Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

analoghound6 said:Hey everyone...
I have a quick question for the group; has anyone here had rhinoplasty done by Dr. Smith? I'm looking for some honest feedback on her work. To be blunt, my first surgery was a complete disaster, and now I’m on the hunt for someone competent who can actually fix the mess.

Where did you go for that first procedure? And did you happen to see Dr. Miller for a consultation yet?

They didn't give me any updates at my checkup—hopefully someone here knows more.. 😁 anyway, how long after surgery can I actually go diving or just hit the beach normally.. 😁
It’s been a little over a month since the procedure and the last stitch finally came out today.. swelling is basically gone.. 😁 well, it looks invisible to me, but the doctor insists they're still there 🙂

Sea water is basically just a natural physiological solution, so diving should be fine. My doctor actually suggested I get out in the water as much as possible this summer. It’s been about a month and a half since my surgery, and I guess I could probably dive without any major issues, though I still have quite a few stitches in my nose (plus, I'm still feeling a bit chilly 🙂 )

So, look, I’ve got this deviated septum situation going on, and honestly, breathing through one side of my nose has become a total nightmare. My doctor sent me in for a follow-up, and he basically dropped the hammer—told me I’m almost certainly looking at surgery. Now, here’s the thing: I am desperately hunting for recommendations for a surgeon who actually knows what they're doing. I don't want some hack who’s just going to rush through it just to get me off their schedule; I need someone who will actually fix the problem properly without making my face look like a disaster zone. I am seriously willing to fly anywhere in the country to any hospital if it means getting this done right once and for all. Also, for those of you who have been through this, how long did you actually have to wait from the moment you got your diagnosis until you were finally under the knife??

William Robinson80 said:Where did you have your first surgery? And did you go see Dr. Miller for a consultation?

I haven't actually seen Dr. Miller yet, though I am definitely planning to; from what I've gathered, he's quite the expert when it comes to corrective work, so I'm really hoping he might be able to help me out too. I guess I should ask, where did you end up having your procedure done?

analoghound6 said:I haven't seen Miller yet, though it's on my list. From what I hear, he’s a wizard when it comes to repairs, so fingers crossed he can sort me out too. Where did you go for your surgery?

I haven't had the actual surgery yet. I just went to see Miller for a consultation, but honestly, I wasn't sold. He's a man of very few words—almost too few—and he mentioned I might need two separate procedures. I think I'll get a second opinion from someone else, though I'm still weighing my options.

I have a pretty silly question. I’m heading in for surgery at Mayo Clinic this Monday. They want me there by 9:00 AM. I’m not sure if I should head straight to the ward or if there’s some check-in process I need to complete first? Did you guys just show up with all your stuff right away... it feels a little awkward because I’m flying in tomorrow morning and would be arriving with a suitcase that I plan on using while I'm in the hospital. Is that weird?? Also, what happens to my belongings if I get moved to ICU... do they take everything with them?? Or is there some kind of safe? I definitely wouldn't want to leave my laptop sitting out there alone.
thanks

restlesspanther42 said:I have a bit of a silly question. I’m heading in for surgery at the Mayo Clinic this Monday. I need to be there by 9:00 AM, but I’m not quite sure about the flow—do I go straight to the ward with all my gear, or is there a check-in process first? Have any of you just shown up with everything in tow? I feel a little awkward because I’m fasting tomorrow morning, and I’d be showing up with a suitcase that I’ll be using while I'm in the hospital... does that look weird? Also, what happens to my stuff if I get moved to the ICU? Does it go with me, or is there a secure locker or something? I really wouldn't want to leave my laptop sitting out there alone.
thanks

First off, you’ll head to the ENT registration desk (that’s the upper entrance) to check in, and they’ll direct you to the second floor (via the lower entrance) to get settled into your room. After that, expect to wait roughly 13 to 14 hours while the junior staff takes your vitals and medical history, and you have your consultation with the hospital anesthesiologist to determine things like your necessary thrombophylaxis. Generally speaking, your belongings don't follow you to the unit; you’ll likely stay in the ICU until the following morning when they move you back to your regular room. The ward is pretty much a closed unit, so it isn't easy for people to just pop in from the outside, especially when nurses are busy moving around or a doctor walks by. There aren't lockers, but there is Wi-Fi. Your things will essentially stay in your primary hospital room unless they absolutely have to move you due to patient capacity, but honestly, that doesn't happen very often.

Betty Edwards22, thanks a ton!!

No problem at all!

James Kelly49 said:Look, I’ve got this deviated septum situation going on where I can barely breathe through one side of my nose... my doctor sent me in for follow-up tests, but he basically dropped the hammer and said I’m almost certainly looking at surgery. So, here’s the thing—I need recommendations for a surgeon who isn't just going to rush through it to get me out the door, you know? I don't want some hack who's just gonna mess up my face; I need someone who actually knows how to do the job right. Honestly, I’d be willing to fly to any hospital in the country if it means getting it fixed properly once and for all. Also, for those of you who've been through this, how long did you have to wait from the initial diagnosis until you actually went under the knife??

Bump

Look, I’ve been struggling for three months now—I can't breathe through the same nostril that worked perfectly fine before my surgery. When I actually take a look inside, everything looks swollen and inflamed, and it’s obvious there’s absolutely no airflow getting through. 😕 😢

Hey everyone! I recently had nose surgery with Zambelli. My nose is super swollen and pretty painful right now. Does anyone know where in Washington, D.C. I could get some lymphatic drainage massage to help bring the swelling down? Any recommendations or experiences?🙂

Hey everyone,

I’ve been thinking about getting rhinoplasty for quite a while now and have been doing a lot of digging. I was wondering if anyone here has had work done by Dr. Johnson? User456 🙂

Maria Smith73 said:Hey everyone. I recently had nose surgery with Zambelli... My nose is incredibly swollen and painful right now. Does anyone know where in Washington, D.C. I could get some lymphatic drainage massage to help reduce the swelling? Anyone have experience with this...🙂

I'm thinking about booking with Zambelli, so I was wondering if you've had a good experience there. Did they go in with an open or closed technique...

Melissa Thomas35 said:I am thinking about scheduling a procedure with Zambelli, so I was wondering if you’ve been happy with the results. Did they perform it using an open or closed technique?

I suppose I’m also curious about that; )

My nose is really swollen right now, so I can't say for sure if I'm happy with how it turned out. As for the technique, I thought they were going to use the open method, but I don't see any visible incision from the outside, so I honestly can't tell. I'll send over all the details via DM.🙂

Has anyone here actually gone through with nose surgery under Dr. John Johnson? I’m really curious to hear what your experiences were like.

neonpilot11 said:Has anyone here undergone rhinoplasty with Dr. John Johnson? What’s the consensus on his work?

For me, it was a massive success. 😉

Quick question for anyone who's been through surgery before:
What stuff should I actually pack for the hospital stay?
Did you guys stock up on painkillers, nasal sprays, and things like that ahead of time?
And also—could you actually eat anything on day one or two, or was it just straight up fasting?