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Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Started by Rachel Fisher97 · · 👁 12 views · 533 replies

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Participants Rachel Fisher97Rachel Harris63Hannah Wright6darktiger19Anthony White3Dana Johnson6steelangler88Rachel Rivera19Jesse Adams47darkmaker9Mark SanchezChris Moore3swifttinker7briskgardener6Brandon Lopez6rowdycrane3Sandra Williams70boldlynx20rustyfalcon15Olivia Gray42redcobra92analogbison15Betty Thompson45hiddenseal14 …
Melissa Thomas35 Melissa Thomas35 Member
17 messages
joined Mar 2013
#461 ·
casualbison3 said:😲 I really feel for you, but I'm crossing my fingers that it clears up soon. 😉
For me, it’s not completely gone yet, but it is definitely shrinking...

Did you end up dealing with the same thing I am? And how long did it actually take before that hump—that bone callous—started to shrink? I know I'm being a bit much, but I could really use some reassurance...😂
Nicole Ortiz34 Nicole Ortiz34 Member
48 messages
joined Jan 2013
#462 ·
Oh, I am so incredibly sorry to hear that 😢 there are more of us popping up all the time, and honestly, it’s making me pretty frustrated because it feels like we’re going to have to deal with this all over again 🙂 Is that bump hard when you touch it, or is it kind of soft? If it feels rock hard, I find it hard to believe it'll go away on its own, but if there's even a little bit of softness to it, then there might be some hope 🙂
Melissa Thomas35 said:So, honey, I just got back from my checkup. The doctor told me it's actually a bony callus that formed right where the bone was broken. He said it'll definitely stay like that for a few months, and if it doesn't shrink down, I'll have to undergo a second surgery. Not exactly the news I wanted to hear.🙂
And by the way, my nose looks like a total disaster right now.
Melissa Thomas35 Melissa Thomas35 Member
17 messages
joined Mar 2013
#463 ·
Nicole Ortiz34 said:honestly, I feel for you... there are more of us every single day, and it’s frustrating because we'll probably have to deal with this all over again 😢 I'm just so annoyed about it 🙂 is that hump hard to the touch, or is it more soft? if it's hard, I doubt it'll pass, but if there's even a little bit of softness, there might be hope 🙂

It's hard as a bone
velvetmoose9 velvetmoose9 Active Member
163 messages
joined Apr 2020
#464 ·
@Rachel Rivera19/">@@Rachel Rivera19, casualbison3, and all you other ladies who’ve dealt with that whole "bone callus" situation popping up after nasal bone surgery—I was wondering, what kind of imaging did you guys actually get done before the procedure? Like, did they run X-rays on the nasal bones or anything similar? Also, I’m curious if after the surgery you had any follow-up scans, and if so, how much of a difference was there between those initial shots and the control images?
Rachel Vaughn85 Rachel Vaughn85 Active Member
80 messages
joined Jan 2014
#465 ·
amberheron242 said:He’s definitely on my radar too, so I’m eagerly waiting for some feedback... His prices seem pretty standard, right in the middle of the road...

I’m actually planning to book consultations with him and Milenovic...

Super !! If you end up going, let me know what your first impression is! 😁
casualbison3 casualbison3 Member
34 messages
joined Mar 2013
#466 ·
Melissa Thomas35 said:Did you deal with the exact same thing I did? How long did it take before that hump—that bone callus—actually started shrinking? I know I’m being a pain, but I could really use some reassurance right now.😂

Haha, everything's all good. 😁
Hmm... it popped up somewhere around a week or two after the surgery. Then, about 4 or 5 weeks out, it started shrinking. It wasn't even like a typical lump—it was more just a little bump on the right side, so you could only really catch it from one side profile. xD
I think you get what I'm getting at. 😁
Plus, my nose was way more swollen on that side.

It's still there, but definitely smaller than it was a week out from surgery. Hopefully, the whole thing just vanishes in a few weeks—but honestly, even if it doesn't fully clear up, I’m cool with it. It can't possibly be any worse than how things looked before the operation. 😁
wiredwalker2 wiredwalker2 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Mar 2013
#467 ·
Mark Nelson46 said:Hey everyone,

Look, I’m not trying to start any drama or point fingers at anyone specifically, but honestly, the absolute nightmare I went through is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. It started with this tiny little bump on my nose, and whenever I laughed, the tip would just droop downward. My first surgeon was John Doe. I was incredibly clear about what I wanted—just to smooth out that bump and lift the tip slightly—but he ended up giving me this weird, pointy "bird beak" look instead.
If I had possessed even a shred of foresight to know that was his absolute peak performance, I never would have let him touch me, because it was nowhere near what we discussed. A year later, he performed a revision under local anesthesia, and let me tell you, he absolutely mangled me. He claimed he was thinning the skin by working from the inside, which sounds insane. When he finally took the mold off, my nose was purple, flattened, and once the swelling went down, it looked like a damn pear. He completely destroyed my cartilage; it was deformed, lacked a defined tip, and was totally asymmetrical. It was just... horrific. Every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I felt like I was losing my mind. And the "doctor"? He didn't even offer an apology, and he wouldn't even think about refunding my money until I threatened to blast him all over the news. I was a wreck, truly, and once I finally found some strength, I went to see a high-profile Actor and begged him to fix the mess.

By then, it wasn't just about the shape anymore; my nose was covered in broken capillaries, so now I basically have the nose of a lifelong alcoholic. I explained everything to the Actor, and during our consultation, I actually felt like I could trust him. He seemed so self-assured. But when I asked if he could actually fix the damage and if he’d be willing to operate, he straight-up told me, "I can't fix this; I wouldn't even agree to operate on you because I know exactly what you've been through."
At the time, I felt such a sense of relief because I was convinced he was just being honest
with me; he seemed like a decent man.
So, he did go ahead with the surgery, but unfortunately, I have to say it doesn't look much better than before. The asymmetry is still there, there’s no defined tip, and overall, it’s just a CATASTROPHE. Of course, he took all my money upfront—partly before I even arrived in NYC and the rest right before the procedure. His excuse at the first follow-up? "We really struggled with your nose, but you just need new cartilage." That is such blatant disrespect to me. I have so much more to say, especially since he told me *before* the operation that not much could be done, yet he takes the money anyway and then uses that as an excuse!
The last thirteen years of my life have been effectively ruined because of a seemingly harmless procedure meant to enhance my face and fix a problem I've dealt with since childhood. Instead, I got a lifetime of suffering that I paid for, and I don't even have a receipt for the misery.
Please, if anyone knows an honest, highly skilled surgeon who could help me—specifically someone who can reconstruct the cartilage—let me know. I don't want to walk around this world looking like this anymore.

Thank you,😉

From my own experience, I’d highly recommend Smith if you need grafts... Honestly, after having my nose traumatized multiple times, a tertiary reconstruction was my saving grace...

The first time I went under the knife was back in 2007 at a major hospital here in the States for a severe deviated septum. I could barely breathe without using nasal sprays; the deviation was so bad you could literally see an "S" shape where my nose should be. I didn't have any connections, and while that surgery partially solved the breathing issue, the pain was absolutely unbearable. And don't even get me started on the hospital staff. To make matters worse, I found out later through reading up on it that the surgeon was technically a researcher who hadn't even finished her formal residency/specialization. It’s such a shame that patients aren't informed about things like that...

Fast forward five years to 2012, and I’m back sitting in Actor's office, desperately trying to fix this breathing issue on my left side—my nose had this weird indentation on the left that was basically choking off my airflow... well, the result was just a total disaster. He ended up cracking the cartilage at the tip, leaving me with this nasty little lump, and my nose became so unnaturally short and upturned that it was actually eerie to look at in the mirror. It looked filed down and tear-shaped to the point where the side with the indentation just sort of collapsed inward along with the nasal bridge, completely blocking my airway... and the kicker? The plan was to implant new cartilage, but instead, he just kept filing away at what was left. I mean, sure, I always had a slightly upturned nose, and all we ever agreed on was to straighten it out, but this surgery went anywhere but according to plan. Even during all my follow-up appointments, he just refused to admit that he’d cracked the cartilage at the tip. He even tried to push some fillers on me to hide the lump, which wouldn't have even fixed half the mess he made.

So, I went out and sought second opinions from specialists over at the Mayo Clinic and Smith, and they both told me the exact same thing: the cartilage at the tip had cracked because of excessive filing, and I needed a heavy stack of grafts to fix it. Because of that, I went under the knife again in 2013 and had ear cartilage grafted into that left-side indentation I've actually had since birth, as well as to the bridge where the over-filing happened, and right at the tip where the cracked cartilage was sliced. They used the graft to fill that gap so it wouldn't be an indentation anymore... and honestly, the results? My breathing and my appearance are significantly better now.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is: please, don't go undergoing surgery for tiny imperfections if you aren't having major breathing issues, because there's such a massive chance you'll end up a victim of an incompetent surgeon's mistakes. Actor did offer to do the corrective work for free, but why on earth would I expose myself to that kind of incompetence all over again? I decided to take my chances elsewhere, just like anyone else who falls into this trap. Your nose might not turn out exactly how you envisioned, but if you end up with a cracked tip and the doctor tries to deny it happened? That's a serious failure... isn't it?
steelangler88 steelangler88 Member
12 messages
joined Jul 2013
#468 ·
@ Zelda

Interesting. It’s almost identical to my own experience.
That specific regulation completely screwed me over—and then he acted like he had no idea afterward.
I got sorted out at the Forest clinic; highly recommend them!!

I just don't get one thing. He claimed you need a new meniscus. So why didn't he actually perform the procedure??? If he knew he couldn't do it or didn't know how, why operate in the first place? Just terrible.😢
Sam Kim12 Sam Kim12 Active Member
156 messages
joined Apr 2018
#469 ·
wanderingnomad13 said:What on earth am I reading? These claims that you aren't allowed to touch your nose at all—for several months, no less—are absolutely preposterous. And then there’s this other bit of nonsense about not being able to blow your nose for ten days following the procedure? Give me a break. It's complete and utter madness.

Correct me if I’m wrong—though I highly doubt it—but I have been blowing my nose regularly and quite normally since day five. If I hadn't been doing that, I have no idea how I would have cleared out all the debris—it was essential. Thanks to that, my breathing has been absolutely perfect since day six, without a single bit of congestion or any lingering sniffles. Today marks day twelve post-op, and as far as my breathing goes, everything is functioning exactly as it should.
How on earth am I supposed to go a full month without touching my nose? Honestly—even my doctor was getting handsy with it while he was removing the mold! I’ve been being incredibly careful—just gently dabbing the outside with a cotton swab and applying moisturizer—because the skin there is already bone-dry. I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit too aggressive with myself a few times, but all the experienced girls I talked to assured me it wouldn't be an issue—they said, "It's a nose, not a piece of tissue paper"—yet now it turns out I’m supposedly forbidden from even a light touch? What is that even supposed to mean? Is my nose going to warp or shift shape just because I grazed it? It makes absolutely zero sense.🤷

Look, let’s get one thing straight—none of us are recovering under the exact same circumstances. We didn't all undergo an identical procedure—the incision sites vary, the mucosal quality differs from person to person, and even the intensity of the removal isn't uniform across the board. You have to account for varying levels of blood flow and capillary health, too. Because of those variables, no two experiences can truly be compared. So, please, believe me when I say that nobody was given those "don't touch your nose" instructions just for the sake of being difficult. There is a very real reason for it.
So, they hand me my discharge papers—which, let’s be honest, are about as precise as a weather forecast in a hurricane—and tell me that I have polyps and a portion of my intestinal lining removed. They don't specify exactly how much was taken out, though deep down, I know it was a significant amount. To make matters worse, the doctor basically told me straight up that I shouldn't expect any semblance of a full recovery for at least two years. Now, this is where the math stops adding up—it’s almost absurd. A close acquaintance of mine had the exact same specialist, and he told her she’d be back to normal in maybe six months, or a year at most. But then again, we aren't talking about the same scale of surgery, are we? It’s one of those situations where the "recovery timeline" feels less like medical science and more like a complete shot in the dark.😉

I was told that I shouldn't even consider starting any sort of gradual blowing process for at least another ten days—unless absolutely necessary—and I am certainly not to think about that reckless, gambling-style blowout approach. However, I did receive a rather sobering warning: I shouldn't be surprised if, in about two weeks, a massive sneeze triggers some intense bleeding. Apparently, there are cases where people have ended up straight in the ER because of exactly that.
Look, this is exactly why you need to listen strictly to your own doctor—period. Don't go taking advice from random internet strangers or anyone who hasn't actually stood in the operating room with you. Only your physician truly understands the specifics of what was done during your procedure and just how extensive the surgery actually was—it’s a level of nuance that outsiders simply cannot grasp.

And frankly—I’m not even going to dignify those comments from certain forum members regarding nose picking, pulling scabs, or dried blood—because that is nothing more than playing with fire and inviting unnecessary complications.
wiredwalker2 wiredwalker2 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Mar 2013
#470 ·
steelangler88 said:@ Zelda

That’s actually pretty interesting, because it sounds almost exactly like my own experience.
Honestly, the whole thing just completely screwed me over, and then he had the nerve to act like he didn't have a clue what happened afterward.
I ended up getting everything fixed out in the Forest area—honestly, I can't recommend them enough if you're in a bind!!

The one thing I just can't wrap my head around, though, is the logic. He tells me I need a new cartilage graft *after* he's already finished the surgery? Like, if he knew that was necessary, why on earth didn't he just do it while he was in there? Or if he genuinely didn't know, why even pick up the scalpel in the first place? It's just absolutely terrible.😢

So, here’s the deal: he tells me I need cartilage replacement after the fact, even though he never once mentioned needing it during our initial consultations. And when I pointed out that the little bump on the tip of my nose was actually caused by a ruptured cartilage, he tried to convince me it was just some sort of fibrosis. He kept sending me off to lymphatic drainage appointments, which was useless. Once I finally stood my ground and told him I'd sought second opinions—and that it wasn't fibrosis at all, but a structural failure of the cartilage causing that protrusion—he realized he couldn't just talk his way out of it anymore and offered a revision surgery. A specialist I spoke to later told me that while these things can happen, you're supposed to catch them immediately during the procedure or right after the swelling goes down from the packing, allowing for quick corrective stitches. But in my case, it was just left alone, leaving the tip of my nose under this constant tension, making that bump look incredibly sharp and jagged... it’s honestly embarrassing to walk down the street looking like this. The next step in this nightmare was having to trim away the damaged cartilage and using a graft to fill the gap so I wouldn't be left with a literal hole. The doctor said the revision was quite intense and took about three hours to complete...
granitebadger63 granitebadger63 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Mar 2013
#471 ·
Does anyone here have experience getting a bump removed from their nose? I’m curious about how things turned out for you—specifically, if your nose has fully recovered after a year has passed since the surgery. I have my consultation coming up soon, so any insight would be greatly appreciated. Also, one more thing: if you insist on general anesthesia, can you actually ensure you get the same type? I absolutely cannot do local anesthesia; the thought of it terrifies me, especially since this is my first time going under.
wanderingnomad13 wanderingnomad13 Active Member
56 messages
joined Jan 2013
#472 ·
How long does the nasal pyramid stay swollen after surgery, and roughly how much time does it take to go down? I know the tip usually takes the longest of all the areas to settle...
steelangler88 steelangler88 Member
12 messages
joined Jul 2013
#473 ·
Coma... what kind of complications can pop up two years after surgery?? Could something like redness at the tip be an issue? 😁 Honestly, I'm a walking comedy of errors.
analoghound6 analoghound6 Member
21 messages
joined Mar 2013
#474 ·
Melissa Thomas35 said:Well, I'm back from my checkup, and I suppose I should share the news. Dr. Smith told me that what I'm feeling is essentially a bone callus—just a bit of extra tissue forming where the bone was originally broken. He mentioned that this might stick around for a few months, which seems like quite a long time, I guess. He also noted that if the swelling doesn't subside on its own, I might have to undergo another surgery. It’s not exactly the most comforting thing to hear, but I'm trying to stay positive about it all.🙂
I suppose, if I’m being perfectly honest, things seem to be heading toward a bit of a catastrophe right now. It feels like we're drifting toward a real disaster, though I might be overthinking it—it's hard to say for sure.

Dear Melissa Thomas35, you certainly aren't alone in dealing with these kinds of surgical outcomes. I went through a rhinoplasty about a year and three months ago, and I’ve been left with these bony protrusions right where the bone fractures occurred during the procedure. They are still there... it's just devastating. To make matters worse, I feel like the surgery was performed quite sloppily; my nose doesn't look natural or elegant at all—it actually looks quite the opposite. And all this after I paid $14,000 for the whole thing. $0.00I suppose I am currently getting ready for my consultation with the specialist over at Forest General Hospital. I’m really hoping they decide to move forward with the surgery. To be perfectly honest, I think I’d feel much more comfortable there; I have to admit, I’ve been feeling a bit apprehensive about leaving my face in the hands of those private plastic surgeons. It just feels like a safer bet, I guess.
granitebadger63 granitebadger63 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Mar 2013
#475 ·
Rachel Vaughn85 said:Hey everyone—just one more quick question! 🙂

Does anyone have any experience with Dr. Smith?
If you do, please take a moment to share your thoughts briefly—and feel free to DM me some photos if you can 🙂
He practiced at Mercury (not sure if he’s still there) and also at the MM clinic over by the Pond in Chicago.

Hey...
Well, I actually got a recommendation for Dr. Smith from a family friend who happens to be a surgeon himself—though, unfortunately, not a plastic surgeon 😉 I also spoke with a girl who went to him... she and her friends were absolutely thrilled... and she says she definitely recommends him...

Nina Lee said:Specifically, I'm heading in to meet him tomorrow—hoping to finalize an appointment then too... maybe even get on the schedule for next week... so I'll let you all know how it goes...
Honestly, I've done enough overthinking about the "what ifs" and the "how tos"... I'm just going to go and see what happens... Hallelujah, wish me luck 🙂))

Please keep us posted—we're all waiting for news on Dr. Smith :-)
Tyler James5 Tyler James5 Active Member
142 messages
joined Jul 2012
#476 ·
hey, look, just a quick heads-up... if you're planning on quoting more than one person, please just use the multiquote tool. seriously. and whatever you do, don't go messing with the brackets at the start or end of the quote, and definitely don't try typing inside them... it just makes everything a total mess 🙄
Scott Allen10 Scott Allen10 Regular
315 messages
joined Jun 2005
#477 ·
granitebadger63 said:Make sure to keep us posted, we're all dying to hear what Dr. Smith has to say! :-)

Honestly, I'm not sitting around waiting with everyone else—if anything, I'm the one losing patience. I feel like I’ve said this a dozen times already, but trying to push stuff about private rates or individual billing here just isn't going to fly. People can have their own opinions on it, but it's just not happening on this board. Look, I don't care if Dr. Smith is doing his job perfectly fine at the hospital or whatever... it's this specific type of talk that creates the issue.
For anyone trying to steer the conversation that way, please just hit me up via PM or take it to the stickied thread... otherwise, I'm gonna have to start handing out warnings.
Rachel Vaughn85 Rachel Vaughn85 Active Member
80 messages
joined Jan 2014
#478 ·
Alright then, Nina Lee, once you're back, please hit me up via DM so we can talk about how everything went. We might as well discuss it there since we aren't allowed to do it here. ☕
And if anyone else has worked with this doctor, please reach out too! 🙂
rustyfalcon55 rustyfalcon55 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Mar 2013
#479 ·
Rachel Vaughn85 said:Fair enough. Nina Lee, please send me a DM once you arrive. I want to hear how everything went so we can discuss it privately, since we aren't allowed to talk about it here. ☕
I am also asking anyone else who has worked with this doctor to reach out. 🙂

I feel the same way.🙂
Hallelujah!🙂
Kimberly Hughes17 Kimberly Hughes17 Member
25 messages
joined Nov 2012
#480 ·
steelangler88 said:Coma... what kind of complications could pop up two years after surgery? Could something like redness at the tip be an issue? 😁I'm honestly a total walking disaster here.

Is the tip still red, or has that cleared up? Is there anything specific you might have done to "irritate" the area?

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