Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Don't even sweat it!! Give it a week and you'll feel like a whole new person—as long as everything turns out right!😉

Maria Hall92 said:Are you serious? I mean, she told me, but I honestly thought that was all there was to it 😁.. were you using ice? People kept telling me to keep an ice pack on my nose constantly..

Yeah, I was hitting the ice packs pretty regularly. I used those ones from DM... the kind filled with some sort of gel... you just keep them in the fridge at all times... grab one out, hold it on until you can't take it anymore, then toss it right back in the fridge. They cost less than $6.75, and they're a total lifesaver.

I’ve always maintained that most people don't actually feel any pain in their nose. I went through two procedures myself and didn't feel a single thing. If it hasn't hurt this far, it probably won't 👍

rustygardener172 said:I definitely did! I was using ice packs constantly. I actually grabbed some from CVS... they're those ones filled with a special gel... you just keep them chilling in the fridge at all times. When you need one, you pull it out, hold it against the area for as long as you can stand it, and then toss it right back in the freezer. They cost less than $6.75, and honestly, they're a lifesaver.

Personally, I’ve always maintained that most people don't actually feel much pain in their nose during this. I’ve gone through two procedures myself, and not once did I feel even a hint of discomfort. If you haven't felt any pain up to this point, I doubt you ever will 👍

Yeah, I know about those at CVS, I'll pick some up. For now, I'm just using the ones from the clinic 😁 Yeah, it doesn't hurt at all, seriously, it's great 🙂

Ashley Gomez said:I’ve officially scheduled my surgery with Dr. Bastaić for June 20th. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly!
I honestly can’t even begin to wrap my head around the thought of having to deal with tampons for three whole days straight. It’s just... ugh. I get that sense of dread deep in my gut whenever I think about it. It feels like such a chore, you know? Like, why does this have to be part of the monthly routine? It’s one of those things that sounds simple enough on paper, but when you're actually living through it, it's just an exhausting cycle of discomfort and constant management. I'm already mentally bracing myself for the hassle. 😢

Ugh, I am feeling absolutely miserable right now. Honestly, even just trying to swallow feels like such a chore. I’m completely dehydrated, and it’s driving me up the wall. I have this desperate craving to just drench myself in water—like, soak my whole body in it—but I can't even get the hydration into my system properly. Every time I try to take two gulps in a row, it’s like this weird vacuum forms in my throat, physically blocking me from swallowing more than one sip at a time. It’s maddening! One little sip after another just isn't cutting it when you're this thirsty. I feel like I'm losing my mind; I just want to drink my fill and finally feel quenched! Aaaaah!

General anesthesia is the way to go! I honestly don't get why everyone makes such a huge deal about the physical aftermath—all that drama about recovery times and side effects... blah, blah, blah. Since I was basically out cold, I didn't feel a single thing. The only thing I noticed was feeling pleasantly buzzed and a little chilly. 🤷

Maria Hall92 said:I'm feeling a bit nauseous, and eating or even swallowing is such a struggle... I am completely dehydrated. I just want to douse myself in water, but I can't because it feels like there's this weird vacuum in my throat whenever I try to take two gulps at once... let alone more. I have to do one sip at a time, and that's just not enough. It's driving me crazy, I just need to drown myself in water, ughhh...

Ugh, I've been there. Hang in there!

stormyharbor2 said:General anesthesia all the way! Honestly, I don't get why everyone makes such a massive production out of the side effects or the recovery process... blah, blah, blah. I was basically a vegetable during the whole thing, so it didn't bother me one bit. The only things I actually felt were being pleasantly woozy and a little chilly. 🤷

Well, my doctor told me general is definitely the best way to go. Apparently, nobody he treats—at least not on his watch—ever has issues with the anesthesia...

Maria Hall92 said:I felt this weird tickling sensation in my nose, but nothing painful. It was just a bit uncomfortable when they were using the hammer, though I wouldn't call it actual pain. Honestly, it still doesn't hurt at all, which feels pretty strange... hopefully, it stays that way. 🙂 hehe alright, I'll keep you guys posted. 😛

Well, you've definitely comforted me a bit... I already told you, you're my beacon of hope.😍
Since it's local anesthesia, just the word itself makes me feel like I'm in a coma.😁
I'll try to send another update tomorrow... I know, I'm being a bit much.🤣 😁

Kate Taylor59 said:Well, my doctor actually told me that general anesthesia is the best way to go. He mentioned that none of his patients—at least not under his care—ever had issues stemming from the anesthesia itself...

Honestly, having gone through my first surgery under general anesthesia, now that I know this other option exists, I wouldn't choose general again if I had the choice. It feels like you're just wiped out; you can't even get back on your feet for ages because your whole system is just completely drained. But me? I was just in surgery yesterday, and I’m already up, walking around, and thinking clearly. Everything feels totally normal. The recovery speed is night and day... I just can't stand being stuck in a hospital bed.

Rachel Fisher97 said:Well, you’ve definitely cheered me up a bit now... I told you before, you’re my little ray of hope here. 😍
Honestly, just thinking about the local anesthesia part makes me feel like I'm slipping into a coma. 😁
I'll be asking for another status update tomorrow... I know, I know, I'm being totally neurotic. 🤣 😁

Hehe, don't you worry one bit. Before my surgery, that was my absolute biggest fear—just how much they were going to numb everything and what that sensation would actually feel like. But believe me, once they get that placement done, all those worries just melt away. And once they give you the stuff that makes your head spin? You'll be completely wiped out, probably smelling a little funky too, and then they’ll tuck those soaked gauze pads in your nose and start the injections, and just like that—it's over. You won't feel a thing; you'll just lie there listening to... well, nothing, actually, because you won't hear anything at all! It’s honestly as intense as being at a dentist's office. 🙂 So, please, don't be scared. For instance, even today, I don't have any of those dark circles under my eyes everyone warned me about; I just have a tiny bit of bruising near the side of my eye where the cooling pack was sitting. 🙂 My nose still doesn't hurt either... I only sneezed twice (gross!). 🙂)

stormyharbor2 said:General anesthesia all the way! Honestly, I don't get why everyone makes such a huge production out of the physical toll or the recovery process, blah blah blah... Since I’m basically a plant during the whole thing, I didn't feel a single thing. The only things I noticed were feeling a little pleasantly woozy and being quite chilly afterward. 🤷

Ugh, tell me about it. Hang in there!

Haha, thanks! 🙂 So, when did you have your surgery, which hospital did you go to, and how was the experience overall?

Maria Hall92 said:haha don't worry... before my surgery, that was my biggest fear too—how much cutting there would be and what it would feel like. But honestly, once they administer the spinal block, you stop worrying about anything else. And when the anesthesia kicks in and makes your head spin, you'll just feel totally drained and sweaty, and then they have you breathing through those soaked gauze pads and giving you various injections, and that's basically it. You won't feel a thing; you just lie there listening... though, believe me, you won't be hearing much of anything. It’s kind of like being at the dentist 🙂... so don't be scared. As for me, I don't even have any bruising under my eyes like people said I would; just a little bit near the eye where they did the side work 🙂. My nose still doesn't hurt either. I sneezed twice (gross) 🙂)

🙂
hehehe I can't wait to finally get this cast off 😁😁

Maria Hall92 said:Honestly, after my first surgery at the local community clinic, I realized how much better this way is. If I had known there was an alternative, I never would have gone through the general procedure again. With the standard stuff, you’re basically out of commission—unable to even stand on your feet for ages while your body just drains completely. But me? Yesterday, right after the operation, I’m already walking around, thinking clearly... everything feels fine. The recovery is incredibly fast. God, I just hate being sick.

Personally, I'd rather deal with being sick if it means my nose isn't a total disaster zone, otherwise I'd be tempted to just toss myself off the balcony, haha.😂 I have no idea how I’m going to survive three days with nasal tampons shoved up there.😲

Jessica Grant61 said:I had my surgery three weeks ago—I had a massive hump and a wide nose—and once the cast was finally off, the hump was gone. But then the doctor examines me and claims my nose looks thin now... except when I look in the mirror, I don't see anything thin at all. Honestly, I can feel the bone along the sides and it just feels... broken? The doctor insists it will slim down over time, and I suppose I am starting to see a bit of that thinning, though it’s not quite there yet. Do you still find those areas look wide?

In my case, I had a narrow nose profile but a huge hump; now that the hump is gone, those bony ridges on the sides make it look wider, but I guess it'll pass... My surgeon mentioned it takes at least four months for everything to settle, and you don't really see the final result until the 6 to 12-month mark. I was also pretty spooked that it would stay this wide, but it's already looking better, even though it's only been 26 days since the procedure. I know how it goes... who knows if we'll even make it to six months without worrying.🙄

@Maria Hall92

Honestly, reading what you wrote sounds like a straight-up horror movie to me. I have to hand it to you, though—the fact that you aren't treating this like a total nightmare or just some routine dental work is impressive. To my ears, this sounds a million times worse than getting a filling. From what I’ve gathered, this isn't even the first time people under Tončić's care have dealt with these kinds of anesthesia issues. I don't know how much they're saving compared to general anesthesia, but for my money? No way. I wouldn't go through what you described for any amount of cash. Sure, I felt absolutely wiped out after my last general anesthesia session, but if it came down to it, I’d choose that every single time over this.
Anyway, good luck with the repair. I'm crossing my fingers that you actually end up happy with the results.
P. S. Please "honor" us with some photos once those molds are off.

My skin has basically fused to the bridge of my nose. Has anyone else dealt with this?? Honestly, I think it’s been an issue since my first surgery—I’ve always had this little "fleck" there—but now, following the second procedure, it’s exactly the same as before... It's confusing because the bone is displaced again, and they used an open technique this time... What am I supposed to do about this?😕I really want to fix this because it's so noticeable; it looks like hyperpigmentation, but I suspect it's actually just the skin being stuck down, which might be why that area looks so much darker...🤷

steelangler88 said:The skin feels totally stuck to the bridge of my nose. Has anyone else dealt with this?? Honestly, I feel like it’s been happening since my first surgery—I have this little "spot" there—and now after the second one, it’s exactly the same deal... It doesn't make much sense because the bone is displaced again, and they used an open technique this time... what am I supposed to do about it??😕 I really want to fix this because it's super noticeable; it looks like hyperpigmentation, and I'm thinking maybe the skin is just glued down, which is why that area looks so much darker...🤷

Are you massaging your nose? You absolutely HAVE to massage it! Put your thumb on one side and your index finger on the other, then do circular motions to basically wiggle the skin around so you're peeling it away from the bone. Do this every single day for a few minutes, and honestly, as often as you can think of...
If you've got the cash to burn, look into getting some lymphatic drainage done for your nose too.

What I'm saying goes for everyone, not just you. Massage that nose. It keeps the skin from sticking and helps the swelling go down way faster.

Maria Hall92...it's awesome that you don't have any bruising! Did they actually break bones, or were they just shaving down the hump? I'm pretty sure they snapped my nose in a couple of places on both sides... I guess that explains why I was such a bruised mess. During my first surgery, they didn't even touch the bone, so I had zero bruising at all.

Maria Hall92 said:haha thanks 🙂.. when did you have yours done—and who was your surgeon? were you actually happy with the results?

Last December, I went to Glušac. It turned out okay, I guess... but honestly, I think it could’ve been better...

Rachel Fisher97 said:🙂
Hehehe, I am honestly just sitting here counting down the minutes until you finally pop that mold off! 😁😁

Haha, look at her go 😁... Honestly, same here. As much as I love the anticipation, there's always that tiny little knot of anxiety about how things will actually turn out once the big change happens. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, isn't it? :/

I honestly feel like we’ve been circling this same drain for a while now, haven't we? It reminds me of those long, winding drives through the Rockies where you think you're finally making progress toward Denver, only to realize you've just been stuck in a loop on a scenic bypass. We keep revisiting these core issues, hoping for a different outcome, but the underlying structure remains stubbornly the same. It’s much like trying to fix a vintage Mustang with parts that don't quite fit—you can spend hours tinkering under the hood, convinced you're getting closer to that perfect purr, but if the foundation isn't sound, you're just making a mess of things. I say this with nothing but affection for the group, of course, but sometimes I wonder if we aren't just overcomplicating a very simple truth. We need to step back, breathe, and look at the big picture before we lose ourselves in the minutiae again. kaže:
Honestly, I’m kind of leaning towards staying sick while my nose is this stuffed up. It feels like the only thing keeping me from walking right off my balcony! Haha. 😂 I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it through the next three days with these nasal tampons stuffed in my nose. It feels like a total marathon of discomfort. 😲

The first day is manageable enough if you just grit your teeth and push through. But me? By the second day, I can already feel the irritation bubbling up inside me, and the worst part is knowing I still have to endure the entire day tomorrow. Honestly, having those nasal plugs pulled out is just gruesome—another unpleasant hurdle I’ll have to clear.

Elizabeth Collins5 said:@Maria Hall92

Honestly, reading what you wrote sounds like a total nightmare to me. I truly admire how you aren't viewing this as something terrifying—to you, it’s just like getting a quick filling at the dentist. For me? It sounds a million times worse than any dental work. From what I’ve gathered through the grapevine, this isn't even the first time Tončić’s patients have dealt with these kinds of issues regarding anesthesia. I’m not sure how much of a price difference there is compared to general anesthesia, but for my money, I wouldn't go through what you described for any amount of savings. It’s true that I felt completely wiped out after having general anesthesia, but if I had to choose again, I’d pick general every single time.
Anyway, I’m rooting for you during your recovery and crossing my fingers that you're thrilled with the end result.
P.S. Please "honor" us with some photos once those molds are off!

It sounded like a horror story to me too... believe me, I was actually quite nervous about it. But I didn't realize it would be such a literal horror show. Trust me, it really isn't that bad. It just sounds scary when you hear stories from other people. Those experiences are pretty typical for this type of anesthesia; it doesn't sound pretty, but it’s honestly not a disaster. You don't feel any pain, and besides, you aren't leaving things in the hands of some self-proclaimed doctors, but actual specialists.🙂

Thanks! And maybe (and I mean *maybe*) I'll send a photo via private message. 🙂 I'm not big on revealing myself publicly, 🙂 as you can probably tell by my "username." 😛