Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Rachel Martinez94....look, I didn't exactly have a choice here. They pushed my surgery up by two whole weeks out of nowhere! I was backed into a corner with the timing and had to pay the price, damn it.

No worries at all! So glad I could help cheer you up.
just one more random thing—Dr. Smith is actually pretty hot. 🙂🙂🙂

let me know how it goes!

Rachel Lopez5 said:THANK YOUUUUU SO MUCH, Olivia Cook2! My surgery is next week, and here I am stressing out over what pajamas to pack and worrying if I'll pass gas in my sleep and embarrass someone! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣!

You really helped me out! This is my first time staying overnight at the hospital for a procedure, and honestly... I'm on pins and needles...

Anyway, I won't ramble too much—BIG THANKS again!

Rachel Martinez94 said:Thanks. 🙂 So, we're looking at roughly $16,000 in total. 🙂

How exactly does one go about getting two Oreo Plus cookies? $200 = $5333? 🤷

I really screwed up... sorry... It was actually 16,000... my mistake. Turns out it's just 15 cookies.🙂 Without private interests getting involved...

hiddenseal14 said:🤣🤣

Look, you could've just handled everything for free in a few days without having to run around ERs looking for trouble.

But hey, if paying for nothing makes you happy, $200 go for it. Super. 🤷😁

Wanna let us in on the secret? 🙂

My GP definitely isn't handing out all those specialist referrals for free, and since I don't live in a major metro area like NYC, my options are pretty limited.

Rachel Martinez94 said:So, why don't you just uncover the secret? 🙂

My primary care physician certainly isn't going to hand out all those specialist referrals to me; I don't live in a major metropolitan hub like NYC, so my options are incredibly limited.

Look, I personally need an EKG and a CBC. You can get an EKG done at basically any local clinic for free—it takes literally five minutes, and I didn't even need a referral for it. As for a full blood panel, you just get a lab requisition from your doctor and get it done. It’s also free, and it's fast.

Rachel Martinez94 said:I need photos from someone who... Not happy. With Smith, or anyone else who’s had work done and looks fine, I don't mind. Most celebrities have noses that look clearly tweaked, and honestly, I'm into it. But now I'm wondering—is he only being careful with them, or does he do this for everyone? It’s just another day of people acting like they’re too big for their boots. Typical.Come on, please. 🙂 Thanks. 🙂

Rachel Martinez94 said:whatever. 🙂 We'll see about that. Honestly, I'm dying to hear what Smith would even tell me at the Counseling Center before I bother showing up there.

Anyone else dealt with Smith's consultations lately? Does she actually listen, or does she just rush you out the door to hit her quota?

New here, just wanted to chime in. Went to see Smith at the Counseling Center today... honestly, he seemed totally checked out. To be fair, the waiting room was packed with five other people. He quoted me $2,000 for a septorhinoplasty and suggested that tiny nose clip. There was this girl right before me there for a follow-up, and he just told me I’d end up looking exactly like her. Felt way too routine, like he was just going through the motions.
[/I]

Hello everyone.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted.
To be honest, I was too incredibly disappointed to even bother showing up here. 😢

Anyone who follows my posts knows I recently underwent surgery, and let me tell you, the whole thing has been an absolute disaster.
I went in for a follow-up, but predictably, my surgeon wasn't there, and the other doctor refused to step up and help his colleague.

My nose is crooked now—it definitely wasn't before. It looks wider than it ever was, it's incredibly hard, and one side is noticeably thicker than the other.
On that thicker side, I can feel an internal lump that wasn't there previously, and it's extremely uncomfortable.
The specialist claims it's just a polyp, which sent my primary care physician into a frenzy; he argued that if it actually is a polyp, they could only have pushed it inside my nose using instruments.

I've been on a course of dexamethasone injections for nearly 20 days because I ended up looking like a heavyweight boxer.
At the check-up, the doctor insisted everything still needs time to "settle," but my GP insists that by this stage, my nose should already look perfect.

If I had known this would happen, I NEVER would have gone through with this surgery!!!!
!
When I see my actual surgeon at the next appointment, I am going to make quite a scene.

I truly did not expect my nose to look worse after surgery than it did before!

It looks thicker, wider, and completely asymmetrical... 😢((((((((((((

stormymoose792 said:I'm new to this thread, so I figured I'd chime in... I went to see Smith for a consultation today... honestly, he seemed pretty half-hearted about the whole thing. To be fair, his waiting room was packed with five other people. He's quoting me $2,000 for a septorhinoplasty and suggested using that small nasal splint. There was this girl right before me coming in for a follow-up, and he just told me I'd end up looking exactly like her. It all felt way too routine, you know?
[/I]

So, $2,000 just for the surgery? That doesn't even include the pre-op blood work or the actual consult fees, right?
Given how the dollar is holding up lately, that’s a decent chunk of $5000
Did he mention how long you'll have to deal with the packing and the splint?

So, surgery on my own in 2000... I'm feeling pretty skeptical about it, so I think I might give Dr. Miller a shot. But then again, I've got that old fracture and issues with my breathing and sinuses. Now I'm overthinking it because he isn't an ENT specialist, and that's making me nervous...

And he barely said a word about the molds or the packing... The exam lasted maybe ten minutes... then he told me an anesthesiologist would check me out, which was another 10-15 minutes, and that was it. I can't tell if he's just such a pro that he knows everything by heart and takes it for granted, or if the whole goal is just to patch up a nose and grab the cash. He wasn't really down for any deep conversations. Maybe I was expecting too much!?

stormymoose792 said:he barely even mentioned the mold or the tampons... the exam lasted maybe ten minutes, then he told me the anesthesiologist would check me out, which was another 10-15 mins, and that was it. I can't tell if he's just such a pro that he knows everything by heart and takes it for granted, or if the whole goal is just to fix my nose and grab my cash. He wasn't really down for a deep dive conversation. Maybe I was expecting too much!?

hmm. when I saw Johnson, I was stuck in consultations for a full hour. Even though "consultations" basically meant him answering questions about the surgery, I have to say they actually put in the effort to explain things. As for Smith, I don't know... people were posting on forums saying he's fine during consults and actually talks, so I think I'll ask for an appointment during a slow period. I'll literally tell them 😁 give me a slot when you guys aren't slammed 🤣 which should be sometime around May. It’s going to take a massive amount of money to pull this off 😉

When I called to book an appointment, the receptionist just brushed me off, saying, "Just come by tomorrow around 11; you might wait a bit since it's a surgery day." Well, I ended up running late and showed up at 11:45, only to sit there until 12:45. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I feel like canceling the whole thing. It’s not like they’re performing open-heart surgery or anything—it's just a minor nose job. I'm already drafting an email to Miller! Too bad Smith only takes cash. You basically have to carry around a wad of bills 🙂 for some reason, though I didn't even bother looking into Johnson...

Hey everyone...
I’m looking for some insight from anyone who has gone through purely cosmetic surgery at a public hospital (like a municipal center or maybe a big city hospital like Mount Sinai or similar)😁 Specifically, I need help figuring out the actual procedure. Do I just book directly with a surgeon at the hospital, or am I supposed to see my primary care doctor first to get a referral sent over? Honestly, I'm feeling a bit lost. I've read everything online, but there's just so much noise out there... I have a lot to say about it all
Anyway, I'm curious about the costs at these public facilities and how satisfied people actually were with their results😁. I saw someone on a forum complaining that "regular plastic surgeons" get annoyed when people try to bypass the usual channels at public hospitals. Look, if you had a massive pile of cash sitting under your mattress, go for it! But I don't exactly have a hidden treasure chest in my house where I can just pull out a few thousand dollars on a whim... plus all those consultations. I guess it's like they say—if you can't breathe, you can't live; well, I've been unhappy my whole life, so I get it... but hey, if letting you cut in front of me at the clinic means you'll finally be happy, then fine by me.
It really warms my heart to hear from those of you who had successful surgeries and ended up happy with the outcome🙂

stormymoose792 said:I'm new to this thread, so I thought I'd weigh in with a few thoughts... I had my consultation with Smith today... and honestly, he seemed somewhat indifferent. Granted, his waiting room was packed with five other people. He quoted me 2,200 dollars for a septorhinoplasty and suggested that small nasal strip. Right before me, there was a girl coming in for a follow-up, and he just told me mine would end up looking like hers. It felt incredibly routine, almost dismissive.
[/I]

Hi everyone,🙂 I’ve been lurking here for a while, absorbing all your experiences, but since a close friend of mine had her procedure done by Smith, I decided to go with him too. So, I was actually at Smith's office today as well. 🙂 My appointment was scheduled for 11:00 AM, yet I didn't see him until 12:00 PM. Since I have a deviated septum that makes breathing difficult—but I'm also unhappy with the aesthetic appearance of my nose—I didn't even bother considering a public hospital through my insurance. In my experience, hospitals tend to prioritize function over aesthetics, and for me, both are equally critical. Anyway, I sat down with the doctor, presented my CT scans and medical history, and he didn't even glance at them. He simply looked at my nose and stated he would fix the deviation, lift it slightly, and narrow it. When I expressed concern that the result might be too small, he brushed it off, claiming that surgeons who produce tiny noses aren't actually good plastic surgeons. He seemed just as disinterested as the other user; he made zero effort to explain the specific surgical plan, and the entire encounter lasted barely ten minutes. He showed me two photos of women who allegedly had similar starting points to me and said he'd aim for that look, but to my eyes, those noses looked far too small. Now, I find myself second-guessing everything...

dustyeagle27....so, what now? That's really it. When I was seeing Dr. Davis, after looking at the post-op photos, I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I didn't like a single one of them. It felt like... nothing had actually changed. A colleague of mine had her procedure done by Smith, and honestly, her nose looks absolutely perfect.
The hospital? Any kind of answer??? Satisfaction??

dustyeagle27 said:Hey everyone 🙂 I've been lurking here forever just reading all your stories, but since my friend went with Smith for her surgery, I decided to pull the trigger too. So, I actually had my consultation with Smith today. 🙂 My appointment was at 11, but I didn't get seen until 11:30. Since I’ve got a deviated septum making breathing a nightmare—and honestly, I hate how my nose looks—I wasn't even considering a public hospital. It feels like they only care about fixing the mechanics, not the aesthetics, and I need both. Anyway, I get in there with all my CT scans and medical history ready, and he doesn't even glance at them. He just looks at my nose, tells me he'll fix the deviation, lift it, shorten it, and narrow it. When I mentioned I was worried about it looking too small, he basically told me that surgeons who make tiny noses aren't actually good plastic surgeons. He seemed totally checked out, too. Didn't bother explaining the procedure, and the whole thing lasted maybe ten minutes. He showed me two photos of girls who supposedly had noses like mine before, saying he'd make mine look like theirs, but those noses looked way too small to me. Now I'm second-guessing everything...

Same exact thing happened to me. Showed me two photos, ignored my paperwork, way too short of a visit. Same script—shorten, narrow, lift, "small but not too small"... hmm, now I'm actually getting worried. And I really need to get this done ASAP.

I recently went in for consultations at Mayo Clinic. The doctor was wonderful—very thorough in explaining the procedure and walking me through the imaging to show exactly why surgery is necessary. However, my hesitation regarding the public hospital system isn't about medical competence; it’s purely an aesthetic concern. If you just need a minor bump smoothed out, any ENT can handle it. But when we're talking about actual facial sculpting, you need someone with an artistic eye. My second reason for avoiding the public route is my schedule. Since I study abroad, I'm only in the States for a month during the winter and a month during the summer. Trying to navigate the bureaucracy and waitlists at a state facility during those brief windows is practically impossible. For me, private practice is the only logical path.

Smith even suggested cutting a muscle to prevent my nose from pulling when I smile, which would create a much more flattering lip line 😕

stormymoose792 said:That is exactly what happened to me. He showed me two different noses but barely glanced at my charts. The consultations felt rushed and followed the exact same template: shorten it, narrow it, lift it, but don't make it *too* small... honestly, now I'm genuinely worried, and I really need to get this done as soon as possible..

I just sat there staring at him blankly when he presented those two options. He probably sensed my hesitation because I mentioned being afraid of ending up with a nose that's too small, so he showed me a photo of Blanka Vlašić's nose and claimed he could replicate that look. I had to be blunt: I actually don't care for her nose. I pointed to a patient he had previously treated—Iva Šarić—whose results I actually found beautiful. He ended up pulling up her before-and-after photos and admitted, "You know, you have a point; your natural profile is actually much closer to hers than to Blanka's." At that point, I found myself wondering: am I the surgeon here or him? In the end, he still failed to provide a concrete surgical plan, pivoting instead to empty flattery by telling me I'm a beautiful girl and it would be such a shame not to fix my nose...

Yeah, I’m with you on the state hospitals—they have zero sense of aesthetics. I’m heading over to Mayo Clinic next week for some tests, so I’ll probably ask about all the functional stuff I couldn't get answers to from Glumičić.

Seriously, Blanka has a massive nose too, and he actually bragged to me that he was the one who operated on her! It’s ridiculous when you think about it; if he’s supposed to be a surgeon, shouldn't he be the first one to notice? He told me I was a gorgeous girl, lol—clearly, he just tells everyone the same line since he said the exact same thing to another friend of mine...

I have an appointment with Dr. Smith next week. Since she specializes in ENT, I’m hoping she actually takes the time to listen during consultations and addresses all my concerns; we'll see how it goes. Given that my breathing issues are becoming quite a nuisance, I'm looking to resolve that as well. A friend of mine mentioned she hasn't seen any improvement in her breathing after her surgery with that Actor, though he promised her she would. Apparently, her priority was strictly the aesthetic outcome, so she didn't bother complaining about the functional side...

If Dr. Smith doesn't strike the right chord with me, then I am officially moving on to Johnson. Honestly, it's hard to imagine anyone performing worse than what that Actor would do to me. He once showed me a nose job result that looked like a pug's snout 😁

I honestly don't get you guys at all; you're out here trashing him like he's some kind of walking disaster, yet you still flock to his office because he operates on celebrities—even if only one in five of them actually ends up looking good. 😁That’s exactly why I made the call to go with Dr. Smith, and honestly, I haven't looked back once, plus he’s way easier on the wallet than the other guy.

dustyeagle27 said:I actually went in for consultations over at St. Jude's. The doctor I saw was wonderful—he walked me through everything and used images to show exactly why I need this surgery. But honestly, the main reason I wouldn't choose a public hospital under an ENT specialist is simply because I don't think every ENT has an eye for aesthetics. Look, if someone just has a tiny bump that needs a quick smoothing out, fine. But when you need actual shaping, I feel like you need someone with an artistic touch. My other reason for skipping the public system is that I study abroad, so I’m only back in the States for a month in the winter and a month in the summer. In the public hospital system, you won't even get an appointment for a check-up during those short windows... so private practice is really my only realistic option.

I think your priorities might be a little skewed there—it's all about how you coordinate things. If you can't get in immediately, you can always negotiate an appointment for six months down the road for when you're actually visiting the US.

What matters way more is building trust with your diagnostician, regardless of what their specific specialty is. 😁

Besides, being an "artist" isn't something plastic surgeons just get handed automatically. That distinction is pretty irrelevant when you're looking at a spec sheet filled with other technical details. Being an artist is a much broader concept than just a medical credential.