Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

A few nice doctors sent me that search list via email too 🙂

ps. if you're sending photos to doctors, try taking some from the front, side profile, and three-quarters view

@Window--> clear out your inbox, it's totally full

Kate Taylor59 said:Look, please, just listen to me for a second... before you jump into surgery (wait, seriously? surgery for allergies?? xD), go see a specialist at a private clinic or find a top-tier ENT. My doctor explained that a deviated septum can be a huge issue for certain people, especially if you're dealing with allergies—basically, the allergens get trapped in there and everything just gets congested. He also made it very clear that you can't "operate" away an allergy; it's just something you have to manage, like using an antihistamine when needed. Why put your body through all that stress unnecessarily?

I’d definitely suggest going the private route too. Honestly, don't mess around with the big public hospitals for something like this. I actually had a similar experience where I went through a hospital system because I needed to fix both functional issues and the aesthetic side of things, and let me tell you, it was a disaster. They actually messed up my cartilage! Those surgeons just aren't as precise as specialists in private practice who focus specifically on aesthetics—that's their whole bread and butter. I eventually went back to a private specialist for a second procedure, and my nose looks absolutely AMAZING now. Just really, really think about this. If you care about how it looks, stay away from the general hospital wards.

Congrats on those beautiful braces; I really hope they stay looking just that good 😍

Did you deal with any bruising before the molds were taken?

goldenangler82 said:I actually had some incredibly kind doctors email me that entire list of search results too.🙂

ps. if you're sending photos over to your doctors, you really should make sure to take them from the front, a three-quarter view, and from the side.

@Window--> clean out your inbox, it's totally full!

All cleaned out.

Ashley Gomez said:Congrats on those beautiful results, I just hope they stay looking that way 😍

Did you guys deal with any bruising before the dressings were removed?

Not really. For me, it’s been seven days now, and honestly, my eyes almost look like I’ve applied perfect eyeliner—there's this sharp line right along the lid, but with all these colorful hues. Even the skin under my eyes has this multicolored tint. Last night, after I put some makeup on, I actually looked like I had massive dark circles! But then this morning, it was only when people got up close to me that they realized my eyes were actually "tinted."
Since it's only been one day since my surgery and my eye is still mostly swollen shut, aren't I just thrilled by how fast everything is moving?

I’ve been wondering about something lately... I keep hearing people say that those around you don't actually notice you've had nose surgery, per se; instead, they just think you look better overall, but they can't quite put their finger on why—at least, of course, for the folks who aren't already in on the secret!
I'm curious, what have your actual experiences been like with that?

About five years ago, I underwent nose surgery at the local hospital in San Francisco 😁 It was a procedure my doctor suggested because I was struggling with breathing issues. From an aesthetic standpoint, everything turned out fine, and honestly, it’s still 😍 a lovely little nose of mine 😁 😛
I have nothing but respect for Dr. Milicic... though unfortunately, he has relocated to work in New York City now 😢

When I first met him... 😲 I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated. He was such a tall, imposing figure, looking almost carved from stone, and there he was, about to perform surgery on my tiny nose 😲 But he turned out to be incredibly kind and gentle... 🙏 👍

Hey, how often do you guys actually end up getting your noses done, both before and after the surgery?
I honestly think it plays a massive part in the whole decision...
Like, what I was saying earlier—anyone with a nose they aren't thrilled with has probably at least daydreamed about rhinoplasty once in their life.
But it would be awesome to see some actual results from surgeons working right here in the States, especially since you all are basically the stars of this show. 😉
Come on, drop those before-and-after pics! I’m lowkey hoping I might recognize my own profile in the mix.
And hey, you never know... maybe seeing a perfectly executed nose will be the final push I need to finally pull the trigger on my own surgery. 😁

Sending love to everyone's new profiles! 😉

p.s. Wishing a super speedy recovery to everyone currently healing from their procedure!!

Sophia Harris96, what you're aiming for is actually pretty "dangerous."
I have a friend who saw someone else's breast augmentation and convinced herself she wanted that exact same look, but when the moment came... after the surgery was done and she finally got home to look at her results, they were a completely different shape and size than she imagined, leaving her totally depressed for, thank goodness, only three days. The truth is, no two bodies or faces are ever truly identical.
If you're just curious and want to see my nose before and after photos—fine, I'll show you. But if you look at my old nose, think you have one just like it, and assume you'll end up with my new one, that kind of thinking could cost you a lot of heartache and tears.
It isn't as if seeing ten incredible results from one surgeon guarantees that you, as his eleventh patient, will walk away satisfied.
In my opinion, no surgeon has a one hundred percent success rate. Not a single one.
Honestly, no person doing any job in this world can claim perfection. It's simply impossible.
We are all essentially taking a massive risk here. You really have to be mentally prepared for anything—for a massive transformation, for an entirely new face, and especially for the possibility of something going wrong.

Sophia Harris96 said:So, does anyone else here carry around photos of their nose from before and after surgery?
I honestly feel like this is a huge factor in the whole decision process...
For instance—as I’ve mentioned before—anyone with a larger nose has probably considered getting one done at least once in their life.
But it would be really helpful to see some actual rhinoplasty results from surgeons practicing here in the States, where you all are the experts.😉
Come on, post your before-and-after shots! I’m secretly hoping I might spot my own nose somewhere in the mix,
and hey, you never know... maybe seeing a perfectly executed nose will finally push me to pull the trigger on my own procedure.😁

Sending love from the tip of my nose.😉

p.s. Wishing a speedy recovery to everyone who just got fixed up!!

Whatever you do, DON'T rely solely on the photos!! A nose in a picture looks nothing like it does in real life, especially if there's a flash involved.

Ashley Gomez said:Congrats on those beautiful results! I really hope it stays that way for you. 😍

Did you deal with much bruising before they finally removed the molds?

Thanks, 😁 ..
I’m actually having the exact same experience as Sophia Booth35. We both had our procedures on the very same day, and honestly, I look like I went overboard with the makeup—it's like I've got bright red eyeliner smeared all over my eyelids 😁. To be fair, under one eye I still have a bit of a purple bruise, and under the other, it looks more like I applied some yellowish eyeshadow 🙂. But just like her, I know this will clear up quickly, and I'm already starting to feel totally fine. 🙂

Kate Taylor59 said:DON'T trust the photos!! Your nose in a picture looks completely different from how it looks in person, especially if you're using a flash.

And honestly, just like Kate Taylor59 mentioned, those photos can be so misleading... I remember going to get some shots taken just to show a friend, and it turned out looking terrible—nothing like how I looked in real life, whether I used a flash or not. The shadows fall in such weird ways that suddenly my nose looks huge or crooked or just... off. I’ve actually given up on sending photos of my new nose altogether. But look, if I’m happy with the result (and let’s be real, we are always our own harshest critics), then why should anyone else's opinion matter? 🙂.. Take my word for it 🙂

Maria Hall92 said:Yeah, honestly, what Kate Taylor59 was saying is spot on... it really sucks. I went to take some photos the other day just to show a friend how I looked, and man, they turned out terrible. It looks nothing like how I look in person. It doesn't matter if I use the flash or leave it off, either way, the lighting is just trash. The shadows fall all weirdly on my face and suddenly my nose looks huge or whatever. It's so frustrating. Guilty as charged. Whatever, I’ve officially given up on sending out photos of my new nose. Honestly, if I’m happy with how it looks, that’s what matters most—I mean, we’re always our own harshest critics anyway, right? I don't feel the need to hunt for everyone else's approval just to feel good about it. 🙂Take my word for it. 🙂

So, here’s the deal: I look in the mirror and my nose looks perfectly straight to me, right? No issues. But then I go to check out some photos—maybe a quick selfie or a candid shot from a friend—and suddenly my nose is leaning hard to one side like it’s trying to escape my face. It’s honestly such a trip. It leads you to this one inevitable, slightly existential conclusion: the version of yourself you see in pictures is the actual reality, while the version you see in the mirror is just... a lie your brain is telling you. You think everything is fine, but the camera doesn't care about your self-perception. It’s wild how much our own brains can just totally gaslight us about what we actually look like.

Honestly, there’s zero point in taking a photo of your nose right now—it’s way too swollen to show anything real. You might as well wait at least a month before posting that first shot. That’s about the earliest you’ll actually start seeing some kind of actual result.

I’m basically putting a reservation on your photo because I am dying to see what Tony’s work actually looks like... honestly, he was my first choice when I was looking to book someone. 😉

Oh, I totally forgot to mention one thing: don't worry, everything stays strictly between us. Total discretion guaranteed. 👍

rustygardener172 said:Personally, I don't think my nose looks crooked, but in every single photo, it seems to lean one way. My takeaway? Your nose looks exactly like it does in the picture, even if you see it differently when looking in the mirror.

It’s honestly pointless to take photos of your nose right now while it’s still so swollen. You might be able to snap that first shot in about a month... that's when you'll actually start seeing some real results.

I’m basically putting in a reservation for that photo because I am genuinely curious to see Tony's handiwork... since he was actually my first choice for the procedure originally. 😉

Edit: ...forgot to mention: total discretion guaranteed! 👍

No, it’s not really that 🙂 .. it just turns out differently because my phone camera is terrible and the quality is just bad... but oh man, maybe I really will send a photo in a month 😁 once things have settled down a bit, the dark circles under my eyes have faded, and the swelling in my nose goes down. 🙂 ..
Maybe I'm not exactly the best benchmark for his work, since my nose used to be pretty messy—the tip was off, it leaned to the side, and I still have scars from a surgery five years ago, so I'm definitely not a "classic" case. 🙂 I just wanted it straightened out however possible; I wasn't aiming for one of those tiny, cute little noses. 🙂 But now, I finally have a beautiful nose, whereas before, I couldn't say that for sure...

Maria Hall92 said:no, it’s not 🙂... things just turn out looking different because my camera quality sucks and my phone photos are honestly trash.. it's just bad.. but ugh, maybe I'll actually send 😁 in about a month once I look a bit more put together, without the dark circles under my eyes and once my nose finally settles down a bit 🙂..
I mean, I’m probably not the best benchmark for how his work turned out since my nose was pretty messed up to begin with—the tip, the sides, plus I had all those old scars from five years ago, so I'm definitely not your "classic" case.. I just wanted him to straighten it out as much as possible, so I wasn't aiming for one of those tiny, cute little button noses 🙂 that's not what I was going for.. but hey, I finally have a nice nose now, which I definitely couldn't say before 🙂

But that’s exactly what you want! You want them to take the nose you had and make it beautiful, not go for some total identity overhaul.
That "natural-looking plastic surgery" vibe totally rules!! 🤣

Alright, alright, don't go flooding the feed with pictures just yet... 😁 I have to be honest, I am just incredibly curious... 🙂 Like, for instance, I’d love to see how an American surgeon actually handles a nose job—the shape, the tips, all of it. I’m genuinely interested because everything you find on Google looks so... I don't know, "cookie-cutter" American. I want to see what actual Americans look like after they get work done. Not that I’m rushing out to book a consultation tomorrow—I want things my own way since we're all individuals and all that—but honestly, even as I'm typing this, I'm low-key thinking about getting my nose done. You never really know if your doctor is going to nail it or totally mess up your face in the future, so seeing real results would be super helpful... 😛To address what's above: 😉Hopefully, my curiosity doesn't get the best of me, haha. 😁Good luck with everyone's recovery!!! You guys are freaking brave!

Honestly, I’m spiraling here. My nose skin is getting so thick and textured that I’m genuinely starting to dread how my face is going to look long-term... it’s definitely not looking like a Hollywood glow-up. Dammit, there’s nothing worse than dealing with a gross nose and skin as thick as a rhino's. Does anyone else out there struggling with crazy thick skin on their nose?

Kate Taylor59 said:That’s a huge thumbs down for the doctor right there—he didn't really sit down and walk you through what's actually going on. Honestly, that’s how it goes so often in big hospitals like the Mayo Clinic... they're swamped with the heavy-duty stuff, so things like minor corrections or smaller procedures aren't exactly their top priority—not like, say, brain surgery where neurosurgeons take the lead instead of ENT specialists...
A deviated septum—nasal deformity... though if you can breathe just fine, it's strange to call it a "severe" deformity... besides, almost everyone has some level of deviation... I really think people should only go under the knife if they're actually suffering from symptoms... And mucus! That means something is up with the lining... are you dealing with constant post-nasal drip where everything drains down your throat?

Yeah, he was definitely rushing because I was his very last patient of the day—plus, I told him right out of the gate that I wasn't looking for surgery yet and needed to think about it, so I didn't push him for more details at the time... now I'm sitting here regretting it, thinking maybe I *should* be looking into it. As for the cosmetic side of things, I'm honestly torn—part of me wants it, but the other part is terrified of how it might turn out... I don't want to deal with the stress of potentially having to redo the whole thing four times if it doesn't work perfectly the first time 😁 especially since I am struggling with mucus issues and constantly swallowing all that gunk instead of being able to clear it out. 🤷 I think I'll schedule a follow-up exam in a month or two when my schedule settles down, and then I'll make sure to grill him about every single detail...

mellowraven93 said:I'm curious... people say they mostly don't even notice you had nose surgery. They just think you look better, but they can't quite put their finger on why—at least, not those who aren't already aware you went in for a correction. What kind of experiences have you guys actually had with that?

That was pretty much my experience most of the time... some people didn't notice at all (or at least they didn't say anything), while others would just tell me I looked different, but they couldn't figure out what it was... and then once I actually said, "Wait, you really can see it!!" 😁
Though, I guess the vast majority of people I hang out with knew I was going in for the procedure.
And for those who think they won't notice a difference, they usually only realize it once they look back at old photos. 😲

Sophia Harris96 said:Okay, okay, don't start posting pictures... 😁 I have to admit, I am just incredibly nosy... for example, I'd love to see how a doctor fixed someone's bridge or tip... because I'm genuinely interested, I want to see... since everything you find on Google feels so... I don't know, uniquely American... so I'm curious about how Americans' noses actually look after being fixed... and it's not like I'm rushing to get it done myself just to match them, because we're all individuals... but I'm telling you, I wouldn't get my nose done right now, even though I've thought about it—honestly, I'm still thinking about it as I write this... and you never know how a 'doc' will turn out in the future... but it would be helpful to see. 😛as I said above: 😉 hopefully my curiosity doesn't get the death of me, haha. Good luck with everyone else's recoveries!!! You guys are brave!

Well, that's how I decided to go through with it too... maybe it wouldn't work out, and honestly, most of my hesitation came from that exact "personality trait" you mentioned... ☕ ...so I kept second-guessing myself, until I realized I was just going to keep obsessing over it whether I did it or not, so I figured, fine, I'll just do it now. 😁
And since your curiosity is killing you, I'll send you some photos via DM, because I used to have a really long nose.

Hey there, ladies—whether you've had work done or not!
I'm looking for some advice. Does anyone have experience with or a solid recommendation for a great surgeon who specializes in tip rhinoplasty? The rest of my nose looks fine, I just want to fix the tip!