Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey everyone, I had nose surgery about two weeks ago to fix a deviated septum and a bump. I’m absolutely loving the look right now, but my doctor mentioned that the final shape won't truly settle until about six months from now once the swelling goes down and the bones settle. My main concern is: will everything actually STAY straight once it all settles? Assuming I’m careful and avoid any accidental bumps, of course.

crimsonpanther8 said:analogbison15
Personally, I couldn't really handle the shower spray hitting my nose directly—it just didn't feel right—so I ended up being super careful when washing my face.
Luckily, I didn't deal with any of that annoying splashing, but man, my skin got incredibly dry; it was actually peeling around my nose and eyes.
As for that numb feeling above the upper lip and the weird, unnatural smile? Honestly, everything eventually settles back to normal after a little while.😁

So, were you actually peeling that skin off your nose yourself, or did it just flake away on its own after a bit😕😕?

So, I noticed this tiny little bump right on the opening of my right nostril—just a small little corner there—and I was wondering if that's actually totally normal?

I might try to post some photos later today or maybe tomorrow, if anyone's actually interested in seeing them!

briskorca352 said:Did you peel that skin off your nose yourself, or did it just fall off on its own after a while?😕😕?

I didn't engage in any violent behavior. I was just washing up and applying moisturizer, nothing more.

analogbison15 Asks:
I noticed a small protrusion at the opening of my right nostril. Is that actually normal?

It’s perfectly normal to have some sutures left. If any remain after they've been removed, they'll eventually work their way out on their own.

Casey Kelly2 said:Hey everyone. I had nose surgery about two weeks ago to fix a deviated septum and remove a hump. Right now, it looks great and I’m happy with the results, but my doctor mentioned that the final shape won't really show up for another six months once the swelling goes down and the bone settles. My question is: will everything actually STAY straight once the healing process is finished? Assuming I'm careful and avoid any impacts, obviously.

Based on my own experience, I can confirm the nose is perfectly straight—no bumps, no irregularities whatsoever. It held its shape even after taking a pretty significant blow to the head. 👍

Hey everyone,
So, I’m 30 now, and I’ve been dealing with this broken nose ever since I took a tumble when I was 9. Back then, doctors basically told me I should get surgery once I turned 18 because one nostril is almost completely blocked—which leads to constant sinus infections and makes sitting in the dentist's chair an absolute nightmare—and the other side has widened out just from trying so hard to pull in air. Honestly, I was terrified of the whole thing, so I just avoided it and lived with the insecurity, which mostly just ate at me during my teen years. But now that I’m thinking about starting a family soon, someone suggested I finally get it fixed to avoid any breathing complications during childbirth, and they pointed out that the longer I wait, the more complicated things might get. I’ve been scrolling through your posts and seeing all those doctor recommendations, but I wanted to see if anyone here has dealt with something similar where it wasn't just about looks? Like, how were your results and is there anyone specific you'd swear by? Thanks! 🙂

analogotter43 said:Based on just one girl's bad experience, I think it’s really out of line to talk about the doctor this way. Everyone slips up sometimes—hopefully he won't make those mistakes with me 😁—and honestly, there isn't a surgeon out there who hasn't messed up at some point. But that doesn't mean it's okay to go around removing half the bones in someone's nose. -.-

For those of you who have visited Glušac and spent the night in Malibu, where did you stay? A private 🙂
might work too.

He isn't just some local guy; if anything, he's actually quite well-known outside of the US.

Speaking from my own experience, I can confirm the fit is perfect—no bumps, no lumps, nothing. It stayed completely secure even after I took a pretty nasty hit to the head 👍

Thanks a lot! 🙂

Lawrence Hill23 said:Hey everyone! What's up?

So, I finally went in for that checkup with dr. Cikojević over at the hospital in San Francisco a couple of days ago—you know, the one I've been putting off? Well, turns out I’ve got a Type 5 deviated septum. Yeah, sounds intense, right? Anyway, he already scheduled me for the surgery... a septoplasty... which won't happen for another five months. Just something to keep on the radar for next year!
So, since my nose is a little on the larger side—not that I’m complaining, really—I’ve been thinking about getting some kind of aesthetic touch-up done. I mean, is that even a thing you can get for free through insurance or something? Probably not, right? But hey, a person can dream, can't they?
So, I didn't actually get around to asking him yet—I'll probably have to bring it up later—but I was wondering... has anyone here actually been in for surgery with him? Like, did any of you go through the whole process, and if so, did he end up doing any cosmetic work for you too?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Honestly, Dr. Cikojević actually approached me himself about doing some aesthetic work—so yeah, the guy definitely delivers. If you don't believe me, just go ask him yourself. 😉

Hey everyone!

I've been lurking in this thread for quite a while now... I finally worked up the nerve to go through with nose surgery, but I’d love to hear your honest take on who the absolute best is!

I remember seeing Zambelli mentioned all the time before, but he seems to have disappeared from the conversation lately. I was leaning toward booking him, but honestly, I'm a little nervous. Could you guys share some more feedback on his work? To be blunt, I don't care if he's charming or polite—I just need to know if he can actually deliver the results!

Thanks so much in advance

Maria Rodriguez75 said:Hey there!

I've been lurking in this thread for a while now... honestly, I finally worked up the nerve to actually go through with nose surgery. But before I pull the trigger, I really wanted to reach out and get some honest input from you guys—who is actually the best in the business?

I used to see people talking about dr. Zambelli all the time on here, but lately... nothing. It's like he vanished from the conversation. I've been thinking about booking an appointment with him, but honestly? I'm a little intimidated. Can you guys please share some more real stories about working with him? And look—I don't really care if he's the nicest guy in the world or super charming... I just need to know if he actually gets the job done...

Thanks in advance...

Wouldn't it be way easier if you just used the search bar to look through the thread?... 🤔
I wonder if anyone who actually went under the knife with dr. Cikojević a long time ago is still hanging around this thread... If they are, they probably already shared their story and moved on anyway...

Wouldn't it be easier just to use the search bar?
The odds are slim that anyone who had surgery with that doctor ages ago is still hanging around this thread. And if they are, they've probably already shared their story.

I already tried searching... but it’s mostly old stories. Does anyone have more recent experience? I'm also curious about the cost... a few years back it was around $2,400. I really hope it hasn't gone up!

casualstag24 said:I’ve been following this thread for two and a half years now, and honestly, it feels like Tončić (the younger) is only the best option for the initial results. Sure, he’s the cheapest, but I’ve chatted via DM and email with plenty of people on this forum who had surgery with him. Everyone says everything looked perfect at first—they were all thrilled. But absolutely EVERY single one of them noticed, about 10 months to a year later, that their nose started drifting crooked or they developed these little pits on the bridge. One girl even had part of her nasal structure basically collapse... I can't say if Tončić fixed it for free, but still...

To make a long story short, Tončić was my top choice for a long time. Thank God I changed my mind when I realized a low price tag isn't worth the massive revisions and extra surgeries later on. 🙄

So now I’m back to square one without a surgeon, and I'm not sure where to turn. Dr. Veir is starting to look like a decent option, provided we find out if the guy actually knows how to handle noses and not just breasts. 😁

I don't know who you've been talking to, but I'm one of Tončić's patients. It's been 13 months since my surgery and nothing has gone wrong; nothing is crooked or collapsing. He removed my bump and narrowed my nose. You can check my previous posts in this thread—I even posted a couple of pictures.

I think it’s a recurring issue where people walk into this with totally unrealistic expectations. They don't seem to grasp that rhinoplasty is easily one of the most delicate and complex procedures in aesthetic surgery. Part of the problem lies with the doctors, too—they don't always take the necessary time to explain the nuances. Look, if there’s underlying asymmetry or irregularities in the bone structure beneath the nose, expecting a perfectly symmetrical result is just plain unrealistic. Sure, the surgeon will aim for symmetry, but after some time passes, the nose might settle back toward its original shape simply because that's what the underlying foundation dictates. There isn't much a surgeon can do about that, and in most cases, it's impossible to predict. You have to keep your expectations grounded in reality. Don't chase absolute perfection. I spent months obsessively staring at my own nose after my surgery, and when you do that, you start seeing flaws that probably aren't even there. The truth is, I have a beautiful nose now (if I do say so myself 😛)—it isn't 100% perfect, but it's as close to perfection as you can realistically get 🙂

Maria Rodriguez75 said:I've been digging around... mostly just finding old stories. Does anyone actually have some recent experience to share? I'm also curious about the price tag. A few years back, it was around $2,400... hope it hasn't jumped up since then...

You need to decide for yourself if he's even worth the trouble. As far as I know, he specializes in general and plastic surgery—specifically the stuff people actually rave about. If there are any compliments, they’re usually about breast augmentations; I haven't heard a single good thing regarding rhinoplasty. I know he did a celebrity's nose once, but who knows how that actually turned out. Just because he worked on her doesn't mean he'll get it right for you. You’re taking the risk entirely on your own. Honestly, for the price he's asking—well over three thousand dollars—I'd rather just go straight to Dr. Glumič or some other big-name specialist who actually focuses on noses. Plus, the guy is cold... and he barely even answers his emails...🙄 It’s pretty common knowledge... just take a quick look at some of the discussions online about silicone implants and other cosmetic procedures.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around this whole mess. It feels like we’re just spinning our wheels while everyone else moves ahead... Honestly, I don't see how anyone expects this to work without a serious reality check. Just my two cents...

I don't know what kind of logic you're using there, electricfox21... It just doesn't add up. Even if we look at it from a different angle, the math still fails. Honestly, some people just refuse to see the obvious truth right in front of them... it’s exhausting.

Look, I agree. What the surgeon actually does on the table matters way more than whether they’re charming or polite. But you can't totally ignore the human element either... especially if you need to go back in for a revision or tell them something isn't right. If they act like an idiot and just shut you out, that’s definitely not the doctor you want...

I’ll be the first to say it: an aesthetic surgeon needs to have a cool head. You want someone clear-headed and honest, not some sugar-coated salesman... though, I suppose a little kindness and empathy doesn't hurt either.

cosmicbadger83 said:I don't know who you've been talking to, but I'm one of Tončić’s patients. It's been 13 months since my surgery and nothing has gone wrong... nothing has collapsed or shifted. He removed my bump and narrowed my nose. You can find my previous posts on this topic if you look back—I even posted a couple of photos...

If you don't mind, go ahead and post those photos here... front view and side profile...

I was planning on emailing Zambelli directly, but they require a completed form before any kind of consultation can happen. Has anyone here actually had a doctor give them specific feedback just based on a photo, without the actual physical exam? I'm really just looking to flatten my nasal bridge without touching the tip, so I'm assuming the cost shouldn't be quite as high.

fadedfalcon13 said:If you don't mind, go ahead and post those photos here—front view and side profile.

My own photos are already on this thread; just search through my posts.

Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone might know whether the costs stay roughly the same if we decide to go back to the same surgeon for a follow-up procedure, or if there might be some kind of discount applied? Thank you so much.🙂

northernmaker84 said:Hey, does anyone know if you get a bit of a break on the price if you go back to the same surgeon for a follow-up procedure? Like, would they keep the cost the same or maybe knock a little off since they already know my history... thanks...🙂

Honestly, it just comes down to the surgeon you end up with—there isn’t really a set rule for this kind of thing... 🤷
Honestly, you should probably just give them a call yourself and double-check everything... just to be safe. 🙂

northernmaker84 said:Hey, does anyone know if going back to the same surgeon for a follow-up procedure means paying full price again, or is there usually some kind of discount... thanks.🙂

Which doctor did you see? 🙄

fadedfalcon13 said:I suppose I was wondering which doctor you actually saw? 🙄

Glumicic