Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Sophia Booth35, you say your nose isn't small, but honestly, looking at your profile, it looks totally tiny and cute to me!😍When your doctor told you that your face was too big for such a small nose, what did he mean by the width of your face? I've heard people make comments like that before, but I never quite get what they actually mean...

Grace Thompson34 said:Sophia Booth35, you say your nose isn't small, but looking at your profile, it actually looks tiny and cute!😍When your doctor mentioned that your face was too large for such a small nose, what exactly did he mean by facial width? I've heard people make similar comments before, but I can never quite wrap my head around what they actually mean by that...

Well, I guess that's just how it turned out in the photo.
And honestly, I have no idea what he meant specifically. I have a round, chubby face—no matter how much weight I lose, my face stays puffy and lacks any real definition in the cheekbones or jawline. Because of that, a small nose just doesn't seem to balance everything out properly, does it? It certainly doesn't suit the long, narrow look I was always hoping to achieve.

Personally, I’m not really a fan of long noses, but honestly, if you just contour the bridge, it automatically looks longer—unless you lift it up a bit too much... I think your old nose was actually fine, like, it wasn't even something that needed surgery... mine wasn't exactly perfect either, so I ended up going under the knife myself :sad:

I was just thinking about what my dream nose would look like... 😁 I bet you guys are all dying to know 😁
Anyway, here are some photos
http://www.betternose.com/results.htm

I really wish mine could look just like this... perfectly straight, with the bridge and the tip being a bit smaller, just like hers... I mean, I want it to look EXACTLY like this 😍

But now... I'm wondering... would that actually require breaking bones? And did they touch her tip too, or does it just naturally look smaller once the bridge is straightened out? 🤷

Yeah, I was actually wondering about that too—is it possible to get those carriers resized?

Sophia Booth35 said:Why'd you post links instead of actual photos? 😕

Because you copy-pasted the wrong link, babe... you needed the one meant for forums.

Honestly, it looks to me like one side of your nostril was already sitting a bit higher than the other even before the surgery. Now that the tip has been shortened, that asymmetry is just popping out more. So, if you ask me, it probably isn't about the stitches... but hey, I'm just some random person on the internet. If your surgeon told you it's because of the stitches, then fine... he definitely knows way more than I do.
Though, if I'm being totally real with you... I think your nose is adorable just the way it is, and I seriously wouldn't go under the knife again just for that. I truly believe every nose needs at least one little quirk to make it unique to you... imagine if we all walked around with identical noses, ugh, gross.
Just hang in there and be patient. It's super obvious that your nose is still pretty swollen. The tip is going to drop a bit and get much narrower, but that takes months... And please, don't start thinking about a second surgery already... don't do that to yourself! Your nose is genuinely sweet, just learn to love it!! 👍

Maria Hall92...you and I actually chatted in the DMs. But looking at this now, I can see how rough your nose looked from the front before... The doctor actually did a great job fixing it. It’s basically the same nose you had, just straighter, which is exactly what you wanted. As for the scar... I'm gonna say the same thing as Sophia, let it show! Be proud of it—it's part of what makes your nose yours!! 👍

Emily Martinez12 said:You guys probably have no idea what kind of nose I’m dreaming of 😁 I bet you're all dying to know 😁
Basically, here are some pics
http://www.betternose.com/results.htm

I wish mine was straight like hers, and if the bridge and tip could just be a little smaller too... like, I want it EXACTLY like this 😍

So... would that require breaking bones? And did they actually touch her tip, or does it just look smaller automatically once the bridge is straightened out? 🤷

Looking at the profile shots, there's really no way to tell if they had to break any bone.
As for the tip... hmmm... it's hard to say. I spent some time staring at these photos, and honestly, I'm not sure. The "before" photo looks like it was taken much closer up than the "after" shot... which makes the nose look smaller afterward, but in reality, it feels like it's the "same" nose, just without the hump. So, my guess is the tip and the bridge weren't actually shrunk. But hey, maybe I'm totally wrong...

Chris Reed4 said:Yeah, I’m also wondering if the nasal supports can be shrunk down.

Of course you can! Just keep in mind that if you do, the seams end up on the outside. Honestly, just do a quick Google search for "nasal support reduction" or "narrowing nasal supports." You'll definitely find way more detailed info online than any of us could ever rattle off to you here.

Hey there,😉
So, here’s the situation... I’m 23, and back when I was a kid, I took a hit to the nose, which I’m pretty sure caused it to shift slightly... It isn't immediately obvious to everyone else, but it definitely shows up in photos. Basically, it leans a bit toward the right. It really bothers me. When I take a profile shot from the right side, my nose looks perfectly fine, but when I switch to the left profile, it looks huge. My profiles are completely asymmetrical, even though everyone insists they don't notice a difference—but to me, it's glaringly obvious... Does anyone know what kind of procedure I'd need just to get it centered again, even if only by a tiny amount? Thanks.

Mine was off by just a few millimeters, so he ended up centering it. You'll probably deal with a little bit of bone soreness, but honestly, it’s nothing to worry about too much :P

Matthew Lee91 said:haha, glad you're finally satisfied. 👍 Just a couple more things I wanted to ask: how much time actually passed between those first consultations and the actual surgery? (I'm really crossing my fingers it wasn't more than a month.) Also, did they put you under with general anesthesia, or was it just local? thanks 🙂

I’m planning on setting up a consultation with Davor Džepina tomorrow. Honestly, he seems like my best bet since he specializes in ENT. I've run into quite a few negative reviews regarding Ostojić, and while Glušac was actually my first choice, his office is just way too far out of the way.

thanks to you 🙂 So... it’s been about two weeks now. During our initial consultation, he mentioned he could potentially move things up, but he gave us some breathing room to sit with everything and really process it. Honestly, since I tend to be a bit of a skeptic by nature, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect—I was definitely hesitant. But I have to say, I'm genuinely surprised. The doctor did an absolutely stellar job.😉 My sister and I are both completely satisfied with how things turned out. Honestly, even if we had a choice in the matter, we wouldn’t hesitate for a second—we’d go back to him in a heartbeat.
We were leaning heavily toward Opcom for this. Honestly, he’s just the better call for a procedure like this. Beyond anything else, his team is top-tier—they really have the best crew around. Plus, the anesthesiologist is an absolutely wonderful guy. From what we've gathered, nobody under his care has run into issues with anesthesia, which is a huge relief... especially since my cousin and I both had smooth experiences. And that’s saying something, because personally, I’m incredibly sensitive to medications and sedatives.
Glusac was my top pick too, honestly. But we ended up really liking Dzepina during the consultations. Everything he said actually held water—it made sense. He didn't seem like one of those guys who would just take your money and do whatever you ask regardless of the consequences...
So, among other things, Dzepina is really pushing the idea of keeping those tampons in for as long as possible—like, the full three to five days. Apparently, they aren't just there for show; they actually act as a sort of internal support to keep the septum from shifting out of place. If you’re actually interested in that kind of detail, maybe just shoot them a private message? I haven't been following this thread very closely lately. Honestly, the doctor answered everything I needed to know, and frankly, that was enough for me.

Sophia Booth35, honestly, your nose was perfectly fine even before the surgery. This new one looks lovely to me. As for that bit about the bridge being higher or lower—I wouldn't have even noticed if you hadn't pointed it out. My right nostril sits a bit lower too (it always did, and it still does), but it doesn't bother me at all, haha.
Anyway, major props on the new look, and I really hope you don't find yourself needing another procedure down the road 😉.

Maria Hall92, your new nose is gorgeous 🙂. You say it isn't small, but if you ask me, it’s actually just the perfect size 😉

And what would you all say about the size of my new nose? It might not be tiny, but at least it's finally straight when seen from the profile, 😂.

Emily Martinez12 said:http://www.betternose.com/results.htm
I honestly wish mine looked just like that—perfectly straight, with a bridge and tip that are a bit more compact, just like hers... I mean, EXACTLY like this. 😍

🤷 But if you ask me, that looks totally Photoshopped. It doesn't look like an actual nose after surgery.

I wanted to share my own experience, if only to give some encouragement to those who are still on the fence.

I had my surgery seven days ago—my nose looks wonderful and I can breathe perfectly fine. 🙂 I had a deviated septum and a dorsal hump, but my main focus wasn't on making it smaller; I prioritized symmetry and breathing. I chose Dr. Iva Džepina (located near the local equivalent of a famous rock legend's street). The doctor is truly exceptional. My criteria were simple: intuition and his track record (he spent 20 years at a major US teaching hospital, has years of private practice under his belt, and serves as an adjunct professor at a medical school). The staff was lovely, and the recovery suites were quite comfortable for sleeping. Two days after the procedure, they removed the nasal packing—piece of cake. Today I had the cast removed, and honestly, it wasn't bad at all. The first two days were a bit of a shock; I woke up from general anesthesia looking like a swollen frog with dark bruising, and I couldn't look at a TV screen or read anything. Since I suffer from allergies, breathing through my mouth wasn't a huge issue, but once that initial phase passed, the recovery was incredibly fast. In fact, I’m already planning a trip to the coast in a few days. I used cucumber slices and some ointment on the swelling around my eyes, which helped them fade quickly. Aside from those first two nights, I’ve been sleeping normally on my side just like I love to do, eating whatever I want without any guilt, and letting my aunt spoil me. Even though my face feels a tiny bit stiff, I can laugh normally and I don't have to hold my nose. 😂 I first considered this surgery four years ago, but college obligations kept pushing it off the table. That changed two weeks ago when I realized I could finally squeeze it into my summer break. About a day and a half before the surgery (back then, I hadn't even decided on a surgeon yet, though I had consultations lined up), I came onto this forum, and looking back, it was the best decision to get it over with. I feel fantastic. I think summer is actually the perfect time for these procedures because everything heals faster, and the salt water helps reduce swelling. I actually got pretty lucky with the scheduling; the doctor had a last-minute opening the day after our consultation. Everyone else was booked out for weeks, and I didn't want to miss my chance and end up awkwardly covering my nose at the beach. So here I am—me and my new nose are officially best friends. 😁

Sarah Myers21 said:Sharing my experience here, just to give some encouragement to those still on the fence.

I had my surgery 7 days ago—the results are beautiful and breathing feels great. 🙂 I had a deviated septum and a bump, so I focused more on functionality and breathing than on making it smaller. I chose Dr. Iva Džepina (who has an approach similar to Djura Dežalić). He’s fantastic; I went with my gut, trusting his expertise (20 years at Mayo Clinic, plus private practice and a professorship at medical school). The staff is lovely, and the recovery suites are very comfortable. Having the packing removed two days later was a piece of cake, and taking the cast off today wasn't too bad either. The first two days were a bit of a shock—waking up from general anesthesia feeling swollen like a frog with dark bruising under my eyes. I couldn't watch TV or read, and I had to breathe through my mouth, which isn't a huge deal for me since I have allergies. After that, though, the recovery was surprisingly fast, so I'm already planning a trip to the coast in a few days. I used cucumber slices and ointment on the swelling around my eyes, which helped them fade quickly. Aside from those first two nights, I've been sleeping on my side like I prefer, eating whatever I want without guilt, and letting myself be pampered. Even though my face feels slightly stiff, I can laugh normally without having to hold my nose. 😂 I first considered this four years ago, but college obligations kept pushing it back until two weeks ago when I realized my summer break was the perfect window. A day and a half before the procedure (back when I hadn't settled on a surgeon yet but had several consultations lined up), I was browsing this thread, and honestly, I'm glad I did. It's all behind me now. I feel wonderful, and I think summer is actually a great time for this because healing seems faster and the ocean air helps with the swelling. I got lucky with the scheduling; the doctor happened to have an opening the day after our consultation, whereas everything else was booked out for weeks. I didn't want to wait two weeks and risk showing up to the beach with a swollen nose, so I jumped on the opportunity. Now, it's just me and my new nose against the world. 😁

Congrats! 😍

Rachel Fisher97 said:Congratulations! 😍

Thanks, it was definitely worth all the effort. 🙂

Drew Sullivan6 said:Hey everyone,😉
so, here's the deal... I'm 23, and back when I was a kid, I took a hit to the nose. I'm pretty sure it got slightly crooked then. At first glance, you can't really tell, but in photos? It's obvious. It leans just a little bit to the right. And honestly, it drives me crazy. When I take selfies from one angle, my nose looks totally fine, but if I flip to the other side, it looks huge. My profiles are completely different, even though everyone tells me they don't notice anything. But trust me, it's there and it's real. Does anyone know what kind of procedure I'd need just to get it centered again? Even just a tiny bit would be huge. Thanks.

Ugh, I feel your pain... I went through the exact same thing. I used to be so self-conscious that I’d only ever take photos from one specific half-profile... because from the front, my nose looked totally crooked, and from the other side, it looked massive. 🤣
I am so incredibly glad I finally got it fixed!! Now I can actually breathe like a normal human being, thank God!!

Elizabeth Collins5 said:Maria Hall92, that new nose of yours looks absolutely lovely 🙂. You mentioned it isn't small, but if you ask me, I’d say it’s actually just the perfect size 😉
.
As for my own new nose—it might not be tiny, but at least it looks perfectly straight from the profile view, 😂.

Thanks 🙂... though, I have this feeling that in photos it looks smaller, but once you see how it sits on the whole face, it seems a bit more prominent... I don't know
.
Actually, you know what? Whatever you say! As long as the profile is right, I'm happy 😁.

So, my old nose—it actually turned out great, honestly—but I don't have any photos of it here at the moment because I ended up deleting them from my laptop... I'll post them as soon as I find them though...

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/nosme.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/nos3u.jpg/

The new nose... still pretty swollen... just two weeks out from the surgery.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/nos2a.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/nos1.gif/

Hey ladies, I have a quick question and it’s kind of urgent! Has anyone here ever gone to get lab work done through their insurance provider? If so, could you let me know what else I need to bring besides my doctor's referral and my insurance card? Also, how long did you actually have to wait for the results to come back? It’s been over 8 years since I last stepped foot in a medical clinic, so honestly, I don’t even remember what the whole process looks like! :-)