Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I honestly feel like Bagatin’s noses look almost exactly the same after the surgery—like, he barely even touches the tip, you know? I mean, I really don't have a clue which of our local surgeons actually does a decent job with the tips at all...

I was just looking at that myself. I’ve reached out to them a few times now, but honestly? Total radio silence on their end. -.-

This forum is pretty much my only reliable source of info at this point. I know a couple of people who went under the knife, but it was all for bone issues—nobody I know has done it just for minor aesthetic tweaks.

Has anyone actually been to see Dr. Nina Vidas over in Cleveland? 🙂
Any experiences? What’s the damage? 😁

vividangler69 said:That’s exactly what I’m trying to do, but I’ve emailed them a few times and haven't heard a single word back. Typical. -.-

Honestly, this forum is pretty much my only way to get any real intel. I know a couple of people who went under the knife, but it was all for bone issues—nobody I know has done it just for those minor aesthetic tweaks.

Look, you're starting off on the wrong foot here... fixing a hump or dealing with bone restructuring is actually a "lighter lift" for a surgeon than tweaking a nasal tip. Or, as you put it, those "minor aesthetic reasons."
The tiny details are always the hardest part to nail down surgically.

Sarah Cox66 said:I was wondering if those might actually be nasal polyps—you know, those growths that come from chronic inflammation in the nasal lining. Since you mentioned they’re planning on removing them, I'm assuming that's exactly what the procedure is for.🙂

When it comes to polyps, we aren't talking about burning them off. Instead, the procedure involves manually extracting those polypoid masses or using a suturing technique. After that's done, if the lining looks thickened, the doctor will go ahead and clear out the mucosa to make sure everything is clean.

rustygardener172 said:Some people argue winter is better because swelling goes down faster in the cold. Plus, you don't have to worry about infections spiking due to summer heat. When your nose is freshly operated on, you really shouldn't be exposing it directly to the sun for a while. So, winter seems like the smart move... But then again... they recommend getting as much movement as possible to help the mucosa recover and improve breathing. Also, since fewer people schedule surgeries during the summer, you might actually get on the operating table sooner. So, summer has its perks too...
😁
What I’m trying to say is that everything comes with its own set of pros and cons. Honestly, the best time to get your nose done is whenever it works for your schedule—basically, whenever you can carve out two or three weeks of downtime. 😁

Infections aren't really tied to the season itself. I agree with most of what was said, except for that final conclusion—I don't think anyone actually wants to be dealing with a freshly operated, heavily packed nose when it's 95 degrees outside!

Hannah Turner46 said:Has anyone had any positive experiences with our local doctors when it comes to refining or defining the nasal tip? My impression is that they're mostly capable of fixing a hump (which is the easy part of the surgery), but I don't see anything particularly specific regarding tip work based on the photos on their websites...

My doubts about their skill sets actually led me to do some digging on international forums like MakeMeHeal and RealSelf. I ended up finding two surgeons here in the States whose work I absolutely loved—maybe someone else might find this helpful! 🙂

Dr. Vladimir Grigoryants

http://www.vgplasticsurgery.com/Nose...%20Gallery.htm

and Dr. Ashkan Ghavami

http://www.ghavamiplasticsurgery.com...and_after.html

There's nothing like an American doctor 😁

When you're dealing with the tip, you really have to play around with the alar cartilages, and that’s where you truly need an artist at the helm.
On the other hand, just shaving down a hump or adjusting the sides is a much simpler task.

rustygardener172 said:You’ve got it backwards from the jump. Dealing with a hump or broken bones is actually a much easier job for a surgeon than fixing the tip of the nose—what you called those "minor aesthetic details."
The tiny stuff is always the hardest part to operate on.

So, who would be the go-to expert for those fine details then? And what about the cost? Is there anyone here who’s actually gone through this kind of thing and could point me in the right direction or give me some advice?

vividangler69 said:So, who would actually be the best choice for those little details? And regarding the cost... honestly, is there anyone here who has gone through this kind of thing and could point me in the right direction or offer some guidance?

Those "little details" you mentioned can actually be even more critical than fixing a kyphosis. One of the most vital aspects is making sure your nose can actually function and breathe properly. To achieve that, you need a stable nasal valve, which is essentially defined by how those alar cartilages interact with the septum. It’s a mistake to look at this purely from an aesthetic standpoint. That’s exactly why not every ENT specialist focuses on this specific type of work.

Hey everyone,
Short version: I promised myself I’d drop a few words here once this was all behind me. Before the surgery, I was basically driving myself insane—constantly asking questions, obsessively researching, comparing my notes to everyone else's experiences, you name it.
Look, if you do a couple of searches before the procedure, you can get everything sorted in two days. You can go through a hospital or opt for a private clinic depending on how much time and cash you have to burn. Anyway, your chosen doctor sends you the referrals. You take those to your primary care physician to get the paperwork moving, finish the tests, and then just wait for your date. The night before, around 9:00 PM, you stop eating. Same thing in the morning, though you can have a tiny bit of liquid. I couldn't ditch the cigarettes, though. 🙂By the time the waiting game dragged on, I ended up smoking way more than I planned. As for the surgery itself? Nothing special. It felt like a split second from the moment I hit the table until they woke me up. They told me the actual procedure took about 30-40 minutes, plus an hour for prep. Total time from going under to waking up was maybe 2 or 3 hours. Once I was up, I got dressed, lit a cigarette, and that was that. Honestly, don't stress yourself out over the surgery itself. Things happen, you can't control it, and worrying won't change the outcome. The recovery isn't even that bad. That first night is a bit annoying—your throat gets incredibly dry, but as long as you drink fluids, it's fine. Your head might ache, but nothing out of the ordinary; I just popped an Advil and called it a day. Then, three days later, they remove the packing, which feels like a total relief. Removing the splint on day seven was actually the most painful part—getting those stubborn bandages peeled off your face... honestly, compared to a bad flu, it wasn't even that bad. So, if you want to do it, I say go for it.
Regarding the results: I don't think anyone has found a doctor that *everyone* is happy with. You've gotta negotiate well, and at the end of the day, it really depends on what you're starting with and how skilled the surgeon is.
Everything looks great right down to the tip of the nose. Reading other people's stories, it seems like a lot of folks walk away unhappy. For me, the change is huge, even if it doesn't look that different to everyone else. People I told know the difference, and that's enough for me.
I'll admit, it takes a while for everything to feel "normal" again. I didn't have any issues with bleeding, but that weird sensation and sensitivity when you touch your nose lasts about 2 to 3 months. Still, it's definitely not worth being terrified or stressed about. I took a week of vacation, and by Monday, I was back at work like nothing happened.
One last thing: if you want this, and every time you look in the mirror it bugs you and you just want it fixed, don't wait. (Unless, obviously, money is the issue.) Just go for it.
Waiting around accomplishes nothing.

Good luck

I'm traveling in from Canada and I'm planning on getting nose surgery...
Has anyone here actually dealt with Dr. Karabeg or Dr. Agincica?
Also, does Dr. Glumicic ever travel to Canada? I really need someone to give me some answers here—it's urgent. Thanks. 😁

Hey everyone, I wanted to jump in and say hi—this forum has been such a lifesaver for me lately. I’m currently five days post-op with Dr. Zambelli, and rather than writing a novel here—unless anyone actually wants to read a saga—please feel free to shoot me a private message if you have questions! 😉

I also had a few things I wanted to run by you all... so, the tampons have been removed, but the mold is still in place. Should I be rinsing my nose with anything specific at this stage? Also, my nose feels completely stuffed up, but I find myself breathing through it during the night (totally unintentionally)—is that actually bad, like am I putting too much pressure on the area, or is it good because it keeps the airflow moving? And I’ve been feeling a little lightheaded—I’m assuming that’s just from the congestion, right?

Hi, I'm looking for some rough estimates on rhinoplasty costs. Sorry if I missed previous discussions, I haven't read everything yet.

I have no idea if I actually have breathing issues; I’ve just always breathed this way and never realized there was a better way.
It would be purely for aesthetic reasons.
To be honest, if I had the money, I’d go for it tomorrow. Cost is my only real barrier.

I wouldn't say I'm deeply dissatisfied with my nose—it’s more that it bothers me in small ways.🙂 It isn't ruining my life, but rather acts as a minor irregularity that slightly disrupts the overall balance of my face.
So, occasionally I’ll catch myself in the mirror and it catches my eye, even though I’m mostly happy with my other features. I feel like that one small procedure would finally give me peace of mind.
It isn't a massive "hook" shape; it’s just a bit fleshy, and from the profile view, there is a slight bend due to a fall I had as a kid. Otherwise, the size fits my face perfectly. From the front, it looks fine, but the issue shows up in profile where it protrudes just a bit too much from the rest of my face. Basically, I’d just want to soften that protrusion and smooth out the thickening. I wouldn't touch the actual shape or the size.
A lot of people tell me they like my nose and think I shouldn't change it, but at the end of the day, it's about how I feel personally, right?

One more thing: is it better to schedule this during the winter or the summer? Thanks a lot.

Elizabeth Fox57 said:I figured I’d jump in here too, since this forum has been such a huge help to me... I had my surgery with Dr. Zambelli just five days ago. I don't want to write a novel here, but if anyone has questions, please feel free to shoot me a private message! 😉

Also, I wanted to ask you all... okay, so the packing has been removed, but the mold is still in there. Should I be rinsing my nose with something specific? My nose feels completely stuffed up, but I end up breathing through it during the night (totally by accident)—is that bad? Like, am I putting too much pressure on it, or is the airflow actually a good thing? Also, I’m feeling a little lightheaded; I'm guessing it's because everything is so congested...???

Wait, shouldn't your surgeon be the one giving you those directions?
Post-op care is really important.

For the patients we discharge, we always recommend doing heavy saline rinses three times a day, using Garasone/Maxitrol drops for five days, and then following up with an intranasal corticosteroid spray for a shorter period to help restore the mucous membrane.

But again—you really need to check with your own doctor to be sure.

Betty Edwards22 said:I mean, shouldn't the surgeon be the one telling you all this?
Post-op care is a huge deal.

For any patients we discharge, we always recommend rinsing heavily with saline three times a day, using Garasone/Maxitrol drops for five days, and then switching to an intranasal corticosteroid spray for a shorter period just to help the mucosa settle back down.

But like I said—that’s really up to the surgeon to handle.

Exactly! Honestly, I doubt they didn't give her some written instructions... at my place, it's just saline plus nose drops three times a day... though you can honestly use the saline even more often than that.

Unfortunately, he hasn't said a word to me... if he had actually given me any indication, I wouldn't even be asking, right? But since we're at a standstill, I suppose I'll just have to give him a call myself...

Wait, how come they didn't write everything down on your discharge papers?
Everything is listed on mine—what they actually did, who treated me, when, plus all my follow-up therapy and checkups.

I don't get it, how did they not give you that in writing?

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Look, I gotta jump in here too, since this whole board has been a total lifesaver for me... I'm not gonna sit here and write a freaking novel, but if anyone actually wants the lowdown, just hit me up via DM 😉

Why on earth would you think it’s any easier to reply to everyone individually through DMs, typing out basically the same thing over and over?
Trust me, it’s a nightmare.

You even said yourself how much this place helped you. So why not just lay it all out there and share some actual details?

Nobody is going to complain if a post is as long as the Bible if it’s actually useful. 🤷

Hello everyone, I have a quick question for the group—if anyone here has gone through something similar or might have some insight!

I had surgery about two weeks ago, which was actually my second nose job. This one was strictly cosmetic. Unlike my first procedure, there was no bone breaking involved this time; the surgeon just shaved down the lower cartilaginous part where a noticeable bump had remained from the previous operation. He also gave the tip a slight lift while he was at it.

The numbness has already started to fade, though there’s still a tiny bit of tightness—but honestly, there isn't any pain at all.

What I'm really wondering is: when can I realistically expect the swelling to fully subside? The lower portion looks a bit bulky right now, and I'm curious if the tip might drop slightly over time, given that it doesn't feel particularly hard or overly swollen. 😕

Since we didn't touch the bone this time and the whole process was relatively straightforward, I'm questioning how much more change I should anticipate. Is what I'm seeing now basically the final result, or is there still significant shifting to come?

Thanks in advance for any help!

They told me all the swelling in my nose should settle down after about a month or maybe six weeks, and that you can't really judge the final look during that window... apparently, I won't see the true, lifelong results until the 6-month mark post-op. Honestly, my surgery wasn't even purely cosmetic, though there was some minor touch-up work involved 🤷
I'm just dying to know what it'll actually look like once this cast comes off 😍