Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

🙂

brightcanyon45 said:😂 You aren't just a princess, you're a queen!!!
So what was the dealbreaker that made you pick Glusca over Toncic?

So, here’s the thing: Toncic actually sat me down and told me I had this weird cartilage issue. He said he had to cover his own assets right before surgery because he couldn't give me any guarantees that it would even work. He promised he’d do everything in his power, but basically told me to think long and hard about whether I really wanted to risk $4333, since it might end up being a total wash. Then the aesthetics guy chimed in and said he wouldn't even touch the cosmetic side because everything looked fine already—he didn't want to waste energy on extra stuff when the main surgery was already such a beast.
Look, this was my second time going under the knife, and honestly? A "maybe" just wasn't gonna cut it for me.
Though, I gotta hand it to him... that level of blunt honesty actually made me trust him more...
...but then I crossed paths with Glusca 😁 And man, what a character! He straight up told me that fixing my nose would be like a vacation for his hands. Hahahaha, can you believe that guy?! He was actually the one who suggested doing a little aesthetic touch-up while I was already out of commission. He might be a massive egoist, but at that moment, I was totally vibing with his confidence... and well, here I am... walking around with "Glusca's masterpiece" on my face 👏

He even joked that if I ever decided to go to him for 🙂, he’d throw in some lip fillers for free. 🤣🤣 Not that I’d ever actually do 🙂 right now, but hey, it's good to know... because, you know... life happens. 😉 😁

rustygardener172, he’s seriously full of himself. When I was scrolling through his page and saw him calling himself the "King of Noses," I was just like, wow, how charming. :-) Either way, I’ve done my homework and studied all of them inside out. Regarding noses, I've landed on the fact that Glusac and Klapan are actually top-tier. Their one thing in common is that they’re both incredibly cocky, but they definitely know their stuff. The difference is that Klapan plays this whole mysterious act—he won't even give you a ballpark price, acting all shady and beating around the bush. With Glusac, it’s straightforward, so you can take it or leave it.

rustygardener172 said:🙂

Dr. Tončić told me I have some weird cartilage situation and he had to give himself an out right before the surgery because he couldn't guarantee it would actually work. He said he’d do his absolute best, but I should really think twice about handing over $4333 just for a potential bust. Even the aesthetic specialist told him not to touch it since it looks fine and the surgery is hard enough as it is without adding extra stress.
Since this was my second surgery, a simple "maybe" just didn't cut it for me.
Still... you gotta respect the honesty... it's actually what made me stick with him...
...but then I met Glusac 😁. He basically told me my nose surgery would be a walk in the park for him. Hahahaha, what a character! He even suggested doing a little aesthetic touch-up while I was already under the knife. He might be a bit full of himself, but honestly, that was exactly what I needed to hear at the time... and look at me now... rocking the "work of art by Glusac" on my face 👏

He even joked that if I ever decided to go to him for 🙂, he’d do my lip filler for free 🤣🤣. I wouldn't do 🙂 right now, obviously, but hey, it's good to know... you never know 😉 😁

Let me hop offline for a sec to tell you 🙂. If Glusac is the king of noses, then Zambelli is the king of everything else—lashes, you name it. It’s pretty much common knowledge.

I’ve been weighing the idea of getting a rhinoplasty for quite some time now. My nose isn't large, and there aren't any bumps or anything, but in my opinion, it looks far too upturned—too much "nose" on top—and the bridge itself feels way too wide. Basically, I want to narrow it down and lower the tip (I'm not entirely sure if those are the right technical terms to use🤣)
So, I wanted to ask: is anyone else dealing with a similar situation? Would Dr. Tončić be a solid choice for this kind of work, and what kind of ballpark figure am I looking at for a case like mine? Also, how much does an initial consultation typically cost?

rustygardener172, girl, I know, right? I just can't help obsessing over this stuff...😬 😬

But hey, has anyone else dealt with this? Like, whenever I try to lift my eyebrows, I get this weird tightening sensation right in the middle of my nose—just above the center—you know, like a constant pull??? Is that even normal? Plus, I can feel this little "bump" under my skin when I touch it.

So, I actually went under the knife at Bagatin Medical Clinic last week too. I’m getting the mold removed this Saturday and I already pulled out the tampons, so everything seems to have gone smoothly so far. Once the mold is off and I finally see how things turned out, I’ll probably drop a longer post here to walk everyone through the whole experience—how it felt, what happened step-by-step, and the final results. I’m not gonna dump photos directly on the forum, but I'm happy to send them over via DM if anyone wants to see. On that note, I’d really appreciate it if anyone else who had surgery at Bagatin could slide into my inbox with some photos, since people usually don't post them publicly. Honestly, the uncertainty is killing me; this one day of waiting feels like it's dragging on for an eternity. 😁

urbanotter78 said:I've been thinking about getting a nose job for quite some time... I actually have a small nose without any bumps, but in my opinion, the tip is a bit too upturned and the bridge feels too wide—so basically, I’d love to slim it down and lower the profile (I hope I'm using the right terms! 🤣).
So, I was wondering if anyone else is in a similar boat? Is Dr. Tončić a good choice, and roughly what would the cost be for someone in my situation? Also, how much does an initial consultation run?

Prices generally range from $8,000 to $14,000, depending on whether you need a septoplasty as well—an acquaintance of mine went recently, so I've heard some details 😉. My personal recommendation would be Prim. Munitić.
Now, I'm certainly no expert in plastic surgery, but please take this as my warm recommendation!

stormycyclist9 said:I actually had my surgery at Bagatin Medical Clinic last week, and I’m finally getting the mold removed this Saturday after they pulled the tampons out—everything went smoothly so far. Once the mold is off and I can actually see the final result, I’ll probably drop a longer post here to explain how everything felt, what the process was like, and the whole end result. I won't be posting photos directly on the forum, but I'm happy to send them via DM if anyone wants to see. On that note, I’d actually really appreciate it if someone who’s already been through this at Bagatin could shoot me some photos in my inbox? I haven't seen many people posting their results publicly, and honestly, the uncertainty is killing me... this one day of waiting is going to feel like a lifetime. 😁

Oh man... I'm heading in for my surgery tomorrow..🙂 Is wearing the brace really that painful afterward? That's the main thing on my mind right now.. 🙂
Please, someone just give me some comfort..🙂

wanderingcrane21 said:Man, I'm actually heading in for surgery tomorrow...🙂 Does the hip actually hurt that bad after surgery? Honestly, that’s my biggest worry right now... 🙂
Someone please just talk me off the ledge... I really need some comfort right now.🙂

How am I even supposed to tell you this stuff and actually get you to believe me? 😁 Heheheh.
Honestly, I can't even tell you how much of a relief this was—I was actually pretty surprised myself. There was zero pain, seriously, neither during the procedure nor while I was recovering. The only thing that really bothered me was some pressure in my head right after, but that’s just because they have those nasal tampons in there; it feels exactly like when you've got a massive sinus headache from a bad cold. You take an Advil or something, and boom, problem solved. 😁

rustyheron12 said:Prices generally range from $8,000 to $14,000, depending on whether you're looking at septum rhinoplasty (an acquaintance of mine went recently, so I'm somewhat informed 😉). My recommendation is Prim. Munitić.
I'm certainly no expert in plastic surgery, but take this as my sincere recommendation.

Thank you. Even though I haven't heard of Munitić, I will definitely look into it.

stormycyclist9 said:How am I even supposed to tell you this so that you’ll actually believe me? 😁 Heh.
Honestly, I was kind of surprised by how little it actually hurt, which is pretty wild to me. There was absolutely nothing—zero pain during the procedure or even once I was recovering. The only thing that really bothered me was this weird pressure in my head after the surgery, mostly because those nasal tampons make you feel like you’ve got a massive head cold or a sinus infection. It’s that annoying, stuffed-up feeling where your head just feels heavy, but honestly? You just pop an Advil or something and the whole problem basically disappears. 😁

Oh, that’s awesome! 🙂 So, here I am, back home with nasal tampons stuffed up my nose... it feels absolutely ridiculous, honestly, but whatever, I’ll get used to it eventually. At least nothing actually hurts, which is a relief because people have been trying to freak me out about this for the last two days. A friend of mine had surgery at the Mayo Clinic recently and told me he was in absolute agony, basically living on painkillers for days afterward. I much prefer the version I'm dealing with, especially since you're seeing Dr. Točić, so I think I'll just stick with that approach and call it a win. 🙂
Thanks for the reply... 😉

wanderingcrane21 said:Oh, awesome! 🙂 So, I’m finally back home with packing gauze shoved up my nose... honestly, it feels absolutely ridiculous, but whatever, I'll get used to it eventually. At least nothing actually hurts right now, which is a relief because everyone spent the last two days trying to freak me out about it. A buddy of mine had his surgery at the Mayo Clinic and he was swearing up and down that it was pure agony and he was stuck on heavy painkillers for days afterward. I much prefer the way things went for me, especially since you're seeing Dr. Točić, so I'm definitely sticking with that version of events. 🙂
Thanks for the reply. 😉

Haha, honestly, I’m actually pretty stoked about this. My doctor is taking the cast off tomorrow, so maybe by tomorrow night I'll give you the full update. Don't go getting all worked up or stressed out though—nothing's gonna hurt you. Just keep your neck cool to help with the bleeding and try to sleep with your head propped up a bit, and you'll be fine. It’s been getting better every single day; I feel like a whole new man right now, haha. If I'm still feeling this good by tomorrow, I'm gonna be absolutely golden.

brightotter21 said:rustygardener172, girl, I know! Honestly, I just can't help myself—I have to dive deep into everything about him!😬 😬

Hey guys, quick question—has anyone else dealt with this? Every time I try to lift my eyebrows, I get this weird tightening sensation right in the middle of my nose, just above the bridge. It’s like a constant pull! Plus, I can feel this little bump there when I touch it. Is that totally normal or should I be worried?

I’ve got one more question! Where exactly does the nose get stitched? For example, my nose tip felt a bit tight—I can see where the threads are tucked right up inside the corner of my nostril, but I was wondering if they also stitch the middle part of the nose, like just above the center? I honestly have no clue what's causing that pulling sensation near my nose whenever I get my eyebrows lifted... maybe it's those threads if they actually go that far up inside? 🤔 🤔 🤔

Well, the day finally arrived, haha. Everything’s been taken down and I’m still a little swollen, so before I get into the details, I wanted to ask anyone who’s already gone through this—did you feel like your nose looked way too wide right up between the eyes? Like that area was just super puffed up? And if so, how long did it take for that specific swelling to actually go down? Thanks.

...
Blood work... what can I even say? Man, looking at the color of the needle while they were drawing my blood, I was changing colors like a freaking chameleon, eheheheh. But hey, everything went fine.

Consultations... everything went great, really smooth. The doctors were super polite, we had a good chat, and we got everything squared away.

Surgery... just a few more quick consultations with both of them, filled out some paperwork, and then it was "lay down on the table," heheheh.

They gave me the stuff to knock me out, tied my hands, and told me I’d feel a little lightheaded and then drift off. I read online that everyone says you pass out in ten seconds, but for me, it probably took a full minute or maybe even longer, heheh. I actually asked the nurse, "Am I gonna fall asleep?" and I was basically white-knuckling it.😁 hahhaha

I remember a few moments during the surgery; they were giving me injections inside my nose and I ended up sneezing a couple of times. I also remember my head twitching, probably when they were working on the bone or whatever, but I didn't feel a thing. I can't recall all the tiny details, but I remember waking up with ice packs everywhere—on my face, under my neck, the whole deal.😁 There was zero pain, nothing. The nurse propped my bed up a bit and turned on the TV, so I just chilled there until they came to pick me up.
I felt a little woozy since I hadn't eaten anything besides a light dinner the night before.
That first day, I just laid there resting. I didn't get any bruising or massive swelling. Just that heavy pressure in your head, kind of like when you have a bad cold where your head feels stuffed up, but nothing more than that.

But honestly, it's pretty wild because I haven't felt even a hint of pain all week. Just a little bit of clicking/popping in my nasal passages, but that's about it, so don't be scared of anything.

On the second day, I had a little bleeding from the nostril—probably because I wasn't icing it enough throughout the day. By the third day, it was running a bit more frequently. I got a little worried and called them, but they just told me it's totally normal, so I didn't stress too much; I just stuffed some toilet paper under the bandage and called it a day, heheheh.

Removing the packing... a lot of people say it's uncomfortable or that they're terrified of it, but I didn't even feel it. The nurse was so gentle that it was over before I knew it. When she pulled it out and I could finally breathe air again, I felt like I was being born, heheheheh.

The days leading up to getting everything removed were pure anticipation, wondering how it would turn out. Every single day I felt better and better, and this morning, everything was finally off. My nose looks straight, it's awesome, I'm super happy. The only thing is that upper part between my eyes feels a bit more prominent/bulging because of the swelling. Since I have photos from before, I'm really curious—has anyone else dealt with this exact same thing?!

stormycyclist9 said:Well, I guess the big day is finally here, huh? Everything’s packed and ready to go, though everything feels a little swollen right now. Before I dive into the actual recovery process, I wanted to check in with anyone here who’s already been through nose surgery. Did you get that weird sensation where your nose feels way too wide, specifically around that bridge area between your eyes? It felt pretty inflamed to me. If you did deal with that, how long did it actually take for the swelling in that spot to finally chill out? Thanks.

...
So, I just got back from having my blood drawn... what can I even say? Honestly, watching that needle go in was such a trip that I swear I was changing colors like a chameleon every few seconds, haha. But hey, everything went totally fine in the end.

So, I finally went in for those consultations... and honestly? Everything went surprisingly smooth. The doctors were actually incredibly polite, just really decent people who took the time to sit down and actually talk to me instead of rushing out the door. We even managed to get everything squared away and settled. Is it too much to ask for a seamless experience like that? It was actually pretty nice.

So, the surgery is officially on... I still have a few consultations lined up with both of them, then I just fill out the paperwork and it’s straight to the operating table, haha.

Did they seriously tie my hands back for the sedation? Haha, they were all like, "Don't worry, you'll feel a little woozy and then you'll just drift right off." I've read online that everyone supposedly passes out in like ten seconds flat, but honestly, it took me at least a full minute—maybe even longer, if we're being real. I actually found myself asking the nurse if I was definitely going to fall asleep, just kind of stressing out a bit about it, you know? 😁 lol.

I still have these random flashes from surgery coming back to me—like when Dr. Tončić was applying some kind of medicated ointment inside my nose, and then I suddenly sneezed a few times? Or that weird head twitch I had, probably just because he was working on a bone or something, though honestly, I didn't feel a thing at the time. There were a bunch of other tiny details too, but they're all slipping my mind right now. And man, do I remember waking up... just total sensory overload with ice packs everywhere, like, one on my forehead and another tucked under my neck. Hehehe. 😁 Honestly, nothing hurts quite like this, you know? My sister propped my bed up just a little bit and turned on the TV so I could finally relax, and then they showed up to come get me.
I think I might have messed up a little bit since I barely ate anything yesterday besides a tiny late-night snack.
I just spent the whole day lounging around, and honestly, there wasn't any swelling or bruising to speak of. That pressure in my head? It felt exactly like that dull ache you get when you're coming down with a common cold—nothing too intense, just that slight, nagging discomfort.

It’s actually kind of wild, but I haven't felt even a hint of pain all week. I mean, sure, there’s been a little bit of twitching in my hips here and there, but that’s really about it. So, honestly, there's absolutely nothing to worry about.

So, day two hit and I started getting some nosebleeds, probably because I wasn't keeping my head iced down enough during the procedure. By the third day, things were running a bit more frequently than I liked, which actually had me a little worried. I ended up giving the folks at the Mayo Clinic a call just to check in, but they basically told me there was nothing to stress about and that this is all pretty standard. Honestly, once they cleared me, I stopped sweating it—just tucked a little wad of Kleenex under the bandage and called it a day, haha.

Removing a tampon... I know a lot of people always talk about how uncomfortable that part is and they get all worked up about it, but honestly? I didn't feel a thing. The nurse was so smooth with it that it felt like it was over before I even realized what was happening. Once she pulled it out and everything finally had some breathing room, I swear it felt like being born all over again, haha.

Man, those days waiting to get the hardware removed were something else—just pure, unadulterated suspense. It was like a slow burn where I felt better and better every single day, just counting down the minutes. So, I finally got everything taken off this morning, and honestly? I’m pretty stoked with how things look overall. Everything feels great, except for that one spot right at the bridge of my nose, between my eyes. That specific part is still sticking out more than I expected, almost like there's some lingering swelling there. I actually have some old photos to compare it to, so I know it's not just in my head. Does anyone else here deal with that same kind of thing after their procedure?

Ugh, honestly, we’re basically in the exact same boat here. I just hit day two of having these nasal tampons shoved up there, and it's quite the experience. I'm just sitting here crossing my fingers and hoping that the rest of my recovery goes as smoothly as yours did... wouldn't that be something? 🙂
At the end of the day, I just want them to get those swabs out of my nose so I can actually breathe again, talk normally, and laugh without feeling like I'm about to choke... honestly, my family back home has already started calling me Hannibal Lecter because of this damn nasal cannula, haha. 😂

@ stormycyclist9... listen, that swelling between the eyes—mine actually spiraled out of control after my second surgery. Oh man, nothing happened on day one. But day two?! Good God, I couldn't even open my eyes. I looked like I didn't even have eyes! Just this massive swollen nose; everything up there was flat and wide, like an elephant... it was terrifying. I was genuinely scared something would happen to me—I honestly thought the pressure would make my brain pop out through my ears.😂
Anyway, don't freak out if you swell up; it usually subsides within a day or two. And yours probably won't be as intense as mine; I was definitely a bit of a special case. 😁

As for me, I’m getting more and more worried about my tip. I have this feeling that the whole structure is weak—like the cartilage is "too heavy" and is pulling it down. I'm terrified it’ll sag even more over time, and it's only been 5 months. Please, just don't let it drop any further... 🙂

steelangler88 said:@ stormycyclist9... man, this swelling between my eyes totally spiraled out of control after my second surgery. Like, seriously, nothing happened on day one, but by the second day? Oh my God, I couldn't even open my eyes. I looked like I didn't even have eyes! Just this massive, swollen nose area—everything up there was just flat and wide, looking like an elephant... it was honestly terrifying. I was genuinely scared something was going to happen to me; I legit thought the pressure was going to make my brain pop right out of my ears.😂
Honestly, don't even sweat it if things get a little swollen; it usually just settles down after a day or two. And honestly, you probably won't have it nearly as bad as I did—I was kind of a special case, let's put it that way. 😁

Honestly, I’m getting pretty worked up about my own peak, too. I have this nagging feeling that my whole structure is just weak, like my cartilage is way too heavy and it's basically pulling everything down. I’m genuinely terrified that it’s just going to keep sagging more over time, especially since I'm only five months in. Please, just don't let it drop any furtherrrrrrr. 🙂

Look, I haven't even really swollen that much—maybe just a tiny bit around my nose, but nothing crazy. I was talking to the guy over there and he was basically telling me to just stay positive and hope for the best... but honestly, I need you to tell me something. Does the bridge of your nose, like right between your eyes, feel swollen outward? That little dip or "indentation" between my eyes has almost completely smoothed out now, so I’m wondering if you went through the same thing. If you did, how long did it take before it finally leveled out?
And that guy Krugić’s got that weird little bump right on the tip of his nose, too. 😁 Was it actually broken? Because it feels like there’s some kind of ligament damage going on in there, and I'm honestly just trying to figure out if things are still intact or if it's just swollen as hell. 😁
And if you could just shoot me a photo in my inbox—maybe some before and after shots? I’d really appreciate that. I'll get everything transferred over to my computer for you as soon as I can, probably sometime tomorrow. 😁

wanderingcrane21 said:ugh, we are literally in the exact same boat. I’m currently on day two of dealing with these nasal tampons. I’m just crossing my fingers that the rest of my recovery goes as smoothly as yours did... 🙂
The main thing is just getting these things pulled out so I can actually breathe, talk, and laugh normally again.. My family back home keeps calling me Hannibal Lecter because of this nasal packing.. hahaha.. 😂

hahaha Hannibal.... yeah, we were in the same mess :d everyone kept cracking up at me but it was so awkward to laugh because I was terrified I’d start bleeding everywhere 😁

Anyway, I'm seriously glad to hear things are going well for you!

stormycyclist9 said:Look, I haven't even bruised much—just a tiny bit on my nose, and I'm not really swollen. He told me I was lucky or whatever... I'm just not sure, tell me—the tip of the nose right between the eyes, did yours swell outward there? Because that little "indentation" between my eyes has almost disappeared, so now I'm wondering if you had the same thing happen. If you did, how long did it take to go down?
And the tip of the nose, that little circular part 😁—was yours swollen? It feels like there's cartilage inside, so I'm curious if it stayed the same shape or if it was just swelling 😁
If you could send me some before-and-after photos in my inbox, I’d appreciate it. I'll get mine over to you as soon as I can get to my computer—probably tomorrow. 😁

Hey man, I'd love to help you out, but I honestly have no idea what you're asking me😁
If I understood correctly regarding the area between the eyes... mine swelled up like crazy, but mostly sideways. It went outward too, but not nearly as much. As for that "indentation" you mentioned (I'm assuming you mean the profile, right?), it stayed pretty much the same; my profile didn't really "puff out" that much. It should settle down quickly for you, probably in a day or two. And sorry, I have no clue what you mean by "the circle" at the tip of the nose.🙂 Plus, I don't have any photos of myself while I was swollen. Besides, everyone heals differently, so don't sweat it—it won't last long.

steelangler88 said:Look, man, I’d love to help you out, but I honestly have no clue what you're even asking me.😁
If I understood you right regarding that spot between your eyes... mine swelled up like crazy, but mostly sideways. It went outward, but not by much, so that "dip" you're talking about (I'm assuming you mean the profile shape, right?) stayed pretty much the same for me; my profile didn't really "puff out" that much. It'll settle down soon, probably in a day or two. And as for this "krugic" thing, I couldn't figure out what you meant, sorry.🙂 I don't have a photo of myself all swollen up, anyway. Besides, everyone reacts differently, so don't sweat it, it won't last long.

heheh yeah, I was talking about my profile :d mine swelled up too, though maybe not quite as insane as yours :d and when I said "krugic," I meant the tip of my nose—it feels kind of hard and woody since it's swollen, so I'm not sure if it's going to shrink back down or if it'll just drop? 😁