Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

stormyharbor2 said:Last December, I went to see Glušac. It turned out okay, though I honestly think there was room for improvement...

So, it’s relatively fresh too🙂... but hey, if it looks good, that's what matters! The main thing is that it's an improvement over how things were before. Honestly, I would be absolutely thrilled if my nose could just look like its old self again. After my accident, everything felt so off—the tip was crooked in two different spots, my septum was completely skewed, and the bridge had these weird little bumps everywhere. If he actually managed to smooth all that out, then major props to him; he really pulled it off.

My primary issue is a bump inside my left nostril that makes breathing nearly impossible; I haven't been able to draw air through that side for about two years now. I'm forced to rely entirely on my right nostril. Out of all the decongestant sprays available, only things like Afrin or Vicks seem to provide any relief, but I know they're incredibly harsh on the nasal lining if used long-term. I ended up using them for several consecutive months because trying to fall asleep with my mouth wide open is an absolute nightmare. I finally saw an ENT specialist, and he informed me that surgery is my only real option. To make matters worse, because of this blockage, I’ve noticed my hearing in the left ear is significantly muffled—probably by about 40%. On the exterior, I also have a mid-sized bump on the bridge of my nose, nothing extreme, but noticeable. I actually asked the doctor if he could perform a rhinoplasty at the same time to fix the external appearance, and he assured me that wouldn't be an issue. Since this is a functional necessity, my insurance should cover the procedure, making it essentially free. Honestly, I would be so relieved just to breathe normally again, and I dream of the day I don't have to hide my profile behind my hair or keep it tied back in a ponytail. That said, I am terrified of the surgery itself. I can't stop worrying about what it will feel like when I wake up, whether it will be physically agonizing to go five days without being able to breathe through my nose, how I'll manage to sleep, or if I'll end up with heavy bruising and dark circles under my eyes. Does anyone have any actual experience with this who might be able to answer some of these concerns? 😢(((

Maria Hall92 said:So, it's relatively fresh too...🙂Look, it’s great that things are okay—honestly, as long as it's better than how it was before, I'm happy. If he actually managed to reconstruct my nose back to the way it used to be, I'll be thrilled... because honestly, after the accident, my nose was just a mess. It was crooked, had issues at the tip in two different spots, a deviated septum, and some weird bumps along the bridge... if he really pulled that off, then credit where credit is due...

I’m not gonna say mine was worse than yours—it was an accident, after all—but it definitely left me looking pretty messed up. He told me straight up that if I walked into a packed room, people would spot my nose immediately... 🤣

Elizabeth Anderson25 said:My main issue is this bump inside my left nostril—it makes breathing a nightmare. I haven't been able to breathe through the left side at all for about two years now; I'm stuck using just the right side. Out of all the decongestant sprays out there, only Afrin or similar stuff works, but those are terrible for the nasal lining if you use them long-term. I ended up using them for months straight because trying to fall asleep with my mouth wide open is nearly impossible. I saw an ENT, and he told me surgery is the only way. Because of this blockage, I’ve noticed my left ear feels about 40% muffled too. On the outside, I also have a bump—nothing huge, but noticeable. I asked the doctor if he could fix the external shape during the procedure, and he said that shouldn't be a problem. Since it's medically necessary, my insurance should cover it, so it'll be free. I just want to breathe normally again, and honestly, I'd be so happy if I didn't have to hide my profile behind my hair or keep it in a ponytail all the time. I'm terrified of the surgery, though. What is it like waking up? Will it be unbearable for those first five days when you can't breathe through your nose at all? Can I actually sleep? And what about bruising or dark circles under the eyes? How long does recovery really take? Has anyone here gone through this who can answer these questions? 😢(((

Most of us have been there.😁

I was in almost the exact same boat—couldn't breathe through the left side at all, deviated septum, tiny bumps, and a million other things, right?🙂 I ended up having two surgeries... As for the nose itself, it won't actually hurt; seriously, I haven't heard a single person say their nose was painful. Now, as for how you feel when you wake up—that really depends on how you handle anesthesia. Personally, I get super nauseous every time, but most people feel fine. The bruising and dark circles usually last about a week, but it's nothing major; you can easily head out for a bit after a week, or even sooner if you feel up to it. I was already walking around town by day three with my splints in.😁 If they are straightening your septum, there's a chance they might just use internal splints instead of packing, which makes things much easier. I've done both versions (first one had packing, second had splints), so I know.😁 It's really not that bad. The hardest part will likely be sleeping on your back (if you aren't used to it)—at least, that was the struggle for me. You have nothing to worry about.👍

rustygardener172 said:Are you massaging your nose? You absolutely have to! Just place your thumb on one side and your index finger on the other, then work in small circular motions to gently move the skin over the bone—it’s almost like you’re unsticking the tissue from the underlying structure. Try doing this every day for a few minutes, or honestly, just whenever you remember throughout the day.
If you have some extra cash to spare, look into getting some lymphatic drainage done on your nose; that can be a total game-changer too.

What I mentioned applies to everyone, not just you. Keep up with those nose massages. It keeps the skin from feeling tight against the bone and helps the swelling go down way faster.

@Maria Hall92/">@@Maria Hall92... it’s wonderful news that you don't have any bruising! Did they actually have to break bones, or were they just working on a bump? In my experience, I think they broke my nose in a couple of spots on each side... which probably explains why I was so bruised up. During my first surgery, they didn't touch the bone at all, so I didn't have a single bruise.

So, it's now the third day and I've got this bruising on the side where he was working laterally (quoting him here)... apparently there was a mallet involved. I think he might have tapped it maybe three times, but I honestly can't tell if he was breaking bone or just adjusting the hump. My bump wasn't even that huge to begin with, so I'm wondering why he had to hit it so much—maybe because I mentioned wanting to reduce its size? 🙂 Hehe... I also have no clue if he was opening up my nasal passages or using a closed technique. I'm really curious about that now... I mean, under what circumstances do they actually break the bones during these procedures?

stormyharbor2 said:He told me straight up—if I walked into a packed room, people would pick up my scent immediately. 🤣

🤣🤣

Maria Hall92 said:The first day is manageable, I suppose... but by the second day, I can already feel my nerves starting to fray, and I still have to get through all of tomorrow. Honestly, having those nasal plugs removed is just unpleasant; you really have to grit your teeth through that part, too.

I honestly couldn't sleep a wink after this last one; I'm just terrified... If you're feeling on edge even though you're such a brave soul, then I’ll probably end up trying to pull those plugs out myself once the panic sets in. I have an absolutely awful fear of choking, so just the thought of those tampons makes me spiral.😱

Elizabeth Collins5, did you see Dr. Glušac for your own lumps?

For goodness' sake, stop trying to scare me with all this talk about tampons... I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to deal with it. Between my allergies and the fact that my throat is constantly acting up every single summer, everything feels like an uphill battle. God only knows how I'll manage. Not to mention, my nerves are absolute mush—I've always been high-strung, haha. My doctor actually told me that the removal wouldn't even hurt, though honestly, who knows if he's right?

Ashley Gomez said:I honestly couldn't sleep a wink after reading this last night; I’m practically shaking from anxiety... If you can stay that calm when you're feeling worked up, then God help me, I'll probably end up trying to dig them out myself once the panic sets in. To be honest, I have a massive phobia of choking, so just the thought of using those tampons 😱
makes my heart race.
Elizabeth Collins5, did you ever see Dr. Glušac about those lumps of yours?

It’s just... it’s more infuriating than anything else. When you finally want to take a deep breath and it feels like you just can't get enough air—it's not even that life-threatening, per se, but it is incredibly aggravating!

Kate Taylor59, it doesn't really hurt, but it's definitely an uncomfortable sensation when they come out... since they're tucked away so deep inside. :/

Maria Hall92 said:I mean... what really gets to me is when you finally just want to take a breath and you can't. It’s not like I’m dying or anything, obviously, but it’s incredibly irritating. It just drives me up the wall.

Kate Taylor59, it doesn't exactly "hurt," if that's what you mean... but it's definitely an uncomfortable sensation when they pull everything out. They're buried pretty deep in there, after all. :/

How deep are we talking? Like, roughly? 😂
And once they pull it out, can you actually breathe normally again, or is that also a struggle?

Maria Hall92 said:I mean... it’s just more irritating when you finally want to take a breath and you can't. It's not like it's life-threatening or anything, but it definitely gets under your skin.

Kate Taylor59, it doesn't really hurt, but it's an uncomfortable sensation when they pull things out... since everything is tucked away so deep inside. :/

Ladies, try to look on the bright side... Maria Hall92 mentioned not being able to eat normally, but summer is right around the corner, so I guess nobody is going to complain about losing a few pounds. 😁😁
As for the actual procedure... I'm a little nervous about that part too, though maybe just a bit. 🙄 I'm actually more worried about the anesthesia, even if Maria Hall92 was pretty helpful in calming me down. 👍

Kate Taylor59 said:How deep are we talking? Roughly? 😂
Also, once they pull it out, will you actually be able to breathe properly again?

Honestly, if I'm being totally real with you, I don't know the exact depth, but my best guess is it goes right up into the sinus area 🙂 haha... and of course, the second they get that thing out, I'll finally be able to breathe through my nose 🙂 Hallelujah! I am counting down the minutes. I’m seriously losing my mind waiting. I keep picturing myself trying to sleep tonight with my mouth wide open—can you imagine? Absolute nightmare scenario. 😁

Oh, and as for the weight situation, I really hope I don't lose any pounds because I'm feeling pretty good about my current shape... though I suppose I'll be looking much leaner after this! 😢((

Maria Hall92 said:To be honest, I don't know how deep it goes, but I'm guessing it reaches the sinuses 🙂 haha... and obviously, once they take it out, I can finally breathe through my nose 🙂 thank goodness... I can't wait, I'm losing my mind here. I keep thinking about how I'll have to spend another night sleeping with my mouth wide open, hahaha, it's terrible 😁

As for the weight, I don't want to lose any since I'm at a good spot... though I suppose I'll end up being thin now 😢((

Hehe, I'm always missing those two pounds to get where I want to be 😁
In that case... you should just eat a ton of chocolate and cookies 😍

thanks, ladies 🙂 but what about actually getting some sleep at night? is that even an option anymore? xD

I’ve mostly just been sticking to puddings and fruit yogurts, 🙂 since everything else feels a bit too heavy to tackle right now...

On a brighter note, I actually managed to sleep! Quite a surprise, really, because I was fully expecting to be tossing and turning all night, but I slept right through.

Maria Hall92 said:I'm mostly just sticking to pudding and fruit yogurt🙂 .. everything else feels a bit heavy..

Surprisingly, I can actually sleep. I haven't been waking up, which I honestly thought would be an issue..

Well.. I guess there's some truth to the idea that beauty requires sacrifice.😁
But I suppose that's a small price to pay for getting a new little kitten.. even if it means dealing with a little cat cough.😁
Right?😍

Kate Taylor59 said:How deep are we talking? Like, roughly how much? 😂
And once they pull them out, will I be able to breathe normally, or is there some kind of breathing issue involved?

My sister actually showed me, and it looked to be about 2 inches deep. Personally, I’m not too worried about the actual removal process; it’s just the thought of it that makes me feel nauseous—and they haven't even put them in yet.😁

Rachel Fisher97 said:Ladies, try to look on the bright side... Maria Hall92 mentioned you won't be able to eat normally for a while... but summer is right around the corner, so I suppose nobody is going to mind if you drop a few pounds.😁😁
Now, regarding the actual removal surgery... I have to admit, I'm feeling a little bit apprehensive about that part... though perhaps just a little. 🙄 ....Actually, I think I'm more nervous about the anesthesia, even if Maria Hall92 has been quite reassuring about it.👍

The one thing that truly provides some comfort is the thought of losing a few pounds.🙂

Why is nobody making a huge scene when their nose gets totally stuffed up during a cold?! Your body just adjusts... and honestly, it's the exact same deal with tampons. People get all worked up and then nothing happens. For me, I wasn't even bothered by the fact that blood was constantly leaking through them onto the bottom gauze pad—which would get so soaked that blood would practically be seeping past the edges, and the hospital staff? They didn't give a single damn about you... I’d be wandering around the ward looking for someone, basically begging them to change the pad... and if I didn't get a nurse I actually knew the next day, I would have lost my mind. Eventually, she just handed me a massive stack of gauze so I could do it myself 🙂 (I ended up hiding them in my bedside drawer). Plus, for the first three days, sleep was non-existent because there was this old lady in the room with me who snored louder than my dad, my grandpa, and my boyfriend combined 😂
So, go ahead, get your surgery done through public insurance... as if. If the operation had actually been successful, I wouldn't even be saying anything.
During that first surgery, I had them in for five days... gross!... and on the second one, it was only one day... but either way, you won't be able to breathe through your nose once they pull them out. My nose was completely blocked for at least seven days due to scabbing and swelling... So, it's not like you can't breathe *because* of the tampons; you wouldn't be able to breathe for the first few days regardless of whether they were in there or not.

Taking them out didn't hurt at all, neither the first nor the second time... just this really weird sensation. The real shock is that first breath after they're out... I think I mentioned it before, but it felt like I was breathing through my actual brain 😁

rustygardener172, that sounds somewhat comforting, I suppose. I’ve been weighing the idea of surgery for about a year now, and honestly, whenever I try breathing through my mouth, I just start to panic. Back when I was actually sick, I used to breathe through my mouth and tell myself, "It'll be fine, this is just how it'll feel after the procedure," but now that I'm thinking about it clearly, the anxiety is hitting me all over again. I'm really just hoping everything functions naturally afterward and that I can somehow manage; my only real fear is the nasal packing 😢 aside from that, I don't think I'm too worried.