Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey everyone, 🙂 I’ve been lurking here for a while, so I figured it was finally time to share my own experience. 🙂
Basically—I had surgery yesterday in St. Louis. It was performed by Dr. Boris Pegan, who traveled in from Chicago. We sat down before the procedure so I could walk him through exactly what I wanted, and he took some photos for the records.
The schedule went smoothly: went in at 11:00, woke up in my hospital bed around 1:15. The anesthesia was a nightmare, though—I spent most of yesterday dealing with nausea. Today, however, I feel great. No pain, really—just a tiny bit of sensitivity at the tip of my nose, which is negligible. My IV fluids were kept to a minimum. 🙂
Anyway, just wanted to give you all an update on how it went. 🙂

I actually had a different take on this. I was told it isn’t just some bone callus, but rather that my septum collapsed because the surgery was way too aggressive. Apparently, that "bump" is just my original bone becoming visible now that the septum has given way. They mentioned a potential follow-up surgery in about a year where they could harvest cartilage from my ear to fill in the gap... So, there you have it. I went in to fix my breathing, and now I'm stuck looking at this terrifying saddle nose shape.

I had septoplasty two years ago, and my nose felt even more congested than before. A year later, I went back for a second surgery. Now, the congestion is worse than ever. On top of that, there’s this constant, unpleasant smell I can't explain, and frankly, it scares me. I went to see my doctor and laid everything out, but his response was that my septum looks perfectly straight and he can't find any issue. Meanwhile, I can barely breathe. It feels like I have cotton swabs stuffed up my nose constantly. It’s a disaster. And for the record, my surgeon was that Parasite guy.

Drew Perez11 said:Hey everyone! 🙂 I’ve been lurking here for a long time, so I figured it was finally time to share my experience with you all. 🙂
Basically, I had my surgery yesterday in St. Louis... performed by Boris Pegan, who traveled in from Chicago. Before we headed in, we sat down so I could explain exactly what I wanted, and he even took some photos for reference.
I went into the OR at 11:00 AM, woke up in my hospital bed around 1:15 PM, and things started there. Honestly? The anesthesia was brutal—I was nauseous and vomiting all day yesterday. But today? I feel fantastic! There is absolutely no pain, aside from maybe a tiny bit at the tip of my nose, which is totally negligible. The swelling is minimal, too. 🙂
Anyway, just wanted to give you all an update on how it went! 🙂

You might get lucky and deal with minimal swelling, but in my experience, it takes a few days for everything to actually start settling. For me, nothing happened on the first day, then a little bit on the second... and after that, the swelling just kept growing! It wasn't until two weeks later that it finally faded enough for me to step out in public (with plenty of concealer, of course).
I really hope you get a great result! There are unfortunately quite a few people out there who aren't happy with their outcomes. I currently fall into that group myself, but since I'm still so fresh from surgery, I don't think I have any "right to vote" on the final outcome just yet. 😁

Robin Foster5 said:I had my septum repaired about two years back, and honestly, it felt even more stuffed up than it did before the surgery... so a year later, I went under the knife again. Now? It’s like I can’t breathe at all, worse than ever. And there’s this weird, unpleasant smell I keep catching... I have no clue where it’s coming from, but it’s starting to freak me out. I finally went to see a doctor and laid it all out for him, but he just shrugged and told me my septum looks perfectly straight and he can't see what the issue is. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there struggling to get any air! It feels like someone shoved cotton swabs deep up my nose... it's a total disaster. Oh, and yeah... the surgeon was that guy Parasite, who's supposed to be some kind of legend.

That funky smell—it could definitely be some kind of chronic infection lingering in there. It really makes sense to go get a second opinion, and you should probably at least get some basic blood work done (like a CBC, metabolic panel, CRP stuff) along with a thorough ENT exam and some imaging to see what's actually going on inside.

I’m looking to jump into some DMs with someone who is... I'm feeling pretty damn good, honestly. So, I just wrapped up my septoplasty over at the Mayo Clinic, and honestly? I’m feeling pretty damn incredible. It’s hard to even put into words that sensation of finally being able to breathe properly—it’s like I’ve got this constant surge of energy and pure willpower just flowing through me again. My fitness levels are through the roof, too. But if I’m being totally real, more than anything else, I’m just incredibly stoked to still be kicking around. Hallelujah!
I’ve got some photos of this septum issue I'm dealing with uploaded over on Facebook, so if anyone wants to dive into a discussion and help me out, feel free to reach out—let's connect on Skype or Facebook. I have a pretty solid grasp of exactly what needs to happen to fix this, but honestly, the real question is whether my doctor actually has the skills to pull it off right. That's the part that keeps me guessing.
Listen, I’m asking nicely here—keep it strictly to the guys. No need to make this complicated, just address me like one of the bros. Look, if you're talking about functional issues, I don't care one bit about the cosmetic rhinoplasty stuff—just give me the septoplasty. My nose has this 5mm slant off the midline of the septum, so I'm basically banking on that being fixed. Everything’s looking fresh and lively again—you can practically see that glow reflecting right off people's faces.Honestly, I’m just going to draw up a diagram for these doctors to show them exactly where they messed up, because apparently, I have to spell out the basics for people who are paid to actually do their jobs. It’s simple: just listen to the patient for once. I’m looking for absolute, perfect symmetry in my nose and septum this time around, so do me a favor and drop some recommendations in the comments. Who are the specialists you actually trust? You know, the ones you’d go back to in a heartbeat because they actually get it right the first time? Give me your best leads.
Yeah, maybe... I think I might have a polyp growing in my left nostril because I spotted this weird white, elongated thing way back in there. I really don't want to end up having to go under the knife all over again, you know? Does that clinic actually have those fancy, high-tech CT scanners or whatever they call them now? Also, does the scanning happen before the follow-up appointment? And honestly, how long am I going to be stuck in the waiting room for an exam?
So, what kind of tech are they actually running over there? Seriously, has anyone actually seen it up close? I’m dying to know the specifics. If anyone out there has the spare time and the patience to walk me through this, I’m more than happy to pay you cash in hand once I see some actual progress. Honestly, money isn't really my main concern here—I'm just being practical because, at this point, this feels like my only real way out. Hell. Health? Honestly, I don't find much luck in that department myself, but if anyone actually needs a hand, I won't be the type to hold out on them. $333I might drop like $2,000 or something—honestly, it just depends on how much I’m feeling generous—on a new acquaintance or a friend I've just met. It could be anything useful, you know? A new iPhone, a decent camera, a big-screen TV... whatever they actually need. But look, that's only if this whole deal actually goes through and stays on track. I'm being dead serious about that part.
I honestly don't know how I'm expected to function like this. Between the constant headaches and this crushing pressure in my head, I’m basically a walking zombie—totally sleep-deprived, like I’ve never actually slept a wink in my life. I don't dream, I don't remember anything, and my short-term memory is just shot, which makes learning anything new feel impossible. I've completely lost interest in my hobbies and everything I used to do; I just sit around the house because I have zero stamina left. If I try to be active for even a couple of hours, I’m totally wiped out. On top of that, there's the chronic depression, the endless stress, and this constant tension. I'm never relaxed, not even for a second. Even when I went in for an EKG, I couldn't even find a way to chill out enough for the test. Then there's the breathing situation. I end up mouth-breathing all night, and even though I try to breathe through my nose during the day, I feel like I can't even get enough air when I'm out around people. Honestly, with the smog levels in the city lately, I wonder if there's even any oxygen left to breathe. I get motion sickness from cars too, so driving is out of the question for now, which sucks because who’s going to hire someone without a license? My concentration is trashed, I’m hyper-sensitive to light and noise, and my hearing is so sharp it's almost overwhelming—kind of like how some kids on the spectrum experience things. I’m constantly wearing headphones just to block out the world. My sense of smell is messed up, too. I have zero appetite; I barely feel hungry twice a year, so I usually just eat once a day. My throat and tongue always feel bone-dry, and if I don't chug a whole bottle of water, I feel like I’m going to suffocate. It’s like I can't even taste fresh air anymore because of this total blockage in my sinuses. I tried inhaling essential oils for my sinuses once, and for maybe ten seconds, I could finally breathe like an elephant—I can't even describe how happy that made me or how much clarity it brought to my head. After I had the flu and was dealing with a mountain of congestion, I stepped out of my apartment building and felt what actual "fresh air" feels like for the first time, but that feeling vanished instantly, probably because of that deviated septum I developed last fall. Add in the blood pressure issues while trying to fall asleep, and the fact that I struggle to drift off at all, and it's a nightmare. I had a bout of frontal sinusitis once, and honestly, the pain was so brutal and cruel I just wanted to end it all. This is just my daily reality. Living like this is terrifying, and I honestly don't know how much longer I can hold it together, especially knowing everything gets worse the longer my breathing stays broken. I'm just looking for some actual, serious advice from anyone here who knows what they're talking about.

So, here’s the lowdown on what they’re actually planning to pull off:
Look, I can personally vouch for two doctors over in the Saint Spirit area—I only spent about a week getting to know the folks around there, but hey, that's enough time for me to know exactly what I'm talking about.
God bless, because Dr. Smith is basically the Law. I was chatting with this new acquaintance of mine who had a consultation with him, and honestly, he’s a bit of a larger-than-life character—I think that’s how I first pegged him during our visit. I can't quite recall the second time we met because my memory is shot and I didn't jot it down, but I remember him checking my nose from ear to ear, cracking things into place, and I could tell just by looking at him that the guy had totally turned his life around—he looked like a whole new man compared to what I remembered six days ago.
I actually typed "Guzina-Guzina" into my phone as a little nickname, then did a quick Google search and realized Smith is definitely the real deal, so you should probably look up the reviews yourself. As for me, I’m done playing doctor; I’m just going to walk through that hospital for follow-ups. I put way too much faith in the doctor who initially examined me, and now here I am, stuck in the hospital for seven days like an idiot, staring out the window and dealing with these killer headaches.
His experience was wild: he kept saying it felt "like flying," gesturing all over his body to show everyone how incredible he felt everywhere.
Robin Foster is planning to see him, and honestly, I haven't heard a single bad thing about him. Then again, everything depends on how complicated the case is, you know? Even on those medical review sites, you see plenty of lucky people who went to him and had great results.
But my experience with M. Miljenko Kovacic? I wouldn't recommend him to anyone, even if they were paying me. If you already have an appointment booked and you get the vibe that he’s missing something or just being shady, just cancel. It’s better to bail than to deal with someone who insists on doing things their own way regardless of the patient. I guess I'm partially to blame because the headaches were so relentless I felt like I couldn't catch a break, so I had to give him a shot. But seriously, stay away from doctors you don't know—just don't go to strangers, period. My nose was hurting so bad I thought I wouldn't make it to my scheduled date, and I even spent two days in the hospital running a fever of 99.5, which nobody bothered to explain to me. If you aren't working closely with your doctor as a team, you probably won't achieve anything, it’s proven. I said everything I needed to say to him and, well, screw it (I won't get into the gritty details just to grab headlines).

Anyway, I’ve got another surgery coming up in about five months, which is why I’m rambling about this. Don't try to tell me to wait for my nose and tip to settle down, because he barely did anything at all; looking at the facts, it’ll look exactly the same in six months as it does now. This is a structural issue, not just some allergy thing.
I see other people posting about having gone back two or three times, so please, tell me who the absolute best is based on your own firsthand experience. Shoot me a private message telling me exactly what they had to fix so I can figure out if it's the same thing I need. I also need to know if they used open technique on you, which surgeons specialize in that, and whether the scarring ends up under the upper lip or between the nostrils, and if the scar is even noticeable...
Please, someone reach out. I just need two or three people with real experiences; I seriously can't live like this, these headaches are going to destroy me. (I'm exclusively looking at the clinic in the downtown area since most people mention it. If this is an old thread, just hit me up whenever—I need actual intel from people, not nurses saying "oh, he's great"... any specific experience or a name of a top-tier surgeon would genuinely help me out).
Thanks for reading my vent session, ugh.

Robin Foster5 said:I had my septum repaired two years ago, and honestly, it felt even more stuffed up than before... so a year later, I went back under the knife... and now my nose is more clogged than ever. Plus, there’s this constant, unpleasant smell lingering around that I can't quite pin down, and frankly, it's creeping me out. I went to see a doctor and laid it all out for him, but he just shrugged and told me my septum looks perfectly straight, claiming he can't see what the issue is! Meanwhile, I can barely draw a breath through my nose. It feels like someone shoved cotton swabs deep inside my nostrils and left them there... it's a total disaster. And yeah, I had the surgery performed by Doctor Parasite, for crying out loud.

Look, I don't trust a guy like Parasite... personally, I’m thinking you might be dealing with nasal polyps, though I have no clue how they missed that during an exam—maybe their tech isn't exactly cutting edge? Usually, you should be able to spot something like that immediately without even needing an endoscope in simpler cases, so this whole situation is just bizarre. It’s possible you overdid it with the nasal sprays and ended up thickening the turbinates or damaging the cilia; some guy over in the Forest told me that happens. There's actually a therapy involving electrodes that get inserted into those turbinates to shrink them down—I think they do that here in America—so it might be worth looking into. If you've got inflamed membranes, I'd suggest using a saline spray once or twice a day if you suffer from allergies, but really, it could be anything. Allergies are everywhere, and food sensitivities can trigger them too. People swell up from allergies all the time. bbt 😁
I remember catching a weird smell myself right after they pulled my packing out, but that cleared up after maybe a day or two. My buddy's nose finally started working properly after years of bacteria and junk building up inside. Maybe you've got some buildup or infection in your sinuses; try rinsing with a saline solution if you can. I can't really do it myself, but I try to rinse out the crustiness every single day because if I didn't, I probably would have to.

Hey everyone, just checking in after my surgery.
It’s my third day now—I’ve got these purple bruises circling my eyes, and my cheeks feel pretty swollen too.
The procedure was done at Mayo Clinic by Dr. Pirkl.
I actually ended up seeing her quite by chance; I wasn't specifically looking for her, but she seems great—very down-to-earth, and I guess her patients really seem to love her.
They did a septoplasty on me to fix a deviation and the nasal septum.

Nina Lee, did you make it to those consultations? If you did, could you shoot me a DM? 🙂

I’ve been scrolling through this whole thread, but honestly, my brain is kind of a mess right now and I can't quite keep track—did you guys start breathing through your nose right after taking the tampon out?

granitebadger63 said:Nina Lee, if you actually went to the consultation, can you shoot me a DM? 🙂

I'm curious too, Nina Lee!
Come on, just copy-paste it for those of us waiting impatiently 😁
Thanks! 🙂

Hey everyone,
I had surgery yesterday and honestly, I’m a complete wreck. Why? Because I’ve never been able to breathe through my mouth, and now that this is happening, the discomfort is driving me absolutely insane—I'm testing the limits of my sanity and my endurance here. It’s gotten so bad I actually had the impulse to just rip the tampons out myself. I don't even know if I can make it until they're professionally removed. I'm a nervous, miserable mess right now. Has anyone else gone through this? Please, I really need some advice or just a little bit of comfort. I am seriously struggling right now. 😢

Hey everyone...

I've been scrolling through this thread out of pure curiosity because a close friend of mine just had a nose job that went... well, let's just say "unsuccessfully." It honestly shocked me seeing how many horror stories people are sharing here.

I had my own procedure way back in 2000, and everything went perfectly. I went to see Dr. Tom Hanks—mostly because I still believe he’s an absolute top-tier pro, but also because there weren't nearly as many options back then. I don't think he isn't famous; it's just that ten or fifteen years ago, people didn't know all the other names yet. Nowadays, you see these surgeons everywhere, basically jumping out of the woodwork, but I guess that makes sense given how much more competition there is now.

My experience was incredibly positive, from the first consultation to the surgery itself and the final look. I had a deviated septum, but I didn't get surgery for breathing issues—I did it because that bump on my nose was driving me crazy. I had that classic "Greek" profile with pretty thick skin.

I didn't go in with any crazy expectations; I just wanted a straight nose, and that's exactly what I got. No weird drooping or anything like that. I had my packing removed after five days and could breathe normally right away. I think I had the splint off after about 10 or 14 days, followed by the tape. Seems like things move way faster nowadays, though I'm not sure if that's actually a good thing. Instead of hitting a spa, I stuck to lymphatic drainage massages to help the swelling go down faster. My doctor suggested thinning out the tip since my skin was thick, but I turned him down—honestly, that's why all those celebrity noses look identical lately, sticking out too much, which I personally hate.

Looking back, I'm so glad I did it. Not a single regret. I feel terrible reading about everyone's bad experiences, though; I really don't get it. I totally agree, though—no surgeon should ever touch a patient if they can't do the job right.

Back to my friend: less than two weeks after her surgery, they told her that the "droopy" part she hates could be fixed with a second operation. It kills me that people today just act like "oh, it can always be fixed," and push another surgery. This is major surgery, not some minor cosmetic tweak. I can't believe people take it so lightly...

restlesspuma15 said:I’ve been scrolling through this whole thread, but my brain is fried—I can't remember—did you guys start breathing through your nose right after they pulled the tampon out?

Yeah, I did, and I didn't have any issues breathing afterward at all. 🙂
But hey, not everyone can just switch to nasal breathing instantly, so don't sweat it if you can't.

goldencobra92 said:Hey everyone,
I had surgery yesterday and I’m honestly feeling pretty desperate. To be brief, I’ve never been able to breathe through my mouth, and now that this is happening, it’s bothering me so much that I feel like I’m hitting the limits of my sanity and endurance. I actually felt like just pulling the tampons out myself. I don't know if I can make it until they get removed. I’m nervous, miserable, and just sad. Does anyone have any experience or maybe some comfort to offer? I am just completely overwhelmed. 😢

I know how it feels... For me, the wait until those tampons came out was absolutely awful and incredibly difficult! I finally had them removed two days after my surgery, and that was my salvation. I don't know how I would have survived five or six days, which is what some people here seem to be mentioning..
Just try to hang in there until then. Once they are out, at least in my case, you slowly start being able to breathe through your nose again. By the sixth day, I was breathing 100% through both nostrils. After that, recovery is basically a walk in the park. 😉

restlesspuma15 said:I’ve gone through this entire forum, but my head is spinning and I can't quite remember—did you guys start breathing through your nose immediately after the tampon was removed?

Just a little bit, or maybe almost not at all. But it gradually increased every day, so by day 6, I was breathing through both nostrils with full force. 😉

Melissa Thomas35 said:I actually had a different take on this. They told me it isn't some kind of bone callus, but rather that my septum collapsed because the surgery was way too aggressive. Apparently, that "lump" is just my old bone becoming visible now because the septum gave way. There might be a follow-up procedure in a year where they take cartilage from my ear to fill in the gap. So, there you go—I went in for the sake of breathing better, and now I’m stuck with a terrifying saddle nose shape.

I mean, just go get a third opinion, or even a fourth if you have to. It honestly seems like half of these doctors don't have a clue what they're doing. I can hardly believe it... 😠 Good luck!!

Grace Kern3 said:Hey everyone...

I’ve been lurking in this thread out of pure curiosity because a friend of mine recently had an "unsuccessful" nose job. Honestly, I was pretty blindsided by how many horror stories people are sharing here.

My own rhinoplasty was way back in 2000, and everything went perfectly. I went to see Dr. Tom Hanks—mostly because, even then, I felt he was a top-tier expert, but also because there weren't nearly as many options back then. I don't think he isn't famous; it's just that ten or fifteen years ago, people didn't know all the other names yet. Nowadays, you have these surgeons who seem to pop up overnight with massive reputations, which makes sense given how much more competition there is now.

My experience was great from start to finish, from the initial consultation to the surgery itself and the final look. I had a deviated septum, though breathing wasn't my main issue; I mostly wanted to fix a bump on my nose. I had that classic "Greek" profile and pretty thick skin.

I didn't walk in with unrealistic expectations. I just wanted a straight nose, and that's exactly what I got. No hooked tip, nothing weird. I had my packing removed after five days and could breathe normally almost immediately. I think I had the splint off after about ten or fourteen days, followed by the tape. It seems like the recovery process is much faster these days, and I'm not entirely sure if that's actually a good thing. Instead of going to a spa, I opted for lymphatic drainage massages, which really helped the swelling go down quickly. My doctor suggested thinning out the tip since my skin was thick, but I turned him down. To me, that's why all those celebrity noses look identical lately—they all stick out in that same unnatural way.

Looking back, I’m thrilled I did it. I haven't regretted it for a second. It’s genuinely sad to hear about everyone's bad experiences; I struggle to understand where it all goes wrong. I agree, though—no surgeon should touch a patient unless they can deliver the results they promised.

Back to my friend: less than two weeks after her surgery, she was told that the "drooping" part she hates could be fixed with a second procedure. It honestly sickens me that the modern attitude is just "oh, it can always be fixed," leading to more surgery. This is major surgery, not a quick trip to get a facial at a salon. I can't believe people treat it so casually...

Where did your friend have her surgery, and which doctor did she see?

How much does the tip of the nose actually drop after the cast comes off?
I told my doctor I really didn't want a hooked shape, so now I'm kind of spiraling—worrying that it might end up looking saggy or droopy. My natural nose was pretty straight, and honestly, that’s exactly how I want it to look

Oh man 😢 did you actually end up seeing that doctor you mentioned? Honestly, he’s the best in the business, so I really think he knows what he’s talking about. Besides, his practice will definitely be looking for a refund from the other guy now 🙂

Melissa Thomas35 said:So, I went out to get a second opinion. It turns out it wasn't some bone callus after all; they told me my septum actually collapsed because the previous surgery was way too aggressive. That "lump" I'm feeling is just my old bone becoming visible because the septum gave way. They mentioned a potential follow-up surgery in a year where they can take cartilage from my ear to fill in the gap. Ugh, girl, I went into this surgery just to fix my breathing, and now I’m left with this terrifying saddle nose shape.