Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

The most important thing is making sure your surgeon isn't a rookie who just graduated last month.
About four months ago, I was right where you are, digging for info and struggling to find anyone who would actually give me straight answers about nose surgery. 🙂
Now, I’d tell anyone dealing with breathing issues to just go for it. That feeling when they finally pull the packing out and you can actually breathe? It’s unreal. The amount of air you get is insane.
I had a nasty deviation, so they straightened the bridge and did some aesthetic work too. 😁

copperwalker18 said:That feeling when you finally take your tampon out and can actually breathe again... seriously, the amount of air you get back is unreal!!!
😁

I am living for that day! 🙂)) thanks everyone for the support.

copperwalker18 said:The main thing is just making sure your surgeon isn't, like, brand new.
About four months ago, I was right where you are, digging around for info about nose surgery and honestly, it was such a headache trying to find anything useful. 🙂
Looking back now, I’d definitely suggest it to anyone struggling to breathe. That feeling when they finally take the packing out? Man, it's hard to describe how much air you can actually get!
I had a pretty bad deviation, so they straightened out my nasal bridge along with some cosmetic work 😁

Sam Kim12 said:It really all comes down to your anesthesiologist and the hospital itself. I did all my pre-op tests at the hospital where I actually had the surgery the day before. I had to do blood work, a urine test, and an EKG😉.

Anyway,
I'm getting discharged today! I had the surgery on Friday, and they already took the packing and foils out of my nose, though I still have to wear a splint for another week because of the reconstruction part. The swelling has gone down quite a bit—just some yellowish bruising under my eyes from where there was a little hematoma, but I can breathe great already 😁. I'm super happy with how everything went, and honestly, the whole department over at Oakland was great. I probably shouldn't get into all the specific diagnoses and procedures since it's a lot of technical stuff 🤣

Thanks for getting back to me so fast😍 you're the best!🙂

I'm so glad you're doing well🙂 That's wonderful news 😍

PS. Based on what you guys said, I think I might have missed one... I don't think they need a urine test. 🙂

Alex Evans10 said:Thanks for getting back to me so quickly,😍 you're the best!🙂

I'm so glad to hear things are looking up for you🙂 That's wonderful news😍

PS. Based on what everyone is saying, I think I might have lost one after all... guess there's nothing more I can do about it.🙂

Please be sure to let me know how everything turns out..... I'll probably head out ahead of you.... assuming my findings come back okay!!😉

rowdyfalcon35 said:I have all my pre-op records ready, along with the results from after the surgery. I’ve consulted with some of the top specialists in the country, and they all agree—the work was poorly executed. They told me I won't be able to breathe properly until I undergo a secondary open rhinoplasty... which will be a long, grueling process, and even then, it might only solve part of the problem. Even after everything, he still tries to distance himself and refuses to admit to mistakes that are visible from a mile away... not to mention how obvious the issues are when you look at the internal structure. I won't go into full detail about the complications because I don't want to scare anyone, but let's just say things are not good. Usually, people see about 80% of the final result after six months. Well, I am not going to stop here... not for my own sake, and certainly not for others who have gone through this same nightmare. If I have to, I’ll join forces with others and take this to the media. I truly believe there is justice to be found, even in a system as broken as ours... I worked myself to the bone for this, and my parents—who are basically the Rockefellers of our circle—have already maxed out huge portions of their credit cards just to pay for a surgery that was supposed to fix my breathing. Instead, the deviation wasn't even corrected, and honestly, everything looks worse now. Letting this person walk away with my hard-earned money after they've essentially massacred my appearance would be an insult to myself and my parents...

You have my full support... I won't offer pity, because I know that wouldn't help you or change what happened... just keep your head up and move forward. I really hope justice prevails!!🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Sarah Cox66 said:You’ve got my support too... I won't pity you, because that wouldn't help a thing or change your situation. Just keep your head up and move forward. I really hope justice prevails!!🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

A huge thank you. My head is up. I'm moving forward. There are complications, sure—it is what it is. I just hope everything works out eventually. Until then, I'll stay patient and try to hang in there for these six months until about 80% of the results are visible. Good luck to everyone heading into surgery. I'm rooting for you all. I hope that one day I can finally say I breathed deeply again, just like most of you, without that heavy, congested feeling in my nose that feels like breathing through a diesel engine. 🙂
From here on out, I'm cutting out the negativity and pushing ahead. If I scared anyone off, I didn't mean to. I was just looking for advice and wanted to warn people not to jump into surgery blindly. You have to think it through. Every surgery carries risks, and you never truly know what might happen. Honestly, if I had known this would happen, I never would have agreed to these procedures, let alone any cosmetic stuff. Things wouldn't have gone to these extremes if I hadn't been pushed, even if it wasn't by my choice, but it is what it is now. I can't turn back time or undo my mistakes. I actually miss my old nose. It wasn't perfect, but at least it had some structure. I could wear glasses without them constantly sliding down because my nose is now too thin and drooping. At least before, it looked like it had lived a life, not just traces of a surgeon's work. 😂
Also, just because the doctor messed up my case doesn't mean he's bad at his job for everyone else. He actually has plenty of successful cases. I wasn't hunting down his other failed patients; they reached out to me personally for similar reasons. Regardless, it doesn't matter. I just wanted acknowledgment and for things to be stated clearly. I think as a patient, I have a right to that. That's why I was so angry and upset. But whatever. I'm going to step away from the forum for a while to focus on passing my exams and just trying to live my life.
Since some doctors actually read these forums, if my words push even one doctor to stop treating patients like numbers or cash cows—and I know there are doctors like that out there—then I've achieved my goal.
p.s.—Huge thanks to Whisper and Oblak19. You ladies are absolute gems!
Kisses to everyone and 👋

Greetings to everyone here!
I happened upon this forum quite by chance while searching for information regarding a specific nasal procedure. Perhaps some of you who have undergone a similar surgery might be able to offer some much-needed insight.
Here is my situation: Back in February, I underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic to correct a deviated septum and sinus issues due to some persistent health complications. While the operation itself went smoothly, I unfortunately developed a bacterial and fungal infection in my nose shortly after the nasal packing was removed. As a consequence, a portion of my septum has deteriorated, resulting in a perforation.
The surgeon who performed the initial procedure informed me that I need to close this gap to prevent further degradation of the entire septum, which could eventually lead to a "saddle nose" deformity. He suggested a repair using what is known as a silicone button.
I find myself wondering: is this an especially painful procedure? Furthermore, is it typically performed under general anesthesia, or is it done without it?
Additionally, what should one expect during the recovery process following such a surgery?
If anyone here has navigated a similar procedure, I would be deeply grateful if you could answer the questions mentioned above!

I need surgery ASAP, but I’m totally lost—where do I even start with all these tests and stuff? :S

Justin Parker7 said:I really need to get surgery as soon as possible, but I have no idea where to even start with all the exams and everything else. :S

It really depends on what kind of issues you're dealing with... is it purely cosmetic, or is there a functional issue involved? Of course, most hospitals can handle both types of procedures... regarding the medical exams, that part is actually quite straightforward once you get moving. Your first step should be asking your primary care doctor for an ENT referral. I hope that helps at least a little bit...🙂

Hey everyone, what’s the move for clothing when heading in for tonsillectomy surgery? Should I just stick to a sweatsuit?

Ashley Wells16 said:Guys, what’s the move for outfit prep before surgery—like, should I just throw on some sweats...?

Look, if you want my advice, aim for something actually trendy—think floral prints, soft pastels, the whole bit. Just coordinate the look with some decent ballet flats and that essential little clutch bag, throw on some light nude makeup, and you’ll be totally set.😬

😂

For crying out loud, you’re going into surgery—you’ll basically just be in your underwear anyway.😉

Sam Kim12 said:Honestly, you should just go with whatever is trending right now... maybe a floral print with some soft pastel tones? If you pair that with some nice ballet flats and an essential clutch—you can't leave without one—plus some light, nude makeup, you'll have the whole look perfectly put together 😬

😂

I mean, come on... when you're in surgery, you're basically just in your underwear anyway...😉

hahahhahaha....that's too good

Today marks my tenth day post-op. I just wrapped up my follow-up appointment where they finally removed the splint—and honestly, both the surgeon and I are thrilled with how things turned out. My nasal mucosa is still showing a bit of swelling, but my breathing? Absolutely phenomenal.😁.
I have some minor bruising under my eyes that should clear up in a day or two, and there’s a slight puffiness at the bridge of my nose—though, frankly, nobody would even notice it—but otherwise, everything is looking great. 😍

Sam Kim12 said:It’s been 10 days since my surgery. I went in for a follow-up today and they finally took the splint off. The doctor seems really happy with how things look, and honestly, so am I. My nasal lining is still a little swollen, but breathing feels amazing😁.
I have some minor bruising under my eyes that should clear up in a day or two, and my nose bridge is slightly puffy, though nobody else really notices. Overall, everything is going great. 😍

🙂 Come on, post some pics! 🙂)

Rachel Fisher97 said:🙂 Come on, drop a pic already! 🙂)

I didn't bother transferring anything from my phone to my laptop—too much hassle—but I can definitely shoot it over via email.😉

And honestly? I am counting down the minutes until the day I can finally breathe through my nose again without feeling like I'm inhaling concrete.😬

Sam Kim12 said:I didn't actually transfer anything from my phone to my laptop, but I can just email it over.😉

Also, I’m really looking forward to the day I can finally breathe through my nose again.😬

Anyway, catch me in the DMs.🙂

I underwent both cosmetic and functional surgery with Dr. Tončić this month, and I can honestly say I am beyond thrilled! I was dealing with a significant hump and a severe deviated septum, but the doctor did an absolutely phenomenal job—he even scheduled my surgery just one day after my initial consultation. The procedure itself was painless since it was done under local anesthesia. Afterward, the pain was practically nonexistent; it was more of a stinging sensation. Of course, the hardest part was definitely the discomfort from the nasal packing, along with some stinging and watery eyes that led to a few sleepless nights. But even after such a short recovery period, I can already tell it was completely worth it! I am counting down the days until two months have passed and I am fully healed with a perfect nose. Huge kudos to Dr. Tončić and his entire team; they are incredibly professional and, above all, exceptionally kind.

dustyheron102 said:I underwent both cosmetic and functional surgery with Dr. Tony Bennett this month, and honestly, I couldn't be happier with the results. I was dealing with a significant hump and a severe deviated septum, but the doctor did an incredible job—he actually performed the surgery just a day after my initial consultation. The procedure itself was painless since they used local anesthesia. Afterward, the pain was negligible, mostly just some stinging. The hardest part was definitely the discomfort from the nasal packing, along with some eye irritation and a few restless nights. Even so, looking back, it was absolutely worth it. I’m just counting down the two months until I'm fully recovered and my nose looks perfect. Huge thanks to Dr. Tony Bennett and his team; they are consummate professionals and incredibly kind.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the total cost for everything? Also, did you feel any congestion while you were under the anesthesia, or could you hear anything at all during the procedure? I'm really glad to hear things went so well for you...

dustyheron102 said:I actually had my surgery this month with Dr. Tony Bennett—it was both aesthetic and functional—and I have to say, I am beyond thrilled with the results. I was dealing with a significant hump and a pretty severe deviated septum, but the doctor did an absolutely stellar job; he even performed the procedure just a day after my initial consultation. The surgery itself was painless since they used local anesthesia. Afterward, the pain was honestly negligible, more of a stinging sensation... the hardest part was definitely the discomfort from the packing, the stinging, and my eyes watering, which led to a few restless nights. But even after such a short recovery window, I can already tell it was completely worth it. I’m just counting down the two months until I'm fully healed and my nose looks perfect. Huge thanks to Dr. Tony Bennett and his entire team; they are incredibly professional and just wonderful people.

I'm so happy to hear everything went smoothly for you and that you're pleased with the outcome🙂. I was wondering, did they perform the procedure using the closed or open method, and did you undergo an osteotomy (breaking the bone)?

Ethan James47 said:If you don't mind me asking, what was the total cost for everything? Also, did you get that narrow nose look? And while you were under anesthesia, could you actually hear anything happening during the surgery? I am just so thrilled to hear you're happy with the results!

So, the total price comes to $4833 for both procedures. If you are just looking at the cosmetic side, I believe it’s around $9,000. As for the look, yes, my nasal tip definitely looks slimmer and more lifted! To be honest, I have always been terrified of doctors, and I’ve never had any surgery before this. Could I hear them? Believe it or not, I actually caught snippets of their conversation a few times! And the sensations? I felt some thumping—probably when they were working on the bone or filing—and a bit of pressure when they were smoothing out the hump. But overall, there was absolutely no pain! And the timing? It honestly felt like the whole thing lasted only five to ten minutes!😉