Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

brightotter21 said:I finally took my splints out the day before yesterday! I am honestly so happy with how it looks, but oh my gosh, my nose is so stuffed up it’s driving me crazy. It’s definitely better than before, but I still can’t breathe through my nose at all—it's just full of crustiness... I've been rinsing with saline and using a little gel with swabs. Plus, I've got these rainbow-colored bruises under my eyes, ughhh... I can't go anywhere looking like this, which is the worst part!

Can we actually use stuff like nasal spray? Since everything feels so fresh and raw right now, I'm a little scared to put anything in there.

Does anyone else feel like when they rinse their nose, nothing actually comes out?? All I manage to do is clear out some mucus that I end up swallowing, but other than that, nothing happens.

What did your doctors tell you to watch out for once the splints are off and you're getting back to your normal routine? Like, besides avoiding any bumps or hits, what's the big "no-no"?

Can anyone help me out? And seriously, how do you deal with all that crusting inside after surgery? How long does it usually take for that to clear up?

brightotter21 said:Can anyone help me out here? How do I deal with the scabs inside my nose after surgery? How long does it take for them to finally clear up?

Well, you certainly didn't hold back with that question! But honestly, you might not love the answer I'm about to give. 😉

The truth is, those wounds—or rather, the surgical sites inside your nose—are right in the middle of the healing phase. Think of it like a construction site; your body needs a steady supply of blood flow to that damaged tissue to get the job done. Those scabs you're seeing? They’re basically nature's biological Band-Aids. They create a protective layer over the wound so it can knit itself back together undisturbed by the outside world.

If you start using nasal drops or sprays—and I’m assuming you mean those decongestant types—you’re actually going to significantly restrict the blood flow to your nasal lining, which is already super vascularized right now. Now, those sprays are great if you're dealing with a nosebleed, but in this specific situation, they can actually be counterproductive. Sure, you might find it a little easier to breathe for a few minutes, but there really isn't any point in stalling the healing process just for a tiny bit of temporary relief. Just hang in there; everything will settle down in its own time.

As for the scabs themselves, please, please don't try to pick them! They are there for a very good reason. If you pull a scab off too early, you’re essentially reopening the wound and forcing your body to restart the whole healing cycle from scratch. Plus, you run the risk of accidentally snagging or pulling out internal stitches. Long story short: I highly recommend just being patient and riding it out. 🙂

When it comes to playing it safe, try your best to avoid blowing your nose too hard. And obviously, steer clear of any bumps to the face, or any heavy, constant pressure on your nose for a while—like wearing heavy glasses if they aren't strictly necessary.

wanderingmason86 said:Come on, since you're asking... But you might not like the answer. 😉

The wound—well, those nose wounds—are currently healing up. For that to happen, the damaged tissue needs a steady blood supply, plus those scabs need to form. Scabs are basically just natural bandages that protect the area so everything can heal peacefully without being messed with.

If you start using nasal drops or sprays (I'm guessing you mean vasoconstrictors), you're going to seriously cut down the blood flow to an area that already has way too much blood rushing to it. That’s great if you're actively bleeding, but definitely not what you want right now! Sure, breathing might feel easier for a few minutes, but there's zero point in stalling the healing process just for a tiny bit of temporary relief. Just hang in there and it'll all work itself out!

And about those scabs? Seriously, don't go picking at them. They are there for a reason! If you rip a scab off too early, you're basically reopening the wound and forcing the whole healing process to restart from square one. Plus, you could accidentally snag some internal stitches... So yeah, I'm telling you again—just be patient and tough it out. 🙂

As for being careful, try not to blow your nose too hard. And obviously, avoid any bumps or constant pressure on your nose for a while (like, maybe skip the heavy glasses if you don't absolutely need them).

Oh, thanks for getting back to me! 👍

I'm not picking anything, I promise! It's just that I'm so frustrated because I'm still stuck breathing through my mouth. How long is this going to last? It's been 10 days since my surgery. When will these scabs finally fall off so I can breathe normally again?

Also, do I still need to sleep propped up on my back, or can I lie flat now? Every time I tilt my head, I feel this weird pressure in my head.🤷

Carol Reed64 said:I’m heading in tomorrow to get my swab taken—honestly, they’re driving me insane. Part of me just wants to reach in and rip the thing out myself. How does the actual extraction work? How long does it take? And did it actually hurt? Also, what’s your take on this whole nose situation so far?

Carol Reed64 said:Hey wanderingjackal—I finally took the swabs out. Honestly, it’s such an uncomfortable sensation. For now, I look like a total rabbit. I’m just hoping all this swelling is just from the molds and the tape pulling everything upward—hopefully, once I get this stuff off, things will settle down a bit. I really hope the swelling goes away; I truly wouldn't want to walk around looking like a rabbit. Is yours feeling that tight toward God too?

Do I look like a rabbit? No—it won't stay this way—at least, that wasn't the deal I made with my doctor. I’m heading in tomorrow to have the mold removed, and I'll let you know how it goes then. For now, the swelling under my eyes has subsided, though it's taken on this yellowish tint... meanwhile, I still have these two irregular, dark purple blotches on my cheeks. Hopefully, those fade soon too. Oh, and my eyelids are bruised purple as well—though anyone who isn't paying attention probably just assumes I'm wearing makeup.😉

brightotter21 said:Hey, thanks so much for getting back to me! 👍

I’m definitely not being reckless, I promise! I'm just playing the waiting game, but man, it is frustrating having to breathe through my mouth constantly. How much longer is this going to last? It’s been 10 days since my surgery today. Does anyone know how long it usually takes for those scabs to finally clear out so I can actually breathe through my nose again?

Also, do I still need to keep sleeping propped up on my back, or can I sleep normally now? Every time I tilt my head, I get this weird sensation of pressure inside my head.🤷

Everything just takes time, you know? It doesn't all happen overnight, but slowly but surely, things will start to clear up. As for when you'll feel that sweet relief—it's hard to put a finger on it because everyone heals differently, but hang in there, it'll happen soon! 😉
And keep in mind, it isn't just about the scabs. Your nasal cycle (that natural rhythm where your nostrils take turns being more open than others) gets a bit thrown off, and it takes a little while for that rhythm to reset itself. Plus, you've got general swelling in the whole nasal area that can linger for a few months.

As for sleeping, you can pretty much lie however you want—just try not to put direct pressure on your nose. Honestly, staying on your back is still your safest bet, and it's usually the easiest position for breathing. You might experience some discomfort regardless, but you aren't going to break anything just by resting your nose against a pillow. Just be careful not to press your nose too hard into it or roll over onto it awkwardly. 🙂

Bokić! I’ve been scrolling through the forum for a bit and honestly, I’m feeling a little lost—I just don't know what my next move should be. My breathing is a total mess; my nose never feels 100% clear, and then nighttime hits and everything gets worse because I just can't breathe through my nose... and honestly, I have no idea how to 😢
just switch to mouth breathing all night long! So, I’m seriously considering surgery because I am *so* over this constant congestion, but I have a few burning questions 🙂
: 1. How much time am I actually looking at staying in the hospital?
2. My nose has quite a bump on it—is it possible to fix the shape during the same procedure? Or am I looking at two separate surgeries? :/
3. From what I've gathered, if the surgery is done at a public hospital rather than a private clinic, it's covered by insurance, right?
Since I'm still a student, I really can't afford to miss too many classes, so I'm trying to get a rough idea of how long the recovery process takes.
Please, please, if there’s any kind soul out there who wouldn't mind answering the same thing for the hundredth time 🙂
! Thanks so much in advance 😉

dustytrucker12 said:1. How long am I going to be stuck in the hospital?
2. My nose is pretty crooked—can they fix the aesthetics at the same time as the surgery? Or am I looking at two separate procedures? :/
3. From what I gather, nose surgery is free if you do it at a public hospital instead of a private clinic, right?

1) You’re looking at a minimum of two days—the night before and then the day of the actual procedure. By the third day, you might even be able to head home! That said, there's always a chance you'll stay for 5 to 7 days. You definitely have to stay until they remove the nasal packing, and occasionally until any splints come out too. Honestly, though, it really just comes down to how many beds are open, the hospital's scheduling, your doctor's preference, and how you personally recover...

2) Think of it like this: by default, the surgeon is going to focus on fixing the functional stuff (like helping you breathe properly), but they can absolutely tackle the aesthetic side during the same session if you clear it with them beforehand (it really depends on the surgeon's style). Just make sure you're super specific when you discuss the plan so there aren't any "wait, what?" moments after you wake up! 😉

3) Exactly! If there's a legitimate medical reason for the surgery (like a deviated septum or a fracture) and you have good health insurance, it shouldn't cost you a dime.

People, I’ve been following this thread almost every single day for nearly a year now, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone mention Bagatin Medical Clinic here?
I was just scrolling through Facebook and saw they have that 3D imaging technology that lets you simulate what a new nose—or pretty much anything else—would actually look like... it doesn't seem like a bad thing at all...
Since they're apparently the only ones with that tech, I'm thinking that even if I don't end up having my surgery there, maybe it's worth going in for a consultation just to get a rough idea of how a new nose might actually suit my face...

But seriously, does nobody know anything about Dr. Bagatin, or are people just staying quiet because they know he's not good?

They're constantly popping up on all those TV shows and doing free surgeries for people, which honestly turns me off a little bit... it feels like so much self-promotion... but then again, an ad is an ad, and maybe that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't skilled at what they do...

According to their official website: "Dr. Bagatin removes the 'bump' using a surgical blade or a curette."

But didn't we all pretty much agree through endless threads on this forum that this isn't actually a sound approach... since you end up leaving behind tiny fragments of cartilage that just resurface later as those little bumps and subcutaneous nodules?

I just wanted to jump in regarding that whole 3D nose simulation thing. I actually went in for a consultation with Dr. Tončić and asked him if there was any way—given how advanced tech is these days—that I could see a digital preview of what my nose might look like after everything is done..
He told me he doesn't do that because it's way too easy to just take an "eraser" tool on a computer, wipe away the part of the nose someone isn't happy with, and draw a brand new one in its place. But the reality is, they don't truly see the actual internal state or the underlying structure until they actually open things up during surgery. That’s when they decide exactly how to proceed, since every single nose is unique and you can't just apply a cookie-cutter solution to everyone. He also mentioned that his job is just as much about creativity as anything else; he has to craft a nose that doesn't just look good on its own, but actually fits perfectly with the rest of the face.

Even though I didn't get the answer I was looking for, I actually preferred it because he was being straight with me, and honestly, what he said makes total sense. 🙂 If I had seen some idealized version of my nose on a screen, I probably would have been totally crushed if the final result didn't look exactly like that digital image! On a computer, we could all just end up with the exact same nose... but in the real world, that's just not how it works..

Thanks so much for the reply! 🙂
So, I guess it just comes down to finding the courage to finally head over to my doctor’s office, grab that referral, and get an appointment on the books... Phew! 🙂

How long after surgery should I start doing nose massages?? And how many months did it take before your nose stopped hurting when you touch it?

Did any of you feel little "lumps" under your fingers while massaging? I’ve got this one right between my eyebrows (not sure how else to describe it)—like, super high up on the bridge of my nose. It feels like subcutaneous fat, but now I'm low-key freaking out that it might be some bone regrowth or something?🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔

wanderingcrane21 said:I’m just gonna jump in here regarding that 3D nose simulation thing...

I’ll add my two cents too. I’m with Dr. Tončić on this one. That whole simulation thing is nothing more than a basic marketing gimmick. It’s no better than those commercials for acne cream where they show some girl with breakouts, and then—poof!—they Photoshop her skin smooth, and we’re all supposed to believe the cream worked magic? Honestly, how naive do you have to be to fall for stuff like that? We aren't even talking about a computer simulation for changing hair color at a salon; even then, you can't trust it because chemicals don't react the same way on everyone's hair 😁
If a doctor needs that much flashy advertising and marketing stunts just to pull in clients... well, I don't know what to tell you. For Glušac, his only real advertisement is the word-of-mouth from people who actually got surgery done by him, and he’s already booked solid.

brightotter21... give it a rest. You literally just got out of the mold, so stop obsessing over your nose! Stop staring at yourself in the mirror for at least a month or two. Any bony irregularities on the nose take about a year to settle down... so quit stressing over "bumps" on the bone!
Keep massaging your nose for as long as you can. The pain will stop once it stops. 😁 It takes time. It depends on which part you're looking at. My tip felt like literal wood for at least five months.

I’m still totally lost whenever you guys bring up Dr. Tončić—which one are we actually talking about here? The younger one or the older one?🤷 You know, the one seeing patients or the one doing the actual surgery? I saw some girls mentioning on this forum that the younger guy did their initial consult, but then the older one ended up performing the operation. That makes zero sense to me. Shouldn't the surgeon be the same person handling the intake?🤷

@rustygardener172/">@@rustygardener172 and wanderingcrane21 - I didn't actually expect that 3D simulation to show me exactly what my nose would look like after surgery... obviously everything depends on facial structure and the actual shape of the nose itself, and doctors really don't know the full story until they actually get in there and open it up
I just wanted to say that I find those 3D simulations helpful... it lets me visualize how a straight profile might look versus a more button-like nose, or how a smaller tip vs. a larger one might change things, and so on...
I'm not claiming the result will be identical to the simulation, it's just meant to help a patient decide which look suits them better... as for how it all turns out in the end—well, that's in the hands of the surgeons and God...

Emily Martinez12 said:@rustygardener172/">@@rustygardener172 and wanderingcrane21 - look, I wasn't even thinking that some 3D simulation could perfectly predict exactly how my nose would look once the surgery is done, obviously everything depends on facial structure and the actual shape of the nose itself, and doctors really don't know the full story until they actually get in there
I just wanted to say that I actually find these 3D simulations pretty cool because it lets me visualize things, you know? Like seeing how a flatter profile might look versus something a bit more upturned, or if a smaller tip or a larger one would suit me better and all that.
I'm not claiming the final result will be a carbon copy of the simulation, I'm just saying it helps a patient decide what style might work best for them, but at the end of the day, how it turns out is really up to the surgeons and God.

Well yeah, obviously... but I honestly prefer having this option, mostly because it means I won't go in with any massive expectations, so I'll probably be happy with whatever result ends up being even just slightly smaller than what I have now. 😁

Hi there,
I was diagnosed with a deviated septum a few years back and have been advised to get surgery. My doctor mentioned Dr. Davor Đanić from the specialists over in Chicago. So, I was wondering if anyone here has any insight on him? Just to be clear, I’m not looking for anything cosmetic—I’m perfectly happy with how my nose looks—this is strictly for health reasons.🙂!

Emily Martinez12 said:@rustygardener172/">@@rustygardener172 and wanderingcrane21 - look, I wasn't even suggesting that some 3D simulation is going to give you a crystal ball view of your nose after surgery. Obviously, everything depends on your actual facial structure and the nose itself, and doctors don't truly know what they're dealing with until they actually get in there and open it up.
I just meant that I personally love those 3D simulations because they let me play around with ideas—seeing how a flatter profile would look versus a more upturned one, or if a smaller tip or a larger one suits me better.
I’m not claiming the final result will be a carbon copy of the digital model; I'm just saying it helps a patient decide which direction they want to head in. As for how it actually turns out in the end? Well, that’s in the hands of the surgeons and God.

Yeah, I get what you're getting at, but honestly? You're better off just messing around in Photoshop yourself or asking someone who knows their way around an editing app. You'll probably get a much better idea of what you actually want, and you won't have to drop a bunch of bucks 😉
on some fancy software or consultation fee.

Megan Moore76 said:I’m still totally lost whenever you guys bring up Dr. Tončić—which one are we actually talking about here? The younger one or the older one?🤷 You know, the one who does the consultations versus the one who actually handles the surgery? I was reading some posts on this forum saying a few girls saw the younger guy for their initial checkup, but then the older guy ended up performing the actual operation. That makes zero sense to me. Shouldn't the surgeon be the same person handling the patient from the start?🤷

So, back when I went in for my own consultation (about a year ago), here’s how it went down: I booked everything over the phone, showed up, and the younger Tončić was the one who examined me. When I asked the nurse where the older one was, she just told me he was on vacation. She explained they both work different shifts... so it really just depends on which one you feel more comfortable consulting with. But apparently, you can specifically request an appointment with the older doctor if that's what you want. When I pressed her on who would actually be operating on me, she said they operate together, because the younger guy isn't doing solo surgeries yet. And right before the procedure, you get to hash out all the details with both of them.

Then again, I saw someone post recently saying the younger guy operated on them all by himself and did a killer job. So, clearly, he’s getting his reps in and starting to fly solo.

But honestly? They can promise you the moon and stars... once you're knocked out under anesthesia, you have absolutely no clue who is actually holding the scalpel. That’s the only reality. Who knows... maybe it was even Severina operating on me while I was out cold... but frankly, I don't give a damn as long as the results are great. 😁

rustygardener172 said:When I went in for my checkup about a year ago, here was the deal: I booked over the phone, showed up, and saw the younger Tončić. When I asked the nurse where the older one was, she just said he was on vacation. She explained they rotate shifts... so you basically just get whoever is on duty for consultations. But hey, you can always request the senior doctor if you want. When I asked who would actually perform the surgery, she told me they do it together, since the younger guy isn't operating solo yet. Either way, you hash out all the details with both of them before the big day.

Someone else mentioned recently that the younger one operated on them solo and did an amazing job. Guess he’s finally cut his teeth and started flying solo.

Whatever... they can promise you the moon and stars... once you're knocked out, you have zero clue who's actually cutting into you. That's just reality. Who knows... maybe Severina was the one operating on me while I was out... honestly, I don't care as long as the surgery is a success. 😁

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 rustygardener172, you aren't just some regular person, you're queen !!!
So what was the actual reason you picked Glusca over Toncic?