Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Kate Taylor59 said:Oh man... I am honestly so incredibly sorry you're going through all of this right now... 😢
Everything is going to turn out fine, though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! And thank you so much 🙂

Look, life just throws these curveballs at us sometimes, doesn't it? 👎 When is your follow-up appointment? Please, let us know how everything goes

Kate Taylor59, did you actually make it to those consultations? How’d it go? Was that your first time going in?

Maria Hall92 said:So he’s basically peddling bullshit, huh? 🙂 ..you actually made things easier for me there, let's just hope you're telling the truth 🙂.. did those girls who told you that actually end up going under his knife for their surgery, and how did it turn out?
Honestly, the whole thing feels weird to me—like, how can a plastic surgeon not be able to fix a nose? It's not like I have a door handle stuck on my face instead of a nose 🙂.. anyway, fingers crossed it all works out..
Thanks for the good vibes, I'm gonna need them.. I'll keep you guys posted on everything 🙂). I'm honestly just dreading the day because I'm kind of freaking out (this is my second surgery, and I feel physically sick just thinking about what's coming), I just want it to be over. At least I don't have to go into the office, haha. 😬😬

One girl backed out entirely, and to be honest, I can't even remember the other one.
I don't know if he's straight-up selling lies, but based on what you wrote, what he told me, and what I remember hearing through the grapevine, he definitely sounds like 😁
I was seriously considering going to him... even after all that nonsense, but people talked me into getting a second opinion elsewhere before I made a final call. Because man, he really had me fooled...
When I finally sat down with Glušac, it was a totally different vibe... firm, confident, promising... and that was way more my speed than someone acting unsure... especially since this was my second procedure.

rustygardener172 said:One of them gave up on it, and honestly, I can't even remember what the other one said.
I’m not sure if she’s just being dramatic, but based on what you wrote—which lines up perfectly with what he told me and what I remember hearing elsewhere—it sounds pretty 😁
I was actually really leaning toward going to him... even after that whole awkward conversation. But my friends talked me into getting a second opinion from a specialist first before making a final call. Because, man, he really threw me for a loop...
When I finally sat down with Glušac, it was a completely different vibe... firm, confident, and truly promising. That approach felt much more reassuring to me, especially since this was my second surgery.

That’s exactly it. I walked out of there feeling just as unsettled as you did. It's like he doesn't want to make any promises, though maybe he's more certain than he lets on? Still, it feels like he's just pushing the patient along, and I don't quite get why. As for me, I ended up not going to any further consultations at all. Deep down, I have this gut feeling he’ll sort it out, and given how unique my situation is, I figured anyone else would probably tell me the exact same thing. I don't know...

It’s honestly better when they admit they can't make promises—it beats those people who swear up and down they'll fix things, only to deliver absolutely nothing (or just total garbage)... take my first experience with an OP, for example...
🙄

steelangler88 said:Honestly, girls, I’d much rather someone tell me straight up that they can't make any promises than have them swear up and down they'll do everything perfectly, only to end up doing absolutely nothing—or worse, just making a total mess of things. It’s like when you hire a contractor who talks a big game about how your renovation will be flawless, but then they show up late, miss deadlines, and leave you with a half-finished kitchen. At least if they told you from the start, "Look, I'm busy and might not get to this right away," you could prepare yourself. My first experience with an operations manager was exactly like that... ugh, what a disaster.
🙄

And that’s just the honest truth. I completely hear you on that—it honestly takes me right back to how I felt after my very first one. Just... absolute garbage. 😢

My first doctor painted me a total picture of sunshine and rainbows, but the second one straight up told me not to hold my breath😁 guess which one actually gave me the real story?😛

On another note, I’m pretty sure that lump on my right side has shrunk!!! ugh, if it would just DISAPPEAR, that would be freaking AMAZING!!!!!😍

though I probably shouldn't get my hopes up too early🙄

steelangler88 said:The first doctor painted my clouds a vibrant shade of blue, but the second one just told me he couldn't make any promises at all...😁 so, can you guess which one actually delivered better results?😛

Anyway, back to me—I honestly think that lump on my right side has gotten smaller!!! Ugh, if it would just DISAPPEAR entirely, that would be absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!!😍

Though, I suppose I probably shouldn't get my hopes up too high just yet.🙄

Haha... look, if you're still relatively fresh out of surgery, don't stress yourself out. Everything has to settle in its own time, you know how it goes...

Honestly, I feel like I’m constantly reading about those little lumps and bumps that seem to show up for everyone after surgery... then I saw a post from rustygardener172, and I was just thinking, maybe there's at least one person out there who actually had a perfect recovery, but now... now even she's dealing with more "imperfections" than expected 😢

It’s just devastating... I'm feeling so discouraged right now.. 😢

Emily Martinez12 said:Honestly, everyone, I’m constantly scrolling through stories about those lumps and bumps that seem to show up on everyone after surgery. Then I saw rustygardener172’s post, and for a split second, I thought, "Hey, maybe there’s finally one person out there whose results turned out perfectly!" But then I look closer, and even she ended up with more "little imperfections" than expected. 😢

It’s a disaster. Honestly, I feel completely discouraged now.. 😢

Ugh, tell me about it... seriously. It’s such a catch-22. If you don't go through with the procedure, you're stuck dealing with your nose and how you look forever. But if you do go for it, you're risking a total mess. Personally? I've made my choice—I'm taking the leap. 😁 It's decided now. 😁 There's no turning back... and honestly, I'm not terrified, mostly because I doubt anyone could make things worse than what that butcher did to me..
Besides, look... it might not even be a permanent thing. Recovery takes months, after all..

Just got back from New York City... I’ll tell you all about what went down tomorrow because I am absolutely wiped... Naturally, I ended up looking like a complete psychiatric case...
I want this, I want that... but you can't just demand everything when your body isn't even cooperating. God gave me this nose and then basically decided to screw me over, and as if that wasn't enough, I have thick skin which just makes the whole process an even bigger headache.

Emily Martinez12 said:Guys, I’m constantly reading about all those weird lumps everyone gets after surgery, and then rustygardener172 pops up and I think, "Okay, finally! Someone whose results actually turned out perfect." But now look at this—even she's dealing with more "little imperfections" than I expected. 😢

It's a disaster, honestly. I'm feeling totally discouraged right now.. 😢

Look, it's not like my results are bad. 😁 That little bump at the top was already there before the surgery, and since they didn't touch the tip, they didn't really fix that part either. It would’ve been better if they had, but hey, who could have known? Besides, nobody even notices it except for me. 😁

The second thing is that in my left nostril, right where the stitches were, there’s this fleshy little ball left behind... you can't see it, it doesn't hurt, and it doesn't bother me. This is my second procedure, and since they had to cut through old scar tissue, it's completely normal for the skin to look a bit wonky there while it heals and settles down.

But the third thing is the only one actually stressing me out... Right at the root of my nose, between my eyebrows, there’s something... like a little lump under the skin. You can't see it, but you can fuuuullly feel it when you touch it... you can palpate it and move it left and right. That's what's bugging me!! And that definitely wasn't there before the surgery. 😢
I went to see a dermatologist a few days ago and asked him if he knew what it was. I told him I'd just had surgery. He basically said he had no clue... he thinks it could be a leftover bit of cartilage, a fatty deposit, or maybe a gland, but he insisted I get it removed regardless. He told me I need to go back to my surgeon to have it taken out.
I was thinking about calling Glušac to handle it, but... money is tight right now, and God knows how much he’ll charge me, not to mention the cost of traveling back and forth... I'm considering just going through my insurance, but I'm terrified of those butchers—I'm scared of what kind of scar I'll end up with... I mean, it's right in the middle of my face. 😢 I don't know what to do...

Anyway, it has nothing to do with the nose itself; I'm actually happy with how the nose looks. 😍

So, let me tell you how it went...

The man is incredible... honestly one of the most down-to-earth doctors I’ve ever met, and a genuine psychologist at heart.
I practically smothered him with my "what if this" and "can we do that" nonsense; he was trying so hard to explain that he can't just narrow the tip of my nose too much because I wouldn't be able to breathe. He actually said, "Look, I could do that for you easily—it would be the simplest job in the world, just snipping that part off to make it slim, snap, snap... but then you wouldn't be able to breathe... and then what are we going to do??"
A lot of surgeons promise you the moon, and then you end up with a tiny, cute little nose, but your breathing—which is actually the whole point—is completely shot.
I immediately started badgering him to show me photos of his work. He showed me a few bits and then said, "Listen, how do you know I'm not just showing you the absolute best results from the perfect cases? You think that's not how surgeons operate?" He told me he'd show me more, but emphasized that everything is highly individual, that everyone's anatomy is different, and that it's simply impossible to follow a template (like, say, wanting a nose like Severina's). Instead, the goal is to reshape *your* nose to look its best. I told him straight up: "I love your photos, but to be honest, I don't like how it looks from the front... the tip... this and that..." He turned to my mom and said, "It's not easy for you... it's all in the head. There are people who are never satisfied with anything, and those are the ones I'm actually afraid of. I wouldn't even operate on them because they are chasing a perfection that doesn't exist... they'll always be unhappy." Later, when I pressed him again for more photos, he said, "I'm sorry, I'll be the bad guy here, but I can't show you more because I see this isn't leading anywhere..." I kept nagging him about the shape of the tip... He explained nicely how, once the nose is narrowed, the skin will pull, and he'd make an incision under the nose to correct the tip... but since I have thick skin, I shouldn't expect an ultra-tiny nose. The results would be visible, but he’s worried my expectations are totally unrealistic... It was also a huge letdown to find out I don't actually have a deviated septum (which they had previously diagnosed), and that my sinuses are fine, even though I constantly feel like stuff is draining into my throat and making it hard to swallow. Since he's a true man of science, he explained that it's actually acid reflux. It turns out I really do have stomach erosions and acid issues, but how am I supposed to breathe through my mouth when it hurts so much? I just... lost it yesterday, and I've given up on the surgery. I don't know...
Anyway... the guy is a genius... and I'd recommend him to anyone who doesn't want to deal with respiratory issues after their procedure...
As for the anesthesia—he mentioned that no one has ever had issues with nausea or complications with the sedation, and that modern anesthesia is a massive leap forward compared to what it used to be...
(This takes place at the local municipal hospital)

Maria Hall92 said:For anyone interested, I went for a consultation with Tončić Jr. He looked at my nose and concluded that during my first surgery, they messed up by snapping the cartilage on one side. That’s why there’s that bump on the tip.
He mentioned he can just trim it slightly, but he has to be careful because my skin is thin. I guess I'm feeling a bit pessimistic about the tip; I'm not sure how much can actually be done. Regarding the slope, he thinks it will probably stay as it is, though from a profile view, he doesn't see an issue with excess cartilage. Since I also have scars on my nose (thankfully they aren't too obvious), it might be a bit tricky because the skin tends to cling to the structure, but he says it can be fixed.
It's a bit of a mess, honestly. I think it'll look better than it does now, but I also suspect it won't turn out exactly how I want it to.
I'm heading in for the surgery this Monday. We'll have one more talk and take some photos. I'll try to emphasize again that I want him to do whatever possible.😢 Ugh... I'm just not having much luck.😢

I don't really get why the junior doctor handles the consultations if he isn't the one performing the actual surgery. I think it would make more sense to discuss all your concerns with the specific surgeon you're putting your trust in.🤷
I've decided on Tončić as well, but I definitely want the senior surgeon for the consultation. To me, this feels a bit unprofessional.
Anyway, I wish you lots of luck. Please let us know how the surgery goes and how the new nose looks.😍

Rachel Fisher97 said:I honestly don't get why they bother having a junior doctor do the consultation if they aren't even the one performing the surgery... In my book, it makes way more sense to lay all your concerns out directly to the surgeon who's actually going to be holding the scalpel. 🤷
I ended up choosing Tončić too, but I’m definitely insisting on seeing the senior attending for my consult because this whole setup feels pretty unprofessional to me..
Anyway, I'm rooting for you! Please, please keep us posted on how the surgery goes and how that new implant turns out. 😍

Look, they operate as a team. But... let's be real... what do you actually know about who's tinkering around with your nose while you're knocked out under anesthesia? The younger docs have to cut their teeth on actual patients if they're ever going to take over the practice down the road.

p.s. You can totally request a consultation specifically during the senior doctor's hours.

Kate Taylor59 said:let me tell you how it went down...

The guy is honestly great... easily one of the most down-to-earth doctors I've ever met, and a total psychologist at heart too.
...
I immediately started grilling him for photos of his work, asking to see his portfolio. He showed me a little bit, then basically said, "Look, how do you know I won't just show you the absolute best results from my flawless surgeries? You think surgeons don't play that game?" He told me he'd show me more, but you have to understand that everything is unique. Everyone’s nose is different and it is physically impossible to just follow some cookie-cutter template (like, "I want a nose like Severina's"), instead, we work on reshaping *your* specific nose to make it look its best. So I told him straight up: "I love your photos, but honestly, looking at them head-on, I'm not feeling it..." and all that. He turned to my mom and said: "It's not easy for you... it's all in your head. There are people who are never satisfied with anything, and frankly, those are the people I'm afraid of. I wouldn't even operate on them because they're chasing a perfection that doesn't exist... they'll just never be happy......

... I totally trashed my confidence yesterday and almost backed out of the whole surgery... I don't even know...

I am 100% with this man! Most of these insecurities come straight from the brain. People just can't wrap their heads around the fact that a nose can never truly be perfect...and once they fix the one thing bothering them, they'll just find something else to obsess over... and it goes on forever... until they completely wreck their face and there's no saving it anymore.
Just look at Pišekica's nose... seriously, it's the ugliest heap of flesh on a face I've seen in ages. And she used to have such a cute little nose before... 😢 Now, that deformed mess—the skin itself—is probably never going to recover. You can tell her nose has been through the wringer with multiple surgeries, even if she won't admit it publicly... and that was definitely done using an open technique. I've seen similar cases with Glušac (people who had open rhinoplasty). For those who go in for more than four surgeries... he says once the skin starts acting like that, there's no turning back. And everyone reacts differently... for some, the skin stays fine even after five procedures, while for others, it's a disaster after the second. There is no way to predict it. That’s why the idea of going back in to fix that tiny little detail (the tip curvature) on my own nose doesn't even cross my mind. It's there, nobody else notices it, and it's really just in my head whether I'll start obsessing over it or not. But I'm not folding!! My nose is still better than most noses I've seen. 😍

YOU BACKED OUT OF THE SURGERY??

rustygardener172 said:SO YOU GAVE UP ON THE SURGERY??

I don't know... I've got this absolutely horrific sore throat that nobody seems able to fix. What am I supposed to breathe through? My backside?? Honestly, at this rate, I might just stuff a tampon up my nose for three days... haha... great...

Kate Taylor59 said:I don't know... my throat is killing me and nobody can figure out how to fix it. What am I supposed to breathe through? My ass?? I’ve basically been living with a tampon shoved up my nose for three days... hahaha... seriously though...

Did you finally get those tonsils out?

I had my tonsils ripped out about three years ago... then last year I had surgery on my nose... and since then, I haven't even caught a sniffle, let alone a full-blown flu. knock on wood😁

rustygardener172 said:Did you end up getting your tonsils out?

I had my tonsils out about three years ago... then I had nose surgery last year... and honestly, since then, it’s been nothing. Not even a minor cold, let alone actually being sick *knock on wood* 😁

No, they're fine... it's more like everything just drains from my nose down into my throat. My ears feel totally clogged, which is why it hurts... but my doctor keeps insisting my sinuses are perfectly fine and that it’s all just acid reflux.

rustygardener172 said:They operate together. But honestly... how much do you really know about who’s poking around while you're asleep? Even the younger ones have to learn the ropes from someone if they plan on running the practice one day.

p.s. You can always request a consultation when the senior doctor is on duty.

That’s exactly what I’ll do. I’m going to demand it... he’ll be learning everything from me, and if he gets out of line, well, I'll just have to deal with him. haha😁