Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

restlessfox3 said:Oh, please, stop trying to be so wise about this...
I was massaging it constantly, and then the skin just stuck together...
I didn't even realize it had adhered until he pointed it out to me, so I told him I'd try massaging it using a different technique to get it to release... And apparently, that’s perfectly normal since the nose is still weeping... That kind of thing happens...

So, since it didn't happen to you, I have no idea why you're writing such a massive rant...

Me, writing a "massive rant"? I literally wrote two sentences.😕

Forgive me, I truly meant no harm. I simply assumed you hadn't been massaging your nose at all, which is why the skin stuck together. Besides, some doctors don't even recommend massaging it in the first place.

In general, I think some people really do go overboard and hold onto these totally unrealistic expectations. I know so many people who throw absolute tantrums claiming their nose is a total disaster just because one nostril is a millimeter wider than the other or something similar.

I'm not saying that's the case with redlady. Unfortunately, it would be better if it were. But I'd love to actually see a photo so I could judge for myself whether it's truly as horrific as everyone claims.

hiddenseal14 said:Wait, am I really rambling now? I feel like I barely wrote two sentences. 😕

Look, I'm sorry, I seriously didn't mean anything by it. I honestly just assumed you hadn't been massaging your nose at all and that’s why the skin was lifting. Besides, some doctors don't even recommend massaging it in the first place.

Honestly, I think some people just go overboard and have totally unrealistic expectations. I know so many people who lose their minds claiming their nose is a total disaster just because one nostril is a millimeter wider than the other or something like that.

I'm not saying that's the case with redlady. Sadly, I wish it were. But I'd love to see a photo just so I can judge if it's actually as bad as it sounds.

Man, I used to massage my nose for like two hours a day whenever I had nothing better to do...
And they told me to hold one side down while massaging the other, then swap...
My nose looked absolutely massive at first and I was totally panicking, but as the swelling went down over time, I started to chill out a bit...
The bones on the sides were broken so my nose is narrow, and yeah, the skin is definitely looser, so it makes sense that this could happen—but just for the skin to peel away like that? :0)
Don't mind me...
But I was killing myself with all that massaging and then boom, here we are again.😢

restlessfox3 said:Look, I think you're exaggerating a bit. That should be enough.

Lucky you... like I said, it all depends on how much and where it's stuck. In my case, it's right where his nose basically fell apart—where the bone and cartilage are decaying. It was clean there, but after the piercing, everything just collapsed, so that's why it looks like this. The skin is red and stuck on both sides. I'm sure yours isn't like that, but don't speak for me. I'm just speaking for myself.

hiddenseal14 said:Honestly, I think some people really overreact and have totally unrealistic expectations. I know so many people who throw fits claiming their nose is a disaster just because one nostril is a millimeter wider than the other or something.

I'm not saying that's the case for redlady. Sadly, it is. It would be better if it wasn't. But I'd love to see a photo so I can judge if it's actually that bad.

I sent you the photos, so judge for yourself. I'm definitely not the type to make a mountain out of a molehill—actually, it's the exact opposite. I could even live with the way it looks if it were just about aesthetics, but the function hasn't been fixed; it's actually worse now, and the look is getting worse over time too. A lot of stuff was done without my permission, things were kept from me, and that's just not okay for a patient. Period.

Hey everyone, I need some advice regarding payment options. Has anyone here actually managed to pay in installments? Ideally, I'd love to put down half upfront and finance the rest. I already reached out to Dzepina, but he told me straight up that he doesn't offer any installment plans. Does anyone have a recommendation for someone reliable? I'm looking for quality work—I definitely don't want those overly hooked noses—but I also need someone reasonably priced, maybe in the $1,500 to $1,800 range.

Thanks in advance.

rowdyfalcon35 said:Lucky you... like I said, it all depends on how much and where it’s stuck. In my case, it happened right where the nose structure basically gave way—where the bone and cartilage were deteriorating. It was just a hollow spot there, and once they drilled into it, everything kind of collapsed, which is why it looks the way it does and why the skin is all red. It’s stuck on both sides there. I’m sure yours isn't like that, but don't speak for me; I'm just talking about my own experience.

Why don't you just post a photo?
Look, I agree with you here. I didn't realize the specifics of what you were dealing with, and I get that everyone's situation with that skin sticking is different. Since your tissue actually collapsed, I totally see why yours looks different...
Anyway, your situation is pretty rare, but for people considering surgery who already know there's a risk of this happening, it isn't fair to call it "ugly" and scare them for no reason...
I definitely remember your nose because the difference before and after was massive...
You went through with this for the aesthetics and to be able to breathe, after all.
And I'm honestly sorry you had to deal with all that...

Just saw my inbox... man, I can't believe what he put you through. Seriously, he needs to be doing everything in his power to make this right with you.

restlessfox3 said:Why don't you just post a photo?
Look, I agree here. I didn't realize the full situation, and honestly, it's the same story for everyone when it comes to that stuck skin flap. It failed for you, and I get that it might look different than expected...
Your case is rare, though. For people considering surgery who already know there's a risk, it isn't fair to just say it looks ugly and scare them for no reason...
I remember your nose specifically because the difference before and after was huge...
You went under the knife for aesthetics and breathing issues.
And I'm really sorry this happened to you...

I'm not trying to scare anyone. That's not my goal. My goal is to find a doctor here in the States who is actually willing to fix this, because everyone else keeps turning me away and telling me I'm a lost cause. I know doctors read these forums, and I’d love it if someone would just recommend a specialist they trust. I'm speaking from experience. I'm just telling others: don't jump into anything unless you are one hundred percent certain. I wish someone had warned me about all the possible complications. I thought surgery would be simple. It is anything but. Go ahead and get the surgery, but listen to your gut. That's all. Listen to your intuition. Mine was screaming at me, and I ignored it. Don't be afraid, but listen to that inner voice. If it's telling you something, listen. That's it.

I decided to trust my gut instead of listening to everyone on this forum... and honestly? I am just so incredibly relieved with the doctor I chose!!!!

rowdyfalcon35 said:I sent you the photos, so please, judge for yourself. I am absolutely not the type of person to make a mountain out of a molehill; quite the contrary, actually. In fact, I could have even made peace with the aesthetic if that were the only issue, where appearance was secondary to function—but the function hasn't been resolved at all! It’s in an even worse state now, and the appearance is only deteriorating with time. So much was done without my consent, acting on their own whims, and so much was conveniently swept under the rug, which is completely unacceptable treatment of a patient. Amen.

I saw the pictures. You aren't making a mountain out of a molehill; they simply did a terrible job. What on earth were they thinking?🙂

It breaks my heart to see what you're going through.😢

Absolutely terrifying... honestly, you'd think they were operating while drunk.

Kate Taylor59 said:I chose to trust my gut instead of listening to everyone on this forum... and honestly, I am just beyond thrilled with my doctor!!!!

Well, I followed my intuition too, and everything turned out absolutely wonderful! That earplug was genuinely fantastic and did its job perfectly.

Susan Cooper23 said:Look... I really think it might be best not to comment on things you aren't personally familiar with. I actually had my revision surgery with Dr. Zambelli about two months ago using an open technique. Honestly, the incision is almost impossible to see because it’s just this incredibly thin, thread-like line right on the columella.
I've noticed that recovering from this second procedure—which involved a structural augmentation—has been significantly faster than my initial recovery after the first surgery (which was done using a closed technique), even though this second session was much longer and far more complex.

Dr. Zambelli gave me such a beautiful, natural result, and most importantly, he completely fixed my breathing issues. I can finally breathe like a normal person again.

So, I would suggest maybe avoiding topics where you don't have firsthand experience. Personally, I would recommend Dr. Zambelli to absolutely anyone; he is such a skilled, capable, and experienced surgeon. He truly saved my nose after what Dr. Glumičić had done to it.

Oh, I am just so incredibly happy for you!!🙂 If you don't mind me asking, could you perhaps tell me how much the total cost ended up being? Is his standard rate still around $2,400? :-) Hvalaaaa so much!

rowdyfalcon35 said:I’m really not trying to scare anyone, that isn't my point at all... My actual goal is just to find a doctor somewhere in the States who is actually willing to fix this. Everyone I see just turns me away and tells me I'm a lost cause. I know doctors hang out on forums sometimes, so I’d be so grateful if someone could recommend a specialist they think might actually be able to help. Everything I say comes from my own experience, and I just want to warn others... please don't jump into anything unless you are one hundred percent certain. I wish someone had warned me about all the complications that could happen. I thought the surgery would be a breeze, but it was anything but that... Go ahead with your procedure, but please, listen to your intuition. That’s all I can say. Listen to that gut feeling. Mine was screaming at me, and I just didn't listen... Don't be afraid, but trust your instinct. If it’s telling you something, listen. It will be okay. That's all...

Hey. I already asked you once for those photos, but now I see you already sent them to hiddenseal14... so if you could please send them to me too? thanks

I’ve been lurking on this forum for a while now—rowdyfalcon3, would you mind sharing some photos? I'm dying to see how it actually looks... I placed my order back on July 24th through the clinic over in Chicago, and they agreed to do the aesthetic part for free 😁. I have no idea how mine will turn out, but Donna Bennett73 ended up looking fantastic, so fingers crossed for me too. Also, does anyone have tips on speeding up the recovery? I’d really rather not be walking along the beach looking so swollen that toddlers start getting scared of me 🙂. You guys have covered a lot of ground here, but let's recap... you mentioned sleeping with my head slightly elevated (for how many days?), and regarding massages—are those just to prevent the skin from sticking, or do they actually help reduce swelling? What about ice packs or eye creams? Please, give me all the details 😁

hiddenseal14 said:I actually just followed my gut, and honestly, everything turned out perfectly. That silencer they used was top-notch—did an absolutely stellar job.

Would you mind sharing who you went to see? I'd love to know.

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure on what surgery costs with Ignatovski?

rowdyfalcon35, I saw the photos and "shocked" doesn't even begin to cover it. Seriously. My heart just aches for you after seeing all this. Honestly, reading your posts about his attitude and how he’s acting... it just makes my blood boil. I can't even imagine what you're going through right now. And that comment about you just being unlucky? I swear, if I were there, I’d give him a slap that would leave him spinning. How does a man live with himself like that? No shame whatsoever.
Does he have any actual plan here? Any suggestion or solution at all? Anything? At the very least, the decent thing to do—the absolute bare minimum—would be to return your money.
I really hope this doesn't just blow over without a lawsuit. Maybe you should send those photos to a major news outlet or some consumer watchdog site? Get eyes on this.

Zachary Palmer56 said:I’ve been lurking on this forum forever and rowdyfalcon35, please, please send some pics—I’m dying to see what the actual result looks like... I put my order in back on July 24th with the clinic over at St. Jude’s and they agreed to do the cosmetic touch-up (for free 😁). I have no clue how it’s going to turn out, but Donna Bennett73 turned out amazing, so fingers crossed for me too. I really want to know what I can do to speed up the recovery process; I don't want to be walking along the beach looking so rough that little kids start getting scared of me 🙂. You guys have mentioned a million things, so let's recap... you said sleep with your head slightly elevated (for how long?), and about the massages—are those just to stop the skin from sticking or to help with the swelling? What about ice packs or eye creams? Just tell me everything 😁

You’ve gotta stay away from the sun, saunas, and tanning beds for at least two months...
The massages are mainly to help bring down the swelling and make sure your skin doesn't get stuck
. You should start using compresses right after the surgery—you can pick them up at any local pharmacy...
Whether you end up super swollen or barely noticeable really just depends on how well you follow the rules... there isn't some magic cream that's going to fast-track the whole thing... every doctor is going to give you that same line
. He’s the one who will give you the specific instructions
. Just grill him with questions; that's the only way you're actually going to feel secure about it
.

rowdyfalcon35 said:What does it actually look like? Pretty ugly, I bet.🙂

Any chance you could send over a photo?

restlessfox3 said:You really need to steer clear of the sun, saunas, and tanning beds for about two months...
The massages are mostly to help with swelling—keep things from getting too puffy and make sure the skin doesn't stick...
As for compresses, you should start those right after surgery; just grab what you need at a local pharmacy...
Whether you deal with heavy swelling or barely notice it really depends on how you take care of yourself... honestly, there isn't some magic cream to speed it all up—every doctor will tell you the same thing...
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions...
Just ask them everything—that's your best bet for feeling secure.

Two whole months?? Man, that means zero trips to the beach for me this summer.😢
A few girls mentioned certain creams for dark circles or bruising... anyway, thanks!