Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Nicole Ortiz34 said:If you were in my shoes, I’d be asking you those exact questions... honestly. It’s because of people like this—people who claim they’re willing to help, yet somehow get offended when someone reaches out in a moment of genuine desperation—that I’m walking away from this group. 👋

Don't mention it. I was only looking for those old posts to help you out before your first surgery. Honestly, I was hoping you might reconsider going to that surgeon. He completely ruined my friend's nose—even a revision surgery couldn't fix her columella issues—so, I guess he’s just not someone you want touching your face.
Most people here have gone through surgery themselves, including me, so I know exactly what you're going through. We’ve all been in your shoes. Best of luck.

Hello everyone.
Well, I suppose it’s time for me to weigh in after all this time.
Those of you who have been following this forum know exactly what kind of hell I've been through, both during and after my surgery.
It has been one year and four months since the procedure.
I underwent septorhinoplasty.
Because of chronic sinus infections, I originally sought surgery for functional reasons, but I let the surgeon talk me into a little "aesthetic enhancement" as well—which ended up completely disfiguring my nose.
My primary care physician actually told me I look like I just stepped out of a boxing match.
So, yes, you can imagine exactly how I look right now. 😢
A month ago, I went to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion and to potentially discuss a corrective procedure.
I have to say, the doctor there, carić, was incredibly kind. He told me that regarding the septoplasty, he would perform it immediately because the first surgeon didn't fix the underlying issue at all. However, when it came to the cosmetic reconstruction, he flatly refused; he won't touch work that someone else has already botched, and he confirmed that my appearance has indeed been ruined.
I showed him my before photos, and then he looked at me...
And now, I am truly at a loss.
I can't even look at myself in the mirror. My self-confidence is nonexistent... I feel ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.
I don't have the funds for private specialists because I've recently lost my job.
I feel like I want to crawl out of my own skin because of how reckless I was; I foolishly trusted a doctor who promised me I would be even happier with my nose.
Looking back at my old photos, my nose was actually perfect compared to what I have now! 😢(((((

Please, if anyone knows a surgeon willing to perform corrective work covered by insurance, let me know...
I am beyond desperate. I even entered that giveaway for plastic nose surgery, and I didn't win.😢
I will pay handsomely! 😢((((((

I don't even know where to start with this one, honestly. It’s like watching someone try to assemble IKEA furniture without the manual while wearing oven mitts—just pure, unadulterated chaos. You look at the situation and you just have to shake your head because it's so absurdly predictable yet somehow still manages to catch you off guard every single time. It’s that specific kind of mess that makes you want to sit back with a coffee and just observe the train wreck from a safe distance. kaže:
Hey everyone! So, tomorrow marks exactly one week since I had my septorhinoplasty at the Mayo Clinic, and I figured I’d drop by to share a bit about the experience—mostly to give a little nudge to anyone sitting on the fence about getting their septum corrected because they're feeling a bit nervous. First off, I have to say the doctors, nurses, and the entire staff over at Mayo were absolutely incredible; honestly, even during the late-night shifts, everyone was super kind and genuinely helpful. 🙂 So, I had my surgery with Vagić, and honestly, if I ever have to go under the knife again, he’s the only one I’m calling. The guy is the real deal—super knowledgeable, incredibly professional, and just a genuinely kind person. You really can't say anything bad about him. Since this was my first time ever dealing with surgery, I was pretty sketched out by the idea of general anesthesia, but everything went smooth as silk (aside from some muscle aches for the first couple of days). The only real headache I dealt with was the swelling during those first 36 hours post-op. Honestly, that was five times worse than the actual surgical pain. The pain wasn't even localized to my nose; it felt more like a massive sinus infection where your whole jaw and face just throb, you know? As for the bruising, I think I might have been a bit of an outlier because the staff mentioned they hadn't seen anyone with that much deep purple discoloration in at least two weeks or so. 😁 Look, I’m definitely not the gold standard for medical benchmarks here, but I figured I'd share. I finally got the cast off today, and man, the bruising is moving through this thing at warp speed. I’m already seeing brown and yellow patches everywhere, and it hasn't even been a full week since the surgery! I honestly thought this whole discoloration phase would drag on way longer than it actually is. My nose is still pretty swollen—especially the tip—and my lower cheek near the jawline is acting up too, but all things considered, the recovery is moving along surprisingly fast. 🙂 I’m talking about my own gut feeling here—it's like seeing rainbows on my face or something—but honestly, I'm pretty sure the nose is going to be totally back to normal within the next six months.
Anyway, I hope all this actually ends up being useful for someone out there, but as for me, I’m heading back to go tend to my bonsai. 😁 I can finally breathe for the first time in twenty-five years... seriously, I feel like I just stepped out of a vacuum seal. 😁

I don't even know where to start with this one, honestly. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck where everyone involved thinks they're driving a Ferrari when they're actually just pedaling a tricycle through a swamp. You see it all the time, people convinced they've cracked the code, acting like they're some kind of genius, while the rest of us are just sitting here shaking our heads at the sheer absurdity of it all. It's almost impressive, in a deeply tragic sort of way. kaže:
The right side of my bridge feels fine, but the left side? Absolute zero. It’s like I’ve suddenly been dropped into a completely different dimension. 😁 When the doctor finally pulled those nasal tampons out, I took one big breath and honestly? My head just spun. It was like being hit with a massive wave of pure oxygen all at once—I was absolutely buzzing from it. 🙂

I don't know about you guys, but like I said before, I'm definitely heading in to get everything checked out and overhauled. 😁 I honestly haven't run into a single bad experience yet, which is pretty wild considering I should've probably headed over to the Mayo Clinic ages ago back when I was being an idiot and constantly rushing to get in line as early as possible.
There’s a pretty good chance they'll get mine fixed up just like hers, since my right eye is doing fine but the left one is basically useless. 😉

briskorca6 said:The more I scroll through these comments, the more I’m starting to freak out about getting surgery. Is it actually possible that out of an entire army of doctors, not a single one carries a hundred percent flawless reputation?
I’m constantly lurking on this forum, and every time I find a doctor who looks like a total superstar, I’ll flip through a few pages and realize they absolutely wrecked someone else's nose while making another person look perfect.
I get that every nose is its own unique thing, but I have to ask: is there actually any surgeon out there who can fix a nose properly without leaving you with bumps, lumps, or some other weird structural mess afterward?

Man, my doctor basically ghosted my concerns. I went through all that hassle doing tests and driving all over town just to end up feeling like nothing even happened—except now my hand is still twitching from the anesthesia, though that's fading today. It’s been 13 days post-op, and I can breathe slightly better through my nostril, which was already fine to begin with. He only focused on one side because it looked a bit crooked, totally ignoring the fact that the other side is narrow and the tip of my cartilage is basically broken—honestly, it feels like I have a double septum inside, even if it looks okay on the surface. I even showed him the X-ray... what a joke. At the end of the day, it really matters if the doctor actually writes down what you want fixed. How are they supposed to remember every tiny detail when they’re seeing dozens of patients in a clinic all day? Only the smart ones take detailed notes.
Don't let the fear get to you; just follow the experiences of people who've done it and you'll be fine! (I’ll jump back on this thread once my nose is fully healed and working at 110% 😁 so I can share if he was actually worth it. Personally, I’m doing this mainly for functional reasons so I have an excuse to tell girls, but if you have questions, just shoot me a DM. There's no point asking everyone else here since most of these people have moved on with their lives anyway).

Cast is finally off this morning... I am THRILLED! 😁
I haven't had any pain—just some very mild swelling. My face and nose are still a bit puffy, so I can't say I see the final result 100% just yet, but honestly? If it stays looking like this, I'll be more than happy. 😁
Highly recommend dr. Pegan.. 😁
And oh yeah... breathing is at 110% now. 😁

Taylor Miller10 said:Hello there!
I suppose I should check in here too, after such a long hiatus.
Those who have been following this forum probably know all about the various struggles I've dealt with during and after my surgery.
It has been a year and four months since the procedure.
It was a septorhinoplasty.
Because of constant sinus infections, I originally sought surgery, but I guess I let the doctor talk me into a little bit of "aesthetic enhancement" since my nose shape wasn't ideal to begin with.
My primary care physician actually told me that right now, I look like I just stepped out of a boxing match.
Well, if you can imagine that, you can probably picture how it actually looks! 😢
About a month ago, I went to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion and potentially discuss a revision surgery.
I must say, the doctor there—carić—was incredibly kind. He mentioned that regarding the septoplasty, he would perform it immediately because the surgeon from my first operation didn't really fix anything. However, when it came to the cosmetic repair, he said there was no way he would try to fix something that someone else had already ruined, noting that my appearance was indeed compromised.
I showed him photos from before the surgery, and he saw me in person as well...
So, I guess I am just at a loss for what to do next.
I can hardly look at myself in the mirror; my self-confidence is basically non-existent... I feel absolutely TERRIBLE.
I don't have the funds for a private specialist right now, especially since I'm currently between jobs.
Sometimes I just want to crawl out of my own skin because I was so impulsive; I shouldn't have trusted the doctor so easily when he promised I’d be even happier with my nose.
Looking back at my old photos... my nose was actually perfect compared to this! 😢(((((

If anyone happens to know a doctor who is willing to take on revision cases through insurance, please let me know...
I am honestly feeling quite desperate about my options. I even entered that giveaway for a rhinoplasty, but I didn't win.😢
I will offer a REWARD!!!!!! 😢((((((

WELCOME TO THE DISAPPOINTED CLUB..
Please believe me when I say you aren't alone. Around the same time as you, I also had nose surgery with a private specialist and fell for those exact same promises... I am actually planning to go to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion as well, to see dr. Uglešić... I don't know what else to say except that I am so sorry, but please don't give up. There has to be a solution somewhere.... hang in there.🙂

Drew Perez11 said:I finally got this damn cast off this morning... and let me tell you, I am absolutely OVER THE MOON! 😁
Honestly, I haven't dealt with any pain at all, and the swelling has been incredibly minimal. My face and nose are still looking a little puffy, so I can’t say I’m seeing the full, 100% final result just yet, but let me tell you—even if it stays exactly like this, I would be absolutely thrilled. 😁
I honestly cannot say enough good things about Pegan. If you’re looking for someone who actually knows their stuff and won't just treat you like another number on a chart, look no further. I’m telling you, go see him! 😁
And yeah... I’m breathing at like 110% capacity right now. 😁

I finally got my cast off this morning, but honestly, I’m definitely not feeling the same level of satisfaction you are. I knew there was going to be some swelling, but nothing prepared me for this—I look absolutely unrecognizable. My face is just swollen beyond belief, it's a total mess. Since you've been through this, I wanted to pick your brain: how long did they tell you it would take before you actually started looking like yourself again? And more importantly, what did the doctors say about cleaning out the nose area? The instructions I got were basically "don't touch it too much, just dab at it," but that is easier said than done when I have to be out in public, heading to campus, or showing up to work. I can't exactly wander around with stuff leaking out of my nose—those crusty bits are honestly disgusting. To make matters worse, I've got surgical stitches inside my nose, and I am terrified to even touch anything because I don't want to mess with the sutures or cause some kind of disaster. It’s genuinely terrifying right now. If you were given any tips or tricks on how to clean things up so I can actually function in public without feeling like a total wreck, please let me know. 😢

Sarah White79 said:I took my cast off this morning—not feeling nearly as satisfied as you seem to be. I knew there’d be swelling, but this is ridiculous; I don't even recognize myself. My face is a total mess. So, quick question: how long did they say it would take before I actually look human again? And what was the deal with "cleaning" the nose? They told me to leave it alone mostly—just a light wipe here and there—but I have to go out, head to campus, go to work... I can't exactly walk around with stuff leaking out of my nose (gross crusting). Plus, there are stitches inside, so I'm terrified to touch anything and mess up the thread. It's pretty intimidating, so if you were given any tips on cleaning things up so I can function in public, let me know.😢

I was actually thrilled when I saw the results. There's just some lingering redness where the bump used to be—apparently, they had to break a bit of bone there to fix the alignment.😁
They said a realistic assessment isn't possible for another month. For now, they just gave me these plasters to wear for a week—they claimed it doesn't actually do much for the healing, just helps with the psychological aspect of feeling secure.🙂
As for cleaning, they told me to use saline solution (you get a half-liter bottle and usually a syringe, or you can buy them separately at a pharmacy; it shouldn't be expensive). I just use Q-tips to clean whatever is visible.🙂
When I need to clean the inside a bit more thoroughly, I just roll up a standard wet wipe and gently dab.🙂 I guess I got lucky—zero crusting on my end.🙂

Drew Perez11 said:I was actually really happy when I finally got to see how things looked... there's still just a little bit of redness where that bump used to be, mostly because they had to break some bone right there for whatever reason... 😁
They told me they can't give me a real assessment of how everything looks until about a month from now... for now, they just gave me these plasters to wear for a week... apparently they don't even do much for the healing, they just say it makes you feel more secure or something.🙂
The doctors told me to use saline solution in my nose—you know, like that half-liter bottle you get at the drugstore, you probably need a syringe with it or you buy one separately... I don't know because my mom picked it up for me, but basically, you just tell the pharmacist what you need at CVS or Walgreens... I don't think it's all that expensive... and I just use little swabs to clean the parts I can actually see.🙂
And whenever I want to clean out the inside of my nose a bit better, I just take regular wet wipes, roll them up a little, and gently wipe with those.🙂 I guess I'm just incredibly lucky that I haven't had any scabs at all.🙂

Oh, awesome, thanks for the tip... I'll go ahead and pick up that saline solution then... Ugh, if I didn't have these scabs, I might have just ignored this swelling entirely, so honestly, you are seriously living the dream!😉

So, I’m taking the cast off tomorrow, and honestly? I’m spiraling a little tonight. Just hit by this massive wave of depression and pure anxiety. I don't even know if I’ll be able to look myself in the mirror immediately after... after reading all those horror stories on here, I have zero clue what to expect 😢. And yeah, my bruises are still hanging around, looking absolutely massive. Ever since they pulled the packing out, I’ve been rinsing my nose with saline and a syringe constantly. Breathing is totally fine, but what is up with this smell coming from my nose? Is that normal? It’s not like anything is draining or blocked, but there's definitely an odor. I’m going to ask my doctor tomorrow about maybe needing some antibiotic drops—who knows what kind of bacteria is festering in there, maybe that’s the culprit. Anyone else dealing with this?

I basically exploited the situation and held onto a young assistant's hand—claiming I was "just nervous"—to play it cool. xD
Just relax... get some sleep tonight and try to settle down. I thought I’d hesitate too, but I just jumped up and ran straight to the mirror. 😁 Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. 😉
Oh, and one more thing—don't bother wiping your nose with toilet paper. Wet wipes are much better... at least for me. 🙂 I use the Pampers Sensitive ones. 😁

Is it actually normal that two months after my surgery, my nose has started aching right where they filed it down? 😕 Plus, I can't breathe through one nostril at all—no matter what I try. My doctor keeps insisting everything is fine, but honestly, I think he’s just blowing smoke—especially since the bump on my nose looks even more prominent now than it did before the procedure. 🙂

briskmason42 said:Is it normal that two months after surgery my nose has started hurting right where the hump was removed😕 and I absolutely cannot breathe through one nostril no matter what I do??? My doctor keeps saying everything looks fine, but I feel like he's just blowing smoke since he didn't really fix anything—the bump actually looks worse than before.🙂

Why not just get a second opinion?
I’m good—the only time it hurts is if I accidentally bump it, nothing else. 😁
And my breathing is totally fine.

goldencobra92 is absolute perfection!!!! 🙂 But honestly? I’m on a completely different wavelength right now. I can’t stop staring at myself in the mirror—my profile looks incredible, but my face is currently a disaster zone of hematomas and swelling, especially around the base and tip. I just have to be patient and wait for the dust to settle to see the final results, though even now, the nose itself looks clearly amazing. I really think people are going to notice the difference; I look like a totally different person. Man, you wouldn't believe how much anxiety I went through, but hey, looking at this, it was totally worth it. Now, it's a mad dash to CVS to grab the strongest concealer possible and start the war against this purple bruising...

Sarah White79 said:I finally got my cast off this morning, but honestly? I’m nowhere near as happy about it as you are... I knew there'd be swelling, but man, this is next level. I don't even recognize myself right now; my face is just a swollen mess. So, let me ask you—when did they tell you you'd actually start looking like a human again? And what was the deal with the nose "cleaning"? They told me basically to leave it alone and just dab at it, but I have to actually exist in the real world—walking to class, going to work... I can't exactly wander around with stuff leaking out of my nose. These scabs are absolutely gross, but since I've got stitches inside, I'm terrified to touch anything for fear of messing up the whole thing. It's pretty terrifying, so if you were given any tips on how to clean things up enough to actually function in public, please let me know... 😢

If it makes you feel any better, I look like a total wreck too. Between the swelling, the puffiness, the dark circles under my eyes, and a nasal bridge so wide it's basically squished my eyes shut, I'm a disaster. But hey, I'm staying positive because I can already see that the nose itself looks amazing.

wanderingnomad13 said:Listen, if you want a solid scar cream, go with Contractubex. You don't need much; just apply it to any surgical scars or general marks. I used it on a mole removal and a nasty scratch on my face, and now there's basically nothing left. It costs about $30 (at least it did back then), but make sure you wait until the stitches are out and everything is healed up before using it.
Is it the absolute best? Who knows... but people swear by it.

One word: Contractubex. Back in 2000, I suffered severe full-body burns from hot oil. The gel wasn't even available locally back then, so my family had to order it directly from Germany, and a single tube cost them 50 bucks.

That gel saved my left arm and the rest of my body. I can't even imagine what I'd look like without it... highly recommend.

PS - how do you know it’s working? The scar or treated area will feel dry after about 10 minutes, then it starts peeling, which is how it reduces the scar.

I told you everything would turn out fine... 😉 I'm honestly glad to hear it.. 😁 As for the swelling, expect that to subside in about ten days or so—just take it easy and enjoy the new look 😁

I really messed up by listening to internet forums instead of actually following my doctor's orders.
It’s about how everyone here seems to be freaking out over blowing your nose after they take the nasal packing out. I did the exact same thing—just followed the crowd—and ended up with a totally blocked nasal passage in one nostril. Everything just sort of... crusted over.
Because of that, I had to go in for a procedure to have the tissue cleared out at the hospital. Thank God they were able to fix it!

So, yeah, please learn from my mistake—everyone's anatomy is different and recovery isn't one-size-fits-all, so maybe listen to the professional who is actually looking inside your nose!

I’ve got an appointment scheduled with a different specialist, but it isn't for another five months—and honestly, this breathing issue is absolutely killing me right now. I actually felt like I could breathe better before this started... 🙂I'm genuinely starting to worry.

casualbison3 said:Why don't you try getting a second opinion?
It's not me—the only thing I feel is pain if I happen to bump into something, that's it. 😁
And my breathing is perfectly fine.

Well, here I am... hehehe

So, everything is set with Dr. Munitić.. surgery is this Saturday..
He and his fellow surgeon walked me through the whole thing.. really laid it all out for me...

We'll just have to see how it goes, I guess.. I'll let you guys know if I make it out alive.. 😉)
I haven't had a decent night's sleep in days... and seriously, nobody is talking about what it's actually like
right before the surgery starts.. the prep and all that stuff... Your mind can play tricks on you, but mine
is clearly just being a total nightmare.. aaaaa 🙂) I'm literally dreaming about this nose.. or rather, having actual nightmares.. aaaaa

Crazy 😁

Karen Long35 said:As for me... hehehe

So, I’ve got everything lined up with Dr. Munitić... surgery is this Saturday..
He explained everything so clearly.. both him and his surgical assistant...

Now we just wait and see how it goes.. I'll let you guys know if I make it out alive.. 😉)
I haven't slept properly in days... and ughhh, nobody ever talks about what happens
right before the actual surgery starts.. the prep and all that... Your mind can play tricks on you, but mine? Mine
is clearly just looking for trouble.. aaaaaaa 🙂) I'm dreaming about that nose.. or rather, I'm having literal nightmares.. aaaaa

Crazy 😁

People say you need to brace yourself for the "big stuff," but honestly, they don't give enough weight to the mental game. That's actually the easiest part! You shouldn't really stress about the prep, the surgery itself, or even the immediate aftermath. What actually sucks is the grind afterward—dealing with the packing, the bruising, and for me, the absolute terror of having the splint removed because I had no idea what kind of mess I was going to see or if I'd actually like the result. I stayed up all night right before they took the cast off, and those four days dealing with those gross nasal packs were brutal. But hey, it's not the end of the world; it passes. It's been 10 days since my procedure now and I am stoked because everything turned out perfect. Honestly, I'd go through the whole thing again just for these results. The surgery itself is over in a blink and, seriously, it doesn't even hurt that much.