Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

wanderingstag9 said:Since Betty Edwards22 is totally ignoring me, does anyone know when osteotomies for nose narrowing aren't recommended?

Also, if anyone has had surgery done by Liviev Kalogjera, please reach out and share your experience—you can even shoot me a private message.

I'm not ignoring you! It's just that the question is way too broad to give a real answer.

Karen Cooper51 said:Hey Betty Edwards22, hope you don't mind me jumping in here—I actually have two quick questions for you! 🙂

I'm actually dealing with some pretty similar symptoms to what Chloe Gray5 described—and honestly, we’re even talking about the exact same sport! 😁

I’ve been struggling with shortness of breath lately, even when I'm just power walking instead of running. Now, unlike Chloe Gray5, my septum isn't exactly centered—it’s relatively mediocre—but I do have ridges on both sides, plus a history of a broken nose from a few years back. It feels like ever since that break, I've been dealing with much more frequent sinus infections. I'm wondering if I can actually link these recurring sinus issues back to that old nasal fracture, and if I can expect things to settle down and cause fewer problems after getting SP. Just asking generally, of course; I know you can't really give a definitive answer without getting a good look inside those lovely nasal cavities of mine! 😁

When it comes to rhinosinusitis—especially the chronic kind—it’s not always about a specific injury or trauma that kicks things off. That said, you can't ignore the fact that structural issues or anatomical irregularities definitely play a huge role in making everything so much more difficult to manage.
You really have to tackle these issues one by one and treat each problem separately. My advice would be to start with conservative management first—things like lifestyle changes or medication—and only look into surgery if those options just aren't cutting it. But, like you already noticed, the final call really depends on your overall health status and how the clinical treatment progresses for things like chronic nasal issues or sinus membrane inflammation.

Hey, can you actually go through with cosmetic surgery if you have nasal polyps? Or is it a "fix the polyps first, then do the aesthetic stuff" kind of situation?

slydriver56 said:Can you actually go through with cosmetic surgery if you have nasal polyps? Or is it better to deal with the polyps first before jumping into the aesthetic stuff?

Technically, you can do whatever you want, but it usually makes much more sense—provided it's actually necessary—to address the polyp issues first to get your breathing back on track, and then tackle the aesthetics afterward. Not everyone even needs surgery for polyps, but prioritizing function over looks is generally the smarter move!

Hey, I really need some advice here, please help me out

So, after that first botched surgery with Dr. Borica in Chicago, I figured, "Fine, let's just try the correction with the same guy." Well, huge mistake—it actually turned out even worse this time. Honestly, I'm at a total loss... I don't even know what my next move should be. Has anyone here ever dealt with something this messed up? Any advice?

Man, there are so many posts in here that I might end up repeating something already said, so sorry if I am.
I was wondering if anyone here has actually gone through nose surgery with either Dr. Bagatin or Dr. Glumičić?

Chloe Lewis2 said:There are so many posts here, so sorry if I'm repeating an old thread.
Does anyone have experience with nose surgery performed by Dr. Bagatin or Dr. Glumičić?

You obviously ran into their online ads. You might want to read my previous post first:

fadedfalcon13 said:Look, a computer or a facial scanner isn't going to perform your surgery. Those tools are just there to give patients a better visual idea of what they want. Besides, what does a computer simulation actually guarantee? Most surgeons in the West don't even bother with them, even though that's where the tech started. The reason is simple: those programs ignore actual anatomy and other surgical realities. The picture looks pretty, sure, but it doesn't mean anything beyond a basic visual aid.

But beyond that, none of it matters. The Bagatin Clinic is a textbook example of a place that pours money into advertising and branding while hiding the fact that the doctors behind it aren't even at the level of some general hospital staff—and I'm talking about both Dr. Tomic and his brother Dinko Bagatin. Honestly, I'd rather go to a specialist from Vinogradski Hospital than deal with either of them.

Milica, you hit the nail on the head. The photos in their gallery look like someone intentionally botched a nose ☕, even if their website looks polished and high-end. 🤦 🙄 But can someone tell me what the doctor actually did in this photo:

From the side view, the profile isn't even straight; they just shortened the tip a bit. If these are the photos they're comfortable sharing publicly, I can't imagine what the others look like... 🤣

Same thing with this one of their handiwork:

The tip needed to be smaller, and the profile still isn't completely flat. Typical rookie mistakes.

Aha! Thanks! :-)
I've actually been to see them for a few facial treatments before, and I was really happy with the results.
But obviously, this is a whole different story altogether....

The Bagatin Clinic is a total nightmare...
To make a long story short, I had surgery three months ago. The issue was the tip of my nose—there was this little bump on one side. Well, after the procedure, nothing actually changed, except now the bump is on the other side. When I went in for my follow-up, I told him how unhappy I was, and his response? He basically said we shouldn't change the nose just so it looks different from an airplane window. Just so you know, I paid $5.25 for this, and they were even calling me days beforehand asking exactly how and when I’d be settling the bill. So, I went to see a different doctor for a consultation, and he confirmed my suspicions: they only made minimal corrections. He saw my before photos
. Then, I went back to Dr. Bagatin for another check-up, and what does he do? He just sits there, smirking and staying silent. Not a single word to try and reassure me or calm me down. He just stayed quiet and then casually mentioned we could just operate again in a year. Excuse me? Hello?
...So, where does that leave me?
Do I go back to him? I honestly don't know. This isn't something you play around with. It seems like I'm far from the only person who has dealt with this kind of thing from him...

I'm looking for some insight from anyone who has worked with Dr. poje or knows anything about his practice. I keep hearing him mentioned as one of the absolute best in the field. Does anyone have any firsthand experiences or info they could share? Thanks!!

Kimberly Sullivan49, if you’re actually this unhappy, I’d be looking into a refund—even just a partial one. There’s an American association for plastic and reconstructive surgery that can review your medical files and potentially file a legal claim...

First off, I don't get why you chose that clinic. For what you paid, you could have picked any of the top rhinoplasty surgeons in the country. Did he even show you his portfolio? That link proves everything. The guy doesn't even know how to straighten a nose profile, let alone handle complex nasal surgery.

You share some of the blame here, too. You should have double-checked who you were booking with and managed your expectations. The Bagatin Clinic has a fancy office in a high-end center, smiling nurses, plasma TVs, a slick website, and constant ads popping up online. One girl mentioned getting a facial there, which requires decent equipment. But with nose surgery, 96% of the result depends on the surgeon's hands... whether they have massive experience, hundreds of successful cases under their belt, and whether you're just another number to them. People don't realize that, so they go to someone like Bagatin or a junior associate, and then come venting on forums when things turn out poorly.

Hey everyone, I finally pulled the trigger and decided to book an appointment with Livivi Kalogjera. Has anyone here actually been to see him before?

fadedfalcon13 said:Kimberly Sullivan49, if I were in your shoes and actually unhappy, I’d be asking for a refund—even just a partial one. You can reach out to the American Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons; they can review your files and potentially help file a formal legal complaint.

First off, I don't really get why you went to that clinic. Honestly, with what you paid, you could've picked one of the absolute best rhinoplasty surgeons in the entire country. Did he even show you any before-and-after photos? Because that link basically proves everything. The guy doesn't even know how to straighten a nose profile, let alone handle more complex nasal surgery.

I mean, part of this is kind of on you, too. You really should've double-checked who you were going to and what to expect. The Bagatin Clinic has a gorgeous office in a high-end medical center, friendly nurses, plasma TVs, a slick website, and ads everywhere online. One girl mentioned she went there for a facial, which needs fancy, expensive equipment. But for nose surgery? Like, 96% of it depends on the surgeon. They need tons of experience, steady hands, and hundreds of previous surgeries under their belt so you're just another successful case. People don't seem to realize that, so they go to someone like Bagatin or a junior surgeon and then come venting on forums because things didn't turn out right.

I had an almost identical situation to Kimberly Sullivan, just with a different surgeon who, by the way, is actually a member of that American Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. 🤦
Can anyone recommend one of those top-tier nose surgeons?

So, my husband just got his referral for an ENT specialist.
They’re looking at a possible deviated septum because he's having a hell of a time breathing...
Now he's also dealing with an ear infection—not sure how much that ties in, but the GP told us to make sure to mention it to the ENT since she said something felt off inside his ear :-(
Any advice on where we should go for this first appointment? Which hospital? Should we hit up Vinogradski Hospital or somewhere else?

Melissa Martinez5 said:So, my husband just got a referral for an ENT specialist.
They’re suspecting a deviated septum—it's making breathing pretty difficult...
Now he's also dealing with an ear infection—I'm not sure how much they're linked, but his primary care physician told him to make sure he mentions it to the ENT, because she felt something was off inside there:-/
What should be our first move regarding which doctor to see—which hospital—maybe the local University Medical Center or somewhere else?

Dubrava Hospital - Dr. Ožegović😉 is my recommendation.
I went to him myself—he handled both my tonsillectomy and my deviated septum surgery perfectly.😉

velvetheron57 said:Can anyone with actual experience—or even just some intel—please share what they know about Dr. Poje? From everything I hear, he’s constantly being cited as one of the absolute best. Thanks!!

Everything absolutely terrible about him.👎 — He is incredibly arrogant, acts like he knows everything, and simply refuses to listen to his patients. Honestly, he dismissed me so aggressively that I actually started questioning my own sanity; he tried to convince me I was making things up! He insisted that corticosteroid sprays were the "only" solution, acting as if there was nothing wrong with my nose, even though I couldn't breathe. Fast forward two months later—with the exact same test results—I went to a different hospital only to be told the truth: a severe deviation and heavily inflamed mucosa. I ended up having surgery (a total reconstruction of the nasal bones along with removing a significant portion of the mucosa), and finally, I can breathe properly again.🙏.

Generally speaking, both Poje and Mladin have quite the reputation, but I honestly don't get the hype. I hear far too many horror stories from former patients, and frankly, I have my own bad experiences too (with Mladin, my issues go all the way back to when he was practicing over at the downtown clinic)😠.

Betty Edwards22 said:Rhinosinusitis—especially the chronic kind—doesn't always start because of some injury, but let's be real, having weird anatomy definitely makes everything way more complicated.
You really have to separate the different issues here and tackle them one by one. Usually, you start with conservative stuff first, and if that doesn't cut it, then you look at surgery. But like you noticed, that decision mostly depends on your overall health and how you respond to treatment for that chronic sinus and nasal lining situation.

Thanks so much for the reply!

Hey, it's me again. So, has anyone here actually been to see Liviev Kalogjera? 😢

lonehawk8 said:Hey everyone, it's me again! So, quick question: has anyone here actually visited Liviev Kalogjera? 😢

I went to see him a few years back, though just for a routine checkup. Word on the street is he’s a top-tier specialist when it comes to functional sinus issues—I even know someone who says he completely "fixed" their breathing. For my part, I wasn't a huge fan of the constant crowd outside his office. It felt like everything was rushed; appointments seem to last maybe two minutes tops. If you're dealing with something complex (like I am), it's pretty much impossible to untangle all your concerns in such a tiny window. Honestly, I walked out of his office with more questions than answers! My advice? If you can, try to book a private appointment instead—if that's even an option, since I haven't looked into it deeply.