Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Rachel Anderson said:Hi everyone! I have a quick question regarding nose surgery... I'm scheduled for a septoplasty to fix a deviated septum through my insurance provider in a few days. My doctor mentioned he’ll be working internally through the nostrils, so there won't be any bone breaking involved. Honestly, I felt a bit awkward bringing it up, but I was wondering if he could also tweak the appearance of my nose while he's at it. It's not like I have a massive hump or anything, but my profile bothers me because the tip looks a bit droopy. Does anyone know if surgeons actually do these kinds of cosmetic tweaks during functional procedures? And should I have asked sooner, or can I just bring it up right before the surgery?

You can definitely have "bone breaking"—technically known as osteotomies or a chelemoplasty—done using a closed technique.
That said, they were being polite to you; you really need to mention this beforehand so they can schedule the operating room accordingly.

Hey, I'm curious about the difference between open and closed rhinoplasty. Which one actually delivers better results?
I've been lurking here and following this whole thread, reading through everyone's experiences with various surgeons, but I just can't find anything decent regarding Kinčl. It feels weird—like, is he great for breast augmentations but nothing else? His own website doesn't even show any rhinoplasty work.
Also, is it just me, or does it look like when Tončić posts his before and after shots, he just slightly shortens the tip, lifts it a bit, smooths out the hump, and calls it a day? I honestly don't see any major transformations in his photos.

The open technique offers a much clearer view of the actual nasal pathology, which is why you see it used so frequently during aesthetic procedures.
Historically speaking, this technique was championed back in the '80s by ENT specialists in Chicago—specifically Prof. Padovan—who pulled it straight out of the textbooks. It really hit the mainstream after being presented at a major medical congress in Miami in 1988, where a significant portion of the medical community in the US embraced it. The big advantage here is that everything is right there in your line of sight: you get much easier access to the nasal pyramid, it makes working on the nasal valves a breeze, and accessing the septum becomes straightforward since everything is under direct visual control.
The one downside? You're looking at a visible scar in the columella area.

Susan Cooper23 said:Private practices here have varying rates depending on the complexity of the case. My upgrade with Zambell cost about $2,400, which included an overnight stay.

Online forums aren't always the most reliable source since you run into fake posts and hidden ads, but there are plenty of us here sharing real experiences to help others out. Back when I was posting actively about my own issues, I had people messaging me privately, and some actually ended up going to Zambell for their surgery. They were all happy with the results.

Based on how he handled my friend's procedure, he certainly doesn't deserve any praise. Honestly, I wouldn't let Zambell touch me even if he paid me. If you don't believe me, I can set up a coffee meeting so you can see his work for yourself.

Comparing Dr. Zambell to a world-class, respected surgeon just isn't a fair comparison. It’s even more illogical to compare his prices—which are only slightly above average compared to other clinics in Chicago or the surrounding region—to top-tier specialists. How can a plastic surgeon be measured against a global ENT specialist who has performed hundreds or even thousands of rhinoplasties? Of course, those elite specialists have premium prices that are out of reach for most of us, but having a high price tag isn't a 99.9% guarantee of success either. Zambell might be skilled in his primary field, but we all know what that is, and he's likely not the best choice for nose surgery. The real question is whether choosing him is a smart move overall.

Susan Cooper23 said:There will always be people trying to discredit him, but at the end of the day, the results speak for themselves.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve seen multiple surgeons, and I wasn't truly satisfied with any of them. Most private practitioners quietly advertise themselves on this forum. You're aware of the dynamic. One girl asked about Zambell and received zero feedback or replies. It was only when someone posted a negative comment that a group of people suddenly appeared to defend him aggressively.

Your experience might be valid, but don't let it cloud your judgment. You can only speak from your own perspective because that's what you lived through. That doesn't mean other people haven't had the exact opposite experience, and those stories deserve to be heard too.

Can someone shoot me a DM with a ballpark idea of what private surgeons here in the States are charging for rhinoplasty?
I'm looking at names like Glumičić, Zambelli, Bastaic, Dr. Glusac, Kincl, and Žgaljardić.
Who would you guys recommend if I'm looking to narrow things down—specifically slimming the nasal tip and adjusting the base angle? I don't have a hump or anything, just want a bit more refinement.

slydriver56 said:Can someone DM me some rough price ranges for rhinoplasty at private clinics here in the States?
Like Glumicic, Zambelli, Bastaic, Dr. Glusac, Kincl, or Žgaljardić?
Who would you recommend for narrowing the nasal width and reducing the nasal pyramid? I don't have a hump.

Out of that list, I’d say Kincl is probably the worst choice. He’s actually a plastic surgeon, just like Zambelli. And there’s been plenty of negative feedback regarding Žgaljardić, even if he has handled quite a few local celebrities.
For example, look at Miss USA:

slydriver56 said:Could someone shoot me a DM with some rough price ranges for rhinoplasty at private clinics here in the States?
Like with Glumicic, Zambelli, Bastaic, Dr. Glusac, Kincl, or Žgaljardić?
Who would you guys recommend if I want to narrow things down—specifically slimming the nasal base and the tip area? I don't have a hump...

Why not scroll back through the older posts first? Honestly, you’re way more likely to find all those details buried in the nearly 10,000 existing posts than waiting for someone to slide into your DMs with a full breakdown. ☕

If you're feeling lazy about scrolling, just look at the right side under the page numbers, select "Search this topic," and type in whatever surgeon's name you're looking for... might be an easier way to dig it up. Good luck! 😉

I’ve been scrolling through this thread and all the posts, and honestly, it’s wild. You’ve got people writing these massive fanboy tributes to every single one of these plastic surgeons, and then immediately after, someone else is basically spitting on them because they allegedly ruined their entire lives...

So, what does it actually mean to call Kincl a "plastic surgeon"? Is he just a glorified decorator who knows how to make things look pretty?
Personally, I only care about the aesthetics—breathing isn't really my priority here...

Do any of these guys actually give a discount if you pay in cash?
I know Tončić offers it, but let’s be real, his work feels like he just knows how to slap a logo on something. He can't even get the contouring right, let alone shape anything nicely.

I read somewhere that Glumičić isn't even taking new patients for rhinoplasty anymore because he's supposedly too busy with huge celebrities and women flying in from overseas or whatever??? I saw that mentioned here, but I don't get why anyone would even bother doing that.

Hey, does anyone have the scoop on Davor Džepina? Like, what’s his vibe when it comes to aesthetics?
Thanks a ton! I know you guys probably think I'm just ignoring all the existing threads, but trust me, I've been hitting the search bar hard and coming up totally empty.

driftingheron34 said:Honestly, based on how he handled my friend's procedure, he definitely doesn't deserve any kind of praise. I wouldn't go under the knife with Zambelli even if he paid me! If you don't believe me, I can set up a coffee date so you can see the results of his work for yourself.

Comparing Zambelli to some world-renowned, highly respected surgeon just doesn't make sense—really, it doesn't. And it’s even sillier to compare his prices, which are just slightly above average compared to other clinics in Chicago and the surrounding region. How could a plastic surgeon even be measured against a global ENT specialist who has performed hundreds, if not thousands, of rhinoplasties? Of course, those top-tier specialists worldwide have astronomical prices that are totally out of reach for us, but even then, that isn't a 99.9% guarantee of success. Zambelli might be skilled in his primary profession—and we all know what that is—but he’s certainly not the top choice for nose questions. The real question is how good of a choice he is overall.

I mentioned in my previous post that I've consulted with several different surgeons, and honestly, I wasn't truly satisfied with any of them. All the private practices here advertise themselves quite quietly. You actually know the situation yourself! One girl asked about Zambelli and didn't get any response or feedback at all. It was only when comments that weren't exactly "pro-him" were mentioned that people started popping up with names defending him fiercely.

Your story might be true, but don't try to delude yourself. You can only speak from your own experience since you lived through it, I assume. That doesn't mean there aren't other individuals who had the exact opposite experience, and their stories need to be heard too.

Oh, please. Now you're the one qualified to decide whose story is "maybe" true? You weren't the one on the operating table, so you can't even speak from personal experience, yet here you are, boldly bashing surgeons—especially Zambelli, who, from my perspective, is top-notch. I can say that because he solved serious issues for me, just like he did for many others. Once you actually have some firsthand experience, maybe then your posts will carry some weight. As it stands, these stories about "some friend" just don't hold water. Can you name me a single surgeon in America who does a good job with revision rhinoplasty besides Zambelli? Most of them won't even touch a revision because it requires such extreme precision and expertise; it has to be done using an open technique (which is better than the closed one because it gives a fantastic view of the nasal pyramid). The "scar" left on the columella is just a tiny line, thin as a thread—my scar is practically invisible! Plus, you sometimes need to take cartilage from the ear or the rib, which takes extra time and effort. Even the highly regarded Uglešić agreed to do only part of the nose because the rest was just too complicated for him.

I don't check this forum often enough to see every single inquiry about the surgeons I've visited. It’s also interesting how you’re putting words in my mouth by claiming I said Zambelli is ranked among the best surgeons in the world. Where exactly did I say that? Please, quote me.

Everyone has their own taste and the right to choose. There isn't a single surgeon in the world that everyone is happy with. Even the absolute best globally have made cardinal errors. But still, you look at who generally gets good results and knows their craft.

This very forum was what helped me after my primary surgery. Seeing girls who had successfully undergone revisions—their experiences and advice meant everything to me. So, you guys "parachutists" without any actual experience should probably hold back on the lecturing.

slydriver56 said:Does anyone have any insight on Davor Džepina regarding aesthetic work?
Thanks so much—I know it might look like I’m just ignoring existing threads, but I’ve tried searching everywhere and haven't found much.

If you’re already prepared to drop a significant amount of money, you might be better off sticking with a specialist who has a massive reputation in aesthetics, especially since you mentioned wanting to refine the bridge and really sculpt the shape. Davor Đepina is primarily a head and neck surgeon, which is his main bread and butter. It’s not that other specialists can't handle a nose job, but you have to realize he might not have the same level of specialized experience when it comes to fine aesthetic contouring—and since you aren't looking for functional repairs but purely cosmetic changes, that distinction matters.

I don't actually know his track record with rhinoplasty specifically or how he ranks in that niche. All I recall is a comment from a woman who said he personally suggested she see someone else if she was looking for more dramatic aesthetic transformations. That said, there is also Dr. Ivo Đepina, who used to work alongside Glumičić. He runs his own practice too: To be honest, his before-and-after photos look more impressive to me than most of the big names out there; you can actually see a real transformation in his work rather than just having a bump smoothed out like what you see with Tončić.

Hey everyone—it’s been about two months since my surgery, and I’ve run into a bit of a weird issue. I’ve never dealt with dark circles under my eyes before, but now they’ve just settled in and stayed there. 😢
They aren't budging at all 😢—honestly, nothing I try seems to make a dent. Has anyone else gone through something similar?

cosmicmoose112 said:Look, if you’re already dropping serious cash, just go to a well-known private specialist—especially since you mentioned wanting to refine and contour your nose specifically. Davor Đepina is more of a head and neck surgeon; that's really his bread and butter. I'm not saying other specialists can't pull off a good nose job, but you know, he might not have as much experience with pure facial aesthetics and fine contouring. And since you said you're doing this purely for looks rather than fixing breathing issues, you gotta be careful.

I honestly don't know how many rhinoplasties he's actually done or how he ranks in that specific niche. All I know is I saw a comment from a woman who said he told her straight up that if she wanted major aesthetic changes, she should probably see someone else. There's also Dr. Ivo Đepina, who used to work with Glumičić. He has his own practice too . To be honest, his before-and-after photos look better to me than most of those big-name surgeons. You can actually see a real change in his work, instead of just having a bump shaved off like what you see with Tončić.

Yeah, yeah, my bad! I totally thought Davor Džepina was the one who used to work with Glumičić. Thanks for clearing that up and letting me know it's actually Ivo Đepina.

Exactly. If I'm going to shell out this kind of money, I want it done right. I don't want to end up disappointed. Since this is purely about the look for me, I'm terrified some doctor will just sell me a dream and then I'll wake up from surgery and barely notice any difference at all.
I'm looking for a pretty drastic change. I want a much smaller nose. It's not "ugly" now, it's just flat, but I want something maybe slightly upturned, narrow, and small.
You guys are probably going to tell me to just go to Glumičić because he does that kind of work, but for some reason, he's my last resort.

Right now, I'm leaning toward Žgaljardić, Kincl, or maybe Ivo Đepina.

Thanks a million for the heads-up about there being two different Đepinas! 🙂))

slydriver56 said:Yeah, honestly, I was under the impression that Davor Džepina used to work with those actresses, so I totally messed that up—thanks so much for clearing up that it's actually Ivo Džepina.

I suppose it’s just really important to me that I get this done perfectly, especially since I'm already prepared to set aside the money for it; I really don't want to end up disappointed, because aesthetics are everything to me, and I'm honestly terrified that if I pick someone who isn't completely honest about what's possible, I might undergo surgery only to find there's barely any visible difference afterward.
I am truly looking for a drastic transformation; I want a much smaller nose, and while mine isn't exactly ugly now—it's just flat—I'm hoping for perhaps something slightly upturned, narrow, and small.
You might suggest I should just go to Glumicic since he specializes in those types of results, but for some reason, I feel like he's more of a last resort for me.

I think I'm leaning more toward either Žgaljardić, Kincl, or maybe even Ivo Džepina.

Thank you so much for letting me know there are actually two different Džepinas out there! 🙂))

It seems somewhat unlikely that you can go from having a large nose to a very tiny one with just a single procedure; in most cases, I know people who have had to go through two or three surgeries to get the result they wanted. Personally, I'm dealing with a bump and I'll probably head back to Glumicic for another session in a year or two.

Hey there,
So, I went in today to get my splints removed, and honestly, I’m pretty devastated. There's this little bump right on the bridge of my nose now—I just had septoplasty and a hump reduction, and I'm freaking out thinking it might actually stay there. 😕
Has anyone else gone through something similar???

wanderingstag9 said:Hey everyone,
I went in today to have my splints removed, and honestly, I'm pretty devastated. There’s this bump right on the bridge of my nose now (I had septoplasty and a hump reduction), and I'm low-key freaking out about whether it's actually going to go away 😕
Has anyone else dealt with something like this???

Anyone?
I guess I don't know if it's too early to tell since they just took the splints off yesterday. At first, it didn't look too bad, and they told me it’s probably just swelling that will eventually go down. But, man, when I touch it, I can literally feel the bone. My old bump was only on the left side, but this new one is right in the middle of my nose bridge and shows up in both profiles. I'm super worried, especially because my breathing still isn't quite back to normal yet... 😢

wanderingstag9 said:Who?
Is it too soon to call it? I just got the cast off yesterday. At first, I thought, "Hey, maybe it's not that bad," especially when people told me it was just swelling and would go down. But honestly? I can actually feel the bone when I touch it. My last bump was only on the left side, but this one is right in the middle of my nose bridge and shows up in both profiles. I’m freaking out a little—even my breathing feels totally off. 😢

Just post a photo already! Nobody can say anything useful without seeing it. And if you aren't being secretive about where you had the surgery—whether it was at a major hospital or a private clinic—which one was it?

wanderingstag9 said:Itko?
I’m not sure if it’s too early to call it. They just pulled the mold yesterday. 😢

Obviously it's too early to judge, considering you just removed the mold.
The nose shape will shift every single day.

crimsonpanther8 said:It’s way too early to draw any conclusions, especially since you just got the cast off.
The nose shape is going to change every single day.

Yeah, I get that, but I’m not even worried about the swelling. It's this new little bump that’s bugging me—it looks way uglier and doesn't blend in nearly as well as my old one did. From what I can tell, the people who had their bump removed right after the cast came off seemed totally happy and didn't end up with this issue at all.

wanderingstag9 said:Yeah, but I'm not even worried about why my nose looks swollen; it’s this new bump that's bothering me. It looks way uglier and doesn't sit right compared to the one I had before. From what I can gather, the people who had their bumps removed immediately after the mold was taken were actually happy because they didn't end up with this issue.

Like everyone else suggested, just post a photo; it's pretty much impossible for us to figure out what's going on just by reading your description.

Was it a private surgeon or someone at a hospital? Basically, who exactly did you go to?