Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

brightotter21 said:Lisa Edwards yeah, just driving all the way back to his office? that is like, waaaaay too far for me😢

so how long did it take for your stitches to start falling out?? like, does anyone actually know roughly how many sutures they put in a nose? I've had 4 fall out so far, which is about a month and a half post-op. I still have two threads stuck right in the corner of my nose tip that are holding on for dear life, and I can tell they'll be there for a while, plus I probably have more buried in the middle since everything from the right nostril popped out and only one little guy is left on the left side.

I could see maybe 2 or 3 stitches from the outside and felt another couple inside with my fingers... but once three weeks hit, I couldn't feel a single one left. They just vanished, honestly, I have no clue when or how. Maybe I just blew them out because I've been dealing with this cold and constantly blowing my nose? 😁
And that part that divides the nostrils—the cartilage or the septum or whatever you call it 😉—was pretty swollen at first, so I couldn't even really poke around inside to see what was going on :P but now that it's been a month, the swelling is down and everything feels totally smooth inside again.. 😍

brightotter21 said:Lisa Edwards yeah, just driving out to see him... that's a massive trek for me 😢

How long has it been since yours started falling out?? Like, does anyone actually know roughly how many stitches they put in your nose? I’ve had 4 fall out so far—about a month and a half post-op. I still have two right at the tip of my nose that are holding on tight, and I'm pretty sure they'll stick around for a bit. Plus, there's probably more in the middle since everything from the right nostril came out and only one stitch is left on the left side

Same here, I have to head into NYC too—but it’s fine, you just call ahead to schedule, then ask your doctor for the referral and travel authorization... I don't think every doctor is the same, but I got lucky and managed to get my paperwork covered for the trip to NYC, and it turned out to be worth the drive 🙂..........

After 3 weeks, they all usually go—and honestly, it feels way too early, so I have no clue how many were in there originally. When my doctor lifted my nose, they were right at the top where you could see them inside. If yours are lasting longer, don't sweat it—they're holding firm. I wish mine had stayed in that long 😬😬

So, I finally went through with my septoplasty—just fixing the deviation, no cosmetic stuff because, you know, I'm already pretty much perfect as is😁 so I figured I’d share the whole ordeal since I spent forever scouring forums looking for someone who had actually done this procedure
basically, first off, you can't eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the surgery, though it's not a full day of fasting so you don't have to starve yourself completely
on the actual day of the surgery, you need to be at the hospital by 7:45 AM; that’s when I showed up, even though my procedure didn't start until 2:15 PM, so I had plenty of time to sit there and stew in my own anxiety
once you're in the OR, you have to strip off your top; I think the ladies aren't allowed to wear bras, but you'll survive, and you can keep your pajama bottoms and underwear on
when they hooked me up to the EKG, the anesthesiologist commented on how nervous we both were, and then I could hear my heart rate starting to hammer away in my ears; it spiked all the way up to 160, so they basically had to knock me out immediately before I actually had a heart attack right there on the table😁
the surgery itself takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and afterward, you're in such a fog that you barely feel like a human being, but you usually start feeling okay after about an hour
right after the surgery, nothing really hurts because the anesthesia is still kicking in, but don't expect to sleep; you physically cannot sleep, and to make matters worse, you get this disgusting amount of blood draining down the back of your throat, which is just vile
day one is absolutely brutal with the pain and a massive headache; some people say their head didn't hurt at all, but mine felt like it was splitting open, so I spent the entire day riding a wave of painkillers, unable to sleep, unable to eat, and dealing with that nauseating blood trickling down my throat. It was gross. They actually discharged me the same day, but I was one of the lucky ones—about 90% of people end up stuck in the hospital for 2 or 3 days
you won't see any real changes for about four days, and during that time, everything still sucks; your nose hurts like hell, those nasal tampons are incredibly uncomfortable, and that stuffed-up sensation is almost unbearable at times. Just take whatever painkillers you need and try to hang in there; for me, the feeling of having those tampons and all that blood packed in my nose was just too much. You’ll be limited to drinking through a straw and eating soft, liquid foods because opening your mouth too wide causes intense pain in your nose
day four is when they pull the tampons out; it doesn't hurt, but it is a very weird sensation, and you'll probably bleed for about 15 minutes afterward, and then that's it. You'll get some nasal drops and then head back in a week to get the stitches removed
I’m writing this on day five, and honestly, the pain is gone; my nose still feels full of stuff because I’m not supposed to blow it for a few more days, so I’m just dealing with that, but otherwise, everything is fine
for the record, I had the procedure at a major medical center in Miami performed by Dr. Miller, who is an absolute legend; everyone raves about him, and now I get it, because he truly is a master at what he does
I won't lie to you, the experience was pretty unpleasant, but it was totally worth it because I can finally breathe properly, and I’d honestly do the whole thing over again if I had to
I think most people in this group are terrified of the surgery, and I definitely was too, but believe me, it’s such a routine procedure that this doctor handles about six of them a day without breaking a sweat
so, if you are seriously struggling with breathing issues, man up and just get this stupid thing over with😍and if you have any questions, feel free to ask

brightsurfer67 said:So, I finally went through with my septoplasty—skipped the cosmetic stuff because, honestly, I kind of dig the look😁 and figured I’d share how it actually went, since I spent forever scrolling through forums just trying to find someone who had actually done it before me.
(...)
I won't sugarcoat it; the whole experience was pretty uncomfortable, I guess, but it was worth it because I can finally breathe properly, and I’d probably do the whole thing all over again if I had to.
It seems like most people on here are terrified of the surgery, and I definitely was too, but trust me, it’s such a routine procedure that it's almost trivial; the doctor I saw at the clinic handles about six of these a day, easy.
So, if you’re actually struggling to breathe, maybe just man up and get this nonsense over with.😍 And if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Man, the blood, the pain... I’ll probably be a complete nervous wreck tomorrow morning right before they take me in.🙂

Taylor Miller10 said:Okay... I am officially spiraling into a total panic because my surgery is tomorrow.
It’s a septoplasty combined with some rhinoplasty work.
The thing that’s actually driving me crazy is how confused I got during the consultation; I told the doctor I wanted him to narrow my nostrils and make my nose look prettier, but I totally forgot to mention that I want the tip fixed too since it's kind of fleshy.
Damn, I really hope he just realizes what needs to be done? I'm freaking out thinking I might end up looking ridiculous with thin nostrils and a bulbous nose. Otherwise, it isn't even particularly long or huge, it's just kind of chunky.
And I can't find a single thing on any forum about Dr. Maksimilian, who's performing my surgery!!!

HELP, HELP, because I feel like I'm going to lose my mind!!!!!!!

Oh man, I guess I'm the one worrying about how I'll look with a narrower nose, since I'm just having a bump removed... I don't hate my profile, and from the front it seems fine... but the doctor said he has to shorten it a bit after taking off the bump, which means lifting it too... but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you... I suppose they know what they're doing... let us know how it goes, GOOD LUCK.🙂 🙂

I honestly don't get how everyone who gets surgery at local public hospitals ends up having such a nightmare experience, while nobody seems to deal with any pain if they go private. Like, speaking from my own experience, I didn't feel a thing during or after the procedure, and there was barely any blood loss either. Even when they were removing the tampon, it was practically zero blood, just a tiny bit for maybe two minutes. It's actually kind of ridiculous :S

brightsurfer67 said:I just had my septum deviation surgery done—skipped the cosmetic stuff because they sexy like that 😁

Must be nice 😍

In the OR you have to be shirtless... I think girls aren't even allowed to wear bras, but you'll survive. You can keep the pajama bottoms and underwear on though

Yeah, and honestly, it’s probably not even an issue for us since the nurses prep us and cover us up later 🙂.....so ladies, don't worry, especially when your boyfriend tells you

You'll basically be living on straws and soft foods, because your nose hurts so much you can barely open your mouth

Same for me—that bandage under the nose was super annoying 🤣

Not gonna lie, the whole thing was pretty uncomfortable, but totally worth it since I can finally breathe properly. I'd do it all over again if I had to

Well, glad one of us can actually breathe now lol. My experience was fine, nothing embarrassing, but I still can't breathe, so I have to go back in 🙂

So look, if you're actually struggling to breathe, man up and just get this nonsense over with 😍and feel free to ask questions if you have any

I saved up 😬 but I have to go back in... 🙂

stormycyclist9 said:I seriously don't get how everyone who gets surgery at local hospitals has such a bad time, while people at private clinics report zero pain. From my own experience, there was no pain during or after, hardly any bleeding, and pulling out the packing was basically painless... it's ridiculous :S

It's not like that for everyone. It depends on the hospital, the surgeon, the staff, how you handle anesthesia, etc... Nothing hurt me and everyone was surprised; I didn't even need painkillers. There wasn't much blood after the packing came out either, but then again, the girl next to me was dying from the pain, and then I was suffering from lack of sleep—she couldn't even eat or drink because she couldn't open her mouth 😬😬

Lisa Edwards said:It’s a long haul for me too since I have to drive into NYC, but honestly, you can just call ahead and book an appointment first, then check with your doctor about getting a referral and travel authorization... I don't think every doctor is the same, but I got lucky and my doc gave me a travel permit for NYC, and it totally paid off because it wasn't a wasted trip 🙂..........

Three weeks later and everyone—and I feel like it might be a bit early to tell how many there were—they were all looking great! My doctor lifted my nose and they were right at the top where you can see them inside. Seriously, the longer they stay like that, the better! Don't stress out; they hold firm, if only mine had stayed that way for this long 😬😬

Ugh, if you were in NYC it wouldn't even be that big of a deal, but I'm stuck way further out. I've got like 342 miles miles to go to reach the doctor and it's like 550 back, which is just way too much for me, especially with this crazy weather we're having lately...

stormycyclist9 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why everyone who gets surgery at the local public hospitals ends up having such a nightmare experience, while people going to private clinics report zero pain? I know from my own experience—not during, not after, and hardly any blood either. When they pulled the tampon out, there was basically zero blood, just a tiny bit for maybe two minutes. It’s kind of ridiculous, isn't it? :S

Yeah, seriously... what surprised me most was how little blood there was when they removed the packing. My nurse just pulled the gauze right out of my nose, and all I saw was just some white mucus. 😂
It doesn't mean it's like that at every single hospital, but 99% of the stories I've heard involve a lot more pain than that. Every single time I hear about someone else's ordeal, I just thank God we chose Mayo Clinic. 😍

stormycyclist9 said:I honestly don't get why everyone who gets surgery at local public hospitals ends up having such a bad experience—like, nobody seems to get through it pain-free—while people at private clinics supposedly feel zero pain. Speaking from my own experience, I had no pain during or after, and hardly any bleeding. Even when they removed the packing, there was basically zero blood—maybe a tiny bit for two minutes. It’s ridiculous. :S

Actually, my hospital experience was much easier—no tight stitches, no packing... and the ward staff were perfectly professional; honestly, everyone was great. As for the results, 🙂that really comes down to the surgeon's skill, regardless of whether they work at a public hospital or a private clinic. I once paid an absolute fortune for surgery at a high-end private facility and ended up with total crap, yet I didn't pay a dime to the doctor at the hospital and got an amazing nose. That's just how it goes.

It feels like I’m shouting into a void regarding my inquiry about the correction... nobody seems to be taking me seriously at all.

Hannah Baker23 said:My cousin just had septum surgery, and she actually managed to pull some strings through an aunt who works at the hospital to get them to smooth out her nose hump while they were at it! She's wondering if anyone else has tried this?
Is it actually possible for doctors to sneak in some aesthetic tweaks on the fly 😁

Oh yeah, totally possible... you can pretty much work anything out with them if you know the right people!

Hannah Baker23 said:My cousin just had septoplasty surgery—and while she was at it, she used a connection through an aunt at the hospital to get them to smooth out her nose hump too... now I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this?
Is it actually possible for doctors to sneak in some aesthetic tweaks mid-procedure 😁

Hannah Baker23 said:Seriously, is nobody going to address my question about the correction?? :/

Same here—I had a deviated septum and a hump... I actually got mine done through a friend whose brother did cosmetic work for someone else, so he did mine too. 😁 😁

But look, you have to go in for a consultation and talk to the doctor first. Ask if they can handle the aesthetic side of things, mention who referred you, and request the combo. In those cases, they basically just write down that you had a broken nose and need it fixed cosmetically as well 😁 😁 at least that's how it worked for me...

Anyway, I'm heading back in for surgery tomorrow. Going to see how Taylor Miller10 😁 is doing... can't wait 👏... hoping I can finally breathe again... kisses everyone 😍

Quote: Shorty

Lisa Edwards said:Same thing happened to me—only instead of a septum piercing, I went with a nostril stud. I actually had a friend set it up for me; her brother is an aesthetic specialist and did mine too. 😁😁

Look, you really need to schedule an appointment and sit down with the doctor—actually talk to them. Ask if they can handle the cosmetic side of things too. Mention who referred you and request that they perform the aesthetic work alongside the functional repair. If you play it that way, they’ll likely just note that since you had a nasal fracture, there's every reason to fix the aesthetics at the same time. 😁😁 At least that was my experience.

By the way, I’m heading back in for surgery tomorrow—and I’m planning to check in on Taylor Miller10 while I'm at it. 😁 I can't wait—honestly. I’m just looking forward to finally being able to catch my breath. Sending love to everyone. 😍

Does anyone know the current wait times for nose surgery at Mount Sinai?

coastalscout18 said:Does anyone happen to know what the waitlist looks like for nose surgery at Mount Sinai?

So, I went in for my consultation back at the start of October, and when I actually called to book the date, they told me they had an opening toward the end of November... so basically about two months, though I guess it really just depends on how busy things get, right?😉

Listen up, everyone!

I’m finally back home...
I had my surgery on Wednesday, but because I was bleeding quite heavily during the procedure, they wouldn't clear me for discharge early.
The staff were all a bit frantic and kept questioning me about it, especially since I don't typically have issues with bleeding.
My mother has this issue, so clearly, it's hereditary.
I ended up throwing up after the anesthesia wore off, and I felt pretty miserable.
The swelling is significant, but honestly, it DOESN'T hurt! It feels more like that dull ache you get when you accidentally clip a fingernail a little too short.
I ran a slight fever, though the nurses assured me that's perfectly normal.
To be honest, nobody gave me much information right after the surgery, but considering I'm stuck in a cast, I suppose my nasal congestion isn't helping matters.
Right before the operation, the surgeon told me in the OR that he had done everything possible, and I am sincerely hoping he's telling the truth.
I go back on Sunday to have the packing removed, but for now, I've been instructed to change the gauze pads under my nose.
Frankly, I look terrible—all I see is a massive nose stuffed with packing, and the septum seems pushed to the left. I really hope that's just due to the packing and not how things are permanently settled.
Bottom line: the surgery itself and the recovery regarding pain levels have been more than satisfactory!
And yes, I actually met Lisa Edwards!!!! 🙂)))))

Oh, one more thing...
I see people are posting about blood draining down the throat...
Yes, it happens, and it is incredibly unpleasant. To top it off, I even dealt with diarrhea while at the hospital.
I panicked a little bit (sorry for sharing this, but just in case anyone else experiences it) because the color was a dark green!
Then the nurse reassured me that it's completely normal because I swallowed some blood during the surgery, and it simply has to pass through the system.
So, there you have it.

When I first scheduled everything, I was acting all fearless and brave and stuff, but then I woke up that morning and headed to the hospital and just hit this wall of pure panic and anxiety. I got to the unit and sat in that chair looking like some junkie going through withdrawals, honestly. I can't even describe that feeling. It wasn't exactly fear, more like this sudden surge of panic just deep inside me. Then came the surgery—getting the shot in the butt, the ride to the OR, and being in there felt like being on a roller coaster 😁 great 😉. I woke up, opened my mouth, and felt a little scratchiness in my throat from the intubation, but nothing major. They didn't use tampons, and my balance was pretty shaky for the first few hours, so I had to walk with someone helping me. The staff was friendly enough. In the evening, the nurse asked if I needed anything for sleep or pain and I said no—which was a huge mistake. I couldn't sleep at all because of the TV in the next room and the lights in the hallway, plus whatever they gave me during the procedure. So, for anyone heading into a hospital, if they offer you something to help you sleep, just take the pill; you'll drift right off
.
Once I got home, I started getting these dark circles under my eyes, looking like a raccoon or a panda, with swelling all around my eyes, but that only lasted about ten days.

It’s been four months now, and I haven't had any pain during the surgery itself or while recovering. I’d do it again.

Anyway, the surgery was at Mount Sinai, and the surgeon was Dr. Alexander Milenovic—he was funny, approachable, and pretty young, maybe around 40
.

Here I go too...

The pain has started, and it’s hitting me hard.😢
It’s everywhere—my forehead, my teeth, even my face feels like it’s being gripped in a permanent spasm.
I’m changing through pads, and they are absolutely soaked.
Is this actually normal?
I’m starting to panic a little; my surgery was just this past Wednesday, but the bleeding just won't stop...😲

Back again—hope I’m not being too much of a nuisance... I have a question. Do you think bones can actually deform if I press a bit too hard on the side of my nose after getting the cast off? I find myself constantly touching the bone, analyzing everything—I'm honestly worried I might have caused some bumps or irregularities myself.

Quote: Shorty

steelangler88 said:My hospital stay was honestly much easier than expected—no painful stitches pulling at me, and I didn't even need a tampon. To top it off, the nursing staff was perfectly professional; everyone there was truly wonderful. As for the results? Let's just say they were excellent.🙂 It comes down to the surgeon’s skill—period. It doesn't matter if they're practicing at a major hospital or running a private clinic. I learned that the hard way. My first experience was with a private specialist; I paid an absolute fortune only to end up with a total disaster. Meanwhile, I didn't pay a dime extra for the doctor at the municipal hospital, and I walked away with a perfect nose. There you have it.

Which hospital did you have the surgery at?