Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

cosmicbadger83 said:It’s been six months for me, and one side still swells up more than the other when I wake up. For a while, I actually thought I had developed a bump.

I noticed the same thing—my nose looks thick and shiny in the morning.
I took a photo the other day to show someone,
but unfortunately, it was early in the morning, so you can really see it in the picture.😢

northernmaker84 said:How’s the recovery coming along? Any good tips to share? I've got my own operation coming up next week!😁

I was super stubborn about sticking to the ice and compresses at the clinic during those first four rough days, so everything looks great! My nose is still a little swollen and I’ve got a few purple bruises left, but they're fading fast. 🙂 The only issue I'm having is that my face feels super oily and breakout-prone, while my nose is all dry and peeling. It actually hurts a bit, so I can't really mess with it too much. For me, there wasn't any real pain—just uncomfortable, nothing crazy. You could probably handle it. 🙂
Here's a shot of my braces before and after! 🙂 (ps the first one isn't great, and the second was taken on a pillow, so my hair is all over the place) 😁 )

Karen Clark12 said:Honestly, I was just incredibly persistent with the ice packs and compresses while I was at the hospital during those first four really rough days, so I think it looks pretty great now. My nose is still a little bit swollen, I guess, and I still have a few purple bruises here and there, but they seem to be fading 🙂. The only real issue is that my face feels incredibly oily and I'm breaking out quite a bit, whereas my nose feels totally dry and keeps peeling, which hurts since I can't really touch it too much. It wasn't actually painful for me, just sort of uncomfortable, though nothing too extreme, so maybe you could handle 🙂
here are some photos of my nose before and after 🙂 (just a heads up, the first one isn't the best, and the second one was taken on a pillow, so my hair is everywhere 😁 )

Wow, you look absolutely amazing right now!! :-) ... Man, I am so jealous! And don't even get me started on the oiliness; I'll probably be dealing with PMS during my recovery, haha, so my whole face will likely just bloat up. I guess I'll just have to arm myself with plenty of acne creams, haha 😛

Your nose looks absolutely lovely. For me, after a few days or maybe a week, the tip dropped just a tiny bit toward my lip, so I think yours will turn out perfect too.

I actually had my tip corrected yesterday. It’s still quite swollen, so I can't really tell if it's actually turned down yet or not. No, I guess I just have to wait...

Angela Wright4 said:Your nose looks great! Mine actually dropped just a tiny bit toward my lip after a few weeks, so yours will probably settle into perfection too.

I actually had my tip adjusted just yesterday. It's still pretty swollen, so I can't tell if it's actually teary or if it's just the swelling. No, I really have to wait...

Yeah, it’ll definitely drop since they didn't touch the tip, but honestly, I've gotten used to it and I kind of like it this way. Even today, it already looks a little less swollen from the front—just applying some compresses now. 🙂
Patience is key; we just have to wait. 🙂))

I noticed today that a little white bump has popped up inside one of my nasal carriers... I'm assuming the cartilage is sitting right where the swelling is. Has anyone else dealt with this? I'm wondering if it’ll just heal on its own or if I'm looking at another Operation

Hi everyone! About three years ago, I had a fall, and since then, my nose has been slightly crooked 🙄—it’s nothing major, but just enough to be annoying 🙄
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good surgeon? Also, does anyone know roughly how much an operation like this would cost?

Melissa Thomas35 said:So, I noticed today that this little white bump popped up right inside one of my nostril incisions... I’m guessing it’s just where the cartilage is settling in. Has anyone else dealt with this? Just wondering if it'll smooth out on its own or if I'm looking at another Operation.

Honestly, if I had to guess, it's just the cartilage. I spent way too much time staring at my own nose after mine, and those spots where the grafts were ended up looking a bit swollen and whitish for a while, but it eventually smoothed out as the tissue healed. Don't freak out right away—just let the nose do its thing and recover. It takes time. And whatever you do, do NOT pull at those stitches unless they fall out on their own. How's your breathing been lately?

Chris Moore3 said:In my experience, it’s just swelling. I took a look at my own nose after my procedure, and there was that same slight bumpiness and white patches where the stitches were, but it eventually smoothed out as the tissue healed... Just try not to panic right away. Let the nose heal on its own—that takes time. And whatever you do, don't go pulling at those stitches unless they've already come loose on their own. How is your breathing holding up?

I'm not panicking. But I think I'll probably have a doctor take a look at it anyway...🙂
One side is still more swollen than the other, making it harder to breathe on that side...
How are you doing? Expired yet?

Melissa Thomas35 said:I'm not freaking out or anything. But honestly? I think I might actually go get a doctor to take a look at this.🙂
One side is still way more swollen than the other, so breathing just feels a lot harder on that side.
How you doing? You expired yet?

I gotta admit, I can actually breathe normally now—or honestly, even better than before—through my nose. It’s only been two days since they pulled the tampon out, but man, what a difference. Seriously, thank God for that!!
Honestly, one side of mine feels way more swollen too—specifically the side where they did most of the work internally, so I guess that makes sense. Plus, I already had an Operation two years ago, so I definitely know it takes a minute for everything to just settle back into place. It’s probably a good call to go get checked out; I actually need to head in for a follow-up myself since it'll be about a month since my surgery. You're a little further along in the timeline than me, right? Maybe the lining just needs a bit more time to heal, or maybe everything is totally fine... Honestly, your doctor will be the only one who can tell you for sure. Sending you nothing but good vibes, hope everything turns out awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!😉

I had my nose surgery about six months ago. Overall, I’m really happy with the results, though of course, there are always those tiny little things you wish were just a bit different. For instance, my nose has dropped slightly—nothing major, but I would have loved it to stay exactly how it looked right after the procedure. One side also sits a bit lower than the other, and I used to have this bump on the left side. That was actually what I was most terrified of—worrying everyone would see it—but as time passed, it faded significantly, even if it’s still faintly visible. Honestly, I just wanted to share that it's rare for anyone to be 100% satisfied. My nose used to be a total disaster, just one massive lump, but now it looks great and my profile is wonderful. These are just minor imperfections that only I seem to notice. 🙂))

wearyviper60 said:I had my nose job six months ago. Generally, I’m happy, but obviously, there are always those tiny details you aren't quite satisfied with. For example, my nose has dropped slightly—not a ton, but I wish it had held its shape better from immediately after the surgery. One nostril sits a bit lower than the other, and there was this bump on the side; that was my biggest fear, thinking it would be obvious, but as time passed, it faded significantly, though a little trace remains. Basically, I just want to tell you all that it's rare for anyone to be 100% satisfied. My nose used to be terrible—just a massive lump—and now it looks great. The profile is perfect, but these are just minor flaws that only I seem to notice. 🙂))

Bottom line: these are usually just small things we obsess over ourselves. My left side still feels a bit swollen; I wake up in a panic every morning, then it settles down during the day and looks fine. At one point, I was convinced I had a bump and thought I'd need a revision, but clearly, that's just part of the healing process. When you're months into recovery, it's easy to forget how much swelling and freshness is actually still there. Six months post-Operation is honestly way too early to make a final judgment on the look. You really need a year, and some doctors say even 18 months.
Overall, though, I am more than happy. A friend sent me some recent photos the other day and I was in shock at the difference. That profile—the very thing I used to dread—is perfect. 😍

cosmicbadger83 said:Exactly. But honestly, most of this stuff is just tiny details that we're hyper-fixated on. Like, the left side of my nose still feels a little swollen sometimes—I'll wake up in a total panic every morning, then it settles down during the day and everything feels fine again. At one point, I was convinced I had a bump and thought I’d need a revision, but clearly, it’s all just part of the healing process. When you're months into recovery, you forget how fresh and swollen everything actually still is. Six months after an Operation is way too early to say, "Okay, this is the final look." You really don't know until a year has passed, and some doctors even say eighteen months.
I'm seriously thrilled, though. A friend sent me some recent photos the other day and I was in absolute shock at the difference... my profile—which used to totally freak me out—is perfect now. 😍

Girls, I am 100% with you on this, and I keep telling everyone on the forum!
The nose needs time. Everyone heals differently—some people take longer, some faster. And not every little lump is a permanent bump! Looking back at myself, even though my skin is pretty dry, during that 3-to-6-month window (and even up to a year!) after my first surgery, my nose was constantly changing, with bumps and protrusions popping up everywhere. I even had issues with internal stitches that literally felt like lumps under the skin. But let me tell you, anyone who’s been through a surgery knows this. You seriously have to be patient and stop poking at it every five minutes. We all have that nagging fear that things won't turn out right, and then the second we see a tiny change 🙂, we spiral. Sometimes it's a valid concern, sure, but often it's just nothing, and everything ends up being fine in the end. 😉
Your nose is always going to be a little puffy in the morning; it's totally normal because of circulation. Some people get such swollen fingers they can't even wear rings... it's just how it works.

I've got nose surgery scheduled for today—happening in just a few hours. Honestly? I am seriously freaking out. 😲 If I make it through this, I'll check back in to tell you all how it went. 🙂

Brenda Collins59 said:So, I have my nose surgery scheduled for today—actually, it’s happening in just a few hours... and man, I am seriously freaking out. 😲 If I make it out of this alive, I'll be sure to circle back and give you all the play-by-play on how it went.🙂

You’ve already gone through two births, so this operation will be a total breeze. 😉😍

Brenda Collins59 said:I have my nose surgery scheduled for today—actually, it’s happening in just a few hours... and I am sooo incredibly nervous. 😲 If I make it out alive, I'll let you guys know how it went.🙂

We just didn't have any luck! I really hope everything went okay, though. 😁
Who did you go see? 🙂

Rachel Vaughn85 said:We couldn't wish you better luck! Hope everything went smoothly! 😁
Who did you go see? 🙂

Thanks
🙂The Operation went great. I went to the Arithera Clinic to see Dr. Veir. Writing this on my phone right now, so once I can get on their Wi-Fi, I'll write up all the details. And here's the unbelievable part—not a single bruise, swelling, or anything. Nothing at all.
🤷

Hello everyone! :-)
My own Operation took place yesterday around noon, and I have to say, I’m feeling quite alright. I don't really have any significant pain, though there is some slight swelling and just a little bit of bruising underneath one of my eyes. It doesn't truly hurt, except perhaps when I touch the bridge of my nose with my hand, where things feel a bit tender and swollen between my eyes.
I actually managed to get a little bit of sleep last night, which was a relief. I've been applying those compresses from the DMA quite frequently.
If anyone has any questions at all, please feel free to ask me! :-)
Wishing you all the best of luck

Hey there! I had my nose surgery about two weeks ago, but honestly, my nose looks even wider now than it did before. Is it still just swollen, or what??

brisklynx42 said:Hi there. I had an Operation on my nose about two weeks ago, but honestly, it feels even wider now than it did before. I wonder if it might just still be swollen? Or maybe something else is going on??

It's most likely just the swelling, so I would suggest being patient for at least another month or two. :-)