?
If you're looking for info regarding accommodations—the ENT at Rebro is in a new building. The rooms are doubles with private bathrooms (they have singles too) and TVs; everything is modern and comfortable.
When I had a surgery in a different field at Holy Spirit, everything felt outdated. The accommodations were terrible; the bathroom and toilet were shared by the entire ward and were pretty bad, and there were four or five of us squeezed into one room...

I had my septum deviated corrected in Miami, but strictly for breathing purposes. Now, I’d actually head to Washington, D.C. to get my nose fixed properly, because a huge bump formed after that functional surgery in Miami. Does Dr. Jurlina perform reconstructive procedures? They couldn't manage that for me in Miami. Functionally, they did a decent job—I breathe much better—but aesthetically, they absolutely ruined my nose. I have this massive bump. I've heard that Dr. Raguž is a highly capable doctor, so I was thinking about seeing him. Right now, I'm stuck in a dilemma. 🤷

neonhawk78 said:I had surgery to fix a deviated septum down in Miami, but that was strictly to help me breathe better. Now, I’m seriously considering heading up to NYC to get my nose fixed, because that functional procedure left me with this massive bump. Does Dr. Jurlina perform reconstructive work? The team in Miami simply wasn't equipped to handle the aesthetic side of things. While the functional part was actually quite successful—I can breathe significantly better now—the cosmetic outcome is a disaster; there's just this huge protrusion where there shouldn't be one. I’ve heard that Dr. Raguž is incredibly skilled, so I was thinking about booking an appointment with him, but I'm feeling pretty torn about it all. 🤷

Jurlina specialized in maxillofacial surgery and handles high-stakes cases like oncological procedures—essentially, he saves lives. Because of that expertise, I think he might be able to help you, but he really needs to examine you in person first. We can't just make assumptions or play doctor from a distance; you’ll need to consult him directly.
If I were in your shoes, I’d suggest getting a second opinion from both him and Raguž to see how their assessments differ and what they actually propose. You really need to ask them point-blank what can realistically be done at this stage. The real issue here is figuring out exactly what was done back in Miami and how much "material" they left you to work with—it’s painfully obvious that someone made a massive mess of things.
Jurlina doesn't just wing it; he’s incredibly thorough. Before every single one of my surgeries, he insists on sending me for a sinus CT scan so he can get a precise look at the situation before deciding on the best course of action. Getting an appointment with him is another story entirely—unless you're already under his care, you're looking at a significant wait. I know that in recent years, they've actually stopped taking new patient referrals as early as the spring because he gets so overwhelmed. My advice? Just try booking an initial consultation with a referral and see what they tell you. You might find out you're stuck waiting until the start of 2014 just to get on the schedule, or you might get lucky and find something sooner.

Mayo Clinic ENT Department
12 Kišpatićev St (White building, 1st floor)
E-mail: predbiljezbe.poliklinika.orl@mayo-clinic.org
Fax: 1-212-236-7188
For more details, give me a call at 555-012-3671.

In any case, regardless of which hospital you decide on for your surgery, please take some serious time to weigh your options before making a final call. For this second procedure, it is absolutely vital that you find an exceptional surgeon—someone who possesses the precision necessary to balance technical function with aesthetic results, ensuring you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.

Alex Moore62 said:Jurlina specializes in maxillofacial surgery and handles serious stuff like oncological procedures—he's literally saving lives—so I honestly believe he could help you. But, he needs to actually examine you first; we can't just make assumptions here. You really need to ask him yourself.
I’d suggest getting a consultation with both him and Raguž to see what their individual assessments and recommendations are. You should also ask them plainly what can realistically be done at this stage. The real issue is what they actually did to you back in Miami; it’s pretty obvious there isn't much "material" left to work with because they clearly botched it.
Jurlina doesn't play guessing games. Before every single one of my surgeries, he sent me for a sinus CT so he could see exactly what was going on before making a call on the procedure. It is notoriously difficult to get an appointment with him unless you’ve been a patient of his before, and even then, there's a wait. I know that in recent years, they've even stopped taking new patient referrals as early as the spring because he's just so overloaded. So, your best bet is to try booking a consultation with a referral and see what they tell you—whether you'll be stuck waiting until early 2014 or if they can squeeze you in sooner.

Mayo Clinic ENT Department
12 Kišpatićev St (White Building, 1st Floor)
E-mail: predbiljezbe.poliklinika.orl@kbc-chicago.hr
Fax: 01 2367 188
Information via phone: 01 2367 192

In any case, regardless of where you decide to go for surgery, please think this through carefully. For this second operation, it is absolutely vital that you find an elite surgeon who knows how to perform the necessary repairs while preserving both function and aesthetics.

Waiting that long just for an initial consultation is way too much time, and frankly, I’m not looking forward to undergoing another sinus CT. I don't have any issues with it, which was already confirmed by the first CT I had done in Miami. I think I'll go ahead and see Dr. Raguž instead; I haven't heard a single negative thing about him. On the contrary, plenty of patients have praised him for fixing both the function and the look of their noses.

neonhawk78 said:That feels like an eternity to wait just for an initial consultation. 😢

Try to grab an appointment; looking at the calendar, there are only two months left until 2014, and December is packed with holidays anyway. 🤷 Just lean on the Holy Spirit in the meantime.
Look, if you're dealing with a legitimate medical issue, you need to handle it with gravity rather than rushing through it just to get it over with. In a situation like this, time isn't necessarily the most critical variable—at least, it wouldn't be in my book.

By the way, regarding which facility holds the top spot, I just did a quick search and found this:

Edit: I see you updated your post—if you have a recent CT scan, you probably won't need to undergo another one.

Alex Moore62 said:Look, try to get on the schedule. There are only two months left until 2014, and half of that is just the holidays. 🤷 Maybe you should just go do Holy Spirit in the meantime.
Honestly, I think you have a serious issue on your hands and you need to tackle it head-on instead of rushing through things just for the sake of it. In my opinion, timing isn't really the deciding factor here.

By the way, regarding which hospital is considered the top tier, I just Googled this:

Edit: I see you updated your post—if you have a recent CT, you probably won't need to undergo another one.

It’s honestly exhausting just thinking about having to re-register for a CT scan, seeing the anesthesiologist again, doing all those blood tests over, and traveling back and forth from St. Louis to NYC so many times just to see various doctors. I wonder if it's possible to get those tests done in Miami 😢 and does anyone know how much time needs to pass between the first and second surgery? I had my operation in September; my sutures recently came out and the mucosa seems fine.

neonhawk78 said:The thought of having to go through the whole cycle again—signing up for another CT scan, seeing the anesthesiologist, doing all those blood tests over again, and trekking back and forth from San Diego to NYC just for doctor appointments—it’s honestly exhausting. Can I just get these tests done in Miami 😢, and does anyone know how much time needs to pass between the first and second surgery? I had my operation in September; the stitches recently came out, and the mucous membrane seems fine.

If I recall correctly, there was some recent news coverage about these types of tests when they were adjusting health insurance coverage rights; my understanding is that you can have them done wherever is most convenient for you rather than being forced to go to a specific hospital—you should probably double-check with your primary care physician.

If memory serves, there usually needs to be a few months between surgeries (maybe three, though I can't recall the exact number), which is something an ENT specialist can confirm. It is definitely far too early for you to be rushing into anything else—given the anesthesia involved, you really shouldn't hurry; every time you go under, there's a risk, and it leaves its mark on the body.

Generally speaking, it’s better to schedule surgery during the colder months to minimize risks like bleeding complications or infections; you typically want to avoid the summer unless it's an absolute emergency.

To be honest, I'm quite taken aback that you had your surgery so recently. I had assumed you were dealing with some sort of permanent ossification after a longer period, but it sounds like the initial procedure was handled quite poorly. 😢

Drawing from my own experience with two surgeries, I’d suggest focusing entirely on recovering from this one first and letting everything settle naturally before jumping into a second procedure. Your nose is still going to undergo changes. Regardless, I would strongly advise booking a consultation in Washington, D.C. immediately; by the time you actually get the appointment, you'll likely have finished your recovery. If I were in your shoes, I’d call Rebro or Holy Spirit, explain the situation, and ask if they could squeeze you in for an urgent consultation.

Alex Moore62 said:I think there was some recent media coverage about those specific scans, especially when they started cutting back on our health insurance benefits. My impression is that they usually have you do them at a local clinic near you rather than at the hospital—you should probably check with your primary care doctor.

If my memory serves me right, you need to wait a few months between surgeries (maybe three, I can't recall the exact number), which an ENT specialist could confirm. It’s definitely way too soon for you to be looking at anything else. You really shouldn't rush things because of the anesthesia; every time you go under, there's a risk involved, and it takes a toll on your body.

Generally speaking, it's actually better to schedule surgery during the colder months to minimize complications like bleeding or infections. I wouldn't recommend going under the knife in the summer unless it’s an absolute emergency.

Honestly, I'm pretty shocked to hear you had your surgery so recently. I was under the impression that any issues you were having were due to long-term ossification, but it sounds like they may have done a subpar job on the initial procedure. 😢

Based on my own experience with two surgeries, I’d suggest focusing entirely on recovering from this one first and letting everything settle before even considering a second operation. Your nose is still going to change shape. Regardless, I would strongly advise booking a consultation in Washington, D.C. immediately; by the time you actually get an appointment, you'll have fully recovered. If I were in your shoes, I'd call Rebro or Holy Spirit, explain the situation, and ask if they could squeeze you in for an urgent evaluation.

Thanks for the info. I’ve already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Raguž, though I just have to wait for the strike to end. It's been nearly two months since my surgery, but I don't think my nose is going to change much more. The mucosa has almost healed, but that lump is still right there. I’m just hoping the doctor will agree to operate on a nose that’s already been worked on, because I honestly don't know who in Miami could handle this without being a private specialist. I could see Dr. Lisec, but I’ve read he specializes more in functional repairs than aesthetics. On the other hand, there's Dr. Kurtović, whom I read about in a case where he allegedly ruined a patient's nose while working with a hospital physician—he ended up having to refund half her money (I think she posted about it here under the name lana_st). That leaves me with Dr. Gulić from San Diego, but I've heard mixed reviews there too, so it seems my best bet is sticking with the specialists in Washington, D.C.😢
P.S. I was put under general anesthesia, even though I much prefer local.

neonhawk78 said:Thanks for the info. I’ve already put my name in with Dr. Raguž, though now I just have to sit tight until this strike finally wraps up. It’s been nearly two months since my last surgery, but I don't think my nose shape is going to shift any further. While the mucous membrane has mostly healed, that lump is still sitting right where it was. I'm really hoping the doctor is willing to touch up a nose that's already been operated on, because honestly, I'm running out of options here in Miami if I want to avoid private clinics. My only other choice locally would be Dr. Lisec, but from what I've read, he tends to prioritize functional repairs over aesthetics. Then there’s Dr. Kurtović; I came across a story about him collaborating with a hospital physician and nearly ruining a patient's nose—he ended up having to refund half her money, if I recall correctly (I think the user lana_st posted that here). That leaves me with Dr. Glušac from San Diego, but his track record isn't exactly glowing either. At this point, it feels like my only real shot is heading up to Washington, D.C. to see the specialists there. 😢
PS: I went under general anesthesia for the procedure, though if I'm being honest, I've started to find local anesthesia much more to my liking lately.

If Ivan Raguž is getting seen that quickly, it suggests his schedule isn't exactly packed and he isn't running himself ragged. Honestly, that would set off alarm bells for me; when you're looking at a reoperation, you really want someone with deep, seasoned experience under their belt. But then again, that’s just my perspective—I’ve always been the type who would trust only Rebro, no questions asked. You should definitely follow your own gut instead of taking my word for it. I truly hope everything goes smoothly for you, so please keep me posted on how things develop. 🙂

For surgeries like this, hospitals typically utilize general anesthesia. It’s only those private clinics that lack a dedicated anesthesiologist who end up overcharging patients by simply sedating them; however, that isn't true local anesthesia, but rather just a cocktail designed to induce a state of drowsiness.
I wouldn't be foolish enough to try staying awake while they're busy fixing my septum under local anesthesia. 😲 Because I would honestly just have a complete nervous breakdown.

Alex Moore62 said:Hmm, if Ivan Raguž is seeing patients this quickly, it suggests he isn't exactly swamped or playing in the big leagues just yet. Personally, that would set off some alarm bells for me—especially since you really need someone with seasoned experience for a revision surgery. But hey, that’s just my take; I’m the type who would strictly stick with Rebro no matter what. Listen to your gut rather than me, though. I truly wish you the best, so please keep me posted on how things unfold. 🙂

For surgeries like this, hospitals typically use general anesthesia. It’s usually only those private clinics that lack a dedicated anesthesiologist who try to cut corners by just sedating patients, but that’s not true local anesthesia—it's more like a cocktail designed to knock you out.
Honestly, the thought of being awake during a local anesthetic while they work on my septum 😲 is completely out of the question for me; I think I'd have a total nervous breakdown.

Dr. Raguž is relatively young in medical terms, maybe around 35, but everyone I know who has gone under his knife seems really satisfied with the results. Maybe he doesn't have a massive backlog because he only started practicing at Holy Spirit back in 2011.

neonhawk78 said:Dr. Raguž is relatively young for a surgeon, probably around 35, but honestly, everyone I know who has gone under his knife seems pretty satisfied with the results. He might not have decades of experience under his belt since he only started practicing at the Holy Spirit hospital back in 2011, but quality isn't always about how long you've been doing it.

That being said, regardless of how much faith people have in his work, given everything you're dealing with, I’d strongly suggest getting a second opinion from another specialist just to be safe. 😉

Melissa Wright8 said:Maybe my doctor didn't smooth out this side of my nose enough, because there's still this little bump left. During my last few consultations, he told me to just press on it myself, and he’d press it too—man, I swear I saw stars from the sheer pain and nausea. Ugh. Now when I try to press it myself, it hurts so much that I’m terrified I’ll mess things up and end up with a totally crooked nose.

Ouch! 😢 Honestly, I'm not even sure what to tell you... If there's any way you can get a professional second opinion, you probably should, just to see what other surgeons think. But for now, stick with your guy—just take it easy and try to stay calm. Maybe that bump will actually settle down or flatten out after a while.
Fingers crossed for you! 😁

neonhawk78 said:The wait time until I can actually get an initial appointment with him feels like an eternity,

Take a look at this link—if you scroll to the bottom, it mentions they collaborate with Dr. Jurlina, so maybe you could ask if there’s any way to squeeze in an earlier consultation with him if you're feeling impatient. http://www.dzepina.com/poliklinika/o-nama.html

I definitely plan on making the trip. Thanks.

I’m looking for anyone who’s had surgery performed by Glumičić or Zambelli—if you have, please send me your experiences. 🙂 I’ve been putting this operation off for 10 years now, but I guess I’ve finally worked up the nerve. 🙂

cosmicbadger83 said:Sorry you didn't have a great experience... but honestly, what's the big deal with local anesthesia? It’s safer and puts way less strain on your system. General anesthesia isn't something to mess around with—your body "remembers" every single time you go under. In my experience, local was totally fine; I didn't feel a thing.

Oh, please... I can still vividly remember the blood everywhere and that sound in my ears—like someone was hammering away at my bone. I had nightmares about surgical flashes for at least two years after that.
General anesthesia is actually a total lifesaver... you just drift off, dream a little, and wake up feeling like nothing even happened. 🙂 An hour after surgery, I was already out grabbing lunch with a friend because I was absolutely starving. 🙂
If you're healthy, general anesthesia doesn't have any negative impact on your body whatsoever—look, I'm not an MD, but I do have a PhD, so I know how this works. 😉 )

My doctor mentioned they used to perform nasal surgeries under local anesthesia at the local clinic, but thankfully, they don't do that to patients anymore.
He explained that while local anesthesia numbs the tissue, it obviously can't touch the bone.
Apparently, there were plenty of people who "felt" almost everything during the procedure, which is why they switched to general anesthesia.

neondriver15 said:Give me a break... I can still vividly remember the blood everywhere and the sound of my bone being hammered in ringing in my ears. I had nightmares about those surgical flashes for at least two years after.
General anesthesia is a dream... you drift off, dream a little, and wake up feeling like nothing happened. 🙂 An hour after surgery, I was already out at lunch with a friend because I was starving. 🙂
If the patient is healthy, general anesthesia has absolutely zero lasting effect on the body (I'm not an MD, but I have a PhD, so I know what I'm talking about. 😉 ))

Lol, a PhD in what? Economics? Then you "know." 🤣
General definitely has an effect on the body, and it counts every single time you go under. I’ve been under general myself (major abdominal surgery), so I know how blissful just falling asleep is... but I wouldn't trade my local anesthesia for general ever. I didn't feel any pain, just the pressure, and yeah, I was awake, but it didn't hurt one bit. Plus, with local, the blood flow is different, which actually matters for the procedure and recovery. Ask any actual doctor (MD, not a PhD 😁 ))

Thought I’d jump in here too. I had nose surgery two weeks ago on October 14th. They took out the packing that Thursday, and then the splint came off after seven days. Right after the splint was gone, I was thrilled—the bump was totally gone and my profile looked perfectly straight (which was huge for me since my tip used to droop). But by the second day, it felt like the tip dropped again and everything went back to how it was. Now I'm stuck wondering if the issue is that the doctor didn't even touch the tip because I was so adamant about not wanting a "piggy" nose; now that area just feels swollen, and I can't tell if the tip will actually stay up or if this is just permanent... if anyone else has dealt with something similar, please let me know.

neondriver15 said:Oh, please... I can still vividly remember the blood rushing and hearing the sound of the hammer hitting bone ringing in my ears. I had nightmares about those surgical flashes for at least two years after the fact.
General anesthesia is actually quite gentle... you just drift off, dream for a bit, and wake up feeling like nothing even happened. 🙂 An hour after my surgery, I was already out at a restaurant grabbing lunch with a friend because I was absolutely famished. 🙂
If a person is healthy, general anesthesia shouldn't have any adverse effects on the body whatsoever (look, I'm not an MD, but I do hold a PhD, so I know how to process data. 😉 )

I’m really not sure how accurate that is. I stay active and live a pretty healthy lifestyle, so personally, I much prefer local anesthesia since it doesn't leave you feeling wiped out like general does. It would be helpful if actual specialists—like real doctors—would lay out the actual consequences of general anesthesia, because I'm certain they exist. I had surgery under general anesthesia back when I was in Miami, and I'm really hoping I won't have to deal with that again in NYC. 😢

neonhawk78 said:[/B]

I’m not entirely sure how accurate that assessment is. I stay active and lead a pretty healthy lifestyle, so I personally lean toward local anesthesia—it just doesn't seem to carry the same lingering baggage that general anesthesia does. It would be helpful if actual specialists, like MDs, could give us a clear breakdown of the lasting effects of going under, because I’m convinced they exist. I had surgery under general anesthesia back when I was in Miami, and I’m really hoping I can avoid doing the same thing here in NYC.😢

General anesthesia definitely takes its toll, as mentioned before, and honestly, they don't even perform these types of procedures under local anymore. Like I said, I know a guy who went through a local procedure years ago, and the whole experience was nothing short of agonizing; it’s probably not something you’d actually want to endure (neondriver15 described exactly what that feels like firsthand).

Did you run into any issues with general anesthesia during this particular surgery, or did everything go smoothly? You always have a consultation with the anesthesiologist before the procedure, so you should definitely use that time to hash out your concerns and ask anything that's weighing on your mind.