Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

wanderingmason86 said:I actually went to see him a few years back, but just for a consultation. Word on the street is he's a top-tier expert when it comes to functional sinus issues—I even know someone whose breathing he totally fixed. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the constant crowd outside his office; it felt like appointments were rushed through in maybe two minutes flat. If you've got a complicated situation (like I did), it’s pretty hard to get any real answers in that tiny window. I walked out of there feeling more confused than when I walked in, so if there's a private option available, I'd honestly suggest going that route instead (though I didn't look into it much).

Thanks. For me, it's more about the aesthetics than anything else. Do you happen to know how he does with cosmetic stuff?

lonehawk8 said:Thanks! Honestly, I’m looking for something more about the aesthetics than just pure function. Do you happen to know how he fares in that department?

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't know! From the brief time I spent at my check-up, I got the impression that fine-tuning looks isn't exactly his... how should I put this... primary focus. 🙂 Truth be told, I didn't even bring up the aesthetic side of things regarding my nose (which, frankly, isn't my favorite feature anyway)...
Anyway, he's decent enough, but I'm not sure he'd be thrilled to take on extra work given how slammed he is—especially when you consider his duties at the hospital. Your best bet would be to try reaching out to him directly and see if he performs any procedures at a private clinic.

Vinogradski Hospital... huge shoutout to everyone working there. Truly an amazing crew—super friendly, kind, and just great people! 🙂

So, has anyone here actually had him handle their aesthetics before? 😢

Chloe Lewis2 said:There are honestly so many posts floating around here that I should probably apologize if I end up repeating something that's already been discussed...
I was wondering if anyone here has any personal experience regarding nasal surgery performed by either Dr. Bagatin or Dr. Glumičić?

If you're asking for my opinion, I would highly recommend Dr. Glumičić. I went to him for my own rhinoplasty about seven years ago, and I still feel absolutely wonderful about the results... everything went perfectly. I had a deviated septum from an old break, which made breathing quite difficult, and frankly, the shape of my nose was a disaster because of the fracture. He managed to address both the functional issues and the aesthetic ones seamlessly. He completely transformed the profile—shortening it, lifting it, straightening it, and narrowing it down. He turned what used to be a heavy, prominent feature into a beautiful, delicate nose that actually fits my facial anatomy. I felt like I could finally breathe properly the moment he removed the packing, and since then, the nosebleeds have decreased significantly as well...

Could someone please tell me how you manage to get through a whole week of breathing exclusively through your mouth after surgery because of the packing and everything else? My biggest worry is honestly just how I'm going to sleep.

Try breathing through your mouth less often, staying super hydrated, and keeping some lip balm or Chapstick handy to protect your lips. The real key, though, is constant hydration—you really want to make sure you don't let your mucous membranes dry out, which is usually what leads to those uncomfortable sensations.

Betty Edwards22 said:Just breathe through your mouth, stay on top of your hydration, and keep some lip balm or Chapstick handy. Honestly, the real key is staying hydrated so you don't end up with a dry mouth and all those annoying side effects.

Everything feels fine during the day... it's just sleeping that worries me.

I tried using Labello, but it just kept building up crusty bits around my lips. Thank God for Vaseline, it saved me.

Ryan Cooper37 said:Everything is totally fine during the day... it's just my sleep that's worrying me.

And honestly, right at the start, you end up sleeping with your mouth wide open—just like a little baby.

So, a few years back, I ended up breaking my nose, and honestly, the way it healed is just... off. It’s crooked as heck, especially since the first surgery I had didn't really go as planned. Now, I'm on the hunt for a top-tier surgeon who can actually fix the mistakes from the first round and do the job right this time. Has anyone else gone through something similar? Who did you trust with your surgery?

I'm really looking for some solid doctor recommendations. I've heard some buzz about Dr. Grgić and Dr. Milenović, so if anyone has worked with them, please let me know! I would be incredibly grateful for any insight. Since this is my second attempt at fixing this mess, I really want to make sure I'm putting myself in the hands of someone truly experienced who can finally set things straight.

Also, does anyone know how much it actually matters which specialist you pick? Like, when I'm choosing, should I be looking specifically for an ENT, a maxillofacial surgeon, or a plastic surgeon? Does the specialty change the outcome significantly?

Hvalaaaa!!🙂

Since you asked, I’ll give you my take from an ENT perspective: ENTs are really the ones who specialize in how the nose actually functions—things like the nasal valve and the space between the turbinates. Now, maxillofacial surgeons definitely know their stuff when it comes to facial trauma, but they don't typically focus on functionality; they aren't really treating nasal or sinus diseases.
Plastic surgeons are probably the furthest thing from that specialty, which doesn't mean they can't get the job done, but they don't usually perform complex, continuous cranial surgeries, nor do they approach nasal pathology from a conservative, medical standpoint.
I haven't had the chance to meet Dr. Milenivić, so I can't say much about him, but Dr. Grgić is incredibly experienced with nasal pathology. He tends to focus more on functional issues regarding the nose and sinuses rather than purely aesthetic work. He's part of that "younger" generation currently stepping up to take the lead.

Ryan Cooper37 said:Could someone please tell me how you actually manage without breathing through your nose for an entire week after surgery? Between the packing and everything else... honestly, my biggest worry is going to be trying to sleep.

Look, I only had stuff stuffed up my nose for less than three days—I had my procedure late Friday evening and they cleared out the packing and foil by Monday morning. Breathing through my mouth wasn't even an issue for me. Then again, maybe it didn't bother me because I was already practically a pro at mouth-breathing; I’ve dealt with chronic sinus issues so often that my nasal lining would swell up so badly that even the strongest drops or sprays couldn't touch it. Bottom line: it's really not as catastrophic as it sounds.😉

I lost weight too because I couldn't even taste food until they finally removed those swabs. I had zero appetite whatsoever. 😁

Hi everyone, I'm new here and could really use some help. So, I’ve gone through all the tests—both at the hospital and privately—and everyone is recommending nose surgery. I'm from Miami, so can anyone recommend someone who can handle both the functional side (deviation) and make it look great aesthetically? I've heard good things about Dr. Glusac in Makarska and Dr. Racic in Miami. Both are private practices. Does anyone have firsthand experience with them? Hvalaaaa

Ryan Cooper37 said:Could someone please help me out? I need to know how everyone manages without breathing through their nose for a whole week after surgery because of the packing and all that... honestly, my biggest worry is just how I'm going to sleep...

I don't get why everyone makes such a big deal out of mouth breathing... like, what's the actual issue? Just try pinching your nose shut—you know, like you're holding your breath—and you'll see how reflexively you start breathing through your mouth almost instantly. It’s the exact same thing that happens when you're asleep... 🙂

Maria Castillo23 said:I actually lost some weight too—mostly because I didn't even feel like eating anything until they finally took those tampons out... I just had zero appetite at all... 😁

Glad you found that helpful... 🙂

Jerry White2 said:Hi everyone, I’m new here and could really use some help. So, I’ve gone through all the tests—both at the hospital and privately—and everyone is recommending nose surgery. I’m from Miami, so can anyone recommend someone who can handle both the functional side (the deviation) and make it look great aesthetically? I’ve received recommendations for Dr. Glusac in Makarska and Dr. Racic in Miami. Both are private practices. Does anyone have experience with them? Hvalaaaa

Look, I have some experience here, and my honest, warm advice is to steer clear of those options as much as possible! Seriously—look for a doctor in Chicago instead. You have a massive selection there, and you really should take advantage of it, because this isn't something to mess around with...

Please, who would you recommend? Any personal experiences to share? Hvalaaaa 🙂

For those of you who actually went through with surgery at the Bagatin Clinic and were happy with the results—was it Dr. Glumičić personally performing the procedure, or did someone else handle it?

The reason I'm asking is because I noticed Glumičić shares the office space with Iva Džepina.

Thanks! 🙂

Sam Kim12 said:Dubrava Hospital - Dr. Ožegović😉 is my recommendation
I actually saw him myself! He took care of both my tonsillectomy and my septoplasty.😉

Hey there,

So, how happy are you with the aesthetic results? And just how long was the waitlist for the surgery?

Thanks so much for sharing the info! 🙂

P.S. Has anyone here ever seen a maxillofacial surgeon over at the New Hospital?