Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Honestly, that’s exactly why my doctor went overboard with the bandages after pulling out the nasal packing. He basically taped my nose into a specific shape just to make sure everything healed up perfectly symmetrical. I had to wear that "mold" for two whole weeks. Maybe there's something to that. My nose is still a little swollen, but honestly? It looks great. I didn't touch the bump—my surgeon wouldn't even go near it because he was worried about how narrow that part of my nose is—but he did shave it down a bit. I was terrified of how I’d look, and getting used to a new face was rough, but everyone who’s seen me says my nose looks amazing. And trust me, I actually agree. I'll see the final result in a few months once all the swelling dies down, though apparently, you need a full year to see what it's really going to look like 100%.

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Then there are those who simply ended up in the wrong hands—people currently stuck in limbo waiting for an audit while their potential success remains hit-or-miss at best. Does anyone know of a decent plastic specialist based in Washington, D.C.? Just a heads-up: I’m not interested in Glumicic or Ostojic 😁

Hannah Hernandez9 said:Hey, does that guy only take cash, or can you actually use a credit card there?

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Honestly, your best bet is just to hit up his website and shoot him an email. He’ll definitely get back to you on that.

cosmicbadger83 said:Look, rhinoplasty is easily one of the trickiest plastic surgeries out there... the nose is just so incredibly complex. From what I’ve gathered, even top-tier surgeons deal with a 5-10% revision rate. There are so many variables at play, usually a mix of things, but honestly? It mostly comes down to how unpredictable the healing process can be. Especially when you're tackling functional issues too—that adds a whole other layer of chaos. Like, sometimes the septum just shifts back out of place after the fact because the underlying asymmetry is baked right into your skull structure or whatever...

Totally agree. When you're trying to fix both how it looks and how it actually works, you're almost always looking at some kind of minor touch-up down the road. It's just the nature of the beast—you can't always predict how the body is going to respond to the changes...

electricangler32 said:Why are there so many people getting revision surgery? Is the work just that bad, or do you guys just end up hating how your nose looks and want a redo??

Look, anyone going under the knife for a rhinoplasty has to go in knowing there’s a chance they might need a tiny little tweak down the road. Any decent surgeon worth their salt will tell you exactly that—it's just part of the risk you either take or you don't.

As for me, my first trip to the OR was strictly functional. I had a deviated septum and hypertrophied turbinates... total nightmare. I went through a local public hospital on a referral. My ENT suggested he could just shave off the bump while he was at it.🎉🎉 I mean, who says no to that? But honestly, nobody can predict the final result. It all comes down to the surgeon's skill or just how your specific nose decides to heal.

Long story short: two years later, the diagnosis is basically identical to what it was before the first surgery. We're talking an S-shaped septal deviation deep up in there + a collapsed internal valve on the left (the doc removed some cartilage during the first go, and now my nostril puffs out like a frog) + hypertrophy of the left inferior turbinate (that swollen mucosal thing that causes the blockage) ===I can't breathe.

Look, my take? Nobody jumps back under the knife for no reason. I mean, let’s be real—once you’ve been through the wringer once, why on earth would you actually *want* to do it again? If someone is choosing to go through this a second time, I genuinely hope it’s their absolute last one, just like I hope it’s mine.
The thing is, with the first surgery, you’re usually just focused on making things work properly. But after that? Suddenly you’re juggling function *and* aesthetics at the same time. It happens all the time—either the nose ends up looking asymmetrical, or they have to remove cartilage in a spot that needs to be replaced later on. Then you’re stuck needing extra support from tougher cartilage, so they’re digging into your rib... it's a whole mess.
That’s usually what happens when you’re trying to prop up the tip so it doesn't drop later. There are just so many variables that can go sideways and end up looking nothing like what you envisioned. Honestly, before any kind of procedure, you really need to sit down with your surgeon, give them the floor to lay out all the pros and cons in detail, and *then* make your call.

Has anyone here undergone surgery while on their period? I spoke with my doctor, who claimed menstruation wouldn't impact my nose surgery. However, when I had my tonsils removed at the hospital, they told me I shouldn't be menstruating during the procedure. My surgery is scheduled for March 7th, which happens to be right when my period is due.

Drew Wilson2 said:HAS ANYONE HERE HAD SURGERY WHILE ON THEIR PERIOD? I SPOKE WITH MY DOCTOR AND THEY CLAIMED IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NOSE SURGERY—BUT THEN, WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING MY APPENDIX REMOVED, THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE MENSTRUATING. I HAVE AN OPERATION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7TH, WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT WHEN MY CYCLE STARTS.

Look, I think you're allowed to have your period—but honestly? You should probably try to time it so you aren't in those first two days. At least, that’s what I was told—those days when the flow is at its heaviest... Anyway, which doctor are you seeing?

Drew Wilson2 said:HAS ANYONE HERE HAD SURGERY WHILE ON THEIR PERIOD? I talked to my doctor and they said it doesn't matter for nose surgery, but when I was at the hospital having my appendix out, they told me I shouldn't be menstruating. My surgery is scheduled for March 7th, which is right when my period is supposed to start.

Check out my explanation on the anesthesia thread—I actually just answered this for someone else recently. You definitely shouldn't be on your period.

So, I headed over to Glumičić yesterday for a consultation just to get some basic info, since they wouldn't tell me a damn thing over the phone or via email. I walk into the office, but man, what stopped me dead in my tracks was the price 🙂 The cost for a basic rhinoplasty $6333. It’s 19 grand. I mean, it used to be 12, then recently it was hovering around 15 or 16. Honestly, looking at what us regular folks actually pull in for a paycheck...
. 🤷 And another thing—I was only there for five minutes before I basically walked out on the consult $83, because he actually called in some woman who handles silicone implants who was running late for her own appointment.

Every single year the prices jump by another thousand or two; next time, it’ll probably be at least 20 grand with him. Look, I get it, when you're dealing with this stuff, you want the most experienced surgeon, but this guy is already making bank and doesn't need the extra cash. At this point, I'd honestly rather go to some local doc, maybe someone like Dr. Smith or even a guy at a clinic in a nearby suburb—it's not like their surgical skills are going to be night and day different. Plus, those guys actually take the time to talk to their patients instead of rushing you out the door.

Hey everyone

So, after ten years of overthinking it, I’ve finally pulled the trigger on nose surgery—fixing the deviation and doing some aesthetic work while I'm at it. I decided on Dr. Veir, and I've got my consultation scheduled in a few days. Does anyone here actually know him? Can you give me the real scoop? Also, I’m spiraling a bit. The thought of anesthesia, the actual surgery, having those tampons pulled out, the sheer panic of not being able to breathe through my nose because of the packing... it's a lot. Honestly, I'm terrified.

Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother. My aunt went to see him, and he completely missed the mark on what she actually wanted. He lifted her nose tip way too much—she’s basically staring at the ceiling now! He didn't touch the width at all, and left her with this weirdly scooped-out look and a huge dip right in the middle of the bridge. Plus, word on the street is he avoids patients once things go sideways. If you aren't happy, good luck getting hold of him since he works privately over at that clinic near Beverly Hills, and the kicker? You have to pay out of pocket for every single follow-up and consultation.

Maybe he's okay if you just need to fix a deviated septum—it's not rocket science, right?—but if you're looking for aesthetics, I’d definitely recommend finding a private plastic surgeon instead.

Robert Scott16 said:To be honest, I wouldn't recommend him. My aunt went to see him and he didn't deliver what she actually asked for. He lifted her nasal tip way too much—she’s literally staring at the sky now. He didn't touch the width of the nose at all, left it with this overly saddle-shaped look, and created a depressing dip right in the middle of the bridge. Plus, I've heard stories about him dodging patients. If you aren't happy with the result, good luck getting a hold of him. He works privately at that clinic over in Los Angeles, and the catch is you have to pay out of pocket for every single follow-up and consultation.

Maybe he's fine for a deviated septum. That isn't rocket science. But for aesthetics? I'd suggest finding a private plastic surgeon instead.

But I'm actually going to see him privately at the Arithera clinic. I chose him based on recommendations and because they supposedly have the most advanced technology available. Honestly, I have a connection and a referral for Dr. Borica too, but I'm pretty skeptical about him... I'm not making the smartest moves here, and frankly, I'm terrified of surgery. But at 30 years old, I'm done avoiding photographers and hiding from my own profile pictures just because of this bump on my nose...

All this "cutting-edge technology" 🙄 nonsense? Who cares! At the end of the day, it’s not some robot doing the work—it’s the surgeon's hands that actually matter. Honestly, my advice? For the insane amount of cash they’re gonna charge you at Arither, you could find a way better surgeon at any high-end private clinic in Chicago or even out in Dallas.

Robert Scott16 said:Cutting-edge technology. 🙄Whatever that means—it doesn't matter. Technology isn't going to operate on you; it’s going to be the surgeon's hands. Honestly, my advice? For the kind of money you'll be dropping at Arither, you could find a much higher quality surgeon at plenty of other private clinics across the US or even just outside the city.

Exactly. A steady hand is what makes or breaks the nose. 🙂
Reading through these comments, I get the impression you're all more interested in auditing surgeries performed at private clinics than anything else. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I've gathered.

Robert Scott16 said:Even with all the cutting-edge 🙄 tech out there—whatever that actually entails these days—it’s still going to be the surgeon's steady, expert hands doing the real work, not some machine.

Thumbs up.

Can anyone who’s had nose surgery with Dr. Glusac tell me what the damage is going to cost? Thanks.

Just wanted to share a quick win: I’m already breathing through my nose normally, and it’s only been 10 days. 🙂
The crust has cleared up. Whatever slimy residue is left after rinsing, I just wipe it away gently with some gauze and call it a day. The only issue? My nose is itching like crazy. :/

electricangler32 said:So, I’m going to ask a question that’s probably been asked a thousand times already:
what kind of drops were you guys using to help those crusts fall off?
I stopped by the pharmacy this morning, but the name just slipped my mind.🤔
Also, can they actually do any harm? I’m asking because all they gave me was saline solution for my nose. If those crusts don't come off before my follow-up appointment in a week, is the doctor just going to scrape them away? I really want to avoid that if possible.😳

I was prescribed 1% ephedrine drops. I used about 8 drops in each nostril daily for a few days—that was a total lifesaver. No extra cleaning required! Just keep in mind, though, those require a prescription. After that, I switched to rinsing with saline and using marshmallow tea... and those crusts were completely gone.😁

electricangler32 said:Just wanted to brag a little—I can actually breathe through my nose normally again, and it’s only been 10 days. 🙂
The crust is finally clearing up. Whatever slimy gunk is left after rinsing, I just gently wipe it away with some gauze and call it a day. The only thing is, my nose itches like crazy. It's unbearable. :/

Seriously, the feeling is insane! It's like we've spent our entire lives walking around with a giant tick stuck on our noses. Sometimes it itches so bad, but I know I'm not allowed to touch it.