Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Rachel Vaughn85 said:Hey everyone! 😁

I see there are some folks here who are a bit more knowledgeable about this topic than I am, so I wanted to pick your brains.

I haven't had nose surgery (though, yes, I am planning to get that bump removed one of these days 😁), but setting that aside, my nose runs a million times a day. It’s nothing crazy—just clear, watery discharge—but it happens constantly. Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many tissues I go through, and this has been going on for years now. Anyone who knows me has definitely noticed; I even got an entire bulk pack of tissues for my birthday once as a joke! 😂 It’s especially noticeable whenever I step outside, move from outdoors back into the house, or even just when I take a deep breath because I'm in a rush. I realize a runny nose is normal, but I feel like mine happens way more often than it should.

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! 🙂

Do you have allergies?
Clear secretion usually points directly to that rather than a deviated septum. You should probably get an allergy workup: a nasal cytology test for eosinophils, total IgE levels, and inhalation allergen testing via a Prick test.

Betty Edwards22 said:Are you allergic?
Clear discharge usually points to allergies rather than a deviated septum. You should probably get an allergy panel done: a nasal smear for eosinophils, total IgE levels, and inhalation allergen prick tests.

I honestly don't know, since I deal with this all year round ://
Do you happen to know where the best place is to go for these tests, or how to set them up? Should I get a referral from my primary care doctor first, or can I just go somewhere directly? (Sorry if I sound clueless, I just don't end up at doctors or hospitals very often, so I'm not really sure how this works 😢 )

Jacob Ruiz86 said:I dealt with the exact same thing all through high school. You probably have a deviated septum. I had to wait until I was 18 to get surgery, but things are way better now.

I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to believe that's 😁
Look, I'm not trying to act like I know everything, and you definitely should go get checked out regardless, but it doesn't feel like a deviation to me. 🙂

How long did your facial swelling last? I’m not just talking about my nose—I mean my actual cheeks and everything. It’s been two weeks and the left side is still swollen. Is it even normal for the swelling to be asymmetrical like this? On top of that, my ear and throat on that same side are killing me, and I’ve got a nasty cold on top of it all. 😢

Rachel Vaughn85 said:I honestly can't say for sure, since I feel like this way all year round ://

Do you guys happen to know the best way to go about getting those tests done? Should I start by getting a referral from my primary care doctor first, or can I just head straight to a specialist somewhere? (Sorry if I sound clueless, it's just that I rarely find myself at doctors' offices or hospitals, so I'm not really sure how the whole process works 😢 )

You should talk to your primary care physician—if they're smart, they'll probably just skip the runaround and initiate the process themselves. If they take the long route, you'd likely go to an ENT first, and then follow the same pattern from there.

Hannah James71 said:Dr. Manhattan... So, who's your doctor?
He didn't actually suggest anything specific, so I want to ask him myself. I'm seeing him this Friday.
Are you heading in for your Operation on Tuesday? Oh man, I'm crossing my fingers for you! Is there anything I should grab at the pharmacy beforehand? I read somewhere about rinsing your nose with saline solution... I was thinking of picking up some Octenisept too. I've got those little ice packs in the freezer, but maybe I should get some anti-diarrheal gel? Ugh, I'm getting a little nervous. 🤣

Dr. Manhattan operated on a friend of mine. Her nose looks perfect—she had a bump removed, the tip reshaped, and her deviation fixed. He did a ton of work.😁
I'm seeing Dr. Kujundžić. I'll be checking in soon, but the surgery isn't until Wednesday or Thursday (you always end up waiting a day or two).
And I'm not sure about the ice thing either. If there isn't a fridge there, how am I going to manage? Ice packs are amazing for swelling, but I haven't figured out if I'll just have to pester everyone who comes to visit to bring them to me. 😁
When is your surgery scheduled?

Betty Edwards22 said:A general practitioner—if they’re actually smart—will probably just take the long way around and refer you themselves. They'll likely send you to an ENT first, and then it's just more of the same loop.

Thanks so much everyone! 🙂

Karen Clark12, I've heard nothing but glowing reviews about Dr. K from people on the inside. Honestly, if I were living in Rhode Island, he’d be the first person I'd go see. Good luck.

Karen Clark12 said:Dr. Manhattan performed surgery on my friend, and her nose looks absolutely perfect; she had a hump removed, the tip refined, and the deviation corrected—it was quite an extensive procedure. 😁
As for myself, I am planning to see Dr. Kujundžić; I intend to get settled in, though my Operation isn't scheduled until either Wednesday or Thursday (there is always that one or two-day waiting period).
I am also weighing the option of using ice, but since they won't have a refrigerator available there, and knowing how effective ice packs are for swelling, I haven't quite figured out my strategy yet—I suppose I might have to pester my visitors to bring those cold compresses to me. 😁
When are you heading in for your surgery?

I am not entirely certain... I am meeting with him this Friday to finalize the date and have him walk me through everything; I might even ask if he can touch up that small hump and slim my nose while he's at it. I believe there is a specific gel available at the pharmacy that helps speed up the healing process. Regarding those cold compresses, hmm... perhaps I will just have to ask my mother to bring them along. 😁
How long is the typical hospital stay? I have never been fond of hospitals; I would much rather be back home immediately. 😁

Hannah Hernandez9 said:Karen Clark12, I've heard nothing but amazing things about Dr. K from people on the inside. If I were living in Rhode Island, he’d be my first choice. Good luck!

I actually used a connection to get an appointment with him specifically because his reputation is so solid. 🙂Thanks so much! 🙂

A question for Betty Edwards22..🙂

Based on your previous posts, I’ve noticed you seem incredibly knowledgeable—and since you work over at Vineyard—I was hoping you might have some insight regarding my recent sinus CT scan results:

- A slight mucosal reaction in the ethmoid cells, where a sclerotic zone measuring 0.7x0.5 cm is visible on the right side, which could indicate an osteoma.
- Significant right-sided septal deviation with a bony spur pointing toward the right inferior nasal turbinate.
- Left concha bullosa.

I’ve been enduring unbearable headaches for years—right above my right eye—to the point where it even feels like my eye itself is aching; I’ve been popping painkillers like they're candy. The doctor at Merkur mentioned they can fix the deviation, but because of the osteoma, I need to consult with specialists at either Vineyard or a major university hospital like Johns Hopkins, as the area is too close to the brain for their current equipment. They suggested that if I move forward with correcting the deviation, the osteoma surgery might not even be necessary. So, I've been scheduled for a septoplasty combined with FESS.

Now, I'm feeling a bit conflicted about the plan... I really wouldn't want to undergo this whole ordeal twice, so I’ll likely seek a second opinion. Is it actually possible to tackle all of this at once—septoplasty, the osteoma, and perhaps rhinoplasty? Or is that just asking too much for a single surgical session? Also, does Professor Baudoin perform rhinoplasty, and what is his reputation like? Or would it be wiser to simply operate on the deviation first?

My apologies for such a long-winded post, but I am truly at my wits' end..🤷

Does anyone happen to know why someone might experience a sudden, unpleasant odor specifically when they sneeze?

It doesn't strike me as anything standard; there aren't any complaints about breathing issues or anything of that nature, but rather just this distinct, unpleasant smell that hits right at the moment of the sneeze.😕

Does anyone happen to know if there's someone in St. Louis who does aesthetic work, or maybe someone in New York? 🙂

Hannah James71 said:I'm not really sure... I'm heading to see him this Friday to finalize the date for the Operation and have him walk me through everything. I might also ask if he can fix up that tiny little bump and slim down my nose while he's at it. I think there's some gel you can grab at a drugstore to help it heal faster... As for those compresses, hmm... I guess I'll just have to ask my mom to handle that part. 😁
How long will I actually be stuck in the hospital? I'm not a fan of hospitals—I'd want to head straight home if I could! 😁

Well, listen, you won't be on the schedule immediately. They usually write it down so you don't have to stay overnight right away, but sometimes you end up waiting two or three days for your turn. Then, after the surgery itself, I think you're looking at about four more days. That’s how it worked for a friend of mine...

silentridge9 said:A question for Betty Edwards22...🙂

I’ve noticed from your posts that you really know your stuff and that you work over at Vineyard, so I wanted to run my situation by you. I just got my CT scan results back for my paranasal sinuses, and here is what it says:

- slight mucosal reaction in the ethmoid cells, where a sclerosis zone measuring 0.7x0.5 cm is visible on the right side, which could indicate an osteoma

- significant right-sided septal deviation with a bony spur pointing toward the right inferior turbinate

- left concha bullosa

I’ve been dealing with unbearable headaches for years—right above my right eye. Honestly, it feels like my eye hurts too. I’ve been popping painkillers like they’re candy. My doctor at Merkur mentioned they can fix the deviation, but because of the osteoma, I need to head over to Manhattan or maybe a major university hospital like Johns Hopkins because the area is so close to the brain and they might not have the specialized equipment. They suggested if I get the deviation fixed, the osteoma surgery might not even be necessary. So, I’ve been scheduled for a septoplasty + FESS.

The thing is, I’m really hoping for a one-and-done solution because I definitely don't want to go through all this twice, so I'll probably seek a second opinion anyway. Is it actually possible to handle everything at once—septoplasty, the osteoma, plus rhinoplasty? Or is that just asking for too much during a single surgery? Also, does Prof. Baudoin perform rhinoplasty, and what is he like? Should I just stick to fixing the deviation first?

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I am just so stressed out about this...🤷

Hi there!

First off, keep in mind that not all doctors approach things the same way; they won't always decide on the same course of action at the same time. My perspective might differ quite a bit, especially since, from what I understand, Merkur follows a different rhinology school of thought than Manhattan.

Basically, the philosophy I advocate for is treating the clinical symptoms—meaning, we focus on what the patient is actually feeling rather than just looking at the CT scan.
I don't have specific data on how clear that right cavity is, but based on those intense headaches you described, I would certainly lean toward a septal reconstruction to remove that bony spur. It sounds like it could be causing trigeminal pain by pressing against the inferior turbinate.

As for the CT scan itself, it isn't particularly alarming: osteomas are usually just monitored, and a minimal mucosal reaction isn't typically enough reason to jump into FESS.
In short, the concha bullosa could be resected, as it likely developed as a reaction to the uneven volume in certain cavities, leading to hypertrophy on one side.

A septoplasty and FESS can be done at the same time, though it really depends on the surgeon's speed and skill, as well as the resources available in the operating room—we deal with those kinds of limitations sometimes.

Alex Moore62 Asks:
Does anyone happen to know why there might be an unpleasant odor that escapes whenever someone sneezes?

That doesn't seem right to me. Usually, you'd expect someone to be complaining about shortness of breath or respiratory issues, but instead, they’re just saying that whenever they sneeze, they catch this unpleasant smell. 😕

Just had an endoscopic exam over at the ENT clinic.

Could someone please clarify something for me? I'm feeling a bit lost... I went to see my doctor to explain some issues I've been having with my nose. About two years ago, I took a fall on it, and ever since then, breathing has been a bit difficult. I deal with frequent congestion from mucus, there's a bump right in the middle, and the airflow through the left side is really weak—you can actually see something slimy sitting in the center when looking inside, which is quite bothersome. Every once in a while, I can breathe normally through both sides, though that rarely happens. Because I was so focused on all these other symptoms, I don't think I listened closely enough to what she was saying, but I do remember her mentioning I need an exam for my sinuses and a full nasal evaluation. I'm just not sure where I'm supposed to go for that kind of thing, since this is all brand new to me and I'm unfamiliar with the process. Maybe she did tell me and I just blanked out. Since I live in a smaller town, maybe somewhere like rural Nebraska, I assume I should probably head to a larger city like Omaha or Chicago to get this done? 🤷 Besides that, I was given a referral, but it doesn't actually say anything on it—it's basically blank, aside from a tiny signature at the bottom. I wasn't at the doctor's office for very long, so I'm honestly not sure if there’s supposed to be more information written on there. 😬 Also, I was wondering if I can choose where I have this exam done—like, can I just pick any ENT specialist I want? And how long is this referral valid for? Do I need to schedule the appointment immediately, or is there a time limit? I'm using supplemental insurance for this, so I also wanted to mention that if it's at all possible, I'd be interested in getting both functional and cosmetic surgery done to fix that bump at the same time.

Has anyone here had experience using Contractubex after an Operation?
And how are they?
Did you guys feel any burning or stinging after applying it?

crimsonpanther8 said:Has anyone here dealt with Contractubex after surgery?
How was it?
Does it sting or burn like crazy when you put it on?

I never used it myself since I don't have any external scars. My procedure was done using a closed technique.

Everything was handled internally on my end. But look, my kid just clocked me right in the nose this morning 😢 No bleeding, but man, it really stung! Now it feels like my nose is drifting to the right again, though I’m still pretty swollen so I can't say for sure. I have to see the doctor in the morning... if something actually shifted, is it even possible for them to fix it while it's still fresh, or am I just talking nonsense here?