Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey there!

It’s been exactly 15 days since my surgery... and 8 days since they took the cast off.
My nose looks a bit different now, and honestly, I wouldn't go so far as to say it looks better.
I thought it might look a little narrower, but it hasn't really changed.
The tip seems slightly upturned too, which I’m really not liking... does it eventually settle back down?
Plus, the base feels wide or maybe just swollen; I can't quite tell myself.
Please, can anyone tell me if this is the final result or if the swelling is still going to subside?
How long did it take for you all to see real results?

Also, there's a small bump that's still visible when looking at my right profile—something I definitely didn't have before.

And I'm still struggling to breathe properly through my nose... like, fully.

THANK YOU for the replies....

Taylor Miller10 said:Hey there!

So, it’s been exactly 15 days since the surgery... and 8 days since they took the cast off.
My nose looks a little different now, and honestly, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's better.
I thought it would turn out a bit narrower, but it really hasn't.
It feels kind of upturned too, which I'm not exactly loving... does it eventually settle down?
And the bridge area seems wide or maybe just swollen, though I can't even tell myself.
Please, tell me, is this the final look or is the swelling still going to subside?
How long did it take for you guys?

Oh, and that little bump is still there—you can only see it from my right profile, and I definitely didn't have that before.

Plus, I still can't quite take a deep breath properly... like, a full one.

THANKS so much for the replies...

Well, for that obvious swelling, you're looking at about two months, and for the whole thing to reach its permanent shape? You're talking 6 to 12 months... just stay chill and be patient. 15 days is basically nothing. There are stitches inside and everything... don't panic (seriously, all of us who've had this done!) right away. Sometimes it takes a week or two just for the scabs near the nostrils to clear up—you did just have surgery, after all! Just take it easy, things will settle where they should.🙂
I had my procedure about a month and a half ago and my nose still feels a bit wooden at the tip, hard and peeling, and it's swollen at the tip and on the sides (way less than when I started, obviously, but you can still tell there's some lingering swelling)... but yeah, slow and steady, it doesn't happen overnight.

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well 🙂
I’m actually looking into getting rhinoplasty myself, and I’ve been in the "saving up money" phase for quite a while now. I was wondering if anyone could explain this whole "thick skin syndrome" thing? Like, how do you actually tell if you have thick skin, and how much does it really mess with the final results? Also, if you don't mind, I would be so incredibly grateful if anyone could share some before and after photos—or, if that feels too awkward, just some after shots. If you can, please include front views too, not just profiles. I know I’m throwing a ton of questions and requests at you all at once, and I’m sorry about that, but it would help me immensely in making my final decision. Thanks so much in advance! Best, velvetcyclist88 😍 😁

Rachel Martinez94 said:I went to see Tončić yesterday for a consultation, feeling pretty optimistic. I honestly thought, "Finally, I can get this nose fixed." But apparently, they don't think I even need surgery.

[Link to image]

Not needed? 😢

......

What do you guys think—should I go out and get a second opinion? 😢

Taylor Miller10 said:Lily!
Don't go—your outfit is too perfect and looks way too good to waste.🙂

You're just imagining things. They gave you sound advice—you'll be wasting your time going through with that surgery for nothing.
Man, plenty of people would kill for a nose like yours! 😍

Rachel Martinez94 I completely agree with Taylor Miller10... don't touch your nose. You have a great nose—not too small, not too big, just right. It isn't crooked or anything like that; it's perfectly shaped.
Don't touch him.

You’re delusional if you think your nose is actually fine. I used to be exactly like you—stuck in that endless loop of self-doubt, constantly obsessing over how "ugly" my nose was. It was completely pointless.

So, come on then—tell me what you guys actually think. Do you think I really need nose surgery?
I’ve stopped dwelling on it, but every once in a while, the urge for surgery creeps back in. So, I figured I'd throw it out there—I want to hear what you all think.
I'm not exactly sure how to upload an image properly here, but hopefully this works. I included some shots where my eyes are clearly visible so it’s easier to compare the nose size relative to my eyes and all that.
[Link to image]
[Link to image]

Emily Vaughn46 said:Rachel Martinez94 I totally agree with Taylor Miller10... don't touch your nose, you have a lovely nose. It's not too small or too big—it's just right. You don't have a crooked nose or anything, it's perfectly straight.
Just leave it alone..

You're probably just overthinking things and deciding it isn't good enough. I used to go through that too, struggling with those annoying thoughts about having an ugly nose... it was honestly pointless.

But anyway, tell me what you think—do you think I actually need a rhinoplasty?
I've stopped obsessing over it, but every once in a while, the urge for surgery creeps back up.. so, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
(I'm not sure how to upload photos properly, but hopefully this works. I included shots where my eyes are visible so it's easier to compare the nose size relative to the eyes and all that.. yeah..)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...fdsc01149.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...fdsc01286.jpg/

I second everything you wrote 🙂 and personally, I think your nose is really pretty and well-proportioned. I can't believe you ever had phases where you didn't think it was nice, because it's perfect!!! You have beautiful large eyes and your nose fits perfectly with them, at least in my opinion.🙂

As for me, I actually want surgery. Back in elementary school, I took three heavy hits from a basketball right to the face. Nothing was technically broken, but the cartilage got really swollen, and now that I'm 24, it's basically ossified. That bump makes my nose look huge, and honestly, it's hard to look at.😢 That's why I'd be so grateful if anyone who had their nose done by Trump could send me some private photos of their results. I need to see if he can actually straighten mine out, or if my nose is even fixable... it's something I literally think about every single day.😢

Emily Vaughn46 said:So, tell me honestly—do you guys think I actually need a nose job?
I’ve mostly stopped obsessing over it, but every once in a while, that itch comes back and I start wondering... so, let's hear it. What's your take?
(Not sure how to upload photos properly, but hopefully this works. I took some shots where my eyes are visible so it's easier to see the scale of my nose compared to my eyes and all that... yeah, just like that.)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...fdsc01149.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...fdsc01286.jpg/

To put it bluntly: NO.
At the end of the day, you'd be doing more harm than good to your face.

Rachel Martinez94 said:Does anyone happen to know the exact pricing for the surgeons? Also—how much do they charge for consultations?

Consultations are $50, and surgery is $2,000.00

rustygardener172 said:Short and sweet: NO.
At the end of the day, it'd cause more harm than good.

PREACH. Honestly, I don't get why people would go under the knife for stuff like that—WTF. Isn't there anything else you'd rather spend that kind of cash on, especially when your nose is already perfect?😕 FYI, this is coming from someone who actually had nose surgery, but in my case, everyone said "YES"😁

stormyharbor2 said:AGREED. I honestly don't get why anyone would go under the knife looking like that, wtf. Isn't there anything else you'd rather spend all that cash on, especially when you already have a perfect nose?😕 FYI, this is coming from someone who actually had nose surgery, but in my case, everyone told me "YES"😁

What's actually bothering me is that whenever I "pout" my lips, the tip of my nose drops down, and it looks terrible in profile... I'm not even sure if an operation can fix that.🤷
Here is a photo so you can see what I mean..
Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but 🙂 I don't know, haha

Oh Emily Vaughn46, your nose is honestly stunning!! Seriously, don't touch it. While you *can* fix the tip area, if you look at mine—which I've had done—the profile still looks a bit "off." From a direct side view, it looks flat, but once you tilt it to a three-quarter view, you can see how it curves downward🤷. It drives me crazy, but I've just gotten used to it. So... bottom line, your nose is truly beautiful, and unless it's bothering you immensely, I wouldn't mess with it if I were you.😉

On my end, all the bumps have smoothed out, thank God, and I'm feeling really happy about it. BUT (there's always a "but" with me😁), I haven't seen anyone else mention this specific issue: the upper part of the nose, the bridge/root area—the bony part. It feels like there are "pits" on both sides. Like two vertical indentations, maybe half a centimeter long. Since my bone structure is flat, it looks from the side like pieces of bone are just missing—I don't even know how to describe it. My skin is so thin that every tiny little "imperfection" just shows through. Has anyone else dealt with this? I had the exact same thing after my first surgery on one side, and now that the second side is "fixed," the same thing is happening on the other side. 🙂 I’m kind of hoping that as the tip shrinks more over time, it might become less noticeable, but I don't know how much hope I should hold onto since it's already been 8 months....

stormycyclist9 said:Hehe, well, I definitely felt a bit of that stiffness right at the base of my nose too. 😁 I actually scoured the entire forum before my surgery, and Tončić had the highest praise and the fewest complaints, so he was the one I went to. 😁 As for you mentioning a bump appearing after the procedure—in my opinion, that shouldn't happen because the hump should be completely gone by then. My nose was swollen, sure, but it was as smooth as a sheet of glass. 😁 Sorry if I sounded a bit intense; that’s just my take on it.
I didn't have any excess skin issues; everything felt tight. Honestly, I was a little nervous that things wouldn't look quite right since everyone there kept saying how "perfect" it was, while I felt more like I just needed tightening. There were two doctors and three nurses all telling me it looked great. What more could I want? Don't send me back under the knife! Haha. I was patient, and it paid off. 😁 Now, about a month and a week later, it looks fantastic, and I still have another month of tip swelling to deal with. 😁

Sorry for the wall of text; I ended up combining several replies into one. 😁

I've also decided to pull the trigger on this surgery, and your response really helped ease my mind because I'm leaning toward Tončić as well. How can I be certain he's the right choice without wasting money on endless consultations elsewhere? Every other doctor seems to charge a fortune just to look at you, but based on his biography, his surgical history, his approach, and what others say, he seems top-tier. Plus, his pricing is reasonable and he even offers a discount for cash. Sounds perfect to me. Hahaha. Anyway, I'm not stressing too much about whether to do it or not—I know once I show up for that first appointment, he'll probably feel bad for me and squeeze me in ahead of schedule. Hahahaha! I've got the money ready, too; I earned it myself, so if my family decides to disown me, at least I'll know I was right. 🙂

Let me jump back in here for a second—this is for anyone currently stuck in that frustrating limbo after surgery when things just didn't turn out the way they were promised.🙂
So, here’s the deal: my procedure was performed by Tončić, and let me tell you, the nose is definitely crooked. When I run my fingers along it, I can feel these distinct lumps—it's just not smooth at all! I went in for a follow-up, and he suggested a revision surgery, but... honestly, I’m struggling to understand why the first attempt failed so significantly in the first place, right? If the first one missed the mark, what makes anyone think a second one will be any different? I have absolutely zero intention of gambling with my face only to end up needing a third procedure down the line... I'm just feeling like the whole thing wasn't worth it. The difference is negligible—maybe a tiny bit more profile—but from the front, it looks worse because the asymmetry is so obvious. Even my breathing isn't right; you can actually see internally that the septum is crooked and the airway is too narrow. So, my big question is: does anyone know if it's actually possible to get a refund? I would love a revision, but certainly not with him! I really don't want to deal with this much drama again. I have to admit, though—his bedside manner and the way he treated me were truly lovely, which makes this whole situation even more heartbreaking. But after this experience? I just don't have the confidence to go back to him for a second round.🤷

steelangler88,
I completely get what you mean about those indentations on the sides. I’ve started noticing them recently myself—it feels like my skin has gotten really thin, and it's as if there's this narrow strip of bone right down the middle, but then there's just this empty gap or something missing on either side 🤷 maybe it’s just swollen bone or something similar... it’s happening on both sides and spans nearly a centimeter
The tip actually looks wider now than it did just two months ago 🙂 It’s been six months since my surgery, and honestly, I'm starting to wonder if there's any hope left for me 😢

It’s been exactly two months since my surgery today, and honestly, I’m feeling pretty damn good about how things turned out 😁 I just really hope everything stays on track and I don't end up with some weird sagging issue, though it doesn't look totally swollen anymore, so hopefully we're in the clear

So, I’m finally out of the hospital today..
I was training MMA and caught a stray punch right to the nose.
For the last few years, it’s been constant insomnia, pressure in my head, regular sinus infections, a stuffed-up nose, and all that crap.
The diagnosis? A deviated septum and a bunch of other nonsense.

I was admitted to the ward on Thursday, had surgery on Friday, and I'm out today.. feeling like a brand new man!😁
The surgery went great. The unit was modern, the nurses were fantastic, and the doctors were young and actually motivated to work.
At the end, they handed me some questionnaire to fill out because they're conducting a study; I'll be called back in about six months to follow up and see how the changes are holding up.
It was at the Mayo Clinic (ENT department).

I wasn't scared at all; I pretty much knew everything beforehand thanks to the talks with the doctors before the procedure. We had two consultations where they explained every single unknown detail.. honestly, hats off to them.
I got the anesthesia through an IV.. man, it hit me hard!🤷
The assistant told me they were laughing.. I just muttered, "Holy crap... what is this?!" and passed out.😁
The surgery lasted an hour, and I woke up two hours later.. I didn't know where I was for about half an hour. I was actually asking the nurse about the current exchange rate for the Euro.😂
For anyone wondering what the days following surgery are like... here’s my experience.
Day 1 (surgery in the morning):
Spent the whole day feeling nauseous and weak... you mostly just sleep through it. My teeth ached too... nothing major, Advil does the trick.
The stuffed-up nose is incredibly irritating.
Day 2:
I feel like Mike Tyson just beat the hell out of me.
Everything hurts... abs, legs, kidneys, teeth... but hey, at least I'm alive.😂
Still dealing with that annoying, stuffed-up nose.
Day 3:
Only now am I feeling a slight pain at the tip of my nose.. kind of like when your ear gets frozen and someone tugs on it.. nothing serious, Advil is still doing its job.
Honestly, I’m at the point where I want to rip my nose off and throw it on the floor (it's full of junk and so irritating).
Day 4:
Nothing hurts anymore, and getting the packing removed was totally painless.

Summary:
All the post-op misery was strictly due to the anesthesia, which absolutely wrecked me since I'm a smoker.
There was no pain in the nose itself and no bleeding... the worst part was dealing with the packed nose and constantly bugging the nurses to change my dressings.

I'm home now. I have silicone stents in my nose so I can breathe (about 60% capacity). I feel a little weak.. probably just from lying around.
Bottom line: if you have health issues caused by this, GO AND GET IT FIXED!

Take a look at what the doctor asked me in that questionnaire; all of this could be caused by a messed-up nose.
Disorientation, nausea, insomnia, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, lack of productivity, migraines, and God knows what else...

I haven't had any migraines since the surgery, and food actually tastes better now. I'm planning on quitting smoking because, item number one: I don't want to be back in the hospital for at least the next 50 years.
I managed to take a really deep, wonderful nap this afternoon after not sleeping well for years.
The dark circles under my eyes have almost completely faded since the operation.

Anyway, if anyone has questions, just ask.
I know exactly what kind of problems a bad nose can cause, and I know how many people are terrified of this surgery.. if I can help someone, it feels like I'm helping myself!👍

I’ve noticed quite a few people complaining about those little indentations and bumps inside their noses—and honestly, I have them too! But looking at it closely, I’ve convinced myself that things shouldn't actually be this way. I know of one specific case where, even after the first surgery, you could still feel those same dips and lumps just by running a finger along the inside. Of course, the surgeon insisted it was perfectly normal and that's just how it should be—but that's simply not true! Because of that dissatisfaction, a second procedure was performed by a different doctor, and everything went flawlessly; now the nose is perfectly smooth on the inside, with absolutely nothing felt when touching it... though, naturally, my own experience only deepened my frustration further🤣
Before the surgery, Tončić told me he would slightly straighten the nose (it wasn't particularly crooked, but it could definitely be nudged a bit more to the right😂), but once the operation was over, when I pointed out that it bothered me that he hadn't done it, he just gave me the usual excuses—claiming it was a much more complicated procedure and blah blah blah, etc. It was too late... personally, I suspect it might not be possible under local anesthesia, but surely it could be done under general anesthesia...

So, I finally went under the knife for my septoplasty.

The pain isn't even that bad since you can just take meds, so it’s manageable. Honestly, pulling those gauze pads out of my nose was way more annoying than actually painful. But man, that first moment you can finally take a full breath through your nose? It’s incredible to actually feel what breathing is supposed to feel like when everything is straight...

Then, fast forward a week, and the cartilage starts shifting back to its old shape. My doctor just shrugged his shoulders, and now I'm right back where I started. I guess I just know better now, though.

There is zero chance I'm going back for a second surgery...

I really hoped this would be another success story to motivate people looking into nose jobs.🙂

Some people just strike gold while others get nothing, and honestly, if you went back there again, who knows how bad things could turn out 😢

Ashley Gomez, steelangler88, driftingmoose47 who did you guys go to for your surgery? I’ve been following this thread for months now, but there have been so many different stories... I’ve honestly lost track of who is who at this point... 🤣 😁

With Tončić—though whether it’s the older or younger one now, I honestly can't tell... I was actually looking for the senior professional, but who can really know when you're just scrolling through? Besides, I don't think anyone truly knows who was actually on staff there 🤣 and frankly, it’s quite a mess! Just because they are father and son doesn't mean they share the same vision or have the same eye for aesthetics... to me, it feels a bit unprofessional👎