Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Sure, I’m just some big shot if I want to pay for my own surgery instead of gambling with public doctors. Even though I pay for private insurance, this is about my health—my face, my nose... it matters.

mellowcobra8 said:I mostly sleep on my left side too, though I had no clue that was bad. I'm also interested in those options through public insurance, but obviously everyone posting here is loaded, so they haven't even considered it—they just get their dad to hand over the cash and call it a day.
Those of us without those kinds of resources just have to shut up and deal with it.
Anyway, everyone I talk to claims you can get an op done for free through Medicaid, but what worries me is that the surgeon might screw me over since I won't be paying him anything. He’d want to fix it and shorten it by at least half,😂 and maybe even pull a tooth because of boxing.
But it seems like nobody here can actually share real experiences because everyone paid out of pocket for plastic surgery. Just tell us which place is the cheapest, where it's the most expensive, and how long I have to stay away from getting hit in the nose after the op.🤣(I do Muay Thai, currently taking a break.)

Did it ever cross your mind that people actually work and save money specifically to pay for surgery? That option probably doesn't suit you since it doesn't involve draining the Medicaid budget and requires a decent amount of effort—pretty much as much effort as reading the previous pages of this thread or using Google..

They rarely pull teeth for amateur athletes, and I doubt any doctor would recommend it to you anyway. After the operation, you need to avoid impacts for six months to a year. You can get back to training after two or three weeks, but keep it light—no sparring. Later on, use a face guard helmet and keep your guard high..

mellowcobra8 said:I’m mostly a left-side sleeper too, and I had no clue it was actually bad for you. I’m definitely interested in those options through insurance, but let’s be real—everyone in this thread seems like they grew up with trust funds, so they probably never gave it a second thought; they just had Dad hand over the cash and call it a day.
Those of us without those kinds of resources just have to sit tight and deal with it.
Anyway, everyone I talk to says it’s possible to get a rhinoplasty covered by insurance if you play it right, but my big worry is that since I won't be paying out of pocket, the surgeon might just do a sloppy job. I want them to actually fix it and maybe even shorten it by half, 😂 and potentially take out some cartilage because of all the boxing I do.
But it feels like nobody here can actually share real experiences because everyone went the private route with cash. Can someone at least tell me where the cheapest place is versus the most expensive, and how long I have to stay away from getting hit in the face after the surgery? 🤣(I do Muay Thai, though I'm taking a break right now.)

Honestly, looking at this thread, it’s just a bunch of daddy’s little princesses complaining about their nose profiles, like, "oh nooo, my nose!" It’s like they haven't actually worked for anything in their lives... there's like twenty pages of women just rambling, and this whole topic feels kind of useless since there are maybe three or four guys here whom nobody is even responding to. We probably need a separate thread just for the guys.
....
The only bad thing is that I totally forgot the exact consequences, but the main thing is that whenever I fall asleep after a long day of people buzzing in my ear, I always end up curling up. I probably do it thinking it'll help regulate my blood pressure or something, so blood reaches my brain faster... then I lie right on that side above my heart. :S I remember seeing on an Oz episode that if you don't have enough space in your chest, your heart can basically "hang" and get compressed if you sleep on that side, which is probably why I feel so exhausted due to a messed up circadian rhythm and lack of sleep.

"Anyway, everyone I talk to says it’s possible to get a rhinoplasty covered by insurance if you play it right, but my big worry is that since I won't be paying out of pocket, the surgeon might just do a sloppy job. I want them to actually fix it and maybe even shorten it by half, 😂 and potentially take out some cartilage because of all the boxing I do."

-I went down to the Social Security office today and found out that it is possible to get it done for free if you're unemployed and don't exceed certain income thresholds ($505 per month, based on household income/dependents). You’ll have to go down there and ask about the specific paperwork yourself, though. I think the lady mentioned it takes about a month to process the card, so I should probably get on top of it ASAP... I'm not 100% sure on every detail because my memory is shot and my concentration is trash lately. 🤔
-They gave me a stack of papers that both my parents and I have to fill out, along with copies of our IDs and stuff. It looks like a massive headache; I don't have the patience or the mental energy to keep spinning my wheels and only finishing half of everything.

Also, regarding that "boxing" thing, I was thinking about it the other day—for people who take heavy hits constantly, the nose really takes the brunt of it. You really need to consult with several ENT doctors about what you actually want done. Your nose is the centerpiece of your face; you can't just rip out the whole cartilage because that's what holds the shape against the bone. You could maybe lower the bridge slightly toward your lip so it isn't so prominent, but you don't want to end up with a facial trauma. You know best how you want to look, so don't go looking for advice—think it through yourself first (we're all our own best advisors, haha). A guy back in my old neighborhood once told me that if you have the cash, private clinics will do whatever you want on the spot, but if you're going the free hospital route, it all depends on the doctor, how much work it is, and whether your nasal passages are already ruined from using too many decongestant sprays, as I was saying. 😵

She gave me this other option where I could just open the policy and pay $27 under a 12-month contract, basically cancel it after 6, and then there’s some extra 3-month thing going on, making it effectively 9 months. (which is $240)
I asked her if that would cover the medical stuff, and she said yeah, but honestly, I’m not totally sold on it. Plus, they’re constantly tweaking regulations—you know how it is, they’ll probably "improve" things for us too, or whatever. Since my hospital admission is exactly 2 months from today, I figure it’s safer to just get the policy set up and stop stressing, unless it ends up being useless for my specific situation.
What really gets to me is that I don't actually know the people who are going to be performing the surgery on me. I have zero trust in anything someone else does for you; they aren't doing it for themselves, so they couldn't care less about the details. If it were up to me, I’d just operate on myself.

In about 4 months, I’m going to start a blog with all my info and tags so people can actually find it. I want to help folks avoid suffering for months on end and fix things ASAP, because oxygen deprivation IRREVERSIBLY damages brain cells. It all comes down to when people finally connect the dots between their symptoms and the nose—just like it took me three whole years of dead ends to realize it was the nose.
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Believe it or not, about 60% of aggression stems from the fact that people simply don't know how to breathe correctly.
The brain is an organ that demands three times more oxygen than any other part of the body, and if it isn't getting enough, it starts scavenging it from your other organs, putting them under massive strain. This lack of oxygen in the brain causes all sorts of imbalances—brain fog, memory issues, irritability, depression—which is why so many people these days feel completely burnt out, both physically and mentally. Our brains are starving, and oxygen is the food we use to satisfy that hunger.

When we were kids, we breathed naturally—using our bellies and utilizing our full lung capacity. But most adults lose that habit, and our breath becomes shallow and short while our lung capacity shrinks. With this kind of shallow breathing, the body actually burns more energy just trying to expand the chest than it would with abdominal breathing, and you’re only ever filling up the top third of your lungs.

With abdominal breathing, when you inhale, the diaphragm pulls downward, causing the abdomen to expand. This actually massages your internal organs and allows you to use your full lung capacity while using way less energy to breathe. This type of breathing supports the circulatory system and takes the pressure off your heart, especially since about two-thirds of your blood sits in the abdominal area; by massaging those organs through abdominal breathing, it acts like a secondary pump to help drive blood throughout the body.

Proper breathing is the master key to resolving many health issues, unlocking our mental potential, and being happier and more creative in everything we do. By doing this, we aren't just helping ourselves; we're projecting a more positive energy toward the people around us.

Patrick Robinson7 said:because oxygen deprivation IRREVERSIBLY damages brain cells

it was just proven by two specific cases...
😂

You show up to a thread about rhinoplasty and start acting regretful just because people are talking about—nose jobs and nose piercings! And then you actually have the nerve to insult women who paid for their own surgeries. Wow! Maybe I should watch Dr. Oz, perhaps he can explain what this ridiculous phenomenon is called!

@ Patrick Robinson7

Reading your post actually cleared a lot up for me. I’ve spent years wondering why I burn out way faster than everyone else despite working out more frequently, and I’m starting to realize it’s all about breathing. For instance, I can’t get even 10% of air through the left side of my nose. Once the weather turns cold, I have to breathe through my mouth and slow down my workouts just to avoid catching pneumonia or something similar. Like you said, everything is connected.

I don't even bother with most of these posts anymore. I scrolled through almost this entire thread and it's mostly just people rambling about women and girlfriends, then getting offended and making a scene when nobody even asked them. They can't answer the actual questions being asked, which is typical...

Just because one person paid out of pocket doesn't mean everyone did. I'm not trying to belittle anyone here; I'm just stating facts. Nobody seems to know how to write a concise "who, what, where, how much" type of post. Instead, they chatter away like they’re grabbing coffee and gossiping. Half these threads should probably be renamed "Tales and Experiences After Rhinoplasty."
Obviously, I want the aesthetic changes since I have to go under the knife anyway, but let's get some actual numbers in here...

I know how it works with health insurance—you have to fill out all those forms for supplemental coverage. I can't do it. I’ve tried a few times, and of course, I always exceed the threshold for what's covered, so none of that works for me.
Maybe the only option is paying monthly and then just stopping once everything is finished.😁

Regarding the cartilage issue, I mentioned this in a couple of other posts. I have a friend who had his nose broken by a stick back when we were in high school😂 and they completely crushed his cartilage. They removed everything during his surgery, and now he can literally squeeze his nose into his face with his finger.😁 However, I haven't heard him complain about breathing issues, and aesthetically, you can't even tell. The only thing is he has a slightly feminine little nose,😂 but it looks fine on him.
Besides, most fighters don't even have cartilage, yet their noses stay on their faces. Maybe they put something else in there, I don't know; I'd really have to talk to doctors about that. I'd actually like to look into that too, because if I get my nose broken again—in Muay Thai you take hits from elbows and knees, so a guard or a helmet won't save you. We don't practice that specific style often, but it happens. Regardless, if I don't need to remove anything, I won't, but I definitely want to fix my breathing and shorten the nose.

I was expecting some concrete information from this thread, not just aimless babble, but oh well.
I expected at least one person to write about the price differences between those who paid out of pocket, but nobody has said a word. What's the lowest price? What's the maximum? Things like that are actually useful.

Respect to anyone who was able to pay for this themselves. I hope I can manage to do the same.

Betty Thompson45 said:Did it ever cross your mind that people actually work and save up their own money just to pay for surgery? That option probably doesn't sit well with you because it doesn't involve draining the federal healthcare budget, and it requires a decent amount of effort—roughly as much effort as reading the previous pages of this thread or doing some basic Googling...

Doctors rarely perform meniscus repairs on amateur athletes, and honestly, no doctor would recommend it. You have to avoid any impact for six months to a year post-op. You can get back to training in two or three weeks, but it has to be light work—absolutely no sparring. Later on, stick to using a face guard helmet and keep your guard high..

Thanks for the reply. My guard is always up, head down😉 but helmets aren't really common🤣. I work for a living, and yeah, I fully intend to squeeze every last cent out of the government since they bleed me and everyone else dry anyway. But that’s beside the point for this discussion, which—by the way—I’ve read about 90% of, and it has nothing to do with the actual title. Most of these posts feel like I'm watching some old trashy crime drama on TV.🙂

wanderingnomad13 said:Yeah, I'm clearly rolling in cash if I worked hard enough to fund my own surgery and don't want to gamble on public doctors—even though I pay for supplemental insurance. At the end of the day, it's my health, my face, and my nose on the line.

Look, I work too, but it’s not like you can just scrape that kind of money together overnight. You have to sacrifice a lot because these procedures aren't cheap. Once you settle all the bills, there’s barely anything left over. Honestly, I'm glad you could afford it on your own; I respect that.

If you don't mind sharing, what did the total cost look like? You mentioned paying for supplemental insurance, yet you said you still had to pay out of pocket for the surgery. For instance, back when I was using my supplemental plan for a procedure about two years ago, I didn't have to pay a dime—not for the consultations, the surgery itself, or even the hospital stay.

mellowcobra8 said:I’m mostly a left-side sleeper too, honestly had no clue it was bad news... I’m also looking into those options covered by insurance, but let’s be real, all those rich kids don't even worry about it since their dads just hand over the cash and they're good to go, right?
those of us without that kind of backup just have to sit tight and deal with it
anyway, everyone I talk to swears you can get a nose job for basically nothing through your insurance, but my big fear is that if I don't pay out of pocket, some surgeon is gonna do a hack job on me... like, if I'm not paying much, why would they actually bother fixing it properly or shortening it...?

Go see your primary care doctor first and ask for a referral to a specialist, then check out here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/index.php?id=83 or maybe over here: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/clinics_and_specialties_head_and_neck

(Those sites should have phone numbers so you can actually schedule an appointment.)

They’ll tell you exactly what can or can't be done with your nose, what the fine print is, what Medicare will cover versus what you'll have to pay extra for... that way, nobody's gonna mess you over.

Private practices usually list their prices online, though they can be pretty flexible with them, but until you actually show up for a consultation, nobody can give you a rock-solid quote on what the whole surgery will cost.

...

mellowcobra8 said:thanks for the reply, though guards are always high, head down 😉 but helmets? man, rarely 🤣. I work for a living, anyway, and yeah, I want to squeeze every last cent out of the government because they drain me and everyone else way too much—but that’s not what this thread is about, which I’ve read like 90% of, by the way, and it has nothing to do with the title. Just feels like I'm watching some old trashy TV drama 🙂

I honestly don't think there's any point in getting cartilage removed from your nose just because of Muay Thai. That's mostly a boxer thing since they take hits to the nose every single day, whereas in Muay Thai, they tend to take hits to other parts of the body more often. 🙂
I know two guys who actually had it done; both are pro boxers, and their noses look wide, almost like a Black athlete's profile.

Donna Johnson16 said:Go ahead and ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a specialist, then check out these links: or maybe this one:

(You can find phone numbers on those pages to schedule an appointment.)

They’ll tell you exactly what can or can't be done with your nose, under what specific conditions, which parts are covered by Medicare and which aren't, and if there are any out-of-pocket costs. That way, nobody is going to screw you over.

Private practices usually list their prices online, though they tend to be pretty flexible with them. Still, until you actually show up for a consultation, no one can give you a precise quote for the procedure.

...

Thanks!

Betty Thompson45 said:I honestly don't think there's any point in getting cartilage removed just because of Muay Thai. It's mostly boxers who go through with it since they take direct hits to the nose constantly, whereas in Muay Thai, you're usually absorbing impact with other parts of your body.🙂
I know two guys who actually had it done—both are pro boxers—and their noses look completely flat and wide now.

Alright, then we aren't doing it.😉

Hey everyone, I managed to read just a little bit of it... I haven't really had the time lately.
I've actually decided on a private clinic over in Santa Barbara called Me Dent. Has anyone here dealt with them before? Does anyone have any firsthand experience? Anyway, I’m thinking about getting my "hooked nose" straightened out because I've got these heavy, drooping eyelids and, honestly, with this nose, I just constantly look like a weeping willow.

I’m a bit confused about why some doctors suggest nasal rinses after a procedure, while others—like John Doe, for instance—prefer to manually clear out any crusting that forms in the nose after surgery. I guess I'm wondering which approach is actually correct. Can a simple saline spray like Aquamaris really replace the manual cleaning done by a specialist? What have you guys used, and what actually worked for you? Thanks! 🙂

I used a syringe to inject regular saline solution, the kind they handed me at the hospital right after my surgery.

wanderingnomad13 As stated by:
I am utterly perplexed by the lack of consistency in medical protocols lately. Why is it that some doctors insist on irrigating the nasal passages with saline solutions following a procedure, while others—take John Doe, for instance—prefer to manually clear away the scabs that form inside the nose during follow-up visits? Which approach is actually the correct one? Can a simple saline spray like Aquamaris truly serve as a substitute for the hands-on, mechanical cleaning performed by a specialized expert? I would love to hear your experiences. What have you all used, and more importantly, what actually worked for you? Thanks! 🙂

Sure, John Doe says to clean out your nose, but he’s also out here recommending you syringe saline solution up your nostrils several times a day. So, what? You just inject the liquid and then blow your nose? How exactly is that supposed to work?

I wouldn't dream of shoving anything up my nose unless it was strictly physiological. To me, that seems like the only healthy way to go about it.

Thanks for the replies 🙂
For those of you who were doing your own saline rinses at home instead of going back to the clinic for professional cleaning after surgery with Dr. Racic—how is your breathing? I'm curious if you've actually managed to prevent those crusts from forming inside your nose.

I’m struggling to breathe properly, even though my main reason for surgery was just fixing a deviated septum. I’ve seen maybe four or five different specialists here in the States, and I even consulted someone over in the US, but they all basically told me the same thing: my nasal passages are just naturally narrow because of my facial structure, and there isn't much they can do about it. So, I don't know... is that total bullshit or what? 😁

Anyway, I didn't have any issues with scabbing at all.

Hey everyone!
How much do you guys actually know about this facial and body aesthetics center?
If any of you have been there—or are planning on heading over to see Dr. Steve Martin—could you please drop your thoughts or experiences below? I really need the lowdown.
Also, pleaseeee don't just scroll past this post, 😉

I was wondering if anyone here has had nose surgery done by Dr. Racic over at the Mayo Clinic in Miami? I’d love to hear some honest feedback or impressions from anyone who's been through it. Honestly, I am absolutely terrified—my surgery is scheduled in about two weeks! 😢