Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Nobody’s rushing you out the door the second it's over, but honestly, there's usually no reason to stay overnight—especially if you aren't under general anesthesia.
My procedure took about 2 hours, though they can definitely be shorter than that. I just had local anesthesia. Since I went in during the morning, I was wide awake once it was done... I ended up napping for maybe 2 hours because I was just wiped out. No nausea, no weird side effects, so why would I even bother staying at the hospital? I mean, obviously, if things had gone sideways, they would've kept me, but since everything was fine, they sent me home that evening.

As for your boyfriend asking about taking the bus—I don't think it would be an issue, but it might be better if someone actually goes with you. Just in case you start feeling lightheaded or need help cleaning up, grabbing a snack, or whatever else...
P.S. You can always recline the seat on the bus so it feels kind of like you're lying down. 😉

Of course, if you're looking at a minor procedure—like earlobe correction—done under local anesthesia, there's absolutely no reason to stay overnight at the clinic. But my point is about offering flexibility to patients traveling from outside Chicago, without essentially picking their pockets for the privilege. A nose job, whether it's local or general anesthesia, is a significant procedure that takes a toll on the body. You shouldn't be "forcing" someone to hop on a train or a bus just an hour after surgery. When people are paying these kinds of premium prices, providers should be meeting them halfway. It really says a lot about the mindset of certain private practices.

Back again—it’s been about a month and a half since my last post. I’ve gathered some opinions from everyone here, but I’m still stuck in limbo... I'm 14 right now, and I’m thinking about getting surgery, even though I think the age limit is 16... plus, my nose looks just like Luka Modrić's.🙂

So, what's the move now?

driftingheron34 said:Well, obviously, if we're talking about a minor procedure—like earlobe reshaping or something done under local anesthesia—then yeah, there’s zero reason to stay overnight at the clinic or hospital. But my point is more about making things easier for people who don't live in Chicago... not just hitting them with extra fees. Nose surgery, whether you're under local or general anesthesia, isn't some light thing—it really takes a toll on your body. You shouldn't be "forcing" patients to hop on a train or a bus home just an hour after they wake up... I mean, when you're already shelling out that kind of cash, the providers should meet you halfway. It honestly says a lot about how some private clinics operate...

But that "toll on the body" doesn't always require a hospital stay in every single case. He made the choice to go to a private clinic and agreed to pay that price. If he's paying $2,000, then charging extra for an unnecessary overnight stay is fine by me. Even at a public hospital, staying the night costs a few hundred bucks, and if you don't have insurance, you're footing the bill for everything anyway. With private clinics, there's no insurance coverage or supplemental plans, so it's fair that you pay the full amount yourself. An overnight stay usually isn't included in the base price because most of the time, it’s just not needed.

Mark Young10 said:Here I go again... was here about a month and a half ago... got some advice but I still can't decide... basically I'm 14 and thinking about getting surgery even though I think the age limit is 16... and my nose looks just like Lukij modrica's🙂

Does this post even have a point? I don't see a question here. 🤷
The only thing people can do is explain all over again why surgery might not be the best move for you right now. I get that you want to fix this ASAP, but it might be better to just write down the pros and cons of the decision... and maybe figure out how many years you actually need to wait. 😉

Rachel Vaughn85 said:Exactly! Honestly, it’s actually smarter to pay someone else a few extra thousand dollars if it means you get an overnight stay included for free. If you tried to book that separately elsewhere, you'd end up paying a few hundred more just to get the same thing, so you really come out ahead. And who's to say one doctor will care more about your recovery than another? Or even that they won't just tell you to rest at home if they think you're up for it?
In all likelihood, he isn't going to be the one pulling an all-nighter to watch over you anyway; that’s what nurses or medical technicians are there for. A higher price tag definitely doesn't guarantee better service or a more successful surgery. I've seen so many people chase the most expensive options only to end up totally disappointed. You really have to go with your gut, while making sure you gather as much info as possible about the surgeon you're looking at. Look at their track record—do successful outcomes clearly outweigh any setbacks? That’s how you eventually find the right fit for you. 🙂

I honestly can't wrap my head around some of the fantasies people are having here—are we seriously talking about removing a mole?!
People are going to be in post-op recovery, and you guys are acting like they're supposed to be hopping on taxis and city buses? ???

I’m not going to comment on specific prices, doctors, or their accommodations, but this whole discussion is sounding a bit ridiculous. After surgery, a person is usually groggy and might even need pain management; where are they supposed to eat? Just pop into a local bakery! This whole process requires solid planning, like maybe even having someone drive you down to Chicago.

William Robinson80 said:It might not be the smartest move to rinse with saline solution every single time. I personally do it three times a day and use a SeaWorld spray that my doctor recommended.

Honestly, it's pretty much the exact same thing...

electricangler32 said:So, what happens now?

Like! 😉

Betty Edwards22 said:Honestly, I can’t even wrap my head around some of the fantasies people are spinning here—I mean, we aren't talking about getting a mole removed, right?!
People are literally recovering from surgery in a hospital setting, and you're all sitting here planning to catch taxis or hop on public buses? Seriously?

I won't even get into the specific costs, the individual providers, or their accommodations, because frankly, the whole situation sounds just ridiculous. After a surgical procedure, someone is going to be groggy—they might even need pain management—so where are they supposed to grab a bite to eat? Is it really too much to ask to just hit up a local bakery nearby?! This entire thing requires some serious logistical planning, like maybe having someone drive you straight back to Chicago.

I'm with you on that... I mean, you truly never know how you're going to feel once the anesthesia wears off, so trying to jump on a bus the very same evening? No thanks. 😢 🤷
All I know is that if it were me, I wouldn't even consider it.

Mark Young10 said:Hey, it’s me again! I was actually hanging out here about a month and a half ago—remember? I got some feedback back then, but honestly, I’m still totally stuck and can't quite make up my mind yet. So, here's the deal: I'm 14 right now, and I'm seriously considering going through with surgery. I know the typical age limit is usually around 16, though, right? Anyway, the main thing is that my nose looks exactly like Luke Modric's.🙂

Look, I’ve been dealing with my own insecurities since I was about 14 years old—and let me tell you, being a woman with a narrow face and a small head just makes you feel like everything stands out more, especially when you're stuck with a nose you can't stand. I ended up going through surgery when I was almost 22, but honestly? I made a point to wait. I wanted to be sure. First off, I wanted to make sure my facial structure had fully settled, and secondly, I kept wondering if I’d actually grow to love my profile once I moved past the awkwardness of puberty. So, my best advice is just this: give yourself some time... ☕

Betty Edwards22 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around how some of you have such wild imaginations—it’s not like we're talking about removing a mole here!
People are literally in post-op recovery in a hospital, and you guys are out here suggesting they hop on buses or take taxis—???

I won't even get into the pricing or specific providers and their accommodations, because the whole thing just sounds ridiculous. The guy is going to be groggy from surgery, he might even need pain meds, and where is he supposed to eat? Just go to a local bakery, right?! This entire situation requires decent planning, like maybe bringing someone along to NYC with him.

And what did I actually tell him? I recommended that he absolutely should not travel the very next day, which was the most important point I wanted to make. He should just stay at their clinic for $133 if there isn't any other option. Sure, it’s expensive and doesn't make much sense, but if he could afford $3667 for the surgery itself, then he can swing an extra 400 for lodging. Mind you, I did suggest a cheaper alternative first: staying at a hostel near the clinic after the procedure. That would probably cost about the same as one night elsewhere and give him a few days to recover. A five-minute ride to a hostel is a small price to pay, just like the trip home would have been if he were from Chicago. But the guy is from out of town; he doesn't have many choices. Either he travels all the way back to Savannah, or he pays a couple hundred more to stay put until he's fit to travel.

The only thing I commented on was that remark: "The Best Actor is better because he includes one day of lodging, while charging thousands more than Tony." That makes zero sense to me. Both of them are overcharging. Why would the first one be better than the second? One is charging a fortune for the surgery, and the other is charging a fortune for the room.

So, I have no idea why you're even targeting my post. I never recommended taking buses or traveling, and I didn't clap for Tony regarding his nightly rates either, so... 🤷

I honestly don't get why you're taking this so personally. It’s true that you wrote those words, but on the flip side, it wasn't even remotely definitive. Ever since he joined the forum, he's been making these pretty bizarre observations about the whole situation, which really just shows how much he's missing the mark.

Betty Edwards22 said:I don't get why you're taking this personally. You did write that, sure, but it wasn't exactly a definitive statement. Honestly, ever since he joined the forum, he's been making these weirdly off-base observations about the whole situation, which just shows how out of touch he really is.

Well, you were responding directly to my post, so how else am I supposed to take it? 🙄
Since I got the feeling I was being misunderstood, I explained that my take on this has nothing to do with what you're commenting on, because I never said any of that. That's it. 🙂
Fine, then you should have said that to him instead of me. 😁

No, I’m actually talking about the entire conversation you were having with him—which I can tell now since you're pushing back—but honestly, I don't care if there were two people involved or five. It doesn't change anything for me.

The thing is, you can't really explain it to him. He’s still looking at this like someone is trying to pick his pocket, which is why I'm trying to have a rational discussion here. I might be able to clear up a few minor details, but once someone has completely lost their mind over a concept like this? It's a lost cause.

Hey, settle down, you're being a bit much...

Rachel Vaughn85, thanks again for the awesome info, queen! 🙂

So, I'm heading out for NYC tomorrow!

Once Javin gets through surgery—considering how everything went—we'll see what happens.

Lucky. Let us know how it goes when you're all done.

And I really hope you're getting the older Dr. Tony to perform the surgery... I've heard his son isn't much of an expert. Still just a rookie, really. The father knew what he was doing, but honestly, I wouldn't let him touch my nose.

Betty Edwards22 said:Look, I’m talking about the entire conversation you were having with him—which I know now because you're clearly getting defensive about it. Honestly, I couldn't care less if there were two people involved or five; it doesn't change anything for me.

You can't explain anything to him at this point. He’s still looking at it like he's just trying to strip some copper wiring out of a wall, while I'm over here trying to have a conversation with someone actually using their brain. I might be able to clear up a few minor details, but once he's fully committed to his delusions? Yeah, good luck. It's basically impossible.

You should have just replied directly under his post instead of posting this, where it’s painfully obvious my take isn't yours. Telling someone, "Just go home; your nose surgery is nothing," isn't helpful—you should be trying to actually convince them otherwise. I honestly believe everything can be explained if you actually care enough to make someone understand. Sometimes you just need to have some patience and show a little humanity instead of getting worked up and talking down to people just because they hold a different opinion. If you work in healthcare, you really should know better. None of us know everything about everything, and we certainly don't have to.
Did he actually do his homework before making such a massive, high-stakes move? I mean, it’s not really my place to judge. If you want to help him out, then give him everything you've got. But if he just won't get it, that's on him. At least you can tell yourself you tried. On the other hand, if you feel like you can't be of any use, then maybe just stay quiet? I don't get why everyone is so worked up. It's not like all this yelling is actually helping anyone.
Besides that, I feel like... Surgeon Who exactly is performing the surgery? The surgeon is supposed to walk him through every single detail regarding the procedure and the recovery process, but clearly, that didn't happen during the consultation. I highly doubt the guy would be okay with pulling a 4-5 hour flight on the very same day as his surgery if he’d actually had a decent, thorough conversation first. He probably still has a mountain of unanswered questions hanging over his head. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't be rushing into this either. I definitely wouldn't be putting myself in anyone's hands until they gave me straight answers to everything I need to know. Like you said, this isn't some minor thing where you just "go in to get a mole removed."
Look, it is what it is. In my opinion, everything's already been decided, so why shouldn't we step up and help him out as much as possible? We should aim to make this as successful as we can and hopefully make things a little easier on him personally. I mean, isn't that exactly what this forum is for? That's just how I see it.
He finally figured out the best way to handle everything given the circumstances. He’s actually done his homework on the city he's moving to so he can hit the ground running and settle in quickly. Now that we have some actual details, I just want to wish him the best of luck—he's heading into surgery tomorrow. Honestly, if even one piece of our advice helps him out, I'll be thrilled. I know firsthand how much it means to have someone show a little patience when you're in a situation like this. I'd rather someone draw me a helpful map than sit there lecturing me, acting all arrogant and high-and-mighty, leaving useless comments that don't help anyone.

Look, there’s way too much pointless philosophy going on here. To avoid getting totally off-topic, I’ll just give you my bottom line: As I understand it, this thread exists so we can swap experiences, ask questions, and actually answer them. If you think your own experience or some specific knowledge could actually help someone out, then go ahead and jump in. But if you feel like someone has completely lost the plot and you don't have the patience to deal with it, you don't need to say a damn thing. Honestly, if they’re getting on your nerves, just ignore their posts. Maybe someone else will have the energy to step in and help them.

🙂

So, roughly how much of the nose is going to get splashed? 🙂 I don't mean the whole thing—just the biggest part right at the start🤣 Honestly, I’m being such a klutz today, haha

briskorca352 said:So, roughly how much of the nose gets cleared out first? 🙂 I mean, not everything at once, just most of it right at the start... 🤣 honestly, you're such a goofball...

For me, it was about 7 days—I still had a tiny bit of drainage, nothing crazy—but I guess it really just depends on the person. 🙂

@555
I’m a woman, but I honestly don't have the stamina to write as much as you do. I'm not going to dive into a deep psychoanalysis of my own character or work because, frankly, I don't think it serves any purpose for this forum. That’s just moving into off-topic territory. Speaking as a surgeon, I can usually point out when someone is slightly detached from reality, but in this case—it's a total disconnect. Simply put, I don't have enough free time to spend deconstructing these delusions, but I am absolutely repulsed by the idea and felt the need to say so. I’m sorry if that sounds like a jab to you, but it isn't; it's just a call to come back to earth. In the real world, things aren't even as over-the-top as they are in the most dramatic Hollywood movies.
🙂