Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Donna Johnson16 said:Take a quick look through this thread. For example, there’s this:

And there is also this website http://allthedeals.com/

where a clinic http://cityhealthclinic.com (Vinko Borčić) was recently offering rhinoplasty at a major discount—it might be worth reaching out to them to see if they can still work something out 😉

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Thanks for the reply! But I'm a bit lost on what a "functional surgery" actually entails regarding that nasal septum. If I were to get it tweaked, I wouldn't want much; I don't have a hump, and my nose is shaped normally enough, it just isn't pretty. I've never liked it myself, even though other people don't really notice anything "ugly" about it. Then again, I'm not looking for one of those tiny, upturned button noses—just something slightly smaller. Does that mean the septum has to be messed with too, or am I totally off base here? Either way, being able to pay by credit card is a huge plus for me. Thanks.

Donna Johnson16 said:It’s honestly hard for me to wrap my head around someone getting rhinoplasty and somehow missing the fact that the nose takes months—even up to a full year—to actually settle into its final shape. Did your doctor seriously not mention that to you?

Take photos from the front, half-profile, and full profile; then check again in a month, and then at three months. You'll see the changes much more clearly that way.

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That’s exactly why I’m trying to be so thorough with my research. At the end of the day, the nose is the centerpiece of your face, and I have zero interest in ending up looking like a disaster post-op. But knowing that the swelling subsides and the shape evolves, there's really no reason to spiral into a panic. Money isn't my main concern here; what matters is having the right information, ideally straight from the source, before I commit.

So, look, a functional procedure is basically when you're trying to fix the actual job the nose does—you know, breathing. If you aren't having any trouble catching your breath, there's really no point. Now, an aesthetic one? That's just for when you want to tweak the look of things on the outside. You can go for one, the other, or even do both at once if that's what you're feeling...

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Betty Thompson45 said:Did they offer you another surgery? I had a consultation with an ENT specialist over at Vinogradski, and they told me my nose looks completely botched. Apparently, you have to wait a full year to see the true final result, and there's really no point in waiting another eighteen months because nothing is going to change. I had my surgery 19 months ago and the results are just disastrous—the tip is bulbous, the nasal bones are uneven, and there’s actually a hole at the bridge of my nose... Honestly, I’d be happiest if I could just get a refund, because I really don't want anyone touching my nose again.
Could you send me some photos of your nose via DM?

I did ask Dr. Glušac if he could fix it, because I really don't want to live with a nose like this, obviously. But he’s refusing to perform any more procedures for now. To be honest, I feel like he might just be stalling by telling me to wait another year and a half. I understand needing to wait six months or maybe a year to see the final outcome, but waiting three years???
Now that I've read that he tells everyone the same thing, I guess I don't trust anything he says anymore.
The nose honestly looks terrible, with that hole in the middle and the huge bulbous shape... I stay active with sports, too, and I was really hoping I'd be able to breathe better, but no luck... it actually makes exercising quite difficult. I wish he would just give me my money back and admit he made a mistake, but I suppose it's pretty hard to find common ground with him... especially when you're complaining...

Doesn't the medical board monitor what they do? They take your money, and then whatever happens, happens? Is that really it?

I'm heading to an ENT appointment through Medicare next week to get a second professional opinion... I'll let you know how it goes...

I'll send those photos to your private messages..

I was seriously thinking about getting surgery with Dr. Glušac, but honestly, after hearing all these horror stories and seeing his attitude, I’m totally out. Can you guys please send me photos of your noses if you aren't happy with his work? It would really help just to see what we're dealing with here.😕

Also, for the girls who went to Dr. Tončić—can you send over some pics of your noses too?🙂Maybe I'll just go to him instead. Ugh, I'm gonna lose my mind.🙂

Donna Johnson16 said:I find it hard to wrap my head around how someone could go through with nose surgery and somehow miss the fact that the swelling takes months—even up to a year—to settle into the final shape? Did your surgeon seriously not mention that to you?

Take photos from the front, half-profile, and full profile; then do it again in a month, and then in three. You’ll see the changes much more clearly that way.

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First off—and let me be clear here—I have done my homework. I’ve read everything there is to read about pre-op prep and post-op recovery. I am fully aware that swelling can linger for up to a year; that isn't what I'm asking about. Maybe I didn't phrase my question quite right, so let me try again... I’m looking for actual, lived experience from someone who’s been through this. How much does the swelling actually change the look of the nose? Like, how much does that inflammation truly distort the final shape? Where is the swelling usually most prominent? Is it even possible that I have swelling concentrated in the columella area? Right now, my nostrils look huge and flared, and the tip looks wide too... Is it possible that once the swelling finally subsides, that part will shrink down? Or is it just anyone's guess at this point? And one more thing... once the surgery was wrapped up, my doctor told me—and I am quoting him directly here—"You have a small nose now; we completely shortened it." Now, I didn't start out with a massive nose; I just had a prominent bump and slightly wider nostrils. So, is the swelling really making my nose look that much bigger, or was my doctor being a bit dramatic? That’s why I’m feeling so let down—I was genuinely expecting the result he promised me.

Rebecca Cox42 said:I really need some help here... I took my mask off 13 days ago...

So... you guys wondering if the nose is actually gonna change? Like, is there more to come...?So, like, how much of the island does it even cover at this point? And when am I actually gonna see the final result... or is this basically it? Is that really all there is to it...?

... Is this still an island... or is it all over???

Rebecca Cox42 said:First things first, I’ve been doing my homework... I've read pretty much everything out there you could possibly find about the pre-op stuff and what the recovery process looks like afterward... So, just to make sure I'm following... those islands count towards the one-year limit too, right?...

So, how much does swelling actually matter? Like, I mean really—how much does it change the final look of the nose once everything settles down? Which part takes the biggest hit from the inflammation? I’m wondering if it's even possible that the swelling is centered around my columella... because right now, my nostrils look huge, and they just feel all wide and raw, especially around the tip... Is there any chance that once the swelling finally dies down, things will actually shrink back to normal? Or am I stuck looking like this...

Look, what I said wasn't implying that you haven't been reading the thread... it’s just that you totally missed the part about how the post-op recovery actually goes. What you wrote above in bold is just straight-up contradictory...

Of course an island or some swelling is gonna mess with the shape of your nose. How much? Well, that's the thing... it’s different for everyone. Not every surgery is exactly the same, and neither is the tissue damage. Plus, nobody heals at the same speed... it's all over the place...

It’s absolutely possible, honestly—and you should probably expect some swelling around the tip of your nose and the surrounding tissue too. But look, how much Person A or Person B actually sees that swelling go down after a month doesn't really have any direct impact on *your* specific nose... those recovery timelines people talk about, where it takes anywhere from a month to a full year to see the final result? They vary so much because every single patient reacts totally differently...

Look, those tiny, incremental changes that happen after the first month? They’re damn near impossible to spot if you're staring at yourself in the mirror every single day... you just get used to your own face, ya know? That's why I told you guys to start taking photos. Seriously... grab a camera, snap some shots, because once you look back later, the difference actually becomes obvious... otherwise, you'll feel like nothing's happening...

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Robin Jones51 said:I’ve been lurking in this thread for a while now...
and I just had to jump in because I totally feel for Betty Thompson45. It seems like a ton of girls here have gone under the knife with Glušac or others, so let's get this discussion moving...

My septorhinoplasty was about eighteen months ago. Guess what? I'm still breathing through only one nostril just like before. Plus, my nose looks way bigger and wider—there's this dent right in the middle, and the tip is massive, like a literal ball. Seriously, the exact part I wanted to fix ended up looking super thick, just like what Betty Thompson45 went through.
😢...I'll post pics once I actually feel brave enough🙂))

I keep emailing the doctor, and I was back for a checkup recently where he used some local tool to poke at something so I could breathe better—did it all without even documenting it, but whatever... still can't breathe.
The doc basically blames my post-op look on my "thick skin" and claims I have to wait three years for everything to settle! I've been hearing that same line for a year straight. I've been massaging the tip like he told me to, but it's useless. Honestly, I'm terrified of what comes next. What am I even supposed to do...

Also, I'm feeling the same way about the **bolded part** 🤷

I'm wondering how I'm going to deal with the skin at the bridge of my nose. I think it's stuck because the skin won't budge at all when I try to massage it. It's not a huge deal and doesn't bother me much, but should I keep massaging it or will it just loosen up on its own?

I am looking for someone who has gone through nasal surgery to give me some insight into the full battery of tests and X-rays required before heading into the operating room. I haven't actually started any of the preliminary testing yet, but if I'm being honest with myself—and I try to be—it feels like I’m dealing with both a deviated septum and a need for aesthetic correction. I am fully aware that I need to schedule a formal consultation and sit down with a specialist to go over everything, but I would truly appreciate having a bit of a roadmap before I walk through those clinic doors.
Thanks

Eric Brown7 said:Can someone who's had nose surgery tell me which tests and X-rays I actually need before going under? I haven't done any testing yet, but my gut tells me it's a deviated septum plus some cosmetic work. I know I have to see a doctor and go through all the consultations, but I want to be in the loop before I even show up there.
Thanks

All I had was bloodwork and an EKG.

@Eric Brown7/">@@Eric Brown7

Most of the time you don't even need those X-rays, and they'll want your blood work and EKG done right around the time of the actual surgery—like within a month at most... so there's really no point in rushing out to get any of that checked before you've actually sat down for a consultation and locked in a date for the procedure

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Donna Johnson16 said:What I wrote wasn't meant to imply you haven't been reading the thread—it’s just that you clearly missed the part about the post-op recovery process. Honestly, the part you bolded above is totally contradictory.

Look, obviously swelling or inflammation changes the shape of your nose. But how much? There's no one-size-fits-all answer here. No two surgeries are identical, tissue damage varies from person to person, and recovery speeds are all over the map.

It is absolutely possible—in fact, it’s almost a guarantee—that the tip of the nose and the surrounding area will be swollen. But listen, seeing exactly how much the swelling went down for Person A versus Person B after a month doesn't actually tell you anything about *your* nose... The info regarding recovery—which can take anywhere from a month to a full year to reach the final look—varies so wildly because patients vary so drastically.

When you're staring at yourself in the mirror every single day, those tiny, gradual shifts after the first month are incredibly hard to spot. That's why I suggested taking photos; it's the only way you'll actually be able to see the difference.

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Thanks so much for the reply, I've just been feeling so overwhelmed lately... sometimes it feels like my face is changing from one day to the next. One minute I'm thrilled (like today🙂), and the next I'm totally miserable. Just gotta give it time... patience... wait for the final result... Oh, and side note—I actually burst into tears yesterday and immediately started having a nosebleed... So, yeah, big smiles and trying to stay away from the mirror as much as possible during this phase🙂 Greeting!

Rebecca Cox42 said:... honestly, sometimes I feel like my mood just swings wildly from one day to the next... some days I’m feeling totally stoked (like today🙂), and then other times I’m just... not. It’s all about timing... patience... waiting for that final result... Oh, and just a heads up, I had a little cry yesterday and immediately got a nosebleed...

It’s all good. Honestly, I think most people who go under the knife—if not everyone—hit those waves of doubt and dissatisfaction during those first few weeks after surgery. It’s just part of the whole process 🙂 ... don't sweat it, things will definitely level out.

Check back in with us in a month 👍

Is it true that for the surgery we have to strip down from the waist up, like, totally bare from the waist down? Are they at least gonna cover us with something or what?

You gotta be stripped down to the waist, just in case things go south and someone needs to jump in for CPR or whatever... But they'll cover you up, don't sweat it.🙂

Fine, at least they'll cover my top, but what about down there? What's the move for the bottom half? Sweatpants or just pajama bottoms?

Donna Johnson16 said:@Eric Brown7/">@@Eric Brown7

X-rays usually aren't even necessary, and things like blood work or an EKG really need to be done right before the actual surgery—within a month at most—so there’s honestly no point in rushing to get any of that checked out before you've even had a consultation and settled on a date for the procedure itself.

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So, what you're telling me is there are no X-rays for the head, the nose, the sinuses, or whatever else? I might be asking a stupid question here, but if they aren't doing those, how on earth do they actually know what's going on inside?

Maybe look inward for a second?
You’re stressing way too much over these tests. Honestly, who knows, you might not even end up needing surgery at all. Usually, you just go in for a standard checkup first, and then the doctor decides if they need to schedule surgery for a deviated septum or not. If you don't actually have a deviated septum and you're just worried about how your nose looks on the outside, there is zero chance they'll schedule an operation. Plus, you typically run those tests just a month before the actual procedure because they're required for the surgery itself—it's not like the doctor needs them just to stare at them. And anyway, you need referrals from your primary care physician for those tests you're obsessing over, and let's be real, your GP isn't just going to hand those out unless you specifically ask for them.

Scott Lewis2 As follows:
You really should be bare from the waist up, just in case anything goes sideways—you know, so someone can actually resuscitate you if needed. But don't worry, they’ll make sure to cover you up afterward!🙂

Of course that isn't the reason: you've got electrodes placed on the chest to monitor heart activity, plus there's the intubation tube.

So, is it okay if I wear some kind of loose undershirt? Honestly, when I was doing those other tests—the heart imaging, lung scans, and EKG—I felt totally exposed just being naked. The thought of being under anesthesia and completely bare from the waist down while they operate gives me the chills.