Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Ashley Wells16 said:Look, ladies—it’s not like I’m obsessing over whether someone offers free consultations or what the exact price tag is (I assume everything falls within a certain range anyway). I just want to be fully informed, because at the end of the day, it all comes down to trust. I’m a total worrier by nature, so since I've been trying to work up the nerve for this surgery for a long, long time, I need to gather enough intel to finally make a decision. So, please don't judge me for double-checking things and comparing options—that's why we have this forum, right?

rustygardener172,
regarding the heparin cream—does that mean I’ll have to get a prescription from my primary care doctor?🙂Lioton is way better and you don't even need a prescription!

Kimberly Thompson75,
please, if you could just let me know where you did your research—if you don't want to advertise it here, just shoot me a DM, thanks!🙂

Lioton is honestly so much better and doesn't require a prescription; it literally wipes away bruises.

Thanks, Rebecca Gomez37! Did you happen to use any cold compresses at all? And when exactly do you start applying that gel—right after the surgery or...?
What was your actual experience with the procedure like? Are you happy with the results?

🙂🙂

Anonymous said:I'm thinking about getting rhinoplasty and I'm trying to wrap my head around a few specifics... hopefully you guys can shed some light on this.
1. How bad is the pain, and how long is the typical hospital stay afterward?
2. What kind of price tag are we looking at?
3. Is there a minimum age requirement for the procedure?

🙂18 years old

stormyharbor2 said:Yeah, a piercing. Does it hurt? Everyone told me the exact opposite—that it hurts just as much as this (more than my tragus)—so I'm honestly a little nervous because of my nose surgery 🤷

Honestly, it didn't hurt for me at all... and I actually went to a jeweler to get it done. They used one of those ear piercing guns on my nose... I wore a medical stud for a day and then just popped in a regular earring hahahahahhaha. Some of my friends have actually tried doing it themselves... using ice and a needle. I totally chickened out and went to the jeweler instead 😁 But that was ages ago... back before there was a piercing studio on every single street corner 😁
I got my navel pierced in Prague, and my beard in Washington, D.C.... and yeah, those definitely weren't things you take to a jeweler 😂
And nothing really hurt, to be honest. I was just being reckless... youth and all that nonsense... now the only one I've still got is my belly button ring 🙂

Ashley Wells16 said:rustygardener172,
So, regarding that heparin cream... does that mean I’m going to have to go see my primary care doctor and get a prescription first?🙂

I already mentioned that I... Nah. Man, I was actually looking for a recipe myself just the other day. It’s funny how you can spend hours scrolling through those overly polished food blogs where you have to read a ten-page essay about someone's childhood summer in Maine just to find out how much salt to put in the pasta. Total waste of time, right? Anyway, if you're hunting for something specific, let me know what you've got in mind. I'm always down to swap ideas, especially if it involves something actually worth cooking. 🙂

driftinglynx76 said:If you're talking about cosmetic surgery, I might be able to help. A friend of mine went through it. She used a private surgeon and paid about $1,500 (though obviously, that depends entirely on what kind of procedure you're looking at and how complex it is). You can usually head home right after you wake up from anesthesia. Sure, you’ll deal with some swelling and bruising around your eyes, mouth, nose, cheeks... basically your whole head... but that all clears up after about two months. After that, everything turns out great.🙂 The bruises and swelling fade away, and you're just left with a perfect little nose.🙂 She mentioned the pain afterward wasn't actually that bad; it was just the unpleasant part of waking up from the anesthesia—the nausea and stuff like that.
When I ask her if it was worth it, she tells me straight away she’d do it all over again.🙂 So, don't let it scare you.😉

I had my surgery three months ago. Honestly, nothing hurts much after the operation itself. They give you whatever pills you need, and you get nightly injections to help with the swelling. My nose was completely reconstructed, and I wasn't even that swollen—just a bit under the eyes and some minor bruising. My mouth wasn't really affected by the surgery either, except maybe some sensitivity in my upper teeth when I touch them with my tongue, but it's nothing serious. Getting the packing removed is a little uncomfortable, but they get it out so fast you won't even believe it. As for waking up from anesthesia, that's different for everyone. This was the fifth time in my life I've been under anesthesia for various procedures, and it's the first time I actually felt nauseous, though there wasn't much to throw up. My nose still aches a bit, twitches, and is quite itchy right now, and it's still a little swollen, especially the tip, which is the most sensitive part. You won't see the final results until the six-month to one-year mark. Look, don't believe everything you read. It isn't that bad. Some people write these things like they're local heroes trying to scare off anyone planning to go through with it. I know making the decision isn't easy, but reading this kind of nonsense makes me want to vomit without even needing anesthesia. Good luck!

I forgot to mention that I did mine at a hospital, and for $1,500. They should probably give my colleague a break instead of stressing her out so much; saying her cheeks and mouth were swollen is news to me... I've never heard anything like that in my life. haha

rustygardener172 said:She pierced my nose with one of those piercing guns...

There is zero chance she'd let anyone use a piercing gun on her!😱 I mean, maybe everything else doesn't hurt that much, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea that a nose wouldn't be sore right after surgery...😳 Honestly, I have this feeling the inside where they stitched it up is just going to pop open and fall right off—kind of like Michael Jackson. 😳

stormyharbor2 said:There is zero chance I’d let them go at it with an ear piercing gun!😱 Look, I get that everything else might not be that bad, but I just can't wrap my head around how a nose wouldn't hurt like hell after surgery.😳 Honestly, I have this nagging feeling the whole thing is just going to split open right where they stitched it up and just fall off like Michael Jackson's nose. 😳

Oh, please... there's nothing to worry about. It's just skin.

rustygardener172 said:There’s nothing to worry about... it’s just skin.

You forgot about the crunch factor...😬

rustygardener172, sorry, I was in such a rush that I didn't realize I misread your message until after I hit send. Anyway, could you tell me—is it better to start applying the cream immediately, or should I wait a bit?

stormyharbor2 said:You totally forgot about the cartilage 😬

😕 I honestly had no idea we even had cartilage on the outside of the nose...

I actually got my ear pierced right through the cartilage up top... so if you're worried, I can tell you from experience that even that doesn't hurt that bad. 😂

Ashley Wells16 said:rustygardener172, my bad! I totally misread your message in the rush and didn't realize until after I hit send. Could you please let me know if it's better to start applying the cream right away or if I should wait a bit?

😁 As soon as you get it:
The day after I had my tampon removed over at Glušac's clinic, I practically sprinted to CVS for some pads and then ducked into a pharmacy for the cream... honestly, nobody even gave me a second glance. I guess people are just used to seeing folks dealing with stuff like this out here in San Francisco hahahaha😁

rustygardener172 said:No offense...but this is honestly the worst advice you could give someone picking a surgeon for their procedure.
I actually think it's the exact opposite. Any decent doctor will tell you that getting consultations from at least three different specialists is the way to go before making a call. We aren't all built the same, and neither are the doctors. Each one is going to give you a slightly different perspective, and trust me... in this business, those tiny nuances make all the difference.

Even my doctor, Glušac, didn't charge me for the initial consults... so Ashley Wells16 you've already got two doctors on your list to check out. Just kidding... obviously. That few hundred bucks isn't worth anything compared to finding a surgeon who actually clicks with you and can give you the perfect nose for your face.
Back when I had my surgery about a year and a half ago, I didn't even need a prescription for heparin... though who knows if the rules have changed since then.

stormyharbor2 I'm right here! 🙂 I might not be posting as much as I used to, but I'm definitely still reading everything. 🙂 Wait, what do you mean "broke" the nose? Like a piercing? If so... I've had mine pierced since long before my surgery... I don't even wear the earring anymore... got bored of it. 🙂 It doesn't hurt one bit!

Look, I'm just here to share my own experience and my own take. I think everyone here is an adult and should be able to make their own choices... and btw, I'm not one of those people who's going to bounce from clinic to clinic because it's too confusing and everyone has such different policies. I'm just saying, I didn't make a mistake and I am so incredibly happy and fulfilled with my results!

Just wanted to share a little more about my experience. My pain threshold is super low and I’m pretty sensitive, so I was nervous since this is the biggest procedure I’ve ever had done. Honestly? I didn't feel any actual pain at all. I'd describe it more as just some discomfort—except for when they had to remove the tampon, which was definitely awkward, but it only lasts a second so you can power through it. Just hoping this helps someone out! Good luck, ladies, you've got this!

Greetings, everyone.
Good grief, I’ve been reading through some of these threads and people are seriously talking nonsense. I realize everyone's experience is unique, but I honestly cannot wrap my head around how opinions can be this drastically different when we are all talking about the exact same procedure...
I underwent my surgery with Munitica back when he was practicing at Mercy Hospital.
It wasn't just about aesthetics for me; I needed to fix my breathing because I actually shifted my nasal bone after taking a hit to the nose during a workout.
I was put under general anesthesia...
When I woke up, I couldn't remember a single thing.
I didn't deal with any pain or nausea whatsoever.
The only slightly unpleasant part was dealing with the bruising.
I could see the difference in my nose immediately once the cast was removed.
My only lingering issue today is that I get headaches whenever the weather changes, which never happened before the surgery...
Removing the packing is a little uncomfortable, but you survive it and forget about it quickly.🙂 It’s nothing major...

Anyway, I am heading back to a private specialist because my breathing is acting up again...
And while I'm at it, I plan to touch up the tip of my nose.
Does anyone here have experience with a revision like this?
How long does the swelling around the tip last, and will there be bruising? I assume there shouldn't be much since the bone isn't being moved this time.

Thank you all so much in advance.

Guys, I need some help here. After they removed the cyst, I ended up with this huge gap right at the base of my nose. My doctor told me to try massaging it first, but if that doesn't work, he wants to do a fat graft using tissue from my knee to fill out my nose. Has anyone actually gone through this???

Kimberly Thompson75 said:...P.S. Just a little unsolicited advice from yours truly: take it with a grain of salt, but you really might want to listen. Cut the crap. Just stop talking. Honestly, I’ve been bouncing from one specialist to the next because nothing about this whole situation makes any damn sense... it's just total chaos. But hey, if there's one silver lining in this mess, it's that consultations over at Dr. Smith's office don't cost a dime. That’s a massive win in my book. +++

Honestly, this doesn't even sound like you're sharing your own experience... it feels like you’re straight-up trying to dictate someone else's life by telling them what to do or what not to do. If you had just said, "Hey, I think it's totally stupid to bounce from one specialist to another," that would be fine—just your opinion, right? Personally, I wouldn't even bother responding; there are all kinds of people on these forums. But you aren't just venting here; you're handing out "advice" that, if you ask me, is actually pretty terrible.

Kimberly Thompson75 said:Look, I’m just here to lay out my own experience and give you my two cents. At the end of the day, we’re all adults here—grown people capable of making our own decisions—so everyone should be free to speak their mind without anyone else jumping in to police them. Make up your mind already! Seriously, just pick a side and go for it. As for me... and honestly, I’m just not one of those people who... I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. You only typed "če"—looks like you might have hit send before you were finished! What's on your mind? Give me the full story. Honestly, bouncing from one clinic to another is driving me absolutely insane. It’s so freaking confusing because every single place seems to be running their own little empire with completely different rules and nonsense policies. It’s like nobody can agree on anything! And look, I’m just going to say it again: I didn't do anything wrong here. I'm not looking for trouble, I'm just trying to get through this without losing my mind. Yeah, right. As if. I am seriously feeling so incredibly happy and fulfilled right now! Honestly, I can't even describe it. It’s one of those rare moments where everything just clicks, you know? Just feeling totally complete.

I can see that you’re still feeling a bit tripped up by this one. Honestly, I get it—it's just that classic case of professional deformation kicking in. Once you spend enough time staring at the same patterns every day, your brain starts seeing ghosts everywhere. It's a curse, really. 😁
But seriously, I am genuinely happy to hear that your OP went so well. Truly. I mean it.
Look, I wasn't exactly running from specialist to specialist like some kind of medical tourist. I only saw two doctors total. Honestly, if that first one had just clicked with me, I would’ve signed the papers and gone under the knife right then and there. But it just didn't feel right, you know? Sometimes you just don't vibe with them. I honestly envy the people who can just make that call immediately and move forward without a second thought—but let's be real, not everyone is wired that way. It's not that simple for all of us.
P.S. Let’s be real—not everyone hanging out in this thread is actually an adult. Honestly, if you bother to scroll back through just a handful of posts, it becomes pretty obvious. Though, whatever, that doesn't even really change the point we're arguing about...

rowdyfalcon35 said:Guys, I am freaking out, please help. After they finished the procedure, this huge crater formed right at the base of my nose where the bone was cleared. The doctor told me I need to massage it, and if that doesn't work, he'll take some fat from my knee and graft it into my nose. Has anyone actually gone through this???

Ugh, man, you really got the short end of the stick on this one. 😢

I’ve done some facial massage myself before... but nothing nearly as intense as what you're dealing with. You definitely need to keep massaging that area so the skin doesn't just "shrink-wrap" itself directly onto the bone...

rustygardener172 said:Ugh! Your nose is cursed 😢

I massaged mine... but I didn't deal with issues like yours. You really need to massage it so the skin doesn't "stick" to the bone...

If it had been done right, it wouldn't be cursed! And I never said I wanted a huge, pointy nose. I just wanted it straightened. He said he’d create a slight indentation or whatever you call it, but instead, he made it way too sharp. Now there's this hole where the hump used to be because he took the whole thing out, and it looks disgusting!! It looked amazing in profile when it was smooth, but now it looks hideous and unnatural from every angle. There's this massive dent—honestly, it looks like someone punched me in the face.

Would someone be kind enough to let me know where I can go for some private consultations in NYC?
I’m just asking around because I haven't actually made an appointment yet, and honestly, I'm pretty nervous. How do you guys find the courage to finally deal with this? Did the people around you notice anything changed?