Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Sandra Green81 said:Don't worry about Neca 🙂
I specifically said to post before and after photos. I have no idea why nobody will just do it. They could have at least snapped a picture of the nose...

thanks Sandra Green81 🙂

Can someone who actually knows their way around plastic surgery give me some real advice? I’m wondering if it’s even possible through surgery to make my nose look narrower—like, by what percentage are we talking?—and if I can slim down the tip because right now it’s way too bulbous and looks like an onion.
And if it is doable, which surgeon in the States would be the absolute best for a procedure like that?
Thanks a million. 🙂

So, does anyone know if there are actually any surgeons in America capable of pulling off procedures like these:

placidlynx52 said:Could someone who knows a bit more about plastic surgery help me out? I'm wondering if it's actually possible to make my nose narrower through surgery—like, by what percentage roughly?—and if I can slim down the tip because it feels too thick and looks a bit like an onion.
And if it is doable, which surgeon in the US would be the best choice for something like that?
Thanks so much! 🙂

Yeah, you definitely can slim down a nose. As for how much... well, that really depends on things like skin thickness and your specific anatomy.

Now, just a heads-up—you won't really get specific recommendations here on the forum like, "this exact surgeon is the one for you." It’s all so incredibly individual! It's kind of like picking a specialized mechanic or a lawyer—you really have to go in for consultations with a few different people yourself to see who feels most skilled, who listens, and who you actually vibe with.

placidlynx52 said:Could someone who knows a bit more about plastic surgery tell me if it's actually possible to make my nose narrower through surgery? I'm wondering by roughly what percentage, and if I can also slim down the tip since it feels too wide and looks a bit bulbous right now?
And if it is possible, which surgeon in America would be the absolute best for a procedure like that?
Thanks so much! 🙂

Honestly, almost anything is achievable; it really just comes down to identifying the specific anatomical challenges.
The photos shared here feature people from all sorts of different backgrounds and facial structures.
In these cases, they performed osteotomies combined with tip rotation and projection to get better stability.

Susan Cooper23 said:The nose can definitely be narrowed. How much, though... well, that depends on things like skin thickness and all that.

Now, just a heads-up: you won't find specific recommendations on this forum regarding which surgeon would be the absolute best fit for *you*. That’s a deeply personal decision. You really need to schedule consultations with several different doctors yourself to get a feel for who seems the most knowledgeable and capable in your eyes.

If we start talking about skin thickness being the deciding factor, we’re heading straight into Michael Jackson territory. At that point, the nose loses its actual function entirely.

There’s no such thing as one "perfect" surgeon; there is only the surgeon who truly understands the unique challenges of a case and treats every patient as an individual. There isn't a cookie-cutter recipe where one nose shape works for one person and another works for someone else. Surgeons shouldn't work from a template; they should work with what you already have to build upon. Trying to force a completely different look is a radical approach that usually ends in tragedy.

Because I'm personally involved in this, I'll step back from the debates about who is who in the American medical scene, but we really should move some of these older details back to the appropriate discussion threads.

Betty Edwards22 said:If we start talking about skin texture—well, then we’ve officially entered Michael Jackson territory. As for the function of the nose? Zero points. Total bust.

Look, there’s no such thing as a "perfect" surgeon—it’s really about finding someone who actually gets the nuance and treats every single patient like their own unique case. There isn't some magic, one-size-fits-all recipe where you just say, "Fix this nose to look exactly like that one over there." That's just not how it works! You can't just force a nose into a pre-made mold; you have to work with the beautiful, existing structure you were already born with. Trying to flip that logic on its head is a pretty radical concept, and honestly? It usually ends in a total disaster.

Because I’ve got some skin in the game personally, I’m going to sit this one out—I really should stay out of the debates regarding who's actually anyone in America! But honestly, looking back at everything... we really ought to have moved some of those details back to the right gossip threads a while ago.

I think you might have missed my point a little bit! I actually know quite a few people who have gone through nose narrowing procedures, but here’s the thing—for some of them, because their skin is just incredibly thick, getting that really slim, narrow look is basically impossible. So, when you're looking at this, the thickness of the skin is a huge factor that can't be ignored!

As for the second part of what you said—honestly, I don't really see how it’s any different from what I already wrote! It feels pretty much like we're looking at the same thing from two slightly different angles, you know?

Susan Cooper23 said:It sounds like my point might have gotten a bit lost in translation! I know quite a few people who have had nose reductions, but for some, their skin is just naturally so thick that getting that perfectly slim look is nearly impossible. In those cases, skin thickness really is a major deciding factor.

As for the other part of what you mentioned, I don't really see how it differs from what I originally wrote.

Based on how much you're emphasizing it, I'm pretty sure the skin isn't actually that thick. I'm sticking to my guns on my original comment!

Hey everyone! So, tomorrow marks exactly one week since my septorhinoplasty at the hospital, and I wanted to share my experience to hopefully encourage anyone out there terrified about getting their septum corrected! First off, the doctors, nurses, and the entire staff were beyond kind—even during the night shift! 🙂 Vagić performed my surgery, and honestly, if I ever needed this again, he’d be my guy. The man is pure talent; just incredibly skilled and professional. It was my first time ever going under general anesthesia, which was nerve-wracking, but everything went smoothly (aside from some muscle aches the first couple of days). My biggest hurdle was the swelling during the first 36 hours. That was actually five times worse than the pain itself. The "pain" was more like a massive headache—it wasn't even my nose hurting as much as my jaw and face, almost like a brutal sinus infection. As for bruising, I think I might have been a bit of an outlier because they told me they hadn't seen a case like mine in at least two weeks, so 😁 I can't really use them as a benchmark. Today we had the cast removed, and the bruising is clearing up crazy fast! It's already turning brown and yellow, and it hasn't even been a full seven days since the op! I totally thought it would last way longer. My nose is still swollen, especially the tip and the lower part of my cheeks near my jaw, but overall, recovery is quick 🙂 (I mean my personal feeling and the colors on my face; obviously, the nose takes about six months to fully heal)
Anyway, I hope this helps someone out. Now I'm just gonna go back to taking care of my nose 😁 which I can finally, FINALLY breathe through after 25 years!! 😁

So glad everything turned out okay and you're on the mend. I've got less than three weeks until my surgery, but fingers crossed with the Holy Spirit. How was it for you before... could you barely breathe through your nose at all?

The right nostril feels fine, but the left one is basically non-existent—it’s like a whole new world for me 😁 once he pulled those nasal tampons out, I got so dizzy from taking a breath. Sooooo much oxygen, I was honestly thrilled 🙂

It’s changing for me. My doctor said it happens sometimes... How was your sense of smell before, versus now?

change? what do you mean? I couldn't really change anything back when my septum was leaned way over to the left, like, totally... and yeah, it feels way better now, but since everything inside is still super swollen and feels off, I think that's the issue. It probably just needs time for the lining to heal up 😉

In the early morning, breathing through one nostril is easy, but by the afternoon, I'm struggling with the other. No clue why. I'm asking about her because I feel like my sense of smell has weakened as things have gotten worse, so I want to know if it'll improve after the surgery.

What you're experiencing is actually called a nasal cycle—it’s perfectly normal for the mucous membrane to change its thickness throughout the day. This process becomes much more noticeable if you're dealing with chronic rhinosinusitis. It can also be linked to issues with your sense of smell.

How does a septoplasty affect that?

There’s no such thing as a direct fix for nasal cycles—not really.
It’s just how the body works, and a whole bunch of things influence it, ranging from your hormone levels to various inflammatory responses.

When we talk about surgery (specifically a septoplasty), the goal is strictly to clear out the breathing obstruction, just like the lady above described. However, if you’re dealing with disrupted nasal dynamics caused by uneven cavities or a deviated septum—which can also involve different types of maxilla deformities—you will see some improvement once that blockage is gone.
But here is the reality: neither surgery nor medication can actually "cure" chronic changes to the mucosal lining, which is what we generally call chronic rhinosinusitis.

I was wondering if any of you ladies out there have had to go through a secondary nose surgery—you know, the kind where the first procedure basically left things a mess or just didn't meet your expectations, so you had to bite the bullet and go back under the knife? If you actually ended up happy with the results of your revision, would you mind sending me some recommendations for that "savior" doctor via private message or just posting them here? On the flip side, I’d also love to know which surgeons I should steer clear of at all costs!

Also, if you're feeling comfortable, could you please send some before and after photos to my inbox if you're satisfied with your second surgery? Thanks so much in advance! 🙂🙂

jadehawk83 said:I'm looking for anyone who had to go back for a revision nose job—you know, because the first surgeon totally trashed your face or just didn't get it right. If yours was actually successful, please DM me or post here some recommendations for a doctor who's basically a "savior." Also, tell me which doctors I should steer clear of at all costs!

And if you're happy with your revision results, please slide into my DMs with some before and after pics! Thanks!🙂 🙂

Same here, I need info too.

Can anyone who’s had surgery at St. Jude or Vineyard tell me roughly how long the waitlist is right now?
I need to get this done ASAP because of work, but I'm stuck deciding whether to push through or just delay it again. Honestly, I just want this over with.
I already went to Mercy for the initial exam, so I'm wondering if it'll be an issue to wait for a new referral. I really don't want to go back there for the actual procedure—not with the doctor who saw me last time.
If anyone knows, please let me know.🙂