Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey everyone! Looking at this thread, I see quite a crowd here—some of you have already been under the knife, and others are gearing up for it. As for my own saga: I ended up in surgery by total accident. Basically, I couldn't breathe for squat, so an ENT specialist operated on me and decided to knock off a bump and fix my deviated septum while he was at it. It wasn't like I went in hunting for a cosmetic makeover or anything, but since breathing was such a struggle, that’s just how it played out. My nose looks better from a profile view now, but honestly? Looking at myself straight on, I still hate it. I feel like I need another procedure because I'm just not happy with the look. It's been 11 months, and the more I stare in the mirror, the more I want to get this sorted. Since I live and work in Canada, the surgery was purely functional, so Medicare covered everything and I didn't pay a dime. But hey, if you actually care about aesthetics, an ENT isn't enough—you need a surgeon with a real eye for beauty. I'm thinking about heading to a clinic in San Francisco since that's closer to me, and I'm torn between Dr. Ostojić and Dr. Glumičić. I'm leaning toward Dr. Ostojić though, mostly because he actually replied to my email within a couple of days even though he was supposed to be on vacation. If anyone has any intel on these surgeons, please let me know. I really don't want to end up in a loop of endless surgeries, especially since most people can't just drop cash on procedures like this constantly.

Has anyone else here actually had to stay in a city like Chicago during surgery? I’m trying to wrap my head around how clinics even handle this stuff. Like, seriously, wandering through some hotel lobby or trying to sit down in a restaurant with a surgical mold strapped to your nose... sounds pretty miserable, if you ask me. If anyone’s been through this madness, please hit me up and let me know what it's really like!!!!!

Melissa Mendoza2 said:Look, I can give you the real deal since I went through this myself just about three months ago. If you’re seriously thinking about getting a nose job, just go for it—you won't regret it. I only had a minor tweak, so the difference is subtle, which is perfect for me, but man, I can't even put into words how much more liberated I feel... I used to be so self-conscious, always dodging cameras and photographers because I hated my profile, but now? I'm actually proud, relaxed, totally happy, and just... free. I'd do it all over again, honestly. Every single annoying part was worth it for this feeling. It kind of gives you this huge boost of confidence, makes you feel braver, and everything just seems to click into place better...

1. Regarding the hospital stay (private setting)—I was only there for two nights since I don't live in the immediate area, but if you are local, you can pretty much head home for recovery just a few hours after the surgery. As for the procedure itself? It doesn't hurt at all. Like, zero. You just drift off and wake up with a splint on your nose. The surgery takes maybe 30 minutes or so, depending on how complex things get, but you usually wake up a few hours later... I honestly have no clue how long I was under anesthesia, because when you come to, you are completely lost. You won't know what time it is, what month it is, or even what year it is. For me, it felt like I'd been asleep for months.
By the time I finally came to, I realized my surgery was at 10 AM, and by around 3 PM, I was already back in my room at the facility just chilling and watching TV.
As for nausea? None for me. I guess it just depends on the person.

Like I said, there's no pain, but fair warning: you might end up with some nasty bruising under your eyes. They look pretty terrifying at first, but they were totally gone after 15 days. After that, you're just a little swollen, but nobody even notices.

You'll have to wear a plastic splint for 7 days, and you get the packing removed on day 2. That’s honestly the worst part of the whole thing. It doesn't hurt, but it is incredibly uncomfortable. Some girls I was with actually felt nauseous from it and couldn't catch their breath... so just a heads-up... everything else is fine. You just have to tough it out for a bit, but once you see the results, you won't care one bit.

2. Price really depends on which surgeon you pick, but here’s my advice... don't just go with whoever is cheapest. It could end up costing you way more if they mess up and you have to pay for corrective surgery. If you're planning to do this, don't cheap out. Pick someone with tons of experience. I paid $1,850 total... ($1,600 for the surgery + $250 for the two days at the clinic).

3. As far as age limits go, I think it's 18.

Good luck!! 😉

Please tell me who you went to! I'm deciding whether to go through with it, but I don't live near the city, so the travel is an extra headache. Who would you recommend, and how did you decide on your doctor?

Can anyone point me toward the best places for septoplasty and give me a ballpark on costs? I don't mind traveling—even looking at neighboring countries if needed. I’m perfectly fine going private if it guarantees quality work. Thanks.

Kimberly Hughes17 said:Hi everyone!!
I've been mulling over nose surgery for quite some time now for a few different reasons. I have a deviated septum, though honestly, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to—back in the day, allergies would leave me waking up with a stuffed nose for weeks at a time during the spring—but nowadays, it just happens occasionally. However, it’s the aesthetic side of things that really gets to me. The tip of my nose droops toward my lip, there's this pronounced line between the two cartilages, it's crooked, and just... long. One profile looks fine, but the other is quite unsightly. And I'm not one of those lucky people who looks good from the front either; if anything, that feels even worse. I find myself constantly tilting my head to the "good" side when taking photos and trying desperately not to smile too wide. It's hard to admit that something like this still bothers me so much as an adult, but what can you do when it's stronger than you? I actually broke my nose once, and I have no idea how much that played a role, because looking back at childhood photos, my nose always looked different from everyone else's.
Anyway, sorry to bore you with my life story, but here's the gist: I've been lurking on this forum for a few days trying to get a feel for things. I don't have any clue yet which surgeon to go to. I'm somewhat curious about Dr. Glušac in MA, but I'll need to sleep on that.
I'm wondering if anyone here has had specifically the tip of their nose done (mine is crooked and too large)? Is it even possible to fix that with an endonasal approach? If so, what happens to the excess skin?
Sorry for the "essay"... I won't ramble like this again.🙄
Thanks in advance

If I were in your shoes, I'd think twice before seeing Glusac. I've heard quite a lot of complaints from people who weren't happy with the results.

Sandra Green81 said:If I were in your shoes, I’d really think twice before booking with Glušac. Honestly, I've heard so many people complaining about being unhappy with the results.

It looks like I might be moving on from Glušac after all, especially since I've already received three different accounts of bad experiences... I suspect my case might be a bit more complicated than average. Does anyone here actually have a positive success story regarding tip plasty? I don't have any major bumps or humps; my nose just feels a little wide, which doesn't bother me much, but I'd love to slim down the tip (and it isn't exactly tiny, so there's plenty of tissue 😍 )...
Please, if anyone has dealt with a similar issue and had a great outcome, let me know!
Thanks! 🙂

p.s. Now I'm second-guessing whether to go with Dr. Tončić either. Some people mentioned he seems more focused on function than aesthetics, which is a bit intimidating... To be honest, I'd ideally prefer Dr. Zambelli (I heard he’s been quite successful with revision surgeries), but it’s a bit inconvenient since he's based in San Francisco (if I have that right).

Melissa Mendoza2 said:I can give you the inside scoop since I went through this myself nearly three months ago. If you really want this, just go for it—you won't regret it. I only had a minor correction, so the difference is subtle, which is perfect for me, but I can't even describe how much more liberated I feel... I used to constantly dodge cameras and photographers because I hated my profile, but now... I’m actually proud, relaxed, satisfied, and totally unburdened... I’d do it all over again. Honestly, I'd endure everything just for this feeling. It boosts your confidence, makes you braver, and somehow everything just starts going better in life...

1. Regarding the hospital (private setting), I was only there for two nights since I don't live in the immediate area. If you are local, you might even be able to head home for recovery just a few hours after surgery. The procedure itself doesn't hurt at all—absolutely nothing. You just drift off and wake up with a splint on your nose. The surgery lasts maybe 30 minutes, depending on how complex it is, but you'll likely wake up a few hours later... I honestly don't remember much about being under anesthesia, because when you wake up, you're totally disoriented. You have no idea what time it is, what month it is, or what year it even is. For me, it felt like I had been asleep for months.
By the time I came to, I realized my surgery was at 10 AM, and by around 3 PM, I was back in my room watching TV.
As for nausea, I didn't deal with any, though I guess that depends on the person.

Like I said, there's no pain, but it's possible you'll get some bruising under your eyes that looks pretty gnarly. Mine completely vanished after 15 days, and after that, you're just slightly swollen, but nobody even notices.

You wear a plastic splint for 7 days, and you get the nasal packing removed on day 2. That's definitely the worst part of the whole thing. It doesn't hurt, but it is incredibly uncomfortable, and some girls I was with actually felt nauseous because of it—they couldn't quite pull themselves together... so just a heads-up... everything else is fine. You just have to power through that little bit, but once you see the results, you won't regret a thing.

2. Price varies depending on which doctor you choose, but here's my advice... don't just pick whoever is the cheapest. It could end up costing you way more if they mess up and you have to pay for revisions. If you're planning this, don't be stingy. Pick a surgeon with tons of experience. I paid $1,850 total ($1,600 for the surgery + $250 for the two days at the facility).

3. As far as age limits go, I think it's 18.

Good luck!! 😉

I'm curious too, which doctor did you go to? 😁

Kimberly Hughes17 said:It looks like I’m giving up on Glušac after reading three different stories about bad experiences... honestly, my situation feels a bit too complicated for him. I’m really curious if anyone here actually had a good experience with tip reduction. I don't have any humps or anything; my nose might be a little wide, but that doesn't bother me. I just want to take down the tip (it isn't exactly small, there's plenty of 😍 material to work with) ..
Please let me know if anyone dealt with something similar and ended up happy with the results
Thanks 🙂

p.s. Now I'm second-guessing Dr. Tončić too. Some people mentioned he focuses more on function than aesthetics, which is a bit scary... Truth be told, I’d much rather go to Dr. Zambelli (I heard he does some pretty successful revision work), but it’s awkward because he's all the way in San Francisco (if I have that right)

Do you feel like your nose is too long or what?
I'm scheduled with Kincl 07.01. A girl sent me a photo privately and hers turned out great. I don't have any bumps, it's just a little long—you can see it in profile—so I'm going to shorten it a bit and lower the bridge slightly. I've always loved those cute, small noses 🙂
I'll let you know how it goes.

Sandra Green81 said:Do you think your nose is too long or something?
I’m scheduled for my nose surgery with Kincl 07.01. A girl actually sent me a photo privately, and her results were fantastic! No bumps at all—just a slightly longer shape, which shows in profile, but I'm planning to shorten it a bit and lower the bridge. Personally, I just love those dainty little noses. 🙂
I'll let you know how everything turns out.

Well, yeah, my nose definitely looks too long, both from the profile and the front because the tip is so droopy. My nasal bones are asymmetrical too—one side is larger than the other—but you can't really tell unless you're looking from directly underneath... plus, the tip is quite prominent and crooked, leaning more to one side. Honestly, I'm a pretty unique case!😍

I'll be following along to see how yours goes... best of luck to you!!

p.s. I love small noses too, but for me, that would be such a massive change... I'd honestly just be happy if they could shorten it, lift the tip, and even out the middle of my nasal bones (it would be so nice if they were symmetrical)!

@UKJ

You definitely caught those two "f-bombs" I dropped in my last reply—I guess my style is a bit more unfiltered than the usual forum vibe you’re used to. Anyway, I noticed you decided to repost your little critique over on the "nose surgery" thread instead of keeping it in the actual discussion area where it belongs. So, consider this your official warning for trolling; if you're really that eager to keep doing a deep dive into my "literary" prose, feel free to take it back over to that other thread. I went ahead and scrubbed the post since it was in the wrong spot. Thanks for playing ball.🙂

Kimberly Hughes17 said:Well, yeah. My nose is way too long—you can tell from my profile, and even from the front since the tip droops so much. Plus, my nasal bones are asymmetrical; one side is bigger than the other, and you can barely see the difference unless you're looking at me from, like, way down low. On top of all that, the tip is quite prominent and crooked, leaning more to one side. Honestly, I’m a pretty interesting case study.😍

I'll be following along to see how things go for you... good luck, for real!!

p.s. I’m a fan of small noses too, but for me, anything major would feel like too much of a transformation... I'd honestly just be happy if they could shorten it, lift the tip, and fix the bridge (making both sides look even would be nice).

Hmm, the scale of the change doesn't bother me as long as it makes things better. Why settle for just a little fix if you can actually achieve perfection? 🙂
Me? I’d definitely go for this look:

http://www.glumicic-dzepina.com/Easy...=1352880693867

steelangler88 said:it doesn't actually look wider. From the front? Totally fine. But those three-quarter views are just GROSS. The bottom half of my nose looks massive compared to the top part. On both sides. The profile is... okay, I guess, but the three-quarter angles are huge😕 and my tip dropped so much, which is driving me absolutely insane. Honestly, it feels way bigger than it did before my surgery—and yeah, I know this was my second time around, they used grafts and it was an open procedure, but still. This puffiness feels a little over the top and I'm low-key terrified it isn't just swelling😢

Whisper, sorry, I haven't caught up on all your posts from the start, but who did you go to? If I remember right, you mentioned this is your second time. I think I might need a revision too, but since I didn't get my first one done here in the States, I have no clue what the surgeons are like around here. Who would you recommend? And please, if it's not too weird, could you send me a photo?😉

rustygardener172 said:Clearly, some people here totally misread me?!
Look, for me, it’s all about how the doctor actually performs—not what random stuff gets written about them online. People write whatever crap they want about anyone. But when you see actual, happy people standing right in front of you, breathing perfectly fine and sporting gorgeous noses... well, who cares who typed what on a forum first? That becomes a non-issue.
If you’re really that nitpicky that you’re still obsessing over this... good luck! Let us know what "big discovery" you made 😉 though... honestly, being that petty isn't exactly a trait to brag about... even if we're talking about your own face. It’s always those tiny-minded people who finish their first surgery, find one microscopic thing they didn't expect, and then go back for a second one... and just keep nitpicking... then start thinking about a third... a fourth... a fifth... 😁

And don't you dare try telling me I didn't do my homework before picking my surgeon! I learned my lesson the hard way once, so now I’m super cautious. That was actually my second surgery—not because I'm being difficult, but because the first one was a total bust functionally; I was breathing like an elephant with a stuffed nose. And hey... I got lucky... or maybe I was just smart... call it what you want... but the second one was a success! I truly don't care if he copied a sentence from another doctor, because that doesn't change the fact that he did a great job and I can finally breathe easy! 🙏

So, who did you go to for the second one??🙂

Hey, can someone please tell me if a deviated septum could actually cause stuff like pressure under the eyes, dark circles, or that burning sensation in your eyes... I’m asking because I haven't seen anyone else complaining about this, but with my constant colds, clogged ears, and stuffed-up nose, I've got all these symptoms too, and honestly, they're bothering me even more than the breathing issues... Thanks to all the good souls on here for helping me out.

Carol Booth82 said:Hey, can someone please tell me if a deviated septum can actually cause stuff like pressure under the eyes, dark circles, or burning sensations in the eyes? I’m asking because I haven't seen anyone else complain about this online, and honestly, combined with my constant colds, clogged ears, and stuffed-up nose—of course I've got those symptoms too. They're actually bothering me even more than the breathing issues. Thanks to all the kind souls here who might have an answer.

So, look, speaking from my own experience, here's the deal: because of a deviated septum, oxygen isn't flowing right or distributing through your sinuses (to put it simply) the way it should when you have a "healthy nose." So yeah, dark circles and even that pressure under the eyes are totally possible consequences. I went through that exact same thing. But, there's also another possibility—you could be allergic to something, like pollen, dust, perfume, mascara... you name it, it exists. Seriously. Just go see an ENT specialist and get a proper exam; they'll point you in the right direction!

Chris Moore3 said:Look, speaking from my own experience here—if you've got a deviated septum, it basically messes up your airflow. In plain English, oxygen isn't getting where it needs to go in your sinuses like it should if your nose was actually functioning right. That can definitely lead to dark circles under your eyes or even that weird pressure feeling right under your eyes. I've dealt with that myself. But honestly? There's another possibility: you might just be allergic to something. Pollen, dust, perfume, mascara... there's a million things it could be. Seriously, just go see an ENT specialist, get a proper exam, and they'll point you in the right direction!

And hey, maybe skip the mascara if you're a guy.🤣

Chris Moore3 said:Look, speaking purely from my own experience, I can tell you that when you have a deviated septum, oxygen just doesn't flow right through your sinuses... at least not the way it should if your nose were actually healthy. One thing that happened to me was getting those dark circles under my eyes and even feeling this weird pressure right under them. But there's also the chance you might be allergic to something like pollen, dust, perfume, or even mascara... there's honestly so much stuff out there you wouldn't even believe it. So, definitely go see an ENT specialist and get a proper exam, then they can point you in the right direction!

Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I'm not allergic to anything, so it's pretty obvious the deviated septum is the main problem here... it feels a lot better knowing someone else dealt with the same issues. I've got an appointment with the ENT on November 22nd, so we'll just see how things go...🙂😉

velvetangler17 said:So, I’ve replied to a few private messages, but since I want everyone to be in the loop, I figured I'd just drop some of those answers here for anyone interested... Basically, I went to see Glumicic for a consultation, and instead of walking in there and demanding "I want this" or "I want that," I actually asked him how he saw my nose and what he’d recommend!!! Honestly, after he spoke, I didn't have anything else to add—nothing to argue with. He’s super chill, really listens, and makes you feel comfortable... at least that was my experience. I asked about the price based on everything I need—the procedure itself, my specific wishes, and the fact that I need to stay in a hotel for two days... it came out to $2,200, and if you want to talk about payment plans, it's best to reach out to them directly. As for Glumicic... I don't know, Makarska is such a tiny little town that I just got this gut feeling he's exactly the guy for my nose. I'd go with him in a heartbeat; it's not that others aren't great, but sometimes you just have to trust your instinct. So yeah, I picked Glumicic and I'm crossing my fingers that it's all smooth sailing... once this is over, I'll definitely post here to let you guys know how happy and satisfied I am🙂 If anyone else needs info, just hit me up. Sending love to everyone! And ugh, the nerves are starting to kick in big time😢

Hey, say Paloma, is it possible to stay at Glumicic's place until the cast comes off? I'm not from the local area, I'm not even from the US, so I'm a little embarrassed about the idea of crossing the border with a cast on my face—I'm not even sure they'd let me through🤔 please tell me how it works with him if you know or have any info. Also, how are you liking your nose so far? Please, if you have photos, share them!!!!

Hey everyone, just checking in to let you know I finally had my surgery. To recap, I went under for a full septoplasty and nasal pyramid reconstruction—basically, the doctor tackled both the functional issues and the aesthetics at once. It all happened on November 2nd, so everything is still incredibly fresh. My profile looks amazing, but from the front? I am just SO swollen. Like, seriously swollen. Does anyone have any tips on how to speed up the swelling reduction, besides lymphatic drainage? This whole sensation is pretty unpleasant; I can't feel my nose at all, and whenever I touch it, I get these weird, uncomfortable tingles. Gross. 🙂 Is there any specific cream or anything you guys tried that actually helped? I realize it’s all very recent and this is totally normal, but I head back to work in a week and I'm feeling a bit self-conscious about how much I've puffed up. 😁

Dr. Glušac also completely messed up my nose. The tip looks rounded, and there’s this weird indentation right in the middle of my nose... plus, he didn't even touch the deviation, despite saying he would. I just got my CT scan results back today... apparently, I still have a crystal about nearly 1 cm big blocking my breathing in the left nostril... was he just not looking? And I paid him $2,000 for this...