Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Melissa Evans88 said:Is it just me, or does this feel incredibly bleak? It’s like we’ve spent our entire lives walking around with a giant red mark on our noses. Even I get an itch sometimes, but I can't touch it.

I actually asked the doctor if people normally breathe this well after the swabs are out. 😂
And honestly, this bandage is driving me insane—it itches like hell.🙏vraka:

Once you peel that bandage off, your nose is gonna start peeling too because your skin is basically protesting its existence. Honestly, mine is still flaking a little bit right at the tip.

I can't help it, my nose is already starting to get irritated :/
I've still got this lingering cold, so I'm constantly blowing my nose. It’s honestly exhausting!!

Robert Scott16 said:To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't recommend him. My aunt went to see him, and he completely missed the mark on what she actually wanted. He lifted the tip of her nose way too much—she’s basically staring at the ceiling now. He didn't touch the width of the nose at all, and he left her with this weirdly saddle-shaped bridge and a dip right in the middle. On top of that, I've heard through the grapevine that he tends to dodge patients once the job is done. If you aren't happy with the results, getting hold of him is a nightmare because he works privately out of that clinic over on Maximillian Way, and the kicker is that they charge you full price for every single follow-up and consultation.

Maybe he's decent for fixing a deviated septum—it's not exactly rocket science—but if you're looking for aesthetics, I’d suggest finding a private plastic surgeon instead.

And did she ever complain about what the doctor said regarding the outcome? It's hard to believe he just left her like that; he really should have stepped up to fix it.

I had my procedure done by Dr. Ostojić, and I have to say, I’m incredibly happy with the results. He followed my requests to a T—which was no small feat, considering how much work he actually had to do.
It’s still a bit too early to see what the final nose will look like, but even now, I’m already feeling quite satisfied with the outcome. 😁

If anyone is looking for info regarding the surgery in general—anything about the prep work, the pre-op, or the recovery phase—feel free to reach out. I’ll try to check my inbox more often, though I’m not exactly a regular on this forum. 😉

Has anyone here had any personal experience with Dr. V. Borčić over at Mercure? I’ve been seeing him lately, and it looks like I’ll eventually need surgery to deal with a sinus osteoma and a pretty severe deviated septum—so I’m actually considering getting some cosmetic work done while I'm at it... The doctor seems incredibly knowledgeable and polite—he made a great first impression, honestly—but I haven't been able to find a single review or story from anyone else who has treated with him. Anyway, if you have any insight at all, please share... I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much!🙂

I’m also curious about Dr. Drasko Cikojevic at Mayo Clinic Split. He seems like an incredible doctor—really top-tier—but I’m specifically wondering about his work in aesthetics. Does anyone here have any insight on his cosmetic results? It would be great if someone could weigh in. 😉

So, I’ve made up my mind. In about two days, I’m heading to see my doctor, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to refer me to an ENT specialist. It got me thinking, though—does anyone know for sure if the specialists at the Rijeka Medical Center handle aesthetic procedures too? I mean, if someone wants to fix the look of their nose along with the breathing issues, can that be covered by Medicare? Look, I’m not doubting the person who told me they do both, but I just want to be absolutely certain before I commit to driving all those miles out there...

Daniel Sullivan36 said:So, I’ve decided to head to my doctor in two days, who will undoubtedly refer me to an ENT. It got me wondering if anyone knows for sure whether the Rijeka Medical Center handles aesthetic procedures alongside those nasal issues—specifically if they'll cover it through Medicare. I mean, I'm not questioning the person who told me they do, but I just want to be absolutely certain before I drive all those miles...

They do... though they only offered me the aesthetic option.

I took my bandages off yesterday, and honestly? Both my surgeon and I are thrilled. He actually called in a colleague just to show off how perfect the results turned out! I’m still dealing with some swelling, but even now, my nose looks significantly smaller than it did before. For anyone sitting on the fence, I can't recommend my doctor enough. I had my procedure done in Cleveland with Dr. Zarko Peric. I didn't rely on any referrals or connections; I just trusted my gut, and I have zero regrets!

Way to go! Honestly, I’m just stoked you’re feeling better. At the end of the day, that’s the only thing that actually matters. I’ve got a checkup this Thursday. Fingers crossed it’s my last one...

Greetings to everyone!
I am scheduled to meet with my surgeon this coming Friday at the Rijeka Medical Center to finalize a date for my surgery. To give you some context, I am undergoing both a septoplasty and turbinate volume reduction. During our last consultation, the doctor explained that he intends to make the incision on only the right side of my nose, since the deviation is localized there. However, I can't help but feel anxious that the end result might turn out asymmetrical. Furthermore, I would really love to have that tiny bump on my nasal bridge smoothed out and perhaps have my nasal passages narrowed slightly, but I honestly feel quite embarrassed to even bring those requests up to him. 🙄

Daniel Sullivan36 said:So, I’ve decided to see my doctor in a couple of days, and he'll definitely be sending me over to an ENT. It got me wondering—does anyone know for sure if they handle the cosmetic side of things at the Rijeka Medical Center too? I'm hoping it's covered by Medicare. I don't doubt the person who told me they do both, but since I'll be driving quite a few miles to get there, I just want to be absolutely certain...

I'm actually heading to the RI Medical Center next Tuesday for a septorhinoplasty, so yeah, they definitely do the cosmetic part too!🙂

Hannah James71 said:Hey everyone!
So, I’m heading to the Rijeka Medical Center this Friday to finally nail down a date for my surgery. It's for a septoplasty and turbinate reduction. My surgeon mentioned last time that he’ll only be working on the right side since the deviation is only there, but now I'm low-key panicking that things might end up looking asymmetrical. Plus, I really want him to smooth out that tiny bump on the bridge and narrow my nasal bones, but honestly? I'm too embarrassed to even bring it up. 🙄

Don't feel bad about it—they're usually the ones who suggest it to you anyway. 😁 So, I'm heading in next Tuesday. It's the same deviation, just on the right side this time... which doctor are you seeing for yours?

electricangler32 said:I took the tape off yesterday. My doctor is thrilled, and honestly, so am I. He even called in another specialist just to show him how great the results look! I’ve still got some swelling, but my nose already looks significantly smaller than before. If anyone is on the fence, I can't recommend my surgeon enough. I had my procedure in Cleveland with Dr. Zarko Peric. I didn't rely on any referrals or connections; I just followed my gut, and I have zero regrets!

Glad to hear you're happy with the outcome and that everything went smoothly.😍😍
Quick question for the rest of the group: how long does the tip of the nose usually stay hard?
Is there a standard timeline, or does it vary from person to person?

Karen Clark12 said:There is really no reason to feel embarrassed when they are the ones suggesting it to you in the first place.😁 I am scheduled for next Tuesday, and I have the exact same deviation on my right side... which doctor will be performing your surgery?

Dr. Manestar... And who is your physician?
Well, he hasn't actually suggested anything to me yet, which is precisely why I want to consult him myself; I am meeting with him this Friday to discuss everything.
Are you undergoing the procedure this coming Tuesday? My goodness, I will be keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes perfectly for you. Is there anything specific I should pick up at the pharmacy beforehand? I have been reading that one should rinse the nasal passages with saline solution, and I was also considering purchasing some Octenisept. I already have those small gels that you keep in the freezer, but perhaps I should buy some anti-diarrheal gel as well? Oh dear, I must admit I am feeling a bit anxious.🤣

crimsonpanther8 said:I'm genuinely glad you're happy with the results and that everything went smoothly. 😍😍
Quick question for the rest of the group: how long does that stiffness at the tip of the nose usually last?
Is there a standard timeline, or does it just vary from person to person?

That's highly individual. The stiffness and swelling are usually at their worst during the first three months. For me, things still feel a bit stiff, and it's been nearly six months now. It’s all pretty normal; you can expect things to settle down for up to a year after surgery. You eventually just get used to it.😁

Does anyone happen to know what the current wait time is for a septoplasty at the Mayo Clinic Split?

Hey everyone! 😁
I noticed some people here seem pretty knowledgeable about this stuff, so I wanted to pick your brains on something.
I haven't had nose surgery (though, yeah, I'm planning to get a hump removed eventually 😁), but separate from that, my nose runs a million times a day. It’s nothing crazy, just clear liquid, but it happens constantly. I’ve lost track of how many boxes of tissues I’ve gone through, and this has been going on for years. Everyone who knows me has noticed it; I even got an entire bulk pack of tissues for my birthday once as a joke. 😂 It’s especially bad when I step outside, move from outdoors to indoors, or if I take a deep breath because I'm rushing somewhere. I get that a runny nose is normal, but I feel like mine happens way too often.
I'm sure it's nothing serious, but I'm curious—why does this happen? Is my nasal mucosa just overly sensitive, or could it be something else entirely?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Rachel Vaughn85 said:Hey everyone! 😁
I see there are some people here who are more knowledgeable about this topic, so I have a question.
I haven't had nose surgery (though I am planning to fix a bump one day 😁), but regardless of that, my nose runs constantly throughout the day. It isn't anything special, just clear fluid, but it is truly non-stop. I've lost count of how many tissues I've used, and this has been going on for years. Everyone who knows me has noticed it; once, I even received a huge pack of tissues for my birthday as a joke. 😂 It becomes especially noticeable when I step outside or walk back into a building, or whenever I take a deep breath because I'm in a hurry. I understand that a runny nose can be normal, but I feel like mine happens far too frequently.
I'm sure it isn't anything serious, but I am curious about the cause. Is my nasal mucosa just overly sensitive, or could it be something else?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

I dealt with the exact same thing throughout high school. You likely have a deviated septum. I had to wait until I was 18 to have surgery, and things are much better now.