Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Does anyone here have someone who's hit the one-year mark since their surgery who could give me an update on how things are going?

Has the tip actually shrunk at all? Because for me, it just doesn't seem to be happening... 😢

Hey everyone, if anyone here has experience working with Dr. Carić, please let me know! Thanks so much!

Terry Smith9 said:Hey everyone, if anyone has experience working with Dr. Bastaic, please let me know!!!! Thank you so much!

Or if you know someone who does... or if you've seen a post about him here on the Forum... anything at all helps.

Nicholas Jones58 said:Hey everyone,
It’s finally time for my revision septorhinoplasty, so I wanted to reach out to anyone who has been admitted to the ENT department at Mayo Clinic recently for some insight. What is the admission process like right now? How is the general atmosphere there? I’ve heard things might be a bit tense because of the recent strikes—is everyone feeling extra stressed due to the backlog and the crowds? Also, what are your thoughts on the department itself and how the pre-op and post-op flow goes? Do you usually wait a few days for the surgery, or does it happen the next day? I have really high hopes for this procedure and for this hospital, but honestly, I'm feeling pretty anxious and uncertain since my first septorhinoplasty ended up ruining my nose. I'm not from Chicago, so I need to figure out a solid plan regarding my family and other responsibilities. Thanks so much, everyone! Best,

I’ll jump in here: right now, it feels like Grand Central Station during rush hour—everyone is catching up on backlogs, the holidays are approaching, and so on.
The standard procedure is to check in at the ENT desk, and they will direct you from there to the main building for registration, then to the ward for hospitalization, where they’ll take your medical history and current status. As for the timing, it really depends on the patient load in the ward. Sometimes you get lucky and get in on the second day, and sometimes you have to wait a bit longer, but they generally try to stick to the surgical schedule as quickly as possible. Speaking from experience, they definitely make sure all patients are taken care of. Cheers!

Maria Patel29 said:Hey everyone!
So, I’m feeling a little self-conscious about my nose lately. We all know how it goes—whenever we're having a bad day, we tend to hyper-focus on our flaws. For me, when those days hit, I always end up feeling frustrated with my nose.😁
Everyone keeps telling me that I definitely don't need the surgery—honestly, they're probably right. My face shape is somewhere between oval and oblong, but since my head is on the smaller side, people are worried about the results. They say if I go through with it, I'll end up looking like a Pekingese.🤣
At school, I dealt with a few comments about my nose—but honestly, I can't tell if people were actually picking on it, or if they just did because I let it slip that it's a bit of a weak spot for me. 😢

I’m going to need a huge favor from you guys! I’m planning to post some photos of my nose—please, give me your honest, unfiltered thoughts. I know I can count on total transparency here since we all know that, for most of us, the nose is usually one of those little "weak spots" when it comes to facial features.
Thanks!

Profiles:






Let's go!


P.S. Sorry I don't have any better photos to share.😢

Honestly, you look totally fine to me. I don't see any reason at all to go through with an operation or deal with the whole recovery process—not really. 🙂

Maria Patel29 said:Hey everyone!
Look, I'm feeling pretty insecure about my nose right now. We all know how it goes—whenever you're having a bad day, you just end up obsessing over every single flaw. Well, whenever those days hit me, I just end up pissed off at my own nose.😁
Everyone keeps telling me I don't even need the surgery. My face is basically somewhere between oval and oblong—plus I’ve got a tiny head—so they say if I go smaller, I'll end up looking like a pug.🤣
Got some comments at school about my nose. Not sure if they were actually picking on it or if I just made it awkward by letting them know it's my insecurity. My bad. 😢

I seriously need some help right now! I'm gonna post some pics of my nose, so please just be brutally honest with me. I know I can count on you guys for the real truth since everyone on this thread thinks their nose is a total weak spot anyway.
Thanks!

Profiles:






Let's go!


P.S. My bad, I don't have any better pics.😢

Look, lady, even though I'm a guy, I’d kill for a nose like that. Seriously, where would I even start? :P Honestly, don't bother with surgery. Unless you're actually super insecure about it—then go ahead and flush $2,000 down the drain. But honestly, the difference would be tiny because your nose is already pretty damn good. 🙂🙂

Maria Patel29 said:Hey everyone!

I’m really going to need a huge favor from you all right now. I’m posting some photos of my nose, and I’d love for you to give me your honest take. I know this is the one place where people will actually tell me the truth, since we all seem to agree that the nose is the one weak spot in this thread.
Thanks!

Personally, I don't think you need surgery unless it's genuinely eating away at you. To my eyes, your nose is basically perfect—don't touch it. I'm actually the one who needs an operation because mine is in rough shape and it's making breathing a struggle. Just something to consider; there are definitely worse cases out there. 🙂

Betty Edwards22 As if I haven't heard this all before.
What you’ve put out there—those are your own thoughts and conclusions, and frankly, I see no reason to dissect them.

Regarding what Tom Savic is doing—you’re spot on. There is absolutely no need to keep pushing his agenda on this Forum; it feels like almost every other post you make is an attempt to hype him up. Honestly, listening to you is like being cornered by those aggressive promoters at a cell phone kiosk or the people trying to sell you overpriced electricity in a strip mall.

Just like at the third location, both hospitals are absolutely swamped right now, so you'll just have to bear with it.
All these little insinuations you’re making about "this certain type of competition"—it's honestly all just noise that falls completely flat.

You guys actually went out of your way to ask me privately where I work—just so you could drag my personal life into the mud and air all my dirty laundry in public.
Case closed.

I haven't checked in on this thread for quite a while, but I felt compelled to jump back in because it’s clearly not enough to say it just once. I am sharing this solely based on my own personal journey, hoping to provide some clarity for anyone currently stuck in that agonizing limbo—those who are still weighing their options for sinus treatment or are staring down the barrel of an upcoming surgery. I remember vividly how vital it was for me to find information rooted in actual lived experience rather than clinical jargon. When you're standing on the edge of a procedure, unsure of what the recovery actually looks like, the anxiety can be overwhelming; finding someone who has already walked that path provided a sense of calm that nothing else could, especially when the fear of the unknown was starting to take its toll.

It’s pretty obvious that everything I put out there is strictly my own opinion and my own take on things—not someone else's. I mean, whose else would it be?

I honestly don't see why this is being labeled as agitation, especially when everyone else on the board seems perfectly fine discussing other physicians without anyone raising an eyebrow. I'm not in a position to go around recommending other doctors; based on my own extensive experience visiting various specialists across the country, I’ve concluded that the surgeon who performed my procedure simply provided the best care possible.

I honestly can't wrap my head around why everyone is taking my comments about another doctor so personally. To be clear, I wasn't talking about you—since I don't know your name, I have no idea if you were even part of the medical team treating me at the clinics I've frequented. It makes me wonder what your actual motivation is for showing up on this forum just to launch such a targeted attack against me. Furthermore, I fail to see why you feel the need to act as a spokesperson for Dr. Jurlina.

To be clear, I’m not here to air anyone else's dirty laundry or leak private details; I’m strictly sticking to my own skin. Everything I’m sharing is based solely on my personal runaround through various outpatient clinics—specifically my experiences at the hospitals in Chicago, like Vineyard and Salad (which is now Mount Sinai), as well as Mercury, where I only went in once to get a second opinion after following an insider tip to see a specific specialist.

If you take a look back at my posts on this Forum—which anyone can easily verify if they bother to check—you'll see I’ve been writing about this for about four years now. Ever since I started following the threads regarding septum surgery, I've voiced my thoughts repeatedly. Honestly, I don't see how any of this touches on anything private; all it does is expose the facts. Mine. I’m being careful about sharing private details, specifically regarding where I’ve received medical care. To be clear, my knowledge is limited to people I actually know who have undergone surgery at either the Vineyard clinic or Mount Sinai, whether they were under my own doctors or someone else's. I simply can't speak on the behalf of other hospitals I haven't visited, nor do I have any insight into who was treated there or by whom.

None of this actually has anything to do with you. I haven't said a single word about you, which makes sense since we don't even know each other in real life, nor have I made any comments regarding where you work. I honestly have no idea where you even found that information.

Furthermore, if I wasn't clear before, my comment regarding the competition was meant as a genuine question; neither then nor now can I wrap my head around why one doctor would feel the need to write about another doctor on a public forum.

It would only make sense—and frankly, it would be the only decent way to handle things—if a doctor actually decided to step up and engage with the people on this forum. He’s offering his expert opinion, some solid advice, and a few recommendations to help steer things in the right direction.It isn't about judging other doctors or getting defensive when someone brings up their own experiences with a particular physician or clinic. At the end of the day, you’re the only one who truly understands your own motivations and the reasons behind your decisions.

In the meantime, please stop putting words in my mouth that I have never once uttered; try to grasp the simple fact that everyone on this forum is entitled to share their own perspective and lived experience, whether you personally find it agreeable or not.

Betty Edwards22 said:I’m asking for a public response here, since I’ve been hit with private messages that attempt to skirt around the issue of data privacy—messages that clearly, if indirectly, try to imply a sense of allegiance and defense regarding these claims. Furthermore, I want to make it clear that while I could easily write an unofficial, glowing tribute to my colleague mentioned recently, I won't be doing so because it would be unethical. That said, from my own vantage point, I am more than capable of providing a far superior account of his work, having witnessed his operations firsthand.

On another note, there’s something deeply questionable about labeling an entire medical institution without naming the specific physician, while simultaneously glorifying another facility by using their full name and surname. It isn't just about the optics, though; the much more significant issue here is the matter of personal accountability regarding medical decisions—specifically, the treatment itself. To put it bluntly: there is a massive difference between being treated by a resident and being under the care of a seasoned expert with decades of experience. None of the unconscious actors involved in this saga needed this kind of drawn-out debate on a public forum, which is exactly why I felt compelled to weigh in.

I can't tell if this was meant for me, or if I'm just reading too much into things.

If we’re being honest, I have to admit I’m a bit lost here—I can't quite tell if I've actually grasped what was meant. What exactly does "unofficial" signify in this context? Everything on this forum is private and unofficial by its very nature. You aren't suggesting that people are posting here acting as formal spokespeople for their employers, are you? Because if that’s the case, I suspect it would be a direct violation of the forum rules. We all come here as individuals, speaking privately and unofficially.

When it comes to labeling an institution, my own experience with the Vineyard hospital was nothing short of disappointing. I’m not sure why people expect us to come here and write glowing testimonials just because they have a fancy name on the building. From a patient's perspective, it honestly doesn't matter whether the person examining me and prescribing basic nasal drops—instead of actually performing a diagnosis and providing a targeted therapy—was a resident or some seasoned specialist. The bottom line is that I didn't receive the level of care or the medical attention I went there to get. Those nasal drops were something I could have easily picked up myself at any local pharmacy.
For an institution like that, this kind of behavior isn't just a mistake; it’s fundamentally unethical and unprofessional. It’s a disgrace to the medical field. In a system like ours, patients don't get to hand-pick their physicians; they are simply assigned to whoever is on duty at the time. If the facility is relying on residents to handle these cases, then where is the oversight? There has to be a senior specialist supervising them. That is the entire point of residency—to learn through guided practice. Without proper mentorship and supervision, these trainees aren't learning medicine; they’re just learning that it’s acceptable to hand out nasal drops instead of actually performing a proper diagnosis and following through with legitimate treatment. I don't claim to be an expert on hospital administration or the nuances of medical residency programs, but from an outsider's perspective, this looks incredibly broken. It’s clear that the patients are the ones being left to fend for themselves, essentially playing a game of medical Russian roulette based entirely on which doctor happens to be assigned to them that day.

Maria Patel29 said:Hey everyone.
So, I’ve been feeling a bit insecure about my nose lately. We all know how it goes—whenever we're having one of those rough days, we tend to fixate entirely on our flaws. For me, when those moods hit, I find myself stuck in this cycle of resentment toward my own profile.😁
Everyone keeps telling me that I really don't need the surgery. My face shape falls somewhere between an oval and a long rectangle, though I have a relatively small head, and they’re all warning me that if I go through with it to make everything smaller, I'll end up looking like a Pekingese.🤣
Back in high school, I dealt with a few comments about my nose, though I can't tell if people were actually picking on it or if they just sensed I was already self-conscious about it... 😢

So, I am reaching out because I could really use some honest input from you all. I’m going to post some photos of my nose, and I’d appreciate it if you could give me your unfiltered thoughts. I feel like this is the one place where I'll get the truth, since we all have those little insecurities that we just can't shake.
Thanks!

From what I can see, your nose looks perfectly fine from every angle—it's symmetrical, natural, and doesn't look crooked, oversized, or unattractive in any way that would warrant a correction.
Since your nose doesn't actually look large—even considering you mentioned having a small face—I don't see much room for reduction; there isn't really any excess tissue to work with, and shrinking it further might just make it disappear entirely. 🙂
In my opinion, the smartest move would be to leave it alone; you might end up regretting a procedure if things don't turn out how you imagined.

If you're still itching to see a change, or if you just want to play around with your look, try using makeup. Through contouring and highlighting—using different shades of powder—you can visually manipulate how your nose appears. You can make it look slimmer by darkening the sides or wider by brightening the center, depending on what you're aiming for. A professional makeup artist could show you some incredible tricks to transform your look without ever touching a scalpel. That said, I truly don't think you need to change a thing.

It also depends heavily on how you wear your hair. Whether you show off your forehead, wear bangs, go short or long, or tuck it behind your ears, all of those factors shift the focus of your facial proportions and how much your nose stands out. Try experimenting with different styles until you find the balance that makes you feel most comfortable. 😉

So, here’s the deal: I’m a woman in my thirties, juggling a toddler, a job, and a million other responsibilities. But despite all that, my nose has always been a struggle for me—and honestly, it still is. Once you realize you're genuinely unhappy with something, it sticks with you. I couldn't shake that constant, nagging thought: "If only I could change this..."
I just didn't want to spend my entire life feeling dissatisfied. It took me until my thirties to finally find the nerve to go in for surgery. It’s been three months since my procedure, and looking back, I only have one regret... I wish I had done this ten years ago.

Why even bother stressing about it? Don't worry—be happy!

Thanks so much crimsongull20, Betty Edwards22, jadeangler60, briskorca6, William Robinson80, Alex Moore62 for sharing your thoughts, and a huge thanks to Alex Moore62 for those extra tips! 😘
I finally had a moment to sit down and realize on my own that this tiny little thing bothering me isn't actually a big deal, and honestly, it feels like it wouldn't make any sense to go through with surgery just because of it.

cosmicbadger83 said:So, imagine this woman in her thirties, balancing a toddler, a career, and all those endless daily responsibilities. Even so, I guess I was always struggling with this deep-seated insecurity, and it just never really let up. I felt like once you realize you aren't truly happy with yourself, there’s no going back, and I just couldn't shake that constant, nagging thought of "if only I had done this..."
I really didn't want my entire life to pass by while living in that state of dissatisfaction. So, finally, in my thirties, I somehow found the courage to go through with the surgery. It’s been three months since my procedure now, and honestly, my only regret is probably... that I didn't just take the leap ten years ago.

Which doctor did you see? :-)

Maria Patel29 said:I finally realized on my own that this tiny little imperfection bothering me isn't actually a big deal, and there really isn't any point in going under the knife just because of it.

🙂
Look, we’re all asymmetrical; that tiny little flaw you think you see—most people wouldn't even notice if they tried. 🙂
Going under anesthesia and facing surgery carries significant risks, and honestly, you don't have a compelling enough reason to take that gamble, especially since you can't predict what kind of nose you'd end up with anyway.

If you really want to shift someone's focus away from your nose, try highlighting your eyes or lips, or maybe play around with your hair color or length... or something else entirely. 😉

Alex Moore62 said:🙂
You have to remember that none of us are perfectly symmetrical, and that tiny little thing you think you see—well, most people don't even notice it, 🙂
Going under anesthesia for surgery is a massive gamble, and honestly, there isn't much reason to take that risk when you can't even be sure what kind of nose you'd end up with.

If you really want to draw eyes away from your nose, I’d say focus on your eyes or lips, or maybe play around with your hair color and length... or just something else entirely 😉

I'm pretty sure nobody notices it but me.😁
I realize how risky it all is, and it would be so easy to walk away feeling totally disappointed with the results! It's probably better to just leave things as they are.

As far as makeup goes, I'm always playing around and experimenting with different looks.😍
When it comes to my hair, I feel most like myself with lighter colors. I usually keep it mid-back length and without any bangs. 🙂

northernmaker84 said:Which doctor are we talking about? :-)

Tončić—you can find my take on this somewhere in the older threads. 🙂

Maria Patel29 said:I realize I’m probably the only one noticing her.😁
It’s all a gamble, really, and she could easily walk away from the whole thing feeling let down. Sometimes it's better to just leave things alone.

As for makeup, I’m always playing around with different looks.😍
When it comes to hair, I’ve always felt most at home with lighter tones. I usually keep it mid-back length and without any bangs. 🙂

There you have it, a total femme fatale. 😉What more could a person possibly ask for? 🙂

Greetings to everyone.

I am new to this discussion. I would appreciate any recommendations for a specialist at Mount Sinai. My primary care physician suggested this hospital, as my local provider in SI mentioned they wouldn't recommend having me poked around there.

Specifically, a recent head MRI revealed sinus polyps and a deviated septum. I am wondering if it is possible to address those issues while also refining the aesthetics of my nose. This has been a significant insecurity for me since childhood; while my nose isn't large, its shape is somewhat "boxy."

Thank you very much.

Betty Edwards22 said:What's the point in complaining? Don't worry - be happy.

There’s really no sense in whining... no regrets 🙂 though it's a shame I spent all that time living in discontent. It wasn't some deep-seated complex, and I wasn't suffering or feeling insecure because of it... it was just this constant sensation, like you're forced to wear an ugly knitted sweater your grandma made for you every single day. Nothing catastrophic, but it just isn't right.

loneowl68 said:Hey everyone!

I'm brand new to this thread, so I was hoping you all might be able to recommend a doctor at Mount Sinai. My primary care physician suggested that hospital, though back home in SI, they weren't exactly thrilled about the idea of me being poked and prodded there.

Basically, my head MRI showed some sinus polyps and a deviated septum. Along with fixing that, I was wondering if I could also touch up my nose a bit? It’s been a huge insecurity for me since I was a kid—my nose isn't even big, but it has that "boxer" shape to it.

Thanks so much!

For sinus surgery and polyp removal, the goal is to thoroughly clear out the mucosal lining and polypoid tissue while restoring proper sinus ventilation. Over at Mount Sinai, Prof. Mladin, Dr. Poje, and Vukovic K. sto are the experts in that field.
As for your other question, it really comes down to how extensive the initial procedure needs to be, especially since Medicare has cut back quite a bit on coverage for rhinoplasty lately.