Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I was just in my t-shirt and shorts 🤷 at least that’s how I crashed

Eric Brown7 said:So, wait... you mean there aren't even any X-rays for the head, nose, sinuses, or whatever else? Maybe I'm asking a stupid question here, but if they aren't doing that, how on earth are they supposed to know what's actually going on inside...

"It's usually not necessary" basically means... well, not always, just occasionally, and even then, it’s rare. If they actually need a scan, the doctor will be the one to ask for it...

I’m assuming you’re talking about sitting down with a potential specialist here, not just some random general practitioner... I mean, you can totally tell if a nose needs checking just by looking at it from the outside—kind of like how pediatricians check a toddler's ears, you know? They just shine a light in there and take a quick peek... 🙂 If it’s really necessary, they can just use a probe with a light and some optics to take a look deeper inside... and honestly, don't even sweat it, it doesn't actually hurt. The equipment is tiny and super flexible too...

slydriver56 said:So, like... can I just wear a loose undershirt or something? Honestly, when I was doing those heart and lung scans and the EKG, being totally exposed felt so incredibly awkward... and now the thought of being under anesthesia, completely naked from the waist down while they're operating on me... it literally gives me the chills...

I don't know exactly which facility you're heading to for your surgery, but at this one clinic I've been to before, they give you these thin, disposable gowns... kind of like a lightweight bathrobe. They overlap in the front and tie right at the waist, so you aren't actually left totally exposed at any point, at least while you're still awake... some hospitals use them too...

Look, getting surgery... that's your call. It’s a massive decision, not some little thing you just breeze through. If you've actually made up your mind, you really need to wrap your head around the fact that you're handing your entire life and your health over to the people standing around that operating table. Honestly? Whether or not you end up with bare breasts is so incredibly irrelevant in that moment that you just have to get that thought out of your head entirely. To them, it doesn't mean a single thing...

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Betty Edwards22 said:Obviously that’s not why: they put heart monitor electrodes right on the chest, plus the intubation tube.

Yeah, sure, they use those electrodes too (only if things go south during resuscitation, God forbid...), and as for the tube, if I remember right, it goes in the mouth, not the chest.🙂I actually woke up a little too early from total anesthesia, so I felt them putting in the tampons—and let me tell you, pulling that tube out is the grossest thing ever.😳I'm just not happy with my results, so I really want to go see Dr. Tončić, but nobody is getting back to me. Please, people, send photos! If you're happy with your results, or even if you aren't... it would be a huge help to the rest of us.

Scott Lewis2 said:Of course, they bring in those electrodes too (just in case for resuscitation, you know...), and as far as I recall, the tube goes through the mouth rather than the chest area.🙂I actually woke up a little early from the general anesthesia, so I could feel them inserting the tampons, and honestly, having that tube pulled out is just the grossest thing ever.😳I’m just not thrilled with my results, which is why I really want to go see Dr. Tončić, but nobody is getting back to me. Please, if you've been through this, send over some photos—whether you're happy with how things turned out or not... it would be such a huge help to the rest of us.

From what I remember, though, it actually crosses over the chest. I guess we'll finally figure out that it makes more sense and is just more logical to be completely bare at that stage.
Ultimately, it really comes down to maintaining strict hygiene standards in the operating rooms. The staff even changes into scrubs before entering the OR, just like the patient does.

Donna Johnson16 said:'it’s usually not necessary' implies—not always, just occasionally, and even then, it's rare. If an imaging scan is actually needed, the doctor will order it.

I’m assuming you’re talking about a consultation with a potential surgeon rather than just a general practitioner. You can examine a nose perfectly well from the outside—kind of like how a pediatrician checks a toddler's ears by shining a light and taking a quick peek inside 🙂 if they need to. It’s also possible to look a bit deeper using a small scope with a light and optics (and don't worry, it really doesn't hurt; the equipment is tiny and very flexible)
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An X-ray for the nasal area in the context of septorhinoplasty is completely unnecessary.

Nasal endoscopy doesn't provide information about the nasal cartilage—only the condition of the septum, and even that can be assessed without it.

Betty Edwards22 said:An X-ray for the nose when we're talking about septorhinoplasty is totally unnecessary.

Nasal optics don't tell you anything about the cartilage anyway—it just shows the septum, and honestly, you can figure that out without the tech.

That’s exactly why I said an X-ray is "rarely needed" or "usually not necessary." But look, saying it's "never" needed isn't quite right either. If someone's dealing with breathing issues before deciding on surgery, you gotta check the sinus situation first.

Same goes for the optics—you use them if there's a specific reason to. It might be rare, sure, but it's not a non-issue.

Whatever—as long as we're clear on that.🙂

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Eric Brown7 said:I’m looking for someone who has actually gone through nose surgery to give me the lowdown—specifically, what kind of tests and X-rays am I going to need to clear before they take me under the knife? I haven't started any of the preliminary testing yet, but if I’m being honest with myself—and I usually am—it looks like a classic case of a deviated septum paired with some aesthetic correction. I’m fully aware that I have to show up for a formal consultation and run through every possible discussion with the doctor, but I’d much rather walk into that office already armed with some actual information instead of flying completely blind.
Thanks.

What exactly do you need to have in your arsenal before you even step foot in that doctor's office? It’s a bit of a headache—some physicians will insist on running a full battery of tests, demanding everything from a CT scan to X-rays or an MRI, just as a prerequisite. And then, of course, there is the whole ordeal of actually negotiating the terms of a surgery if they even decide to move forward with it in the first place.
I’m currently looking into a whole battery of diagnostic tests—we’re talking an EKG, deciding whether or not to pull the trigger on a chest X-ray, and a series of various blood panels that cover everything from my blood type to my Rh factor.

slydriver56 said:Is it actually true that you have to go shirtless for the surgery—like, completely bare from the waist up—or are they at least going to cover you with something?

The top half absolutely has to come off—you'll just be wearing underwear underneath, so you're covered the entire time.
Let me tell you how it actually works at a place like Dubrava—you get wheeled in on your own hospital bed, and then, once you hit the recovery room, they just transfer you over to a surgical gurney and throw a different sheet over you. It’s a clinical, almost mechanical process.😉

slydriver56 said:At least they'll cover my top, but what about downstairs? What am I supposed to wear on the bottom—just some sweatpants or maybe the bottoms of my pajamas?

Well, when I went in for my surgery at the hospital under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I just wore my pajama bottoms and a camisole, though I did slide the straps down so the nurses could easily pull it down while they were setting up all those monitors and gadgets before covering me back up...🙂)
but honestly, it really just comes down to the specific nurses and how the hospital handles things... in my experience, that was usually how it went...

Scott Lewis2 said:I was actually planning on having my surgery with Dr. Glušac, but after hearing about all these bad experiences and his general attitude, I think I’m going to pass. Could you three who aren't happy with his work please send me some photos of your noses? It would really help if I could see what we're dealing with.😕

And for those of you who went to Dr. Tončić, could you also send over some photos of your results? I might consider going to him instead; honestly, I feel like I'm going crazy with all this uncertainty.🙂 🙂

I can send you photos of my nose. Just DM me your email address.
Who is the third person who isn't satisfied? Are there more of them?

Nancy Palmer54 said:I’ve also noticed some sticking near the 🤷 area.

I am wondering how to handle the skin right at the base of my nose. I think it might have stuck to something, because when I try to massage that spot, the skin doesn't seem to move at all. It isn't a huge area and it doesn't really bother me, but I'm curious—should I keep massaging it, or will it eventually just loosen up on its own?

Who was your surgeon, and when did you have your rhinoplasty?
I've been massaging for about a year and a half now, and honestly, I haven't seen any results...
Here is proof that no amount of massage can fix what a doctor messed up...

Hey guys,

Post a photo of your medical records and tell us which doctor you saw. It actually means quite a bit to me! 🙂

Hey guys, just adding my name to the list of people who had a disaster of a surgery with Glušac. He absolutely wrecked my nose, and now I’m too embarrassed to even step outside.

Donna Johnson16 said:That’s exactly why I mentioned that an X-ray is "rarely needed" or "usually unnecessary." However, it wouldn't be right to say it's "never" needed, because when treating certain breathing issues before deciding on surgery, doctors might want to check the condition of the sinuses.

The same goes for endoscopy—it's used whenever there's a specific need. It might be rare, but it's certainly not non-existent.

Anyway, the main thing is that it's clear.🙂

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You're stepping into a debate where you're completely out of your depth here: sinus conditions aren't checked via X-rays, and they don't really have anything to do with septum surgery.
In fact, using skull X-rays for that purpose is considered an obsolete method today. Totally outdated.
As for sinus surgery, the gold standard nowadays is FESS: Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. It can be performed alongside a septum procedure, but it isn't done during a rhinoplasty. Let's be precise about that.

Oh, now this is interesting: let me ask you a question—how exactly are you supposed to see the appearance of cartilage through an endoscope?
Actually... what specifically are you able to see?
Please, be precise in your explanation, because based on what you just said about how endoscopes are used, I am clearly refuting your point from a practitioner's perspective.

@Betty Edwards22/">@@Betty Edwards22 - I tried getting into a real discussion with you once, but now I realize it’s pretty much a lost cause. Honestly, even if I sent you my own medical scans and full lab results personally, you’d probably just find some way to explain why they’re totally irrelevant 🙂 ... then you hit me with that question: "how can optics show what cartilage looks like?" which has absolutely zero to do with anything I actually wrote, nothing even remotely close... You’re asking me—a doctor—what optics can see? I don't know, why don't *you* tell me. My surgeon shoved it right in there; it's not like I picked it out from a storefront window.

But hey, that's how it goes. You aren't reading with any good intentions or actual comprehension, and there's really nothing I can do to change that about you.

This whole thread is titled "nose surgery," so we aren't just talking about cosmetic tweaks here. In the context of this topic and answering the general question about that first consultation—yeah, sometimes they still do X-rays or use a probe (think Washington, D.C., or maybe a major clinic in Chicago, like Dr. Poje). That’s just me speaking from my own professional experience. I’m not saying it’s standard practice everywhere—actually, I wrote several times that it isn't—but you just refuse to register that.

I honestly don't get how you can be so damn certain that you know the complete procedures for every single nose surgery case... let's not get carried away, say, just in the U.S. over the last five years?

p.s. It's actually quite easy to just quote someone directly instead of twisting their words around. "In the context of treating certain breathing issues, prior to deciding on surgery" was what I actually said

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Donna Johnson16 said:@Betty Edwards22/">@@Betty Edwards22 — I tried engaging you in a real discussion once, and now I realize there’s just not much point in it. Even if I sent you my actual scans and medical details personally, I'm sure you’d just find a way to explain why they’re somehow irrelevant. 🙂 You ask me, "How can you see the cartilage with an endoscope?" which has absolutely nothing to do with what I actually wrote; I didn't even claim anything like that... You are asking me, as a doctor, what can be seen via endoscopy? I don't know, you tell me! My doctor was the one who shoved it up my nose; I didn't exactly pick it out from a display window.

But that’s just how it is. You aren't reading with good intentions or trying to understand, and there is honestly nothing I can do to change that about you.

This thread is titled "Nose Surgery," so we aren't strictly talking about purely cosmetic procedures here. Within the context of this topic and in response to the general question regarding initial exams—yes, sometimes X-rays and probe examinations are still performed (like at Washington, D.C., or maybe a major hospital like Mayo Clinic). I am speaking from my own personal experience. I’m not saying this is standard practice everywhere—in fact, I explicitly wrote that it isn't, several times over—but you just aren't registering that.

I really don't see how you can be so certain that you know the complete procedural protocols for every single nose surgery case—let's not exaggerate—say, just in a major US city over the last five years?

P.S. It’s quite easy to just quote someone directly here instead of twisting their words. My exact words were, "In the context of treating certain breathing issues, prior to deciding on surgery."

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1. First section:
Don't derail the conversation or stir up unnecessary panic:
You responded to the question of how doctors view cartilage by saying "via endoscope." That isn't correct.
Stop trying to flip the script when you can't possibly be right given the context of the question being asked—just stay focused.

2. Second section:
Actually, it's the exact opposite; I am reading with very good intentions to correct someone—in this case, you—when they are stating WRONG and inaccurate things.
It's like how you're using that whole thing about massaging with Heparin to try and incite a frenzy, acting as if I'm persecuting you out of some vendetta. Please, pull yourself together.

3. Third section:
I'll say it again: if anyone is still using that method, it's completely obsolete today. You are speaking from your own personal perspective, rather than the professional standards that have established the diagnostic protocols for specific surgeries.
Furthermore, sinus issues weren't even mentioned—it was about septum surgery, and professional standards state that X-rays aren't used for that.
Why they were requested in your specific case is an individual matter and doesn't apply to the question posed by a forum member, which was strictly in the context of cosmetic surgery.

4. Fourth section:
I'm not sure what you were trying to ask, but I am certain that as a surgeon, I am familiar with the standard diagnostic tests and surgical procedures, and those do not include nasal X-rays for cosmetic surgery. That was the question. No one mentioned sinuses.

5. Fifth section:
Again, where in her post were sinuses ever mentioned?
Second question: "breathing difficulties" is a pretty broad term, but I still stand by my statement that for things like turbinate hypertrophy or septal deviation, an endoscope isn't required.

An endoscope is used to inspect sinus openings, blocked passages, or intranasal growths/unexplained bleeding.

panic mode 😁 ... wait, where did I say they check the cartilage using optics?

Eric Brown7 said:Can someone who’s had nose surgery please tell me which tests and X-rays I actually need to get done before the procedure? I haven't done any testing yet, but based on my own gut feeling, I think it's both a deviated septum and an aesthetic correction. I know I need to go in for a consultation and handle all the doctor meetings, but I’d love to have some info beforehand.
Thanks

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

X-rays usually aren't even necessary, and you'll need blood work and an EKG done right around the time of the surgery—within a month at most—so there’s really no point in doing any of that before you even meet with the surgeon and settle on a date.

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Eric Brown7 said:So there are no X-rays of the head, nose, sinuses, or whatever else? Maybe this is a dumb question, but how do they actually know what's going on inside then?

Donna Johnson16 said:'usually isn't necessary' implies—well, not always, just sometimes, and even then, it's rare. If they need an image, the doctor will ask for one.

I'm assuming you're talking about consulting with the actual surgeon, not just a general practitioner. You can see the nose perfectly fine from the outside—kind of like when a pediatrician checks a kid's ears, they just shine a light in and take a peek. 🙂 If they need to, they can use a little probe with a light and optics to look deeper (and don't worry, it doesn't actually hurt. The gear is tiny and super flexible)

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That's just how I answered it, because Eric Brown7 asked specifically about X-rays twice...

Look, I get it. There’s zero chance I’m gonna be right here, so I’m not even gonna bother trying. Honestly, I’m just glad you’re the one running things around here... at least now someone can call out every single lie and half-truth the second it happens 👋

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dustyeagle43 said:Hey, everyone, I’m just one more person in this long line of people unhappy with Glušac's work. He completely ruined my nose; honestly, I'm too embarrassed to even step outside.

Join The Club 😉

When did you have the surgery? Did you actually try complaining to him?

dustyeagle43 said:Hey guys, just adding my name to the long list of people who got totally screwed by Glušac's surgery. He absolutely trashed my nose. Honestly, I’m too embarrassed to even step foot outside right now.

What exactly went wrong on your end? You got any before and after pics from the surgery? Seriously, what is this—first you get all the happy people posting, then suddenly this massive wave of pissed-off patients starts rolling in.🤷

Can someone please send me some photos? My surgery is coming up soon and I am honestly freaking out right now....