Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

So, I heard Glumičić is the kind of surgeon who just goes for those smaller noses without really worrying if they actually fit your face shape or whatever. Honestly, that’s why I ended up picking Dr. Tončić; even though the consultation didn't exactly leave me feeling super optimistic, I’d already gone ahead and booked both the consult and the surgery back-to-back via email. I figured, hey, let's just rip the Band-Aid off and see what happens, so I didn't cancel. It’s been over two months now and, honestly, I’m beyond happy with how it turned out...

Betty Edwards22 said:Maybe take a second to actually digest what I just said—not a single tampon is going to hold a septum in place if it was pierced incorrectly in the first place.
Tampons serve a purpose regardless of how much you want to disagree with me.
Later!

Oh, they definitely have a purpose... otherwise, why would anyone even bother using them? And honestly, don't act like you're some expert on my writing style, because you completely missed the point. I never said they were useless; I said they aren't the deciding factor in whether a piercing is successful or not. They only work if the septum was done right to begin with.
I’m not "convinced" of anything, and frankly, you shouldn't be so sure of yourself either since it’s pretty obvious you’re still learning the ropes here. I’m just a regular person asking logical questions about things I see. It’s perfectly normal to wonder why some people keep a tampon in for one day, while others go for four, five, or even seven... and so far, nobody on this entire forum—including you—has actually given me a straight answer. So, if you’re so eager to be "helpful," why don't you try answering a real question for once?

It’s all pretty subjective, honestly. I actually dig both the Tonchi style and the Glumičić look when it comes to noses. At the end of the day, it just comes down to luck—you're basically rolling the dice on how yours ends up looking once they're done.

Betty Edwards22 said:I wouldn't call that normal—it disrupts the airflow.
Plastic is a necessity.

It’s not particularly pleasant for me either; I can hear a slight whistling sound.🙂

Dammit.😳 I went into surgery hoping for relief, but now it feels like I've just traded one issue for another.😠

Kenneth Walker15 said:So, did you actually go through with the deviated septum surgery? I'd love for you to share what it was really like... how bad is the recovery? Does it hurt like hell when they pull the packing out? And what about the anesthesia? Honestly, I feel like 90% of the stories I hear about this surgery are horror stories—people saying it didn't even fix anything... so now I'm seriously second-guessing things.

Yeah, I did. Twice, actually. The first time was a total bust, but the second time worked perfectly. I’m not really going to go into a whole novel about it here since I’ve already vented quite a bit on this topic in my other threads... so if you’re looking for the deep dive, just dig through my old posts. Long story short: nothing hurts. Seriously. Pulling the packing out isn't painful, it’s just... weird. It’s a super uncomfortable sensation, but it lasts maybe a second, so you can definitely power through it. As for the anesthesia, I had zero issues with it, though honestly, that mostly just comes down to whether you get a good anesthesiologist or not.

hiddenseal14 said:think long and hard about whether you really want someone who isn't even a local specialist performing surgery on your nose.

The nose serves a vital function; it’s not just about aesthetics. Because of that, I wouldn't even agree to let that actor touch my nose, even if it were free.

As for the tampons, I only had them in for one day, just like rustygardener172. I had my septum corrected two years ago, and everything has been perfect—I can breathe flawlessly.🙏

🤦

Are you actually aware that this is a real surgical procedure involving general anesthesia, which carries significant risks??? And that there are absolutely no guarantees?

Getting nose surgery isn't like going out to buy a new pair of shoes, for heaven's sake. It's terrifying.

Have you never heard of using a metaphor? Besides, where exactly did you go for your surgery...

In that case, can anyone recommend a place where I should actually go?

And yet, you claim you wouldn't let that actor operate on you for free, while some guy is out there doing nose jobs with tweezers... Blanka and dino rađati... hello? Let's slow down a second...🙂

If he isn't good enough for an average person like me, then who is?

Kate Taylor59 said:I didn't go to him, I actually saw Dr. Miller... Davor... but he told me everything was completely normal. It was such an aggressive surgery, they had to reset the bone, grind things down, and god knows what else... 😂 I still maintain there isn't a better doctor out there... honestly, it felt more like visiting family than being at a clinic... that's how welcoming they were... just perfect...

In one of our private messages you mentioned that they didn't have to break any bones... because I specifically remember asking if they did any bone resetting or grinding, specifically looking for those little lumps or bits of cartilage left behind... so now I'm feeling a little bit confused... 😕

And if you wouldn't mind, could someone give me the lowdown on the Mayo Clinic?

What’s the actual difference between all these surgeons... I mean, who should I even be looking at for a rhinoplasty? Thanks a million!!

So, checking in again...
Basically, I'm wondering how much truth there is to the idea that surgeons at public hospitals make more mistakes with the aesthetic side of rhinoplasty compared to private practice doctors.
I’m torn on whether I should go private or if a surgeon working at a public hospital can deliver the exact same quality.
Please, let me know what your experiences have been with this.😍

rapidseal16 said:Have you seriously never heard of a metaphor? Where on earth did you get your surgery done...

Well then, can someone please recommend a place where I should go for surgery?

And you’re telling me you wouldn't even undergo a nose job for free with some little celebrity actor, yet this guy performs rhinoplasties on famous socialites... Blanka and Dino Rađa... hello, hello, let's slow down a second...🙂

If he isn't any good enough for an ordinary mortal like me, then who exactly is?

I had my surgery performed by Dr. Smith in Miami. My nose was aesthetically more or less fine—not crooked and not oversized. The issue was purely functional because I couldn't breathe due to a deviated septum, especially at night. It's been two years now, I breathe normally, and my nose looks perfectly fine.

The fact that this little actor does noses for celebrities means absolutely nothing to me. Just like his constant commercials on various TV shows mean nothing to me. It doesn't change the reality that the man is not an Otolaryngologist, and as such, he simply isn't educated enough to be poking around my nose. As for the noses of celebrities and other "stars," I couldn't care less.

Wait, do you honestly believe that the best surgeons actually need to strut around red carpets and appear on "before-and-after" reality shows??? They make their living from the oral referrals of regular "little" people, not from socialites.

By the way, Blanka's nose is a complete anti-advertisement. It's too short, too upturned, too narrow, and aesthetically far too small for her face. And I'll bet my life she can't even breathe properly with that micro-nose of hers.😁

I am simply advising you to think very carefully about whether you want to be operated on by someone just because they fix celebrity noses and parade around on television, or because they are actually an expert and proficient at their job.

hiddenseal14 said:I had my surgery done by Dr. Miller in Miami. My nose looked mostly fine aesthetically—not crooked or huge. The real issue was functional; I couldn't breathe because of a deviated septum, especially at night. It’s been 2 years now, and I can breathe perfectly and my nose looks totally normal.

The way this actor tweaks noses means nothing to me. Just like his TV commercials don't mean anything to me. It doesn't change the fact that the guy isn't an ENT, and because of that, he isn't qualified enough to be messing with my nose. I really don't care about nose jobs for celebrities or any other "stars."

Wait, do you actually think top-tier surgeons need to be strutting down red carpets or appearing on reality shows??? They make their living treating regular "little" people, not celebrities.

By the way, Blanka's nose is a total warning sign. It's way too short, too upturned, too thin... just way too small for her face. I'd bet anything she can't even breathe normally with that tiny little thing 😁

I'm just saying, you should really think about whether you want someone to operate on you because they fix celebrity noses and chase TV fame, or because they're actually an expert who knows their stuff.

You can't judge nasal function based on how big someone's nose is. Mine is bigger and still doesn't work right, yet a friend of mine has a tiny, narrow nose and breathes like a champ.
I agree Blanka's nose isn't great—it could have been better—but you can't tell just by looking if she struggles to breathe. And again, Blanka looks a hundred times prettier now than she did before. I've mentioned this before, but I know plenty of people who got rhinoplasty purely for aesthetics; they never even knew what a deviated septum or sinus issues were. They just wanted to look better, and their breathing stayed perfect.
People dealing with actual functional issues see this surgery completely differently, and in my opinion, they absolutely need to see an ENT specialist.

Kate Lee43 said:You can't judge how well a nose functions just by looking at its size. Mine is actually larger, yet it doesn't work well at all, whereas a friend of mine has a tiny, narrow nose but breathes perfectly fine.
I agree that Blanche's nose isn't ideal—it definitely could have been better—but you can't immediately assume she's having trouble breathing because of it. And honestly, I'll say it again: Blanche looks a hundred times better now than she did before. Like I’ve mentioned previously, I know plenty of people who've had rhinoplasty purely for cosmetic reasons. They didn't have any issues with a deviated septum, sinus inflammation, or difficulty breathing; they just wanted to look better, and their breathing stayed great.
People dealing with actual functional issues view this surgery very differently, and in my opinion, it's essential that they see an ENT specialist first.

You're mixing up your terms here—a nose isn't positioned on a face just for aesthetics; its primary job is function. Because of that, anything you adjust on it directly impacts how it works. How successful a procedure is really comes down to how much the surgeon understands both anatomy and the physiology of respiration, along with pathological disorders. Aside from an ENT, no other specialty dives that deeply into those specific questions. Anything else is just a "hit and run" approach.

Betty Edwards22 said:Usually, you're looking at about five days for tampons, though sometimes they use those little spacers—but I guess whatever it is, something has to be there to keep the septum from shifting out of place.

No, I don't think it's just one day when you're talking about a cosmetic procedure, though I guess I really have no clue how things work when it comes to a septoplasty. 😁

I don't think you're really looking at this clearly—I mean, your whole style is built around your own face, which is unique to you, and that same kind of singular architecture is baked right into everything you do below. I guess when people start trying to just copy and paste someone else's vibe, it usually ends up heading down a pretty bad path.

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I threw some fun little emoticons into this post... if they aren't showing up for some reason, maybe try heading over to:

Betty Edwards22 said:Look, let's get one thing straight—a nose isn't just for looks; it's about function. Anything you touch during surgery impacts how it actually works. How successful you are really depends on your grasp of anatomy, respiratory physiology, and various pathologies. Honestly, besides an ENT, no other specialist dives that deep into those specific issues. Everything else is just a hit-and-run approach.

So, are you saying someone who’s never had breathing issues can't just get a rhinoplasty to fix a bump for purely aesthetic reasons?!
I don't get why not?!
I know plenty of people who've had surgery and have zero issues afterward, even though they didn't have any problems to begin with.
It's the same with breast augmentations—it's not about "function," yet so many people go under the knife just for the look.

Hey there. I was wondering if anyone here has actually seen Dr. Dennis over in St. Louis for rhinoplasty? Does he even perform those kinds of procedures, and if so, what’s the consensus on his work? Thanks.

Ethan James47 said:Hey there! I was wondering if anyone here has actually seen Al Gore in St. Louis regarding rhinoplasty... does he even perform those kinds of procedures? Would love to hear about any experiences, thanks.

I think I heard someone mention once that he might have opened his own private practice—or maybe he's just consulting for someone else now—but whether he’s actually doing cosmetic work is something I'm still unsure about...
If you happen to find out anything, please post it here... I'm also curious about this myself... 🙂

Kate Lee43 said:So, are you actually suggesting that if someone has never had breathing issues or any functional problems with their nose, they aren't allowed to get a rhinoplasty just for purely aesthetic reasons?!
I really don't get why you're saying no.
I personally know people who went through with the surgery and have absolutely zero issues afterward—even though they didn't have any issues before they started.
It’s the same logic as breast augmentation; it's not about "function," it's about how someone wants to look, and plenty of people choose that path for purely cosmetic reasons.

If we're going to go by your flawed interpretation, I could argue just about anything—but I'm not interested in getting defensive or getting into a heated argument over such an aggressive tone. Instead, I’ll just point you back to my previous post and let you sit with it.
Taking some time for self-reflection is always a highly valued process.

I actually had my nose done about two years ago, and now I’m just thinking about going back in to touch up the tip a little bit. If anyone here has gone through something similar or has some firsthand experience with revision work, would you mind sending me a private message? I'd love to know which surgeon you used and what the price tag looked like. Thanks so much! 😉

Don't sweat it... there won't be any bickering... or much debating at all...🙂
When I grow up, I’m going to be a television set... hah!

I'm with both of them on this one... functionality is fine and all, but I actually care about aesthetics... basically, just make it smaller. I’ll tell him myself that I don't care if he carves out a microscopic nose; even if he shrinks it by half, it'll finally look halfway decent...🙂

That way, the difference would actually be noticeable—assuming my buddy gives me a quick fix with a hammer and a screwdriver...

Do you see where I'm coming from now?

There is absolutely no way I won't be dissatisfied after surgery, unless something, heaven forbid, completely different happens altogether!!