Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

UglyKidJoe
I have a question... does the tip of the nose always drop? Like, is it always positioned higher than it’s supposed to be once the splint comes off?
Apparently, they'll need to do a lot of work on my columella because it's considered "hollow." I'm trying to wrap my head around what actually happens in those cases... my guess is they lift the nose and reposition the cartilage, 😁 but my biggest fear is ending up with that "Miss Piggy" look if he lifts it too much.
To be honest, I originally went to the clinic just to fix my breathing issues, but the surgeon suggested a cosmetic touch-up as well.
Would it be awkward to ask him to make sure the nose isn't "over-rotated" or too upturned, considering I'm technically there for functional reasons? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks. 🙂

Rachel Fisher97 said:Betty Edwards22
I have a question... does the tip of the nose always drop? Like, is it always lifted higher than it should be once the splint comes off?
They told me they’ll have to do a lot of work on my columella because it’s considered "hollow." So, what do they actually do in that situation? In my own crazy logic, I'm guessing they lift the nose and stitch the cartilage together, 😁 and my biggest fear is ending up with that "Miss Piggy" look if they lift it too much.
Honestly, I originally went to the hospital just to fix my breathing issues, but the doctor was the one who suggested the cosmetic side of things too.
So, would it be awkward to ask him not to make it look "overly upturned or pig-like," especially since I'm there primarily for functional reasons? I'd love some advice. Thanks! 🙂

Modern surgeons really try to avoid that extreme "upturned" look where you feel like you're breathing through your nostrils—they aim for a natural profile. Plus, keep in mind that the nose almost always has a tendency to settle and drop slightly over the first few months.

As for working on the nasal tip itself, an open rhinoplasty technique is usually best because it gives the surgeon full visibility and total control over everything happening under the hood.

What you mentioned about the "hollow" area suggests the nose lacks stability because there isn't enough cartilage support in the columella. To visualize this, imagine taking a piece of cartilage from another part of the nose and grafting it into what's called a "columellar strut." This creates a structural support that keeps everything elevated while the sutures hold the shape in place. Once those stitches eventually dissolve, you finally see how well the natural tissue has taken over the job of stabilizing the structure.

Since we’re already talking about cartilage, I’ve got a question of my own. When you undergo rhinoplasty and they actually reduce the tip of the nose—meaning they're working directly on that area—do they have to mess around with the cartilage there, or what exactly is the process?

Karen Ross84 said:Since we're already talking about cartilage, I actually have a question myself. When they perform nose surgery and reduce the tip—meaning they're touching the cartilage there too—do you have to constantly fiddle with it or anything?

Well, what other choice is there? For anyone interested, the structure of the nostrils is made up of alar cartilages, which together form the nasal valve—a crucial factor for breathing properly. It can be traumatic, but any kind of picking or messing around in that area can lead to issues with the valve and your ability to breathe. That's why you really have to be careful about how you handle it.

Look, I didn't realize how deep this went. I’m just heading in for surgery myself—I’m not a med student, I haven't spent my life obsessing over clinical details, and frankly, half of the jargon you people are throwing around here goes right over my head. Honestly, you all have made this whole situation look so chaotic and terrifying that if I were anyone else facing an upcoming procedure, I’d probably want to cancel it right now. You actually managed to scare the life out of me. Let’s be real: every doctor makes mistakes. That isn't a valid reason to launch a smear campaign against someone. Most of the patients who have successful outcomes don't bother coming online to post about it, so all we end up seeing is this concentrated wave of negativity designed to make it look like a surgeon is incompetent, despite them performing this exact job for years. I get wanting to share a bad experience once, but when one single person spams ten different posts just to insult and tear down a professional, it stops being "feedback" and starts looking like a targeted hit job. It gives the impression that the doctor hasn't even performed a single proper operation in their entire career, which we know isn't true. I know I’m going to catch heat for saying this, but I had to get it off my chest!

Betty Edwards22 said:Moderná's nasal sprays seem to avoid that extreme upward tilt that causes them to buzz right into your nostrils. I guess there's also a tendency for the nose to settle back down after a few months.

I guess it’s probably best to work on the nasal tip using an open technique; that way, you can actually see everything clearly and keep it under control.

What you’re describing sounds like instability in the nose because there isn't enough support within the columella—basically, there's a lack of cartilage. I guess you can picture it like this: a piece of cartilage is taken from another area and tucked into what's called a columellar pocket. A suture is then placed to hold everything in a more elevated position. Once that stitch eventually dissolves, you basically find out if the tissue itself was strong enough to take over the job of stabilizing things.

My report says they’re going to use an open technique. I guess the doctor probably knows what they're doing, so I probably won't mention that I'm not looking to end up looking like Miss Piggy. 🙂

So, I've got a left-sided nasal septum deviation, an empty columella, and external kyphosis of the cartilaginous-bony part of the dorsum... I think I understand most of that, but I'm a little fuzzy on the last part. Any idea what that actually means?
Thanks for the reply. 🙂

Rachel Fisher97 said:My medical report says they’re going to perform an open technique—which, honestly, gives me some peace of mind. I have to assume the doctor knows exactly what he's doing here—it's usually better to trust the expertise of someone at a place like the Mayo Clinic rather than second-guessing the plan. Still, I probably won't mention my main concern—that I'd really prefer not to end up looking like Miss Piggy. 🙂

So, I’ve been looking over my diagnosis, and while most of it makes sense—I have a left-sided nasal septal deviation and an empty columella—there is one specific part that has me completely stumped. It mentions an external kyphosis of the cartilaginous and bony portion of the dorsum... and honestly, I’m struggling to wrap my head around what that actually means in plain English. Any experts out there who can help me make sense of this last bit?
I really appreciate you getting back to me with that answer. 🙂

Don’t play games here—you really need to be upfront with your doctor, otherwise you'll end up sitting there later thinking, "I wish I had spoken up." Recovery is such a long, grueling process, and you have to make sure every single one of your concerns is voiced. Doctors aren't mind readers—it truly only takes two sentences and about two seconds of your time to ensure you're actually safe.

I really have to give a quick shout-out to Zambelli again—they actually reached out to me just now to check in and see how I was doing, and if I was satisfied with everything... it's those little touches that count.

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Don't play games... you might as well tell the doctor everything now so you don't end up saying "I didn't know" later. Recovery takes forever, and you really need to mention all your concerns. Doctors can't read minds... it's just two sentences, takes two seconds, and then you're covered.

You have a point. It’s just a little awkward since I'm at a public hospital rather than a private clinic... but I'll probably bring it up before the surgery. Whatever happens, happens. :-P

Rachel Fisher97 said:My medical report says they’re going to use an open technique. Honestly, I’m just trusting the doctor to do his thing—he clearly knows what he's doing. I probably shouldn't even bring up my fear of ending up looking like Miss Piggy! 🙂

So, I’ve got a left-sided nasal septal deviation, an empty columella, and some external kyphosis of the cartilaginous and bony part of the dorsum... everything makes perfect sense to me so far, except for that last bit. Can someone break down what that actually means?
Thanks so much for getting back to me! I really appreciate the response. 🙂

It’s the same old story: people fail to ask the right questions and then act completely shocked when they don't like the results. You really have to stay on top of things and check in with all your service providers—they aren't mind readers, after all!

To answer the question you asked earlier—yes, they are going to be correcting that hump on the nose. It’s actually a case of kyphosis.

Rachel Fisher97 said:You're totally right, and I really should be saying that, it’s just a little awkward since I'm currently stuck in a public hospital rather than a private clinic... but honestly, if I can get a handle on things before the surgery, then so be it! :-P

🙄
Look, nothing was actually "gifted" here—if you feel the need to apologize, you should be doing it to the American taxpayers who fund our healthcare system and pay for everything from chemotherapy to stuff like this. The operator doesn't have anything to do with it because they get paid for their job regardless. So, seriously, feel free to ask whatever else is on your mind...

Betty Edwards22 said:🙄
Nothing was actually gifted here—if you're going to apologize, maybe do it to the American taxpayers who fund the healthcare system and pay for everything from chemo to this. The surgeon doesn't really have anything to do with it, since they get paid regardless. So, feel free to ask whatever else comes to mind...

That's true, but any aesthetic tweaks to my nose are purely at the doctor's discretion. I came in for functional reasons, not because of the bump. But I'll definitely ask him about everything...
Just let me know when I'll actually get a chance to talk to him again. Is it during the pre-op visit right before surgery, or should I bring my test results by for a private chat? Honestly, thank God, I've never had surgery before, so I'm not really sure how the process works...

Trust me, it would be so much more awkward if you ended up stuck with a nose you never actually wanted... I went through my procedure privately, so I can't really offer much guidance on the insurance side of things... but maybe try asking your sister or someone else when he’s at the Mayo Clinic—just catch him when he's available. I totally get that you don't want to feel like you're pestering him, but honestly? It's your nose! If he's already okay with the idea of cosmetic surgery, then one more little detail shouldn't make much of a difference to him!!

Rachel Fisher97 said:That’s true, but honestly, the doctor being willing to touch up my nose aesthetically is just a nice bonus. I originally came in to fix the breathing issues, not because I was bothered by a crooked nose. But I am definitely going to ask him about everything...
Just let me know when I might actually get a chance to talk to him again. Should I try to catch him during a consultation right before the surgery, or should I bring my test results in to chat privately? Honestly, thank God, I've never actually had surgery before, so I have no idea how this all works...

Well, once you arrive at the hospital, just tell the head nurse that you’d really like to have a quick word with the surgeon.

That’s true enough, though you're acting like you're trying to build a relationship with Ra himself! It’s definitely a good idea to ask, and having a vision for the outcome isn't bad at all—it just has to be realistic.
Just don't forget who made this whole thing possible for you, and keep in mind that since this isn't being covered by Medicare through a public plan but is instead private, it's all coming straight out of your own pocket.

Hey everyone, I've been lurking on this forum for a little while now... and I was wondering if anyone knows what the damage is for a rhinoplasty with Dr. Glushac? Specifically looking at the aesthetic side of things.

I guess it’s best to just check with the head nurse; hopefully she’ll have a moment to talk to me... thanks so much for all the info, you guys have been a huge help. I'll stay in touch and probably keep bugging you with more questions 🙂 and I'll definitely let you know how everything goes.
The surgery is set for October 18th, so I still have some time, but the anxiety seems to be creeping up a little more every day.
It’ll turn out fine, right? 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Melissa Sanchez34 said:hey
has anyone here had septoplasty done at Mayo Clinic?
I can't find much info online about their specialists, so I was wondering if anyone here has been there and what the doctors are actually like...
I'm torn between Dr. Leitman and Dr. Znaor, so if anyone has a recommendation, an experience, or just any bit of intel, I'd really appreciate it

I've been there
I already shared my thoughts when someone asked about Leitman before,
that's actually why I signed up for this forum, if I recall correctly, Zila was the one asking...
honestly, they're both great and they both operated on me...
hahahahha
all jokes aside,
it really depends on what you're looking for...
if you just care about breathing properly—go with Znaor, he's fantastic for that...
but if you're also looking for some cosmetic tweaks—go with Leitman, just be very upfront about exactly what you want and what you don't...
he wanted to lift the tip of my nose a little bit...
I told him straight up that I didn't want that and he shouldn't touch it, and naturally, my nose turned out beautiful and natural, just the right size instead of looking like a teddy bear's snout or a pig's, or heaven forbid, looking like Severine...
so yeah...
hope that helps you out...
good luck...

I had my surgery three weeks ago (rhinoplasty, hump reduction, and overall slimming). My nose actually looks wider and bigger than it did before the procedure. Is this just because of the swelling, or am I stuck looking like this? :-(

nimblemarlin622 said:I had my surgery 3 weeks ago (narrowing, hump removal, and reducing the whole nose shape). My nose looks wider and bigger than it did before—is that just because of the swelling, or am I stuck looking like this?? :-(

Look, you literally just listed everything they did to you and how long it’s been.

The human body is pretty wild, sure, but expecting everything to settle perfectly after only three weeks? Give me a break...

Betty Edwards22 said:Well, if you get admitted to the hospital, I suppose it might be a good idea to tell the head nurse that you’d actually really love to have a quick word with the surgeon.

That is certainly true, though I feel like you're treating the dynamic as if we're dealing with Ra himself. It might actually be quite desirable to ask her, and honestly, having that kind of vision isn't necessarily a bad thing, provided it stays within the realm of possibility.
Just don't lose sight of who actually made that happen, and keep in mind that the cost through the VA isn't exactly cheap compared to going private. It really just comes down to which pocket you're pulling all that money from.

Hey, which doctor would you suggest for nose surgery? I noticed from your posts that you seem to know a lot about this, so if you could share your thoughts, I'd really appreciate it. 🙂 thanks