Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I completely understand that when you're dealing with a "standard" surgery involving bone restructuring and all that, it takes a few months for everything to settle back into place—that was certainly my experience during my first go at this...

My only real hang-up is that I didn't experience any of those typical symptoms; there was no bruising, no swelling, nothing—it all happened incredibly fast. Tomorrow marks two weeks since the procedure and I haven't had a single side effect. Most people here have been talking about bruised nasal tips and massive swelling, so I can't help but wonder: is it actually possible that I managed to bypass all of that entirely? 🤷

Sam Grant5, thanks for the reply! 😉

You probably just built up some immunity to all that swelling, congestion, and puffiness after your first surgery😬

I’m really hoping someone else chimes in with a similar story, and that the tip of your nosesettles down—especially if it looks even bigger right now than it did before🤷
🙂

Hi there. I’m looking for some guidance. I’ve decided to move forward with the surgery and have the funds set aside, but I'm essentially starting from scratch regarding the details. Where should I go, which surgeon should I trust, and what does the actual procedure entail? I’ve been reading through this thread and noticed a mix of success stories and complaints, but regardless, does anyone have any specific recommendations? Feel free to DM me if you prefer.

darktiger19 said:Hey everyone! I could really use some advice. I've finally decided to go through with the surgery and I have the funds set aside, but honestly, I'm feeling pretty lost on the next steps. Where should I go, which doctor should I trust, and what does the actual procedure look like? I've been scrolling through this thread and noticed a mix of happy stories and some less successful ones—which makes sense—but I'd love to hear any recommendations you might have. Feel free to shoot me a DM if that's easier!

Well, it really depends on what your main issue is.

Betty Edwards22 said:It all depends on what the main issue actually is.

Purely aesthetic. My nose has a bump and is curved when viewed from the profile. I’d prefer it to be a bit smaller and straighter. The thing is, I've made up my mind and I have the funds, but I'm still completely in the dark about the next steps.

Nicole Mitchell75 said:Just wanted to share some good news!
I finally saw Dr. Smith, and my surgery is officially on the calendar for September 5th. I have to run a bunch of tests first and then bring all those referrals over to the Mayo Clinic. Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly! I can't wait to 🙂

Seriously, that's the same guy who totally messed up my nose! I really hope things go much better for you than they did for me. Just a heads up—he's definitely motivated by the money. ☕

Well... I suppose I should just share my experience here, if it helps anyone else...
I arrived at the clinic at 9:00 AM and had one last quick chat with the doctor before they took me to my room—surprising me with the news that I’d actually be staying overnight—to change, use the restroom, and undergo the pre-op exam by the anesthesiologist. By 10:00 AM, I was headed into the OR. Honestly, before I even hit the table, I was already rambling about how nervous I was—around 9:30, I was actually considering backing out entirely :P. The anesthesiologist administered the injection, and the nurses kept up a steady stream of conversation to keep me calm; before I knew it, I had drifted off. I woke up around 3:00 AM and—I don't know what came over me, thank God the nurse didn't take it personally 😉—I was trying to tell jokes to the medical resident. I was also complaining about how much the sound of my own heartbeat was grating on my nerves. Since I was incredibly thirsty, they gave me just a tiny sip of water to prevent nausea. I felt quite dizzy, so I stayed lying there for another hour before being moved to my room... There wasn't any pain, just this constant spinning sensation; I was barely aware of my surroundings. No food until the next morning, and cigarettes were strictly off the table. The doctor checked in on me later that evening to make sure everything was stable... Throughout the night, I kept getting up to use the restroom, even though the dizziness made it difficult.

The following morning, they brought me breakfast—yogurt, toast, deli meat, cheese, and jam—but I couldn't stomach anything except the yogurt, despite being absolutely famished. The doctor did a final check at 10:30 AM, and then I was cleared to go home... though the dizziness lingered, leaving me feeling a bit disconnected from reality. On the third day, I went back to have the packing removed. It wasn't painful, per se, but the sensation was just awful! I actually felt so poorly that the doctor had to elevate my legs while the nurse splashed some water on me... but, oh well. The vertigo continued, albeit slightly less intense (likely due to my blood pressure stabilizing)
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As for the bruising, I had very little on the first and second days—which I was actually quite relieved about—but then I woke up on day three and, well, aaaaaaaaah—I looked like I’d just stepped out of a boxing ring. One of my eyes was completely swollen shut. It was terrible... I tried to laugh at myself, but the mold made it impossible 😉
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As the days pass, the bruising fades; today is day nine, and I've finally reached the "yellow phase" 😉. For the Top 4 days following the procedure, I couldn't taste anything at all because of the congestion, and honestly, I'm still pretty stuffed up and struggling to breathe through my nose. Tomorrow is when they remove the mold... I'm looking forward to it, mostly because things have started getting itchy underneath, and having oily skin makes it even harder when you haven't been able to properly wash your face for nine days (I've been using wipes, but it doesn't really do the trick...). I'm not expecting a miracle once the mold comes out, though I suspect I might feel a bit depressed when I finally see the results in the mirror
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And yes... the doctor DID mention the nasal rinses (I called him afterward to double-check), but I have absolutely no memory of him saying it... and it isn't mentioned in my discharge papers either
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The total cost was $2,400, which covered both the septoplasty and the cosmetic portion (I originally came in just for the aesthetics, but he suggested that since he was already operating, he might as well fix the septum too)
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Elizabeth Fox57 - look, you can see it wasn't that big of a deal to lay out what happened 😉

😉 It wasn't that things were going terribly—it was just that I felt a bit silly sitting down to write a massive, long-winded post...

But here we go. Today they finally removed the molds (which, honestly, I was terrified about)... and it didn't hurt A SINGLE BIT!!! They use this large, wand-like tool for the ear canal, coat it in a sort of petroleum jelly, and just gently slide it under the plastic to separate everything... truly painless...
I look absolutely hideous, though—I actually started crying once I got back home :P I’m still so swollen; I feel like a total mess, it's honestly awful...

Just a quick little side note, if you don't mind... I had work done on my ear as well, and they took the bandages off today. The result is okay, but it isn't EXACTLY what I was aiming for... do you think it's possible to ask the doctor to tweak it a little more without being charged an extra fee? -.-

Elizabeth Fox57 said:😉 It wasn't actually traumatic; I just felt weirdly lazy about writing a long post earlier...

Anyway, here goes. They did the mold removal today (which was the part I was actually dreading)... and honestly, it didn't hurt AT ALL. They use this large applicator tool, coat it in something like petroleum jelly, and just gently slide it under the plastic to separate everything. Truly painless...
That said, I look pretty rough. I actually started crying on the drive home :P I'm all swollen and bloated—honestly, I look like a total mess right now. It's not pretty...

On a side note, if you don't mind me wandering off... I had my ear done too, and they took the bandages off today. The result is fine, I guess, but it’s not EXACTLY what I was aiming for. Is there any chance the doctor might tweak it a little more without charging me an extra fee? -.-

Who was your surgeon, and what did the whole thing run you?

And honestly, what’s even the point? The girl already went ahead and wrote everything out in plain English.

Haha, yeah, I mentioned this before, but here it is again... at Boeing in San Francisco... it cost me about $2,400...

And just so you know... they used a closed technique—they didn't even have to cut the muscle under my lip, so there isn't a single visible scar on the outside.😁 😁

darktiger19 said:I'm looking at cosmetic changes. My nose has a bump and a curve when viewed from the side. I'd really love to have a slightly smaller, straighter nose. So, here's the situation: I've made up my mind and I've got the funds ready, but honestly, I'm still completely in the dark about how to actually proceed.

My best advice? Make sure you pick an ENT Specialist who truly understands both the structural integrity and the actual function of the nose.

Sam Grant5 said:Exactly! Honestly, I highly doubt they even mentioned it to her... personally, I just stick to saline rinses and Operil nasal drops three times a day. Though, you can really use the saline as often as you need to.

See, it’s not about the drops—those might help you breathe easier, but that isn't even the main goal here. We're looking at mucosal recovery first, and then the swelling follows. That means an intranasal corticosteroid spray is really the only thing that hits the mark: things like Rhinocort, Nasonex, or Nasonex.

redcobra92 said:That guy totally messed up my nose during my procedure! I really hope things go smoother for you than they did for me. Just a heads-up, he’s also incredibly money-hungry. ☕

Could you give me a little more detail on that?

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Hehehe, yeah, I mentioned this before, but here it is again... at Boeing over in San Francisco... it was $2,200...

And just so you know... they used a closed technique on me. There was no cutting of the muscle under my lip, and I don't have a single external scar. 😁 😁

I mean, what would you even call it if they were cutting from the outside? 😍 😍 😍 😈

That sounds lovely, but honestly, you really should have asked about the warranty before going under the knife.
From what I can tell, revision surgeries aren't free, though it’s not entirely clear what happens if something isn't working right from day one. 🤔 😕

Hey
Has anyone here had septoplasty done at the Mayo Clinic?
I’ve barely found any reviews online about their department, so I’m trying to figure out if the doctors there are actually any good.
I’m currently torn between Dr. Lajtman and Dr. Znaor. If anyone has a recommendation, some firsthand experience, or just any info at all, I’d really appreciate it.

redcobra92 said:That’s the same guy who practically broke my nose! I really hope your experience goes smoother than mine did. Just a heads-up—he's definitely motivated by the money. ☕

I only joined this forum because I’m living proof of what happens when a surgeon like Smith completely ruins a perfectly good nose. It started with a tiny bump—nothing major—but back when I was just 17, he managed to talk my mom into thinking the surgery was "just routine" and that removing the bump was no big deal. Needless to say, things went south fast. I was dealing with massive swelling for nearly nine months. He kept insisting he only touched a 2mm bump, but anyone looking at me could see my entire nose had been reshaped. I begged him to be honest about what he actually did—since we had specifically agreed he wouldn't touch anything else—but he wouldn't budge. Eventually, I had to go under the knife again for corrective surgery. The other doctors confirmed it: he had absolutely botched it. He almost cut away the cartilage at the tip—which, by the way, is a huge no-no in rhinoplasty—especially since my nose naturally had a slight upward tilt. Instead of a natural look, my nose ended up looking unnaturally pinched and, frankly, much uglier than it was before, even without the bump. On top of that, it stayed swollen and numb for ages. The worst part? I have documentation from other specialists proving exactly how much damage he caused, yet he still insists he only removed that tiny bump. To make matters worse, he was incredibly rude about it—he actually had the nerve to yell at me, threatening that he'd just "put the bump back" if I wasn't satisfied.🤣I even showed an old photo of my nose to his good friend, Prof. Uglešić, just to let him know exactly who performed my surgery. Uglešić started stuttering immediately—trying to dodge the question by making those typical excuses about how mistakes can happen and that every nose requires a different approach, all while insisting that Smith is actually a great doctor. Honestly, my nose was nearly perfect before; there was just one tiny bump. Unfortunately, I don't have any legal recourse since Smith performed the procedure at the Mayo Clinic through a side connection—he usually only handles septum repairs and aesthetic rhinoplasties. The man is just a complete snake.👎I’m really not writing this to tear anyone down—every single word here is the truth. I’ve heard from several people over at the Mayo Clinic that he has a bit too much of a drinking problem. While I haven't witnessed it firsthand, I can personally confirm that both as a doctor and as a human being, he turned out to be a complete zero.

Betty Edwards22 said:It's not about drops—those might help you breathe, but they don't fix the actual problem. You need to heal the lining first before the swelling goes down. An intranasal corticosteroid spray is the only thing that really does that: think Rhinocort, Nasonex, or Nasonex.

So, should I actually go out and buy that stuff right now?🤷
It’s been five days since they pulled my packing out... the doctor checked everything inside today and said it all looks fine.🤷

Do you think anything could still be going wrong in there?

I honestly don't get why they'd prescribe that specific combo at the hospital then... just saline and Operil... I mean, those guys aren't total amateurs, right?🤷

frozennomad25 said:I actually decided to join this forum because Smith literally ruined my nose. It was naturally beautiful, just had one tiny little bump. I was only 17 at the time, and he totally convinced my mom that removing the bump was no big deal—just a routine procedure. I won't even get into how swollen I stayed for almost nine months straight. He kept insisting he only removed a 2mm bump, but my nose looked completely different afterward. I kept begging him to tell me exactly what he did, since we specifically agreed he wouldn't touch anything else. In the end, I had to go back for corrective surgery. Other doctors confirmed that he completely botched it; he nearly cut away the cartilage at the tip (which you should *never* do to the nasal tip), especially since my nose naturally tilted slightly upward. My nose ended up looking unnaturally pinched and, frankly, much uglier than my natural one—it just didn't have that 2mm bump anymore. It was constantly swollen and felt numb all the time. The worst part is that I have documentation from other specialists showing the mess he made, yet he stubbornly insisted he hadn't touched anything besides the bump. To top it off, he was incredibly rude and actually yelled at me, threatening that he'd "give me the bump back" if I kept complaining.🤣I even showed a photo of my nose from before the surgery to his close colleague, Prof. Uglešić, and told him who operated on me. Uglešić started stuttering and making excuses, saying mistakes happen, that every nose is different, and that Smith is a good doctor. Honestly, my nose was nearly perfect; the only issue was that tiny bump. Unfortunately, there's no recourse for legal action because Smith performed the surgery at the Mayo Clinic through a specific connection he has there for septum and aesthetic rhinoplasties. The man is just a complete jerk.👎I'm truly not writing this just to badmouth anyone. Every word here is the truth. I've heard from a few people over at the Mayo Clinic that he enjoys drinking a bit too much, too. I haven't seen that myself, but I can certainly confirm that as both a doctor and a person, he turned out to be a total zero.

All 5 stars—I really appreciate you sharing this, though I honestly don't understand why you went to him in the first place. What was bothering you about your nose originally?
And, just a thought—it isn't strictly true that you never, ever touch the cartilage at the tip. You just have to know how to work with it, and very few people actually have that skill.