Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

rustygardener172 said:😕 I didn't realize the cartilage on the outside of the nose was an issue...

They aren't just going to poke through the surface—they’ll end up making a hole right in your nose. 😬 That’s where the cartilage is, so think about it. Honestly, I'm terrified... I wouldn't even let Glušac look at my nose anymore after the surgery, so when someone gets close with a needle, I feel like they’re going to stab me right in the eye. 😁

As for the pain, it seems like nobody actually felt anything when the tampons were removed, but just thinking about it makes me want to gag. 😢 That’s really the only part that hurts, if it even hurts at all... It’s not about how intense the pain is, it’s more about the *type* of sensation. It’s just... ugh, disgusting.

Susan Cooper23 said:Really sorry you had such a rough experience. 😢 But you can fill that gap. Usually, people just go in with some fat grafts. As for using tissue from the knee? Honestly, that’s news to me. 🤷

How long should I wait after surgery before getting that inserted?

rowdyfalcon35 said:Look, if it was done right, you wouldn't be feeling cursed! And I never said I wanted a hooked nose; I just wanted him to straighten it out. He told me it might cause some mild depression or whatever the hell you call it, but instead, he made it way too pointy. Now there’s this huge pit where that bump used to be—since he took the whole thing out—and it looks absolutely disgusting!! It looked amazing in profile when the swelling was gone, but now? It looks hideous and totally unnatural from every angle. There's this massive indentation, like someone literally punched me in the face.

Seriously, please, just send me a photo of your nose so I can see. I’m actually really curious because at one point, I was convinced my own nose was way too hooked... The swelling tends to settle toward the bridge of the nose (gravity is a beast 🙂 )... In my case, the upper part of my nose completely flattened out while the tip stayed looking like a giant ball... from the side, it looked horrific... honestly, it looked like someone took an axe to my face from my forehead down to the tip and then stuffed a marble into my nostril. It wasn't until the swelling at the tip finally died down after about 5 or 6 months that things actually started looking somewhat normal. Now, I love it.

rowdyfalcon35 said:How long do you usually have to wait after the first surgery before they can go in and do the implant?

Well, in my case, I actually had to wait a full year after my initial surgery! That seems to be the standard practice for top specialists abroad—and Zambelli definitely sticks to those guidelines. Although, I know there are some surgeons here in the States who might operate as early as six months in.
When it comes to the upgrade itself, Uglešić over at KB Dubrava and Zambelli in San Francisco really are the ones with the most experience handling stuff like this.

rustygardener172, you got a photo 🙂?

rustygardener172 said:It doesn't really sound like you're sharing your own experience here... it sounds more like you're telling someone else what they should or shouldn't do. If you had just said you think jumping from doctor to doctor is silly, that would be your opinion, and honestly, I wouldn't have even bothered responding—there are all kinds of people on here. But you're giving "advice" that, if you ask me, isn't actually very good.

I can see there’s still some confusion. Just a little occupational hazard, I guess 😁
. But hey, I am genuinely glad your procedure went well. Truly.
Besides, I didn't just bounce between doctors either. I saw two. I would've gone ahead with the first one immediately if I had felt a connection, but I just didn't. Good for the people who know right away, but not everyone works that way.
P.S. Not everyone reading this is an adult. You only have to read a few posts back to realize that. Though, I suppose that doesn't really change the point we're debating...

And I'm not sure if you actually read my posts properly. Before Dr. Smith, I was seeing Dr. Jones, and then I went to Dr. Smith. It just didn't click for me, so I might have looked into Dr. Ostojić instead. As for being an adult, I feel like anyone seriously considering a procedure like this is mature enough... but you don't need to scare these girls with that. Honestly, the scariest part is the anesthesia, yet nobody ever talks about that...

Ugh... I haven't really had the energy to read through this entire thread... 😁
So... I have a question... does anyone actually know what the surgery and recovery process looks like for someone in my situation?
Basically, I have a deviated septum and it’s been a constant headache. Ever since I can remember, I've been mouth-breathing (and no... it's not like it's a big deal or anything 😁)... but... I also have this bump on my nose (inherited from my dear dad...) and I want to get that fixed too. I'm thinking about having the procedure done at a hospital in Chicago because they have top-tier equipment and everything since their recent renovation; I've actually seen the rooms and the staff, and they seem great. 🙂
Anyway... the surgery and the recovery? 😁 When would be the best time to pull the trigger on this? I don't exactly want to spend the entire summer stuck inside the house, but then again, I definitely don't want to show up to college looking like I've been in a boxing match. 😁

Kimberly Thompson75 said:I honestly don't know if you actually read my previous posts. I saw Tony before I went to Frost, and let me tell you, he just wasn't my vibe as a doctor—if I were looking for someone else, maybe I would've checked out Ostojic. As for being "mature" enough for this, I feel like anyone seriously considering a procedure like this is already grown up enough... we shouldn't be trying to scare girls away with that nonsense. Honestly, the scariest part isn't the surgery itself, it's the anesthesia, yet nobody ever seems to talk about that...

User123, right there with you! I saw Tony first too, but his whole pitch just didn't sit right with me. My next move was supposed to be Ostojic, but somehow I ended up seeing Glusac first and decided on him immediately. 😁 For me, both initial consultations 🙂 were a total waste of time... I barely even noticed the recovery period, I just thought I looked pretty rough for a bit. 😁

I had my surgery on January 3rd, and while it’s probably a bit premature to give a definitive verdict on the final success, I figured I’d share a little update on how things are progressing so far.

So far, so good! Honestly, I’m really happy. The tip of my nose looks totally natural and lovely—after my first surgery, it looked pretty wrecked, to the point where you could tell from an airplane window that I’d had work done. But Dr. Zambelli? He truly did a masterclass job. It still needs to swell down a bit, but honestly, if it stays looking like this, I’ll be thrilled. Plus, I had this awkward narrowing right in the middle of my nose that he managed to fix perfectly.

Right after they took the splints off, I thought I noticed a little indentation on the right side, but that seems to be fading away slowly—I'm guessing it was just some pressure from the cast itself. They used the open technique for the procedure, and the incision on my columella is tiny and healing up beautifully.

Deciding to go to Dr. Zambelli was hands down one of my best moves. My only real regret is that I didn't choose him for my very first surgery! He is incredibly professional, highly skilled, and genuinely dedicated to his patients. But most importantly—the man simply knows his stuff.

He successfully performed a revision for me, which actually involved using ear cartilage to augment the nose. I also have a small incision in my hair since Dr. Zambelli needed to harvest a little tissue to create the grafts.

The whole thing lasted about three and a half hours (like I mentioned before), and afterward, I stayed overnight at the Mayo Clinic (which was already included in the $2,200 price tag). There was a nurse who looked after both me and my roommate—who was there for a breast augmentation—all night long, making us tea and checking in on us constantly.

All in all, for anyone out there considering either a primary rhinoplasty or a revision, I’d highly recommend booking a consultation with Dr. Zambelli. In my book, he’s easily one of the top specialists in the country.

Does anyone happen to know what the cost is for a follow-up surgery with Glusac?

Susan Cooper23 said:I had my surgery on January 1st, and while it’s still far too early to give a definitive verdict on the success, I felt compelled to share how things have been progressing so far.

So far, I am truly satisfied. The tip of my nose looks beautiful and perfectly natural—unlike after my first surgery, when it looked completely ruined and was obvious even from an airplane! Dr. Zambelli did a masterful job, truly. It still needs to settle down a bit, but honestly, if it stays exactly like this, I’ll be more than happy. He also successfully fixed that excessive narrowing I had in the middle of my nose.

Once the cast was removed, I thought there was a slight indentation on the right side, but that is gradually fading away (it was likely just pressure from the cast). The procedure was done using the open technique, and the incision on my columella is tiny and healing beautifully.

Choosing Dr. Zambelli was absolutely the right call. My only regret is that I didn't go to him for my first surgery in the first place! He is incredibly professional, highly skilled, and genuinely dedicated to his patients. Most importantly—he actually knows what he is doing.

He successfully performed my revision, which included grafting cartilage from my ear to augment the nose. There is also a small incision in my hair because the doctor needed to harvest some tissue for the grafts.

The surgery lasted about three and a half hours (as I mentioned before), and afterward, I stayed overnight at their clinic (which was included in the $2,200 price tag). A nurse looked after both me and my roommate—who was having breast surgery—all night, making us tea and checking in on us constantly.

All in all, for anyone considering either a primary or a revision rhinoplasty, I would strongly suggest booking a consultation with Dr. Zambelli. In my opinion, he is easily one of the finest specialists in the country.

How long did your nasal tip stay swollen after the procedure?

Amy Phillips3 said:How long did the tip of your nose stay swollen after the surgery?

The tip is actually still pretty swollen—it’s a process! Honestly, it takes months for everything to finally settle into its permanent place.

So, can I actually get nose surgery when I'm just a 16-year-old guy? 😁

rowdyfalcon35 said:Guys, please help. After he removed the septum, there's this massive indentation at the base of my nose. He told me to just massage it, and if that doesn't work, he’ll take fat from my knee and put it in my nose. Has anyone actually done this???

Fat from the knee?🙂
I won't even ask which "genius" came up with that idea, or where they learned such things. My advice: don't let them touch you with fat, fillers, Aquamide, or any other nonsense. Cartilage grafts solve this issue perfectly—and they're permanent. The real problem? Most "plastic surgeons" either don't know how to do it, don't want to, or simply won't bother. I strongly suggest you shop around, get second opinions from different doctors, and see what they recommend. You need this done right. I dealt with the exact same issue, and my "esteemed doctor" was all too eager to offer to fill the gap with Aquamide! Unbelievable... what a "specialist." 🙄

(So, a hospital ends up fixing a private practitioner's mess...)

I don't know anything about fat tissue from the knee, (that sounds pretty bizarre to me... why the knees specifically? lol)
but I do know that when it comes to rhinoplasty, Munite is actually pretty solid... a friend of mine had hers done in San Diego at the Mayo Clinic.
At first glance, you might think he just treats this like some routine gig, but nobody’s procedure is ever "routine." That said, the nose job is wrapped up in 45 minutes, there's zero pain (obviously, since you're under anesthesia) both during and for a few days after, you wear the cast for seven days, and then—heh, even Mother Nature didn't make a nose look that perfect, haha.

Hey everyone.
So, I’ve got surgery scheduled—a septoplasty along with some work on my middle and lower turbinates with Dr. Jurlin over at Rib. When I was in for my consultation, I asked him if he could just go ahead and do a rhinoplasty too, since my nose feels pretty big and uneven. He told me that doing everything all at once might be a bit much, so he noted in my file that a rhinoplasty could be considered down the road. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has been through this? Has anyone here had both the septum work and the nose reshaping done by him at the same time?

Hi everyone! 😁
I've read through this entire thread, but I noticed no one has mentioned Rib, which is actually what I'm looking into. 🙂Does anyone have any experience working with those doctors? ...to be clear, I'm talking about both the deviation and the aesthetic side. Thanks in advance.

rustygardener172 said:User123, I actually went to see Tony first, but he turned me away with his attitude. My next stop on the list was supposed to be Ostojic, but somehow I ended up at Glusac's office instead, and I decided right then and there to have him do the surgery 😁 For me, both the first and second 🙂 were such a mess... I didn't even feel the recovery period, I just looked terrible 😁

It’s all about who you trust the most. That’s how I handled it, and honestly, I’m really happy and satisfied with my choice.🙂😁

Anyone know how many days it takes before you can actually breathe normally again after septoplasty?

I’ve finally made my decision and gone with Dr. Glusac... my surgery is scheduled in just a few days... 249 miles It means I have to drive all the way from Chicago, 🙂 but honestly, it’s worth it. I have these damn polyps in my nose 🙂 that make breathing an absolute nightmare, so I might as well get the nose shape fixed while I'm at it.
Hopefully, this second attempt actually works and—fingers crossed—I can finally breathe properly again...