Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I didn't end up needing a Tampon or any nasal cannulas; I just had to deal with a splint for about a week.
My nose didn't really hurt at all, though I’d feel a tiny bit of discomfort if, say, my shirt brushed against it while I was getting dressed. I suppose it's all highly individual, and obviously, it depends on what kind of shape your nose is in to begin with...

I haven't gone under the knife myself, but my sister just had her nose done last week—so I figured I'd share how it went, hopefully it helps someone out 🙂.
She had a deviated septum, plus she wanted to fix a little bump on the bridge, so they worked on the bone too. She went to see Professor Račić at the Firulama clinic—she was only swollen for about a day (and by that, I mean the area around the nose, because obviously the nose itself stays puffy for a bit), and she didn't even get a bruise—just some slight yellowing under her eyes on that first day, nothing major. I've heard from other doctors that patients usually deal with way more swelling, but this guy really took his time—I guess it depends a lot on the surgical approach and how much care is put into it. Taking the Tampon out was pretty rough, though—she had to have them removed twice. First, they pulled the bottom ones, then later they did the rest that were deeper in, since her deviation was pretty severe and the doctor wanted to leave part of the Tampon in to let the septum settle. That second time? No pain at all. She says her nose feels totally straight now—she either saw it or felt it when she was changing the cast, I'm not 100% sure, but she doesn't take the cast off until Friday, so we'll know for real then... but from what I can tell, the doctor did an amazing job 🙂.
Anyway, if anyone's looking to get surgery in Miami and is torn between the hospital and a private clinic... here's another perspective. Cheers!

Chloe Gray5 said:I haven't had nose surgery myself, but my sister just went through it last week, so I figured I’d share her experience in case it helps anyone 🙂.
My sister dealt with a deviated septum along with a bump, so they straightened everything out, including the bone. She had the procedure done at Firulama under Professor Račić. The swelling was minimal—just around the nose area for about a day—and she didn't even get bruising. Just a bit of yellowing under the eyes on the first day, and that was it. I've heard from other doctors that patients usually deal with much more swelling, but this surgeon was extremely careful; I guess it really comes down to the surgical approach and the level of attention given. Removing the tampons was painful, though; she had to have them pulled twice. First, they took the lower ones, then they came back for the deeper ones because her deviation was significant and the doctor wanted to leave some packing in to let the septum stabilize. That second round wasn't painful at all. She says her nose feels completely straight already—she either saw it or felt it when changing the cast, I'm not entirely sure, but she doesn't get the cast off until Friday, so we'll know the final result then. From what I've observed, the doctor did an excellent job 🙂.
So, if anyone is considering surgery in Miami and is torn between a hospital and a private clinic... here's another data point for you. Cheers!

What's the cost

hiddenjackal5 said:What's the damage

Since it was actually a deviated septum, she had the surgery for medical reasons—so it ended up being totally free. Fixing that little bump on her nose was just a nice little bonus...

They aren't STUPID questions at all; I mean, surely a person knows what they're talking about... it’s just logical that those Tampons provide some kind of support to the septum during those first five days...
it isn't some random idiot who doesn't know his stuff... he told me the same thing regarding those tubes you're mentioning... that's just nonsense... it actually makes breathing even harder because mucus, congestion, and blood all pool up inside those tubes and everything just gets blocked... so I've decided I'm not putting any ridiculous gadgets in my nose... I wouldn't recommend Zambellia either, since she uses an open technique where you can see the incisions right under the nose and the recovery takes way longer—plus, the look of the nose she reconstructed just wasn't my style... but hey, to each their own...

I was over by Vinogradski today getting some tests done, and apparently, I've got a deviated septum and chronic rhinosinusitis. The doctor actually asked if the hump on my nose bothers me, and I told him, "Yes, it absolutely does" 😁. So, he suggested we look into Rhinoplasty too, but said I should reach out in a few months once I officially turn 18. Now I'm stuck wondering—does anyone know if that surgery actually costs anything out of pocket? I went to see another doctor later to get a second opinion, but he was being incredibly vague about it; he just mumbled something about how it might be covered if I have supplemental insurance. I'm a bit confused. How did things work out for you guys? 🙂

Hu

stormylynx8 said:I was at the clinic near Washington, D.C. today, and they diagnosed me with a deviated septum and chronic rhinosinusitis. The doctor asked if the bump bothers me, and I told him it definitely does 😁 so he suggested a Rhinoplasty and told me to reach out in a few months once I turn 18. I'm wondering if there's a cost for this kind of procedure? I asked another doctor later, but his answer was a bit vague; he just mentioned that if I have supplemental insurance, it might be covered. What was your experience like? 🙂

If you have supplemental insurance, you won't end up paying a single cent, which is exactly how it worked out for me...😁

Sam Kim12 said:You're just talking nonsense.😉
Some medical facilities don't just stop at the standard swabs; they also use these little plastic tubes to hold everything together while they're drawing the samples. I guess that's just how some places handle it.😉The whole point of a tampon is to absorb liquid, not to act as some kind of structural support for your nose.

Packing used during a septoplasty is there to hold the septum in place during that critical window right after the procedure. At least, that’s what a top-tier ENT specialist told me. In my case, they took mine out way too early, and I ended up dealing with scar tissue and a septum that was actually more crooked than it was before. When it comes to rhinoplasty, I agree—the packing doesn't really have any other purpose than soaking up blood and mucus. It won't change how the nose looks on the outside, but man, it makes a massive difference for the septum.

Hey.

Adam Patel98 said:Packing during septoplasty is there to hold the septum in place during that critical recovery window right after surgery. A top-tier ENT told me that directly. In my case, they pulled mine out way too early, which ended up causing scar tissue and left my septum even more crooked than before. When it comes to Rhinoplasty, I agree—the packing is basically just there to soak up blood and mucus. It doesn't change how the nose looks on the outside, but for the septum, it’s absolutely vital.

Later,

Mine were taken out way too soon, too. They actually had to put them back in because the bleeding wouldn't stop—which makes sense since my nose was practically falling apart and the mucosa split. Given all that trauma and having multiple surgeries handled with one single pack, they definitely should have stayed in longer than a day. That happened twice. Because of that, blood pooled up, the cartilage started dying off, and the septum never got firm enough, so it just collapsed. Now I’ve got a perforation. Does anyone know someone who used a silicone button to fix a septal perforation? Is that a permanent fix or just temporary?

rowdyfalcon35 said:In my case, they took them out way too early, then had to put them right back in because the bleeding just wouldn't stop—which isn't surprising given my nose basically fell apart and the mucosa ruptured. Given all those complications and needing multiple surgeries involving a single Tampon, they definitely should have left them in longer than a day. That happened twice. It led to blood pooling and cartilage necrosis, and since the septum never properly stabilized, it just collapsed. Now I'm stuck with a perforation. Does anyone know someone who used a silicone button to fix a septal perforation? Is that a permanent fix or just a temporary patch?

Good grief, my own nose actually aches just reading this. 😢 I am so incredibly sorry you're going through this... if I were you, I’d look into seeing Dr. Davor Dzepin. He did reconstructive work for Mirko Filipovic and even helped some guy after a fight once... at least, that's the word on the street.

I heard that Mirko had his surgery done by Dr. Vladimir Bedekovic. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with the Osijek Clinic or working with Dr. Darie Sos?

Kate Taylor59 said:Oh man, reading this actually makes my nose ache. 😢 I feel so bad for what you're going through... Honestly, you should look into Dr. Davor Dzepin. He did the reconstruction for Mirko Filipovic and some guy who got in a fight... at least that's what I've heard.

The surgeon I went to also does reconstructive work for boxers and stuff like that. For me? Total disaster. She basically told me I just had "bad luck." If "bad luck" means picking a terrible surgeon, paying a fortune, and ending up looking worse, then sure, call it bad luck. I need a specialist who actually handles perforations and full nasal reconstruction. Money is tight, and every hospital I go to just turns me away. They look at me like I'm some lost cause. They say it's "too much work" because the surgery takes 6-7 hours, or they claim the success rate for closing the perforation is less than 10%. They even tell me there isn't a specialist for this, not even in all of America. Please, if anyone knows someone who deals with cases like mine, help me. I’m desperate and just mentally exhausted from all this. I went under the knife to fix my breathing, but now I can't breathe any better than before, and aesthetically, it's getting worse as my nose continues to drop. I regret the day I stepped into this nightmare. I'd give anything to turn back the clock and just trust my gut.

My advice to anyone looking at surgery while dealing with breathing issues? Just go to a hospital. If anything unexpected goes sideways during the procedure, you’ve got a whole team of experienced doctors right there to jump in and help ensure everything turns out okay. Plus, you can usually negotiate any cosmetic tweaks, which actually saves you money. In a hospital setting, the surgeon isn't just left to fly solo. They aren't operating under some weird "cookie-cutter" logic where they give you one of those identical, upturned noses you never even asked for—just because they think it suits your small face! When they mess up the septum or over-reshape the nose, you're stuck. I was one of those people who thought paying a private doctor meant getting more attention than someone in a hospital. Huge mistake. And it's not just me; I see it all the time. That’s exactly why hospital staff get so frustrated with fixing mistakes made by private surgeons. They look at you like, "Well, you paid for that, so now you can deal with him fixing it." You end up feeling completely abandoned with your own pain.

rowdyfalcon35, who did you go to for your surgery?

rowdyfalcon35 said:A word of advice to anyone weighing surgery if you're dealing with breathing issues: just go to a hospital. If something unexpected goes sideways during the procedure, you actually have a full team of experienced doctors right there to step in, offer their expertise, and ensure things don't spiral. Plus, you can often negotiate the aesthetic side of things, which saves you a fortune. In a hospital setting, the surgeon isn't just left to fend for themselves. They aren't operating under that "assembly line" mentality where they give everyone the same cookie-cutter nose—which, by the way, is how you end up with a nose you never even asked for because the doctor decided it would look better on your small face. At least in a hospital, you won't deal with a surgeon who ruins your septum or over-refines the tip just because they felt like it. I used to be one of those people who thought paying top dollar meant getting more personalized attention than someone at a public hospital. What a massive mistake. And honestly, it’s not just me; I see it happening all the time. This is exactly why hospital staff get so frustrated with fixing the botched jobs from private surgeons; they just look at you like, "Well, you paid for that mess, now you can deal with it." You're basically left alone to suffer through your own bad decisions.

God, I'm confused—did you go in because you couldn't breathe or for the looks? Honestly, if I were you, I'd check out Dr. Davor Dzepina. He specializes in exactly what you're looking for. He's even worked on Mirko, though Mirko went back for more work because he ended up with a bit of a mess...

Kate Taylor59 said:Man, I don't get it. Did you go because you couldn't breathe or just for looks? Honestly, go see Dr. Davor Dzepina. He does exactly what you're looking for. He even worked on Mirko, though Mirko went and got punched again, so his nose is totally messed up now...

I went mainly because of breathing issues. It was causing huge problems with my job, plus I had constant inflammation and post-nasal drip. We agreed to do the aesthetic part too—though they didn't mention half of what actually happened—as long as my function stayed intact. That’s why I saw an ENT, Dr. Glusca. I trusted him not to mess up my breathing; he might screw up the looks, but the function has to come first. At the hospital, they told me I needed two separate surgeries. He told me he'd fix everything in one go. Said not to worry, that he uses a new method, no bruising, fast recovery, and that doing two surgeries would be too much trauma. He promised the drainage would stop, but the hospital staff said it wouldn't, and yeah, they were right. I was naive. I believed all the sales talk. "Nobody else is good," "this guy is too soft," "how can he breathe," etc. I figured it wouldn't happen to me, but it did. And it's worse. The worst part is when the one guy everyone recommends tells you he's never seen a nose this bad and it might not be savable. He said he didn't want to spend seven hours on something so risky with only a 10% success rate. Now, every doctor is turning me away, while he keeps insisting it's no big deal. I reached out to Dr. Dzepina, and thank you for the tip. I'll head in for a consultation as soon as I save up the cash.

rowdyfalcon35 said:Hey. I won't send you any pictures because it looks honestly horrific, and I don't want to traumatize people when I already have to deal with looking at this mess in the mirror myself. Basically, imagine Michael Jackson's nose, then look at it from the side and imagine it twice as thin and sunken—that's what mine looks like. They told me today it’s just going to get more sunken as this indentation grows. I need urgent surgery, but they won't operate on me because the idiot broke my entire nose; he basically shortened all the bones. 😢
I'll handle the surgery in Washington, D.C., either at Vinogradski or Mercy Hospital. If I had just gone there immediately, this wouldn't have happened... I can't forgive myself.

Redlady, reading this breaks my heart. Since you don't have the cash for a new procedure, my advice is to absolutely SUE this guy for what he did to you.

A lot of lawyers, once they see the results of his handiwork, will agree to take the case just for a contingency fee without asking for money upfront.

Sue him for enough money to fly to the USA and see a top-tier specialist who can actually fix what this guy destroyed. Because seriously, this is awful.

Whatever you do, don't just let it end like this, forgetting his mistakes while searching for others to fix them. You see, hospitals aren't crazy enough to clean up the messes made by some private practitioner who ruined someone's nose.

It isn't right for you to just forget and forgive him. I'm a believer and I'm all for forgiveness, but not in this case—this guy disfigured you and basically wrecked your health.

Don't lose sight of this or just move on to someone else. While you're waiting for your nose to heal, find a lawyer and tell them what happened; plenty of them work on commission.

Our legal system is a disaster, but damn it, in a case like this, I think they should definitely rule in your favor and make him pay decent damages.

Then you grab plane tickets from $2000 to the States and book an appointment with a world-class doctor who can actually help you.

THERE IS TOO MUCH EVIL IN THIS COUNTRY GOING UNPUNISHED! If that guy doesn't know how to do his job, why the hell is he even doing it?

Screw a bunch of successful surgeries when just one single mistake can ruin a person's life! And if he messes up that badly, he has to answer for his "crime."

Trust me, that guy makes plenty enough to pay you a massive settlement.
What's a few thousand dollars to him to fix things in the States?

Find a lawyer, try to settle out of court first, and if they won't, then go all the way. He has to be held accountable! Who else is going to do it if not the person who caused it?

He surely pulls in $6,000 a month easily, so he can afford to pay for the crap he pulled.

He won't go broke over this.

Do not let his empty excuses and platitudes about how "everything is fine" get to you.

If he won't admit his mistake nicely, make him admit it by force. And don't let his ego or arrogance shake you.

And guys like that definitely have weaknesses, believe me. Let him answer for his mistakes, and if he can't fix it himself, let him leave it to someone who actually knows what they're doing.

He clearly isn't a specialist, given how disgusting he's being toward his own patient and how he refuses to grasp what he's done (or rather, plays dumb, which is the easiest thing to do).

Hannah Roberts66 said:Redlady, reading this just breaks my heart for you. Since you don't have the cash for another surgery right now, my advice is simple: sue that guy for what he did.

A lot of lawyers, once they see the damage he caused, will take the case on contingency. You won't even have to pay them upfront.

Sue him for enough money to get you over to the States to see a top-tier specialist who can actually fix his mess. This is horrific.

Don't you dare just accept this and move on, looking for someone else to patch up his mistakes. Hospitals aren't going to step up to fix some private doctor's disaster.

It’s just not right to forgive and forget here. I'm a believer and I truly believe in forgiveness, but not in this situation. That man disfigured you and messed with your health.

Don't let this slide. While you're waiting for your nose to heal, find a lawyer. Tell them everything. Plenty of them work on commission.

Our legal system can be a mess, but damn it, in a case like this, they should rule in your favor and make him pay a decent settlement.

Then you grab plane tickets from $2000 to the US and book an appointment with a world-class surgeon who can actually help.

THERE IS TOO MUCH UNPUNISHED EVIL IN THIS COUNTRY! If that guy doesn't know how to do his job, why the hell is he doing it?

Forget all those "successful" surgeries—one single mistake like this can ruin a life! And if he fails this badly, he has to answer for his "crime."

Believe me, that guy makes plenty of money to pay out a massive settlement.
What's a few thousand dollars to him compared to fixing you up in America?

Find a lawyer. Try to settle out of court first, but if he won't budge, go all the way. He has to own up to his mistakes! Who else is going to do it if not the person who caused it?

The guy easily pulls in $5,000 a month, so he can certainly afford to pay for the mess he made.

It won't break him.

Do not listen to his empty excuses about how everything is fine.

If he won't admit he's wrong nicely, then force him to. Don't let his arrogance or ego shake you.

People like that always have weaknesses, trust me. Let him face the consequences. If he can't fix it himself, he needs to hand it over to someone who actually knows what they're doing.

Clearly not a pro, considering how he's acting toward his own patient and pretending he hasn't done anything wrong—which is the easiest thing to do.

Thank you so much for the support, it means the world to me. Right now, my priority is finding someone to handle this and protecting my profession. People absolutely have to be held accountable for their actions. I won't stop there. I'm a believer too, and I can forgive, but I can't just overlook someone lying to my face and acting like I'm crazy for noticing. I respect everyone and I'm sure he's helped people before, but what happened to me was a criminal error. Everyone sees it—from laypeople to the best doctors in America. It wasn't bad luck; it was a botched procedure. He went to extremes without my permission, and that is simply wrong.

rowdyfalcon35 said:Thanks so much for the support, it seriously means the world to me. Right now, my main priority is finding someone who can actually fix this and save my career—because at the end of the day, people have to be held accountable for what they do. I won't let this go. I’m a believer too, so I know how to forgive, but I just can't move past being lied to straight to my face. It’s infuriating when someone refuses to take responsibility and tries to make you feel crazy by acting like nothing happened. I respect everyone's work and I'm sure they've helped plenty of people, but what happened to me was a massive medical error that's obvious to everyone, from random bystanders to the top specialists in the US. This wasn't just bad luck; it was a botched procedure. They went to extremes without my consent, and that’s just not okay.

I am so sorry... I actually went to Glusca and had such a hard time breathing because of a 3.5 cm polyp, but now my breathing is amazing. He told me it would get even better over time, but honestly, it feels great right now.....
My nose didn't get too narrow either; in fact, he specifically told me he wouldn't narrow it too much because he didn't want to mess with my breathing...
As for the aesthetics, I can't really comment yet since my nose is still pretty swollen..
I really hope everything turns out okay for you too.

I think I saw what your nose looked like in those photos
If you do any singing
If that was your nose, it turned out really nice eventually... at least in my case...

rowdyfalcon35 said:They pulled my packing out way too early, then had to put it back in because of heavy bleeding that wouldn't stop (which makes sense, considering his nose basically fell apart and my mucosa ruptured—given all that, plus multiple surgeries, having the Tampon in for longer than a single day was absolutely necessary). That happened twice. Because of that, blood pooled up, the cartilage started dying, and the septum never properly set, so it just collapsed. Now I have a hole. Does anyone know someone who used a silicone button to fix a septal perforation? Is that a permanent fix or just temporary?

A hole???

If someone messed up my nose like that or just totally screwed me over, that would be the last time they ever touched a patient's face... they'd be hanging up their tools for good.

Kate Taylor59 said:It’s absolutely NOT nonsense—honestly, I’d like to think people actually know what they're talking about when they speak... It is perfectly logical that the Tampons provide some level of structural support to the septum during those first five days.
It’s not like he’s some clueless idiot who doesn't know what he's talking about—he actually sat me down and explained those tubes you're rambling about—and honestly? It sounds like complete nonsense. The idea that breathing becomes even more difficult because mucus, phlegm, and blood all pool up inside those little pipes and just clog everything up... it's a nightmare. So, I’ve made my decision: I am absolutely not putting any of that ridiculous hardware into my nose. As for Zambellia, I wouldn't recommend her—she uses the open technique, which leaves those visible scars right under your nose, plus the recovery time is way too long. Besides, the look of the nose she reconstructed just isn't my style. But hey, at the end of the day, it's your call if you want to go through with it.

What is even the point of that foil lining sitting above the Tampon, or any kind of internal reinforcement for that matter? Honestly, I’ve been wondering about the actual engineering behind it—what is its specific purpose?😉 Honestly, that guy is absolutely top-tier—the kind of person who actually provides real support, much like a reliable Tampon does when you really need it.🤣Oh, absolutely brilliant—nothing beats the sheer joy of having a fully saturated tampon shoved up your nose for several days straight. Truly top-tier living. 😬Who exactly are we talking about here—Djepina or Toncic? 🙂
Don't go shouting yourself hoarse if you haven't actually done your homework—it’s honestly exhausting. This whole "tampon" business is only practiced by a tiny fraction of doctors, and let's be real, about 90% of them are just working out of private clinics. They rely on outdated surgical methods, too. To make matters worse, the highest rate of revision surgeries comes from those exact same private practices. It's a cycle.🙄

I’ve dealt with breathing issues my entire life—just a constant, nagging struggle—and only now have I finally reached the point where I've uncovered all the nonsense doctors try to pull. I'm finally going through with the surgery, and I'm doing it at a major hospital, not some overpriced private clinic where you spend half your life suffering just to line their pockets. I refuse to deal with those types who would insist on jamming half a meter of Tampon up my nose for seven days straight when it isn't even necessary.