Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I’ve been lurking here and reading through everyone's comments for months now... and I think I’m finally leaning toward scheduling surgery with Dr. Tončić. So far, he seems to have attracted the fewest criticisms, which gives me a glimmer of hope that he won't leave me disfigured like some of the other surgeons people have warned us about on this forum. But... there's always a catch. 🙄 While I’m convinced Dr. Tončić is a top-tier specialist, looking at his surgical results, it seems like he barely touches the tip or makes only the slightest adjustments! My nose is massive—and that's not even counting the messy beard I mentioned before. My nostrils are huge, the tip is bulbous and protrudes, the bridge is drooping, and to top it all off, I have a hump! 🙂 I trust the doctor could give me a more symmetrical nose, but my goal isn't just "symmetry"—I want a tiny nose that actually fits my face. Maybe I’m being unrealistic and swinging from one extreme to the other, but I am dead set on a small nose! I'm terrified that it might be physically impossible to transform such a wide base and heavy tip into something delicate and petite. 😢 What’s your take? Is Dr. Tončić actually the right call for a case like mine? 🤷 Obviously, I can't know for sure without a consultation, but I’d love to hear from anyone here who actually achieved a significant transformation rather than just a minor tweak.

Betty Bailey4 said:Kate Nguyen40, if you don't mind me asking, where did you go for your chin surgery? I'm actually planning to get both my nose and my chin done; my chin sticks out way too much and has this weird line down the middle that honestly looks like a backside, haha!!

I went to see Dr. Uglesic over in the suburbs, and so far, I’m pretty happy with how things are going, though I’m still quite swollen and some of my stitches are starting to come loose. My face used to be quite long, especially the lower half, so I originally just wanted to fix my nose by straightening it slightly and slimming down the tip, but the doctor insisted that we shouldn't touch the nose without addressing the chin first, otherwise the proportions wouldn't look right. Looking back, I'm glad I went through with it; it isn't a massive transformation, but I definitely feel more polished 🙂 I think the full results haven't truly settled in yet since the swelling needs to subside, but everyone seems to think the chin looks great with the nose, and they barely even notice the nose itself, even though it turned out excellent 🙂
Just a heads up, prepare yourself for a diet consisting entirely of soft foods, which is easily the most infuriating part; I am hungry all the time, and my skin is a total disaster, probably from those medical tapes I had to wear—it’s honestly terrible. 😢

Hey everyone!
My sister’s getting a septum surgery soon—she’s got quite a deviation there. I was wondering what kind of foods actually helped you guys through recovery, and how long you had to stick to a specific diet?
She’s pretty nervous about the whole thing, both the procedure and the healing part, so I really want to help make her recovery as smooth as possible—even if it's just through what she eats..
Any advice would be huge!

Chloe Gray5 said:Hey everyone!
My sister has a deviated septum and is scheduled for surgery soon. I was wondering what kind of foods worked best for you during that time, and how long you had to stick to a specific diet?
She’s a little nervous about the whole thing—both the procedure and the recovery—so I really want to do everything I can to make things easier for her, even if it's just through nutrition...
I would be so incredibly grateful for any advice!

Personally, I just stuck to my usual diet and didn't run into any issues at all, though I know everyone's experience can be quite different...

Can someone give me a quick top 3 list of the best private plastic surgeons in the US?

For example:
1) Glumičić Clinic
2) Toncic
3) Mujo Husic

Thanks!

Chloe Gray5 said:Greetings, everyone!
My sister has a deviated septum and is scheduled for surgery very soon. I am curious to know what kind of diet worked best for you during that period, and how long you had to stick to a specific way of eating?
She is feeling quite anxious about the whole ordeal—both the procedure itself and the subsequent recovery—so I want to do everything in my power to make her healing process easier, even if it just means managing her nutrition properly..
I would be incredibly grateful for any advice!

Well, she just had her nasal packing removed yesterday. Honestly, I've been eating absolutely everything. It is certainly a struggle to swallow when your nose is completely stuffed up, but as long as the food is cut into small, manageable pieces, it isn't much of an issue. My belief is that if you nourish your body well, you will recover much more swiftly. 🙂

Thanks for all the replies 🙂.

Betty Bailey4 said:I have been following this thread and reading through all your comments for months now... and I think I am leaning toward having my surgery performed by Dr. Toncic. Based on what I’ve seen here, he seems to have received the fewest criticisms, which gives me a sliver of confidence that he won't end up disfiguring my nose the way some of those other doctors mentioned in these posts have ruined people's faces... But then again, there is always that "but." 🙄 While I am convinced Dr. Toncic is an elite specialist, looking at the photos of his previous work, I noticed he hardly ever touches the tip or makes any significant changes there! My current situation is quite extreme (not to mention that unattractive beard I brought up in my last post). My nasal bones are massive, the tip is large, fleshy, and protruding, the nose is drooping, and on top of all that, I have a hump! 🙂 I trust the doctor would give me a more symmetrical, straight nose, but I don't just want "straight"—I want a SMALL nose that actually fits my face. Perhaps I am being unrealistic and swinging from one extreme to the other, but I truly want a petite nose! I am terrified that it might be physically impossible to transform such a wide base and heavy tip into something delicate and small. 😢 What are your thoughts? Is Dr. Toncic really the right choice for a case like mine? 🤷 Obviously, I can't know anything for certain until I sit down for a consultation, but I would love to hear from anyone here who actually achieved a dramatic transformation rather than just a minor correction.

I personally went to see Džepina, and in my experience, she was wonderful. You should really consider it. For me, breathing issues were the main concern, but I can't say aesthetics weren't important too—far from it. Just imagine ending up with a tiny nose that you can't even breathe through. Personally, I would never put myself in the hands of a surgeon who might permanently compromise my respiratory function. Once you go in for your exam, she will tell you exactly what is possible and what isn't, and explain the reasoning behind it. During my initial consultation, we talked for about an hour and a half. 🙂 If you are truly serious about going under the knife, $100 then investing in a thorough consultation where everything is laid out clearly is a smart move. I am not trying to promote anyone here, but in my opinion, any competent surgeon should explain everything thoroughly, leaving the final decision entirely up to you.

Karen Morgan93 said:I went to see Dzepina personally, and honestly, she’s fantastic. Just think about it. I had breathing issues myself, but I can't pretend aesthetics don't matter—not at all. Imagine having a tiny nose that you can't even breathe through. Personally, I wouldn't trust my face to a surgeon who would permanently wreck my nasal function. When you go in for your exam, they'll tell you exactly what's doable and why. During my initial consultations, we spent about an hour and a half just talking things through. 🙂 If you're truly serious about going under the knife, then $100 paying for a consultation where everything gets laid out clearly is a smart investment. I'm not trying to run an ad here, but in my view, any competent surgeon should explain everything thoroughly, leaving the final call up to you.

Thanks for the input. Naturally, functionality is my top priority. If a major change to my nose isn't possible without risking my ability to breathe, I'll walk away from the surgery—even if I desperately want to shrink this bulbous thing! 🙂 The issue is that my profile shows a massive nasal tip; it’s wide, droopy from the front, and I can shove two fingers into my nostrils at once! ☕ Now, Toncic seems like the most reliable option, but in my opinion, the noses he works on still have large tips—it looks like he just removes the hump! I really want to see some results where he actually visibly reduced the tip itself... I'm worried there might not be much to work with since mine is quite fleshy and thick!! 🙂

Karen Morgan93, can you shoot me the link where I can see the photos of his corrections? I'm having no luck finding them...

Betty Bailey4 As stated by:
I am genuinely concerned that there isn't much a surgeon can actually achieve with my nose, given its fleshy and rather thick structure. 🙂

I truly believe it could be done, given that there is more than enough material available to work with. 🙂

Perhaps you could send over an email with a photo of your nose along with some Photoshop edits; if you don't happen to use Photoshop yourself, I can certainly handle the editing for you—just send the photos my way. 🙂 And I find myself wondering if such a thing is even possible.

It seems Džepina doesn't have any photos available online. 😢

Karen Morgan93 said:I honestly think it’s doable since there’s plenty of material out there.🙂

Maybe you could just email the doctor a photo of your nose and run it through Photoshop first (if you aren't a pro, I can do it for you—just send me the pics 🙂). That way you can ask if what you want is even possible.

Džepina doesn't have any photos online. 😢

Thanks, Karen. I sent the photos over to Dr. Toncic. He thinks the specific nose shape I'm aiming for wouldn't actually suit my face... He did say it can be significantly reduced, though, which is a small consolation. I really respect him for being blunt about it. Since I have a square face shape, he feels it wouldn't look right regardless of my eyes or lips. I definitely need to go in for a full consultation... My procedure is going to be pricier because there's quite a bit of work needed on the nose. I was planning to get it done before summer. Oh well, I guess I'll just focus on working overtime during the peak season and we can pull the trigger in the fall once I've saved up enough! And don't even get me started on my beard; one doctor quoted me a figure of $4667!! I definitely want to fix both the nose and the beard, because if I only shrink the nose, the beard is just going to stand out even more—ugh! We'll see what the professional verdict is. 🤷

I just finished my appointment at the Glumičić Clinic... does anyone here have experience dealing with those tiny pits on the nose—you know, the permanent scars left behind by those cursed blackheads? Honestly, I feel like I look like a block of Swiss cheese right now.

Hey everyone, does anyone here dealing with a hump on their nose also struggle with dark circles under their eyes? I'm wondering if there's actually any connection between the two.

Kate Taylor59 said:I recently had an appointment at the Glumičić Clinic... does anyone here have experience dealing with those tiny pits on the nose, specifically the scarring left behind by those damn blackheads? Honestly, I look like I’ve been through a cheese grater.

My mother actually works as a professional esthetician, 🙂 so listen to my advice: you should pick up a gentle daily exfoliant designed for everyday use; if you apply it using light, circular motions once a day or even every other day, you can gradually clear out your nose. Follow that up with a cream containing panthenol, or perhaps try a Vichy daily moisturizer formulated for enlarged pores and imperfections—it really just depends on whether your skin type leans more toward oily or dry, though panthenol is a safe bet regardless. The most important thing is consistency, because your skin needs time to actually heal itself. Just be smart about it; if you notice your skin getting too red or irritated, back off on the exfoliation.

Karen Morgan93 which exfoliant are you actually recommending?

Ultimately, everything hinges on your specific skin type. I personally rely on Nivea Daily Wash Scrub. Since my T-zone tends to be quite oily, I need something effective, yet this particular formula doesn't strip the skin of its moisture, which makes it a perfect fit for me.

Thanks for the reply, but I’ve got the scars to prove it—and they’re pretty deep 😢

For those who prefer subtle tweaks—Dzepina is the perfect choice... but if you're looking for something more drastic, you might as well head over to the Glumičić Clinic.

Hey, quick question... has anyone here actually been to the Glumičić Clinic? I was checking out their website and they claim they don't even bother using tampons after the surgery...