Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Sarah Cox66 said:So, from what I’ve gathered, it looks like they're going to use tampons... I did a little digging, and honestly, the idea of breathing through your mouth during the process sounds pretty uncomfortable. And then there's the part where they take them out... but hey, nothing too crazy, right? It'll probably just be a quick moment. Anyway, we'll figure that part out. I've been dealing with these issues for about eight years now, and the constant headaches are just exhausting.🙂

My head isn't really hurting or anything, but I feel like I'm constantly coming down with something lately. It's just one thing after another. Anyway, when are you planning on heading out?

Alex Evans10 said:I don't really deal with headaches, but I feel like I'm constantly coming down with something... It's exhausting. When are you planning on going?

I'm heading out on May 31st... how about you?🙂

I think I might be heading out there soon myself.

Hey, you got a sec for a DM? 🙂

Alex Evans10 said:I'll be heading that way soon too.

Do you have a PM, 🙂
?

Actually, I don't... I just logged into the forum for the first time today... I'm still figuring out how everything works, especially the private messaging system... I suppose I'll have to spend some time looking through the settings to learn the ropes...🙂

Alex Evans10 said:Well, damn. I actually went in for a checkup because my GP practically forced me—I’ve been dealing with constant congestion and non-stop throat, ear, and sinus infections. I went to the Sisters of Mercy... and the doctor saw me, gave me a surgery date, and that was basically it. It felt incredibly abrupt. But then I realized they actually shove nasal tampons in there. Good grief, 😢

"A tampon is just a tampon"—that’s a common saying, because some people use them for cauterization while others just jam in a literal mountain of gauze 😉. I had certain conditions I wanted met for my own peace of mind, but regarding the hospital in Chicago, I can't say much since I wasn't there personally 🤷. Now, at Mayo Clinic, for instance, things vary wildly depending on the doctor's specific technology—like the specialist I saw in Chicago who uses this cutting-edge method; everyone raves about him because his patients have almost zero swelling or bruising (I confirmed this myself by watching patients in the waiting room who were back for follow-ups just the next day). But honestly, it didn't matter that he couldn't explain a single thing to me—instead, he just brushed me off, acting like my questions were irrelevant and that I was just being difficult 🙄. He even tried to tell me he needed to open my sinuses despite my sinus MRI coming back perfectly clear 😢

Sarah Cox66 — oh, that’s coming up soon, hang in there 🙂

Sam Kim12 said:To bring down the swelling, they give Dexamethasone injections, and you can apply Kamagel or Heparin to the swollen area😉, though you aren't supposed to massage it unless your doctor gives you the green light.

Anyway
I had a massive surgery yesterday—full reconstruction. They had to cut through mucosal folds and did the aesthetic work too. I’m currently getting those Dexic injections and using Kamagel, and honestly, there's almost zero swelling (just a tiny bit)

I've got this splint on my nose to keep everything positioned, plus some foil in my nostrils to reinforce and hold the septum in place (they completely removed and reconstructed my septum). Because the mucosal work was so extensive, I'm bleeding quite a bit, so they haven't pulled the packing out yet. They won't take it out for another two days because if they yank it now, I'll just bleed everywhere. Right now, I'm changing the gauze under my nose about every two hours.
I am beyond thrilled with the surgery. As for the doctor, all I can say is he's amazing—he explains every single detail. Plus, thanks to those meds I mentioned, I look almost normal (the gauze under my nose ruins the effect, though😂)
Oh, and I had the procedure at Dubrava Basketball Club:-)

All that effort spent picking the right surgeon and doing endless consultations really paid off. If anyone is looking for an appointment at Mayo Clinic this October and wants to grab mine, let me know—I'm all set, so I'm happy to pass it along.😬

I have some Heparin cream sitting here, hasn't even been opened... I read about it on a forum and bought it before my surgery.
My doctor told me nothing but cold compresses and gentle massage to help with the swelling and bruising...
And let's be real, every doctor will tell you there isn't a magic cream to speed things up...
I haven't heard anything about those injections, so I can't really weigh in on that...
SO GLAD to hear everything went well! ;-)

restlessfox3 said:I actually have some heparin cream sitting here—haven't even broken the seal on it. I read about it on a forum and picked it up right before my surgery...
My doctor told me nothing but cold compresses and massage for the swelling and bruising...
And let’s be honest—every doctor is going to claim there isn't a single cream out there that actually speeds things up...
As for those injections, I haven't heard anything about them, so I can't really weigh in...
I'm just glad everything went smoothly for you ;-)

Every doctor operates by their own set of principles—it all depends on what kind of procedure you had. For instance, mine told me to skip the compresses entirely; instead, I get daily dexamethasone injections to keep the swelling down (and damn, they sting way worse than penicillin), but the heparin has definitely helped clear up my bruising😁

I can't exactly do any massaging right now because I've got a plastic mold in place—as for later, I honestly don't know, though I suspect I won't be allowed to touch it since they really worked over the bridge of my nose😬 but we'll see what the medical team says🤷. And if I'm being totally honest, the thought of getting the stitches pulled out gives me the chills—brrrr😳

Sam Kim12 said:People say "one tampon is just like any other," but I don't know if that's true since some people use them for different things and others basically cram a whole mountain of them in at once😉. I had my own specific requirements I wanted to meet, but I can't really speak for Vineyard because I wasn't actually there🤷. At Mayo Clinic, for instance, they do things however they want depending on the doctor's preference. Like, the specialist I saw up there uses this new technology, and everyone raves about how top-tier he is and how his patients have almost zero swelling or bleeding—which I actually believed because I saw patients in the waiting room the next day looking totally fine during their follow-ups. But man, when I tried to ask him questions, he just brushed me off, basically telling me why should I care since I'm not an expert🙄 and that it’s none of my business. He even tried to tell me something about my sinuses even though my MRI came back perfectly clear😢

Tony - oh, that's coming up soon, hang in there🙂

The hardest part is when a doctor pushes their own agenda, and we aren't exactly medical experts... It's tough when they insist you need something that you feel isn't actually necessary, and then you're stuck trying to explain yourself to them.

I'll let you guys know how things go at the Sister of Mercy clinic, especially regarding their "tampons." If anyone reading this happens to know anything about them, please let me know🙂

Elizabeth Collins5 said:rowdyfalcon35, I saw the photos and "shocked" doesn't even cover it!! I am so incredibly sorry this happened to you. Reading your posts about his attitude just makes my blood boil—I can't imagine how you feel. And that comment about you just being "unlucky"? I'd slap him silly. How does that man have no shame?!
Does he have any actual plan or solution, anything? The bare minimum would be giving the money back.
I really hope this doesn't end without a lawsuit. Maybe you could send those photos to some news outlet or something?

I've got all the pre-op records and the post-op results right here. I went to see the top specialists in the country and they all agree: it was botched. I won't even be able to breathe properly until I undergo a secondary open rhinoplasty, which is going to be a long process and will only fix part of the mess. Even after all that, he’s still making excuses and refusing to admit to a mistake that's obvious from a mile away—not to mention how bad it looks from the inside. I won't go into every single detail because I don't want to scare people, but let's just say things are bad. It takes six months to see 80% of the final result. Well, I'm not stopping. Not for myself, and not for everyone else who's been screwed over like this. If I have to, I'll team up with others and take this to the media. I believe there's justice left, even in a corrupt system like ours. I worked my tail off for this, and my parents are basically eating through their retirement savings—they've already maxed out credit cards just to pay for an operation meant to fix my breathing. Instead, the deviation wasn't even fixed, and everything is worse now. Letting that guy walk away with my hard-earned money after he completely massacred my face would be an insult to me and my parents.

rowdyfalcon35, I’ve been reading through everything you’ve been going through. And honestly, looking at your last post, I think you’re absolutely spot on about the whole situation... I’m so sorry you even have to deal with this, I can only imagine how tough it's been for you. Just hang in there and stay strong—I really hope justice finds its way to you soon.

Sending nothing but good vibes your way.

I’ve been lurking in this thread for a while now, watching everyone go back and forth about a surgery I actually need for both functional and aesthetic reasons...

I deal with constant throat and sinus infections, my nose is almost always stuffed, and the sinus pressure is relentless. My nasal lining stays red most of the time (not sure why yet), and I have constant post-nasal drip. Waking up in the morning feels disgusting; it feels like everything just settles there, and I can't cough it up, which leads to more infections. A sinus scan from last September confirmed a deviated septum along with the inflammation. 😁 On the aesthetic side, my nose is way too long, with a bump and large, long nostrils. It's basically a carbon copy of my dad's nose—except that looked fine on him, whereas on me, it looks completely out of place. From the front, you can tell it's long, but it's not terrible; it's my profile that's a disaster, looking totally aquiline. -.-

So... since I don't have money to throw away right now, I'd prefer to handle this through the hospital system. If anyone here has dealt with similar issues via a public hospital, please reach out. 🙂 I’ve thought about going private, but beyond the cost, all the horror stories in these previous pages are making me hesitate. Obviously, nobody can guarantee a successful outcome whether it's at a hospital or a private clinic, but the hospital seems like my only realistic option for now. So, I’m looking for advice or recommendations here or via DM. This thread is massive, so I have plenty of reading ahead of me. 🙂 Thanks in advance.

Has anyone here actually gone through with septorhinoplasty when they were only 16? I’ve checked in with both the local hospital and some private surgeons—including folks over at the Mayo Clinic—and everyone just keeps telling me I’m too young. They basically think I’m being dramatic about my breathing issues, which is frustrating because the functional stuff is real—but hey, if I really have to sit around and wait until I'm eighteen, then fine, I guess I will!

Thomas Alvarez90 said:Has anyone actually gone through with septorhinoplasty at sixteen? I’ve hit up both the public hospitals and private clinics, and the consensus is always the same—I'm too young. They act like I'm just being dramatic about my breathing issues, though I assure you, the functional struggle is very real. If I have to sit around and wait until I'm eighteen to get this fixed, then fine, I'll go crazy waiting!

From a friend's daughter😉(I think she might even be younger), who's an athlete—breathing issues were a massive deal for her, and she ended up getting surgery in her first month at Oakland. Generally speaking, there's this unwritten rule that you shouldn't mess with facial bone structure until you're 21 because that's when growth finally stabilizes—though obviously, everything changes depending on the specific diagnosis and what's causing the blockage. My advice? Keep seeking out more specialist opinions.🤷

Sam Kim12 said:From my friend's daughter.😉I think she might be on the younger side—she’s actually pretty active in sports, which makes sense, but having breathing issues was clearly a huge deal for her. She actually had surgery back when she was just a month old at Oakland. Generally speaking, there's this standard rule that you don't mess with facial bone structure until someone hits 21, mostly because that's when growth finally stabilizes—though, of course, that's not set in stone since everything really depends on the specific diagnosis and what's actually causing the issue. It might be worth getting a second opinion just to be safe.🤷

Twenty-one?! Seriously? It’s funny how that works—every surgeon seems to have their own personal cutoff age when it comes to deciding who can actually handle an operation...🙂 I mean, I have no clue how they word it over on the website for the American Plastics Association—and let’s be real, those guys are hands down the best in the world—but apparently, you can go in for surgery as young as thirteen.🤷

Thomas Alvarez90 said:Twenty-one?! Please... every surgeon has their own specific age threshold for these procedures...🙂 I have no idea why the website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons—who, let’s be honest, are the gold standard globally—would suggest someone could go under the knife as early as thirteen...🤷

Technically, you could do it at five, but there’s a reason we don't—everything has its logic. If we're talking about something that severely disrupts a person's ability to live a normal life, then sure, age isn't a hard barrier; however, if the medical history is milder, the timing is usually dictated by professional recommendation because facial bone structure doesn't fully develop until age 21. Also, just to correct my previous point—my friend's daughter was actually 14, not 13.😉

So, I just got back from my breathing checkup and honestly? It was incredible...
I’m seriously so stoked. For the first time ever, I actually feel like I'm breathing like a normal human being. Huge shoutout to my doctor for making that happen...
The swelling on my nose is going down so well, I'm getting more satisfied with the results every single time...
Now I'm just waiting for this skin to peel off finally :-)
And get this—the doc says my breathing is only going to get even better, but I already feel perfect. Honestly, I'm just riding that high right now :-)

Sam Kim12 said:You can technically go through with it at 5 years old, but everything happens for a reason. If it’s something that’s seriously messing with your quality of life, there isn't really an age limit, obviously. But if the medical history shows it's a milder issue, they usually suggest waiting because facial bones keep growing until you're about 21. Just to clarify what I said in my last post, my friend's daughter was 14 when she had hers😉

I'm with you on that...
I actually caught a segment on Galileo the other day talking about these procedures out here...
Rhinoplasty seems to be the most common one...
And most of them are minors...
The doctor made sure to mention the risks and warned everyone about that...
So yeah, it's basically every man for himself at that point...
But honestly, it’s probably way better to wait until all the bone structure has fully developed...
I mean, any decent doctor is going to guide their patient toward what’s best, so it’s pretty pointless for me to weigh in since I'm definitely not a doctor.
I was just watching that show and repeating what I saw and heard.

Ladies. Your noses are absolutely stunning. There’s a certain beauty in imperfection—honestly, trying to live up to "perfect" is exhausting. And for those who actually possess that flawless look? Let me tell you, maintaining perfect behavior is even harder. Don't you dare think for a second that anyone is judging your appearance or the shape of your nose.

Quick question! This is kind of urgent... I think I missed one of my referral orders🙂... Basically, what kind of tests am I supposed to get done before nose surgery?

Like, blood work, chest X-ray, EKG, and seeing an anesthesiologist? What did you guys end up having to do? My doctor isn't picking up her phone, and I was hoping to ask her if this covers everything or if I totally missed a 🤷

Maybe if they didn't send you over to the clinic on Main Street to check your blood type first, you wouldn't be dealing with this.

Alex Evans10 said:Quick question! This is kind of urgent... I think I missed one of the orders🙂... Anyway, what tests am I actually supposed to get done before nose surgery?

Bloodwork, lungs, EKG, and seeing the anesthesiologist? What did you guys end up needing? I can't get a hold of my doctor, and I was hoping to ask her if that covers everything or if I missed some 🤷

It all really depends on your anesthesiologist and which hospital you're using—it’s not one-size-fits-all. In my case, I had everything cleared at the hospital where the surgery was scheduled just a day prior, and I did: blood panels, a urinalysis, and an EKG😉.

Long story short,
I'm being discharged today. My surgery was last Friday—they removed the splints and packing from my nose, though I still have to wear the mold for another week because of the reconstruction work. The swelling has gone down significantly; I just have these yellowish bruises under my eyes from where there was some minor bruising, but breathing is already feeling great 😁. Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the results or the staff at the Oakland facility. I won't go into the specific diagnoses and procedures—there's way too much medical jargon involved🤣