Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey everyone, figured I'd jump in and share my own experience here.

So, I'm 17, and I've broken my nose twice now—before those breaks, it was actually straight. The first time was two years ago while I was at the beach (I was bleeding and hurt, but there wasn't a noticeable bump, at least not at first glance). The second time happened back in August 2012 at a pool 🙂 in Spain. They stitched me up there, and once I checked in with my doctor and went through an ENT exam, a facial surgeon suggested a rhinoseptoplasty. Basically, straightening the septum and fixing the nasal pyramid (that top third of the nose). Since I’m a minor, my parents signed off, and it didn't cost us anything out of pocket.

I actually had the surgery this past Wednesday, so the memory is still pretty fresh 😁. It took about two and a half hours because the surgeon had to reset the bones, get everything aligned, and clear out the sinuses (to put it simply).
When I woke up, I was totally disoriented. I tried to sit up, but I had zero strength left. You just spend the whole day after surgery in this hazy fog of weakness and anesthesia 😍. By the second day, the local anesthetic starts wearing off and things start cooling down, but then the swelling kicks in. Your face gets puffy, though you can't see it too clearly under all the heavy bandages and casts. I didn't deal with any nausea or much trouble right after the procedure.
Friday and Saturday were the worst, though. I had to rely on Advil and stuff like that to manage the pain. The biggest headache is breathing, because you have packing in your nose for four or five days. You're forced to breathe through your mouth, you can't smell or taste a thing, and falling asleep is a struggle. The packing doesn't exactly "hurt," it’s just incredibly annoying, but I guess that varies from person to person. They pulled the packing out this morning and sent me home. Right now, it feels like a massive head cold and total congestion, so I'm using nasal drops to keep things moving so I can actually breathe. Bottom line: the first 4–5 days suck. As for pulling the packing out? It wasn't as bad as I expected. Just a split second of sharp pain, a weird sensation like a shock running through your head, and then it's over. Once they pull it, you feel better almost immediately.

Anyway, that's my take on it. Honestly, the best move is to find a surgeon you actually trust, make a plan (if you're sure about it), and just live your life normally until the big day. Don't overthink it or freak out. It's mostly mental 😛

Hey, quick question... anyone here ever had to go back in for a secondary nose job? Looking for some honest feedback, experiences, whatever you've got... would be super grateful if you could share 🙂

Hey there—so I just read somewhere that I might be able to get my nose surgery covered by Medicare. To be honest, I’ve got a seriously pronounced deviated septum... basically, my nose is crooked and has a hump too, hahaha, so I figured I might as well try to fix that while I'm at it. And if it’s free? Well, that’s a win 😁 (being a student, cash is pretty much non-existent right now!). So, is it actually true that this can be done for free? And if so, am I allowed to pick my own surgeon at public hospitals? I actually know an aesthetic surgeon through family who works at one of the state facilities...
Also, if it is possible, how long does the recovery usually take? And what's the waitlist looking like for a procedure like this? Or do you guys think it's smarter to just hold off, save up some dough, and just go private? Thanks in advance for any insight!

I had a chat with my doctor, and he mentioned there aren't any issues when it comes to getting some sun exposure... 😁
Has anyone here dealt with Dr. Pegan before? 🙂

Hey everyone, I’m asking anyone who has any kind of information—whether it's positive or negative—regarding Dr. Zambell to please share it with me. If you have any photos, I’d especially appreciate those!! I’m picking a date for my surgery tomorrow. 🙄

silentridge54 said:Hey, I just read that I might be able to get nose surgery covered by Medicare. I have a really noticeable deviated septum—basically a crooked nose—and while I'm at it, it's also got a bump, hahaha, so I’d love to fix that too. If it's free, that would be awesome 😁 (I'm a student, so I'm broke!). Is it actually possible to do this for free through insurance? And if it is, can I choose my own surgeon at a public hospital? I know an aesthetic surgeon through my family who works in one of the state hospitals.
Also, if that's an option, how long does recovery take, and what's the waiting list like? Or do you think it's smarter to wait a bit, save up some cash, and just go private? Thanks in advance for any help!

If you trust that surgeon your family knows, just talk to him; you could probably get it sorted for free. You shouldn't have to wait too long for the surgery, especially if you handle it that way 😉

As for recovery, maybe check a few pages back. Pretty much everyone here has posted about their experience.

wanderingnomad13 said:Listen, everyone, I need a favor. If anyone has any intel—doesn't matter if it's good or bad—regarding Dr. Zambell, please share it with me. And seriously, if you have photos, send them my way!! I’m picking my surgery date tomorrow. 🙄

Do you even know what Kristina Lumbar looks like now? To me, she looks absolutely incredible.😉
She had quite a few procedures done by him.🙂
Just go ahead and become a friend with her on Facebook and ask her whatever you need to know.🙂

Dana Johnson6 said:Does anyone actually know what Kristina Lumbar looks like? Personally, I think she's stunning.😉
She actually accomplished quite a bit while she was working with him.🙂
Just add her as a friend on Facebook and ask whatever you want to know.🙂

hahaha! That's actually a pretty sweet idea! 🤣
I've seen the videos on YouTube showing how he handled everything, and I have to admit, he did a pretty solid job there. But then again, she was essentially his walking advertisement back then, so he didn't really have much of a choice in the matter.
I've already had my consultation and we spoke on the phone, but I think I’d like to hear about someone else's experience before I actually take the plunge. And if anyone has a photo they could share, that would be great, obviously!
The last I heard, they only make such subtle adjustments that you can barely even tell you’ve had surgery. To be honest, I'm feeling a little anxious about it because my main goal is to have a nose that actually looks natural. But at the same time, I'm thinking—after I drop $2,200 on this, deal with the swelling, the recovery process, the scarring, and all that other trauma, I'd at least want the nose to look smaller and the change to be somewhat noticeable.
If anyone needs anything at all, I’m right here. Just reach out. 😉

Henry Nelson27 said:Hey everyone. I've been reading through almost all these threads and noticed everyone's experience is so different, so I wanted to ask for some advice. Basically, I have a deviated septum and I'm scheduled for surgery at Mayo Clinic with Dr. Jurlin. Now, I know that sometimes hospital doctors will go the extra mile for a patient and fix the aesthetic side of the nose too if they can, but others just won't touch it. Has anyone here actually dealt with Dr. Jurlin? Do you think he’d be open to fixing the look of my nose if I asked, or is he the type to refuse? If not, I was thinking about Dr. Davor Džepina as an alternative to handle it at a private clinic. I don't know why, but private clinics always make me a little nervous, though I've seen nothing but glowing reviews for him on this forum, so I might take the leap. 🙂

Here is the only bit of info I have—a friend of mine had her nose done by him about a year ago. She had a huge, bumpy nose, and he fixed the aesthetics perfectly, so I'm pretty sure he'll help you out too. 🙂 Just try to be totally upfront with him (if you haven't already) and ask him exactly what he can and can't do regarding the cosmetic side. 🙂
Good luck! 😉

brightharbor62 said:So, I wanted to pick your brains for a second... I’d really only want to have my nose tip done—basically just a lift.
First off, would the price be lower if it’s just the tip?
And second, would the recovery time be shorter if we’re only working on the tip? Like, could I head straight home right after?
Thanks!

I'm actually wondering the exact same thing—I think my nose would look so much better if they just lifted the tip or maybe tightened up the skin a bit...

wanderingnomad13 said:Yeah, I guess I’m some kind of millionaire just because I saved up for my own surgery. I don't want to gamble on government doctors, even though I pay into Medicare and supplemental insurance. It's my health, my face, and my nose we're talking about here.

That has nothing to do with it. I was just as naive, thinking that paying would mean getting better attention or that they wouldn't just wing it. I went in mainly for the functionality. Now I'm paying the price for it in every possible way—the consequences have been a total disaster. People, please, use your heads and don't let them cut you open.

rowdyfalcon35 said:It really has nothing to do with that. I also fell for the trap of thinking if you pay out of pocket, they'll actually focus on you and won't just wing it, especially since I was going there specifically for a certain procedure. In the end, I'm the one paying the price—literally—because the consequences have been disastrous. People, please, use your heads and don't let them cut into you.

I couldn't agree more. The exact same thing happened to me. You think they'll put in more effort because you're paying their salary out of your own pocket, but unfortunately, the job is just poorly done. All they care about is collecting the cash; after that, they couldn't care less.😢

analogbison15 said:I'm actually curious about this too—personally, I think my nose would look so much better if they could just lift the tip slightly, or maybe if they tightened up the skin around it...

?

Hey everyone. This forum hasn't really done much for me regarding nose surgery info, so I figured I’d just lay out my own experience here.
On January 28th, I had surgery on my nasal pyramid and septum at the local hospital. I was operated on by Domagoj Parazajder, who is honestly one of the top ENT surgeons in the US. I don't get the cast taken off until this Wednesday, so I won't actually know what the final result looks like until then. As for the ENT staff, total thumbs up—the young nurses were super kind and always there whenever you needed them.
The night before, back on the 27th, they gave me an injection in the stomach to prevent blood clots, and when I went to bed, I had to take some small pill. Not sure what it was for.
On the morning of the 28th, I had to shower, and right before the procedure, they gave me some liquid to swallow and spit out. I walked to the OR by myself, and once they prepped me, the doctor was actually joking around with me. They gave me anesthesia through my arm, and after that, I just woke up in my room. The whole thing took about two and a half hours. Honestly, nothing hurt afterward. I didn't even touch any painkillers; I only took something to sleep because the people in the rooms around me were snoring like absolute idiots.
On the 30th, they started pulling out the nasal packing. They pulled about 30 cm of strip, roughly 1.5 cm wide, out of each nostril. Didn't hurt at all.
By the 31st, they removed all the packing completely. That part was uncomfortable and stung a little.
On February 1st, they changed the cast on my nose. The doctor had to scrape away some scabs, and man, that hurt—felt like he was pulling my brain out through my face.
Now I have to use nasal drops for a week and rinse everything out with a ton of saline solution. I'm allowed to sleep on my side now.
Just waiting until Wednesday to see the final look once that cast comes off.

I was wondering what technique they used for you—open or closed? I’m heading in for my procedure in a few days and they told me they’re doing it open, so I'm honestly a little nervous about scarring.🙂

Charles Gonzalez9 said:Hey everyone! Honestly, this forum hasn't been super helpful regarding nose surgery, so I figured I’d just jump in and share my own experience.
On January 28th, 2013, I had surgery on my nasal pyramid and septum at the Mayo Clinic. I was operated on by Domagoj Parazajder, who is easily one of the top ENT surgeons in the US. They aren't taking the cast off my nose until this Wednesday, so I won't actually see the final result until then. I have nothing but praise for the ENT staff; the young nurses were so kind, and they were right there whenever you needed them.
On the night of the 27th, right before the surgery, I got an injection in my stomach to prevent blood clotting, and when I went to bed, I had to take a small pill—not entirely sure what it was for.
On the morning of the 28th, I had to shower, and before the procedure, they gave me some liquid to swallow and spit out. I walked to the operating room on my own, and after they prepped me, the doctor was actually joking around with me! They administered the anesthesia through my arm, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in my hospital room. The whole surgery took about two and a half hours. Post-op, I wasn't in any pain at all—didn't even need painkillers, just something to help me sleep because the people in the rooms around me were snoring like crazy.
On January 30th, they shortened the packing in my nose; they pulled about 12 inches of 1.5 cm wide tape out of each nostril. It didn't hurt.
On the 31st, they removed the packing completely. That part was uncomfortable and stung a little.
On February 1st, they changed my nose cast. The doctor had to clear away some scabs, and man, that hurt—it felt like he was pulling my brain out through my nose.
Now I have to use nasal spray for a week and rinse everything out with plenty of saline solution. I'm also allowed to sleep on my side.
Now I'm just counting down the days until Wednesday so I can finally see the results once the cast comes off.

Oh man, I’m actually starting to get a little nervous now... I personally know a girl who had her surgery done by him, and she’s doing fantastic with her new nose 😕. That’s honestly why I decided to go through with it myself—I’m looking for both functional and aesthetic improvements. My nose isn't even crooked, it's just a bit too long and needs shortening...

wanderingnomad13 said:Dr. Racic actually operated on me when I was just a kid back at the hospital when he took out my tonsils 🙂 and everything went perfectly..
However, I know a girl who went private to see Dr. Kurtovic in Miami, and since Kurtovic and Racic performed the surgery together, it turned into an absolute disaster. Her nose basically collapsed, they didn't even fix the deviation, and there were tiny bone fragments everywhere which caused massive inflammation. They didn't even touch the nasal conchae either. The whole procedure was excruciating, and the recovery felt endless. The result is actually worse than how it looked before. Dr. Kurtovic gave her a partial refund, but barely, mostly because she was threatening to sue him..
Since Racic was involved in the surgery and the whole process, I really don't know what to tell you. He has a great reputation in Miami, but primarily for medical necessity rather than cosmetic work. I'm not sure if you just need a functional fix... if that's the case, he should be great, but that's exactly why this girl chose him, and look how that turned out.
I really don't want to discourage you, but I figured you should know the full story. Warm regards!

Nicole Ortiz34 said:I’m curious—which technique did they use on you? Was it open or closed? I’ve got my procedure coming up in a couple of days, and they told me they're doing it open. Honestly, I'm kind of freaking out about the scarring. 🙂

It’s done closed up, the incisions are just inside the nose.

Charles Gonzalez9 said:With a closed incision, the cuts stay inside the nose.

Everyone else gets the closed incision, so why am I stuck with an open one? 🙂

I was wondering, what actually happens with the scar from open surgery? Does it stay visible after everything settles, or what's the deal?

I can't seem to find that anywhere?? I'm really curious to know what exactly was done to her and what kind of method they used???

wanderingnomad13 said:Well, if I remember correctly, a girl mentioned on one of the previous pages that she had an appointment with Dr. Racic and she was totally unhappy with the experience—and apparently four other women in the same room felt the exact same way.