Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

So, I finally picked a surgeon and we’ve got the surgery date set! I'm going private for this one, but now I'm wondering about all those pre-op tests I need to get done before the big day. Can I just ask my primary care doctor for the referrals, or will they refuse because it's an elective cosmetic thing?
Thanks 🙂

So, I usually have an incredibly sensitive stomach and skin—like, super reactive—so I was fully expecting to spend the morning puking my guts out and waking up with my eyes swollen shut. But honestly? Nothing happened. You really shouldn't stress yourselves out beforehand 😉 because my stomach didn't even bother me that much; I just felt super sleepy... the only real annoyance was how numb my teeth and gums felt, which was a little irritating, but nothing major. Good luck! 🙂

Hi there!
I was wondering if anyone might know—if a noticeable crunchiness develops at the tip of the nose after rhinoplasty, is that something that could potentially be smoothed out with injections, or would I likely need to undergo the surgery all over again? Thanks so much!

Laura James11 said:Personally, I have super sensitive skin and a really finicky stomach, so I was fully expecting to wake up feeling nauseous and dealing with puffy eyes. Turns out, none of that happened. There’s really no need to stress beforehand 😉—my stomach didn't bother me at all, I just felt pretty sleepy... My only real annoyance was how numb my teeth and gums felt, which was a bit irritating, but nothing major. Good luck! 🙂

Thanks so much!! I have to admit, reading this makes me feel a lot better 🙂 I’m really hoping I have a positive experience too 🙂

Just one more thing—has anyone tried any specific gels for bruising that might pop up? I read that taking Vitamin C is helpful, or eating fresh pineapple since it has bromelain (or even just taking bromelain supplements), plus applying some Heparin gel.

Thanks 😉

I haven't applied anything to it, except for what Dr. Pavlov said after they took my cast off. My skin is a total mess from the surgery—it's incredibly dry and peeling everywhere. 😢

Hey everyone 😉

Everything regarding my nose is totally foreign territory to me, so I’d be really grateful if someone could help break this down.
I recently had an MRI of my brain, and the report says:
marked deviation of the nasal septum, which protrudes endonasally to the right with a prominence on the right side.
Paranasal sinuses are normally ventilated without pathological content.
Hyperplastic left inferior turbinate.

Okay, so a deviation and a bump... but what on earth does "hyperplastic nasal turbinate" actually mean?

It’s all Greek to me. I originally went in for the brain MRI because of some headaches—which, thankfully, came back fine—but then there's all this extra stuff about my nose in the report...

Mind you, I've always complained that my nose isn't exactly a masterpiece—it has this little bump and leans to one side. Everyone usually just tells me, "Oh, stop it, it's fine," but apparently, I was right all along.
I wouldn't say I have major issues, but my nose tends to run like a leaky faucet year-round—just watery drips triggered by things like eating hot food, going for a walk, or even a bike ride—just silly little things, really. Plus, there's this nagging feeling that it isn't breathing quite right, though it feels okay when it's dry.

Seeing these results has me seriously considering surgery... and honestly, I’m feeling pretty lost regarding which surgeon I could actually trust with this.

Thanks, cheers

Are you thinking about handling this privately or dealing with it at the hospital?
If you go the hospital route, just make sure you bypass the Holy Spirit in the broad arc.

And well... I'll probably end up at the hospital in Canada—mostly because I'm just not in a position to cover those costs myself right now.

rustyfox11 said:Hey everyone! How's it going? 😉

Everything around my nose feels completely foreign to me right now, so I would be incredibly grateful if someone could take a moment to explain things a bit more clearly!
I just had an MRI of my head done, and this is what the report says:
So, I just got my results back regarding that nasal issue I've been dealing with. It turns out there is a pronounced deviated septum where the cartilage is bulging endonasally toward the right side, along with a concha hypertrophy on that same right side. Definitely something to keep an eye on!
The paranasal sinuses look completely clear—everything is ventilating normally and there isn't any pathological buildup or congestion to worry about.
So, I just got some news from the doctor regarding my left side—it turns out I have hypertrophy of the inferior nasal concha on the left. Basically, that turbinate is looking a bit too large.

So, I’ve been seeing some questions popping up about deviated septums and those little bumps—specifically, what exactly does "hyperplastic nasal turbinate" actually mean? Basically, if you're dealing with a deviated septum along with hyperplastic turbinates, it means you've got a two-part breathing issue going on. The deviation is the structural part where the wall between your nostrils is crooked, but the hyperplasia part refers to the turbinates—those small structures inside your nose that help warm and humidify the air you breathe. When they become "hyperplastic," they've essentially swollen or enlarged. Think of it like a hallway that’s too narrow because the walls are crooked (the deviation) AND the furniture is getting too bulky (the hypertrophied turbinates), making it nearly impossible to get any airflow through. It's a super common combo, but definitely frustrating when you're trying to breathe normally!

Most of this is all Greek to me. I only went in for the brain MRI because of those headaches, and honestly, everything there seems fine. But this stuff about my nose... that's actually written right there in the findings.

I’ve always been telling everyone that my nose isn't exactly my best feature—it's got this little bump and kind of veers off to one side. Honestly, everyone kept trying to brush me off, saying, "Oh, you're just being too hard on yourself," but it turns out I was actually right all along!
I don't really have any major issues, but my nose has been running constantly all year round. It’s just a constant drip—even something as simple as eating hot food, going for a walk, or riding my bike can trigger it. On top of that, there's this nagging feeling like it isn't draining properly, even though it feels perfectly fine and normal when it's dry.

Following those test results, I’ve really started thinking seriously about surgery. To be honest, I'm feeling pretty conflicted—I just don't know which surgeon I can actually trust to take care of me.

Thanks, cheers!

In short, that nasal polyp is basically blocking your airway. At the end of the day, how much it actually bothers you is really just a matter of personal experience.
It looks like the nasal turbinate hyperplasia is actually just a compensatory reaction because the volume in the other nasal passage has increased.

So, regarding those nasal drops—it turns out the diagnosis is vasomotor rhinitis. I've been using Atrovent spray for it. It mostly flares up whenever I'm dealing with high stress, physical exertion, or when there's a sudden shift in temperature.

I have nothing but praise for the Holy Spirit hospital and the entire ENT staff.
Especially for my surgeon, who happens to be away at the moment.😁

Betty Edwards22 said:Basically, the bone crystal is blocking the airflow through the nose. It’s really a subjective thing—how much it actually bothers you.
The nasal concha hyperplasia is just a compensatory reaction because the volume in the other nasal passage has increased.

As for that runny nose, it sounds like vasomotor rhinitis—Atrovent spray might help. It usually flares up due to stress, physical exertion, or sudden temperature shifts.

Thanks for breaking that down, 😉

To be honest, that mild congestion—that feeling of my nose being blocked—really does bother me. It feels like I can't quite get enough air, like it’s just not flowing... though I guess I’ve become somewhat numb to it over time. I sort of just forget about it. But the runny nose? That is a genuine struggle. I can't go anywhere without tissues, because no matter what I'm doing, the drainage just starts. :/

I’m originally from Canada, and honestly—since I was a kid—I’ve dealt with this massive complex about my nose being too large. It really takes a toll on my self-confidence, which, let's be real, isn't exactly something I have to spare in the first place 🤦
So, I’ve finally decided to pull the trigger on surgery, but I want to do it in Chicago—I just feel like the quality of care there would be significantly higher... The problem is, I haven't the slightest clue where in Chicago I should go or which surgeon can actually do a high-quality job without charging an absolute fortune 🙏. If any of you have gone through this in Chicago, or even if you just know of a reputable clinic, I would be SO incredibly grateful for some leads! Please, if you don't mind, drop the name of the clinic and the price, and if you're feeling generous, tell me a bit about your experience

Hi everyone,
I found myself feeling incredibly frustrated today after realizing that my surgery scheduled for March 30th might clash with my period. My cycle has been shifting lately, and since it tends to run quite long, it looks like it might overlap with the procedure date. If that actually happens, will they just reschedule me for once it’s over, or how does that work? Honestly, my heart is racing because I’m struggling to breathe properly—my left nostril is basically non-functional—and I’m having trouble both through my nose and mouth. It’s becoming truly unbearable.
Does anyone know how long one typically stays in the hospital and what the recovery restrictions are like (specifically regarding staying indoors)? I’ve heard so many different stories from people, and I’m trying to plan around my college schedule and necessary absences. Specifically, I'm asking about the public hospital in Miami, not a private facility.

Amy Brooks17 said:Hey everyone...
I honestly got so worked up today when I realized my surgery date on March 30th might clash with my period... my cycle is shifting around a bit, and since mine usually lasts forever, it looks like it’s going to overlap right with the procedure. Now I'm spiraling—if that actually happens, will they just push the surgery back until it's over, or what? My heart is racing because I can barely even breathe properly—my left nostril is basically non-functional at this point—and I'm struggling to breathe through my mouth too. Seriously, I just can't deal with this anymore...
How long do people actually end up staying in the hospital, and how much downtime is required—like, how long before you can even think about heading outside? I've heard a million different stories from everyone, so I’m just trying to get some clarity for my college attendance situation... specifically regarding hospitals in Miami—not private clinics, just the standard ones.

I went to a private clinic, so I can't say for sure if the procedure is exactly the same as what they do at the hospital—but they didn't give me any trouble regarding my period. Since my cycle is pretty irregular, I couldn't really plan things out too far in advance... but they told me to just let them know if I happen to be menstruating. If I understood them right, they'll just manage it by expecting a bit more bleeding during the surgery... 🤔And that’s really it. There wasn't even any mention of postponing the surgery...

Recovery is such a personal thing, really... honestly, everyone handles it differently. I actually had my surgery right in the middle of finals week—talk about bad timing—and I was already heading back to take exams after about 10 days. I felt pretty good by then, too, even though I was dealing with some minor issues downstairs... nothing crazy, just some light diarrhea, you know? So, if you ask me, you shouldn't need more than two weeks to get back on your feet... 😉

neonstag63 said:Since I went through a private clinic, I can't say for certain if their protocol matches what you'll find at a public hospital, but they didn't give me any trouble regarding my period. Because my cycle is pretty irregular, I couldn't exactly plan ahead, but they just told me to let them know if I happen to be menstruating during the procedure—apparently, if I understood correctly, there might just be a bit more bleeding during surgery 🤔—and that was that. There wasn't even a hint that they would postpone anything.

As for recovery, it really seems to be a personal thing. I had my surgery right in the middle of finals week, and somehow managed to head into an exam after about ten days, even though I was already feeling better (I had some minor spotting, nothing too noticeable). So, I honestly don't think you should need more than two weeks to get back on your feet. 😉

Oh man, I really hope it goes that smoothly for me too; I truly don't think I can handle this discomfort much longer.

Amy Brooks17 said:Hey everyone,
I was incredibly frustrated today when I realized my surgery scheduled for March 30th might clash with my period. My cycle has shifted slightly, and since my periods tend to run long, they’ve overlapped with the procedure date. If this happens, will they just push the surgery back until it's over, or what? My heart rate is all over the place because I can't breathe properly—my left nostril is completely non-functional. It's affecting me both through my mouth and nose. Honestly, I can't deal with this anymore.
How long does someone typically stay in the hospital, and what are the recovery restrictions regarding going outside? I've heard a dozen different stories, and I need to know for my college attendance records. Specifically, I'm asking about the public hospitals in Miami, not private clinics.

Having your period won't interfere with surgery. It’s a negligible amount of blood. I was hospitalized for eight days myself; I felt completely fine after three weeks, and my nose was fully recovered within two months.

Anyone got some intel on nose tip reduction?

Like, which surgeons in Chicago would you actually recommend—what are we looking at for prices, recovery time, all that good stuff?

I can't find anything useful without it being about America—everything that pops up is just foreign pages, and I can't even get a ballpark idea of what things cost here.

Amy Brooks17 said:Hey everyone,
So, I totally lost it today when I realized my surgery on March 30th might clash with my period. My cycle's been shifting lately, and since it lasts forever, it’s looking like it'll overlap with the procedure. If that actually happens, will they just push the surgery back until I'm done, or what? Honestly, my heart is racing because I can barely breathe—my left nostril is basically non-existent at this point—and it's affecting my mouth too. I seriously can't deal with this anymore.
By the way, how long do you usually have to stay in the hospital, and how much recovery time is needed (like, staying indoors and all that)? I've heard so many different stories and I need to plan around my college classes. Specifically, I'm asking about the public hospital in Miami, not a private one...

They didn't reschedule my surgery the first time even though my period started the exact day of the procedure.
And honestly, even if they do push it back a few days, I don't see why that's such a huge deal. You can probably hang in there for a couple more days until it passes, right?
The main thing is being ready for surgery. It's more important than worrying about whether you can survive a few extra days of breathing like crap, which is what you've been doing your whole life anyway.

🙂

brightangler18 said:Does anyone have info on tip plasty?

Which surgeons in Chicago are actually good, what are we looking at price-wise, recovery times, etc.?

I can't find anything specific to America; everything that pops up is from foreign sites and I can't even get a ballpark figure.

Check out Ostojica’s site—he actually lists his prices there. He has a specific section for nose tip surgery. I only mentioned him as an example so you could get a feel for the range, since he's pretty much the only one who puts a price list online. Keep in mind that with other doctors, things could swing by $1,000 or $667 more or less.

Honestly, I'm not sure who else I'd suggest.
Just spend some time scrolling through photos on sites like Toncic, Zgaljardic, Glumicic, Bagatin, Munitic, and so on.

slydriver56 said:🙂

You can find a price list on John Smith's website—he actually has a specific one for tip rhinoplasty. I only mentioned him as an example so you could get a general idea of the cost range. Since he’s pretty much the only one who lists prices online, just keep in mind that with other doctors, things could easily swing by $1,000—$667 or more, up or down.

I'm honestly not sure who I'd recommend to you.
Maybe browse through some photos on sites for people like Michael Johnson, Dr. Garcia, Dr. Thompson, Dr. White, or Dr. Davis.

There isn't anything on the price lists for Bagatin, Smith, or Thompson—they just have standard rhinoplasty listed, which isn't even what I need. As for the others? No price lists or anything at all.

That's why I'm asking... since this isn't such a common procedure, does anyone have any actual, concrete info? From experience, I know they won't tell you a thing over the phone unless you basically cough up $67 just to get them to talk, and I just want a rough ballpark figure.