Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hannah Wright6 said:The day after tomorrow marks exactly one month since my surgery. Everything seems to have calmed down significantly over the last week or so—there's barely any swelling left to feel, let alone see. I guess things healed pretty fast for me, 🤔 though it felt like an absolute eternity. When the swelling shifted down toward my lower cheeks, I looked like a chipmunk 😁 with just the tip of my nose looking puffy. Basically, I was somewhere in between a chipmunk and a teddy bear. 😁

Wow, you really recovered fast. 🙂 I wonder who your surgeon was... shoot me a DM sometime so we can swap some photos. 🙂

No problem at all!

I know that feeling so well—when you finally feel like you can actually catch your breath again. There’s honestly nothing better than that relief 🙂

Rachel Fisher97 said:wow you're moving fast 🙂 who did your surgery? hit me up in the DMs so we can swap some pics 🙂

Dr. Vagić at Mayo Clinic 🙂 I'll let you know 😉

How long does the waiting period usually last for surgery? I mean, from the initial call with the doctor until the actual procedure.

Dr. Gudelj operated on me yesterday around noon for my septoplasty. My family came by to visit around 3, and I was still a bit groggy when they woke me up. No swelling around the eyes or anything, and my nose doesn't really hurt... just dealing with some bloody discharge and it's hard to cough. The doctor said everything should be set in five days.

I’m thinking about finally pulling the trigger on nose surgery. Who should I actually see? Has anyone here dealt with Dr. Uglešić over at the Los Angeles Lakers clinic? Or maybe Bedeković over at the Vinogradski facility? Any advice would be huge. Thanks!

Chris Moore3 said:steelangler88, sorry—I haven't read your posts from the very beginning, but if I remember correctly, you mentioned having surgery already? Who did you go to? I actually need to get this done myself, but since I haven't had surgery here in the States, I have no idea what the surgeons are like or who you’d recommend. If you don't mind, could you send me a photo?😉

Whoa, where on earth did you dig up this ancient post?🙂
Honestly, after everything with the Los Angeles Lakers, I really don't feel like rehashing the whole story—everything is great now.
If you want the specifics, just shoot me a DM.

Could someone shoot me a DM and walk me through how the whole process works for strictly cosmetic procedures at hospitals? I'm trying to get a handle on what we're looking at in terms of costs and how long the waitlists actually are... I've been thinking about seeing Dr. poj. Is there any real chance they’d turn me away just because I don't have a functional issue like a deviated septum?

If we're strictly talking about aesthetics, I don't think anyone would actually want to undergo that kind of surgery in a hospital setting. It's more likely you'd look at something like a septoplasty combined with some minor cosmetic tweaks. In that case, you’d probably head to a private clinic—you're looking at roughly $2,500, though that really depends on which specialist you choose and the full scope of what you're having done.
Feel free to jump in and correct me if I've got my facts wrong!

Rachel Harris63 said:If you’re strictly looking at aesthetics, I don't think anyone would agree to operate on you in a hospital setting. Usually, hospitals only step in if you're doing something functional—like fixing a deviated septum—alongside minor cosmetic tweaks. For purely aesthetic work, you'd have to go through a private clinic, and you're looking at roughly $2,200, depending on the surgeon and the scope of the procedure.
Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Actually, they will operate if there is a "significant" deformity. A girl came in for a follow-up right when I arrived to discuss my own appointment, and she was there for purely cosmetic reasons. BUT—she apparently had a pretty awkward issue with her nasal tip. Best to just go in and ask...

Yeah, you definitely need to go in and ask. It really just comes down to which doctor you end up seeing—everyone has their own way of doing things.

Back home now. 😁
Man, that feeling when they finally pulled the swab out... what a relief. Everything smells so much better already. My nose is still running a bit, but I feel like a new person.

Dr. Fauci? Where is he working these days?

By the Holy Spirit.

Since I’ve been getting a ton of questions about Dr. Zambelli lately, I figured I’d drop a quick post here to clear things up.

So, I actually sent this doctor an email late one night—total midnight thought, I know—and he replied almost instantly! Then, get this, he actually called me the very next day. He mentioned that he’ll soon be making trips to Washington, D.C. every couple of weeks or so to work at a local clinic for minor procedures (so if you just need a consultation, I think he’ll be able to handle that right there in the capital), but right now he’s heading off to a rhinoplasty congress in New York City. I did a little digging on this congress 😁 and, oh my goodness, the speakers are basically the absolute elite of the rhinoplasty world. (I’ve spent the last two years obsessively researching the top surgeons in the States, so when I saw Toriumi and his crew on that speaker list, I knew immediately we were talking about the big leagues.)

As for my own nose—well, it’s been nearly nine months since my second surgery. After my first surgeon completely wrecked my nose—seriously, total disaster—Uglešić agreed to handle just a portion of the reconstruction (he told me straight up that fixing the rest would be too much of a massive headache—yes, he actually used those words!)—Zambelli was the only one willing to step up and take on my case. Now, instead of having a tip like Blanka Vlašić (roughly that vibe), I have a really lovely, natural-looking nose, and—this is the best part—I can finally breathe! If I’m being totally honest, I wish the tip were just a tiny bit longer, purely for aesthetic reasons—it might suit my face shape better—but I’ve realized there’s no such thing as a "perfect" fix, especially when you're dealing with a revision rhinoplasty.

I truly feel like I placed myself in the hands of the best surgeon I could possibly find in the country (at least in my opinion, and believe me, I did my homework!), and my only real regret is that I didn't go to Zambelli for the very first surgery. He’s been so attentive—whenever I have a question (since I haven't been able to make it out to San Francisco yet), he responds, he calls me... he genuinely cares about his patients and wants us to be happy with the results.

It is an incomparable experience compared to that first surgeon—the guy who not only ruined my nose aesthetically but lied to me about fixing my deviation, only to act like he couldn't wait to be rid of me once it was over. Oh, and yeah, he actually suggested just filling my nose with fillers 🙂

Since I got burned *so* badly the first time around, I really want to advise everyone (again 😁) to do your due diligence—go to multiple consultations before you commit to a surgeon. And my heartfelt advice? Definitely go see Zambelli for a consultation. Getting an opinion from a specialist of that caliber is absolutely worth it.

Nine months ago, I underwent surgery to fix a deviated septum. My nose actually looks great—it’s small, straight, and has no bumps or anything. The only issue was the deviation, which made breathing impossible and pulled my nose slightly to one side. Well, here we are two and a half months post-op, and now I’m developing a depression right down the middle, making the tilt even more noticeable. Naturally, the indentation is on the exact side where the nose is pulling.
I’m going to call my surgeon and schedule an exam... but honestly, based on what you all have been through, what could be happening here? Is it some kind of bone resorption or something? I'm starting to panic because I seriously don't have the capacity for another surgery! 😢

Hey everyone!
I have a quick question for you all. So, about 11 months ago, I had rhinoplasty done by a pretty well-known plastic surgeon here in the States, but honestly? I’m not thrilled with the results. I still have these bumps or lumps on the sides of my nose—on both the left and right where the nose meets the face at the bone—and they just won't budge! My nose looks kind of "blunt" too; it lacks those sharp, defined lines it should have, so it looks totally unnatural, almost like a beak. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Is there any hope for improvement, or am I looking at a full revision surgery? P.S. My nasal bones were actually broken before. Thanks so much for any advice, I'm feeling a bit lost on who to even talk to about this...😢😢

Susan Cooper23 said:Since I keep getting bombarded with questions about Dr. Zambelli, figured I’d drop a post here too.

I shot him an email late one night, he hit me back immediately, and then actually called me the very next day. He mentioned he’ll be heading to Washington, D.C. every couple of weeks soon to work at a local clinic doing minor procedures (so if you need a consultation, I think he’ll be able to handle that in D.C. now), and right now he’s off to some rhinoplasty congress in New York City. I Googled this congress 😁 and saw that the speakers are basically the top rhino surgeons on the planet. (I’ve been studying the best US surgeons for two years now, so seeing Toriumi and his crew on the speaker list made it crystal clear what kind of league we're talking about).

As for my nose, it’s been almost 9 months since my second surgery. After my first surgeon absolutely wrecked my face, Uglešić agreed to handle just part of the fix (he told me straight up that the rest was way too much of a "pain in the ass" for him)—Zambelli was the only one willing to step up and take on my case. I went from having a tip like Blanka Vlašić (roughly that style) to a totally natural look, and finally, I can actually breathe. If I had one tiny gripe, I wish the tip were a little longer just for aesthetics—it would suit my face better—but I get it, there’s no such thing as perfection, especially when you're dealing with a revision job.

I put myself in the hands of the best surgeon I could find in this country (at least in my opinion, and I did a ton of digging), and honestly, my only regret is not going to Zambelli for the first surgery. He really looks out for me; whenever I have a question (since I haven't been able to make it out to San Francisco yet), he replies, he calls me... he actually cares about his patients and wants us to be happy.

The difference compared to my first experience is night and day. That first surgeon didn't just mess up my nose aesthetically and lie to me about fixing my deviated septum, he basically just looked for any excuse to get rid of me. Yeah, he actually suggested filling my nose with fillers 🙂

Since I got burned so badly the first time, I'm telling everyone (again 😁) to do your homework. Go to multiple consultations before you commit to a surgeon. My big piece of advice? Definitely go see Zambelli for a consultation. Getting an opinion from a pro like that is always worth it.

Hey Susan, did you happen to go to Ostojić for a consultation? Apparently, he's both an ENT specialist and a plastic surgeon! A few people have had great experiences with him. If you went, let me know how he reacted to your situation. And honestly, how do all these guys usually react when you show up asking for a second surgery, besides Dr. Z whom you raved about? I think you'll be a huge help to those of us currently considering a revision...

Chris Moore3 said:Hey, hey—have you ever gone for a consultation with Ostojić? Apparently, he’s both an ENT and a plastic surgeon! I’ve heard from a few people who had really great experiences with him. If you have, please, oh please, let me know what you thought—how did he react when you laid out your concerns? And honestly, how do they all behave when you show up asking about a revision surgery, besides Dr. Fauci whom you mentioned earlier? I think your insight would be a huge help to those of us currently weighing our options for a second go-around...

I haven't seen Ostojić. I actually know a woman on this forum whose nose he completely messed up—so much so that Uglešić had to step in later to fix it—so Ostojić wasn't even on my radar.

I went to see Zambelli, Uglešić, and Bastajić for consultations. I also had a phone call with Glušac—thinking if things seemed okay, I might just hop over to Miami if needed. We talked for about 40 minutes, but the whole conversation mostly felt like Dr. Glušac was just singing his own praises! And look, I was looking for a serious surgeon because the results from my first surgery were pretty devastating.

Then, I visited Zambelli in San Francisco. Before meeting him, I had this impression that he was sharp and strict—I actually mentally prepared myself for some "grumpy doctor who hates everyone before lunch" type of personality—but he turned out to be the absolute best. He spotted everything that was wrong immediately, explained how to fix it, etc. (I already posted about not wanting to repeat my whole life story here!), and he was such a humble, decent person. He even comforted me by saying my case wasn't actually that difficult.

Dr. Uglešić spent quite a long time examining me. However, he flat-out refused to fix part of the issue, not even hesitating to tell me that he simply wouldn't do it—claiming it was too much work, too complicated, and so on. He only agreed to tidy up the very tip of my nose and somewhat address the deviation.

As for Dr. Bastajić, he didn't even mention a revision as a possibility! He actually seemed surprised that those visible little bumps on the tip of my nose bothered me at all. He suggested doing the surgery using a closed technique... but by then, I had done my homework and knew my situation could only be resolved by inserting cartilage grafts, which requires an open technique exclusively.

In the end, the choice definitely landed on Zambelli. The doctor is thorough, puts in the effort, and honestly, I don't think anyone else in the country could do a better job. He truly cares about his patients and does everything possible to ensure people are happy. For him, the patient always comes first.

Unfortunately, I've experienced firsthand (during that first surgery with a different surgeon back then) what it's like when a surgeon ruins your nose and then refuses to admit they made a mistake. It feels like some surgeons in this country invest way more in their marketing than they do in continuing their education.

So, that's my take on it.

Who knows how many times you'll have to do this—but before any surgery, please, go to multiple consultations. Don't get swayed by sweet talk or charm... focus strictly on the surgeon's focus and expertise. At the end of the day, we're talking about our faces and something we have to live with for the rest of our lives.

Hey everyone...
So, about a week ago, I finally went under the knife to fix my deviated septum. Honestly, I’d be thrilled with how things turned out if it weren't for this one nagging issue—my nose still looks totally asymmetrical, and it's leaning toward the exact same side it was before. Part of me wants to believe it's just because Dr. Fauci's work is still settling and the swelling is doing its thing, but there's this creeping fear in the back of my mind that this might actually be the final look... especially since the swelling doesn't even seem that intense, so it feels more like the actual shape is just off. Plus, everything is still pretty numb, which makes trying to smile feel incredibly awkward...
Has anyone else dealt with this kind of asymmetry after surgery? Please, if you've been through this, reach out... I really need to know if it eventually leveled out for you and how long it actually took to see the real results.