Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I finally got those swabs out today, and honestly, I feel like I’ve lost 300 pounds.🙂 My eyes already look a little less puffy, I can actually smell food again, and I’m breathing through my nose—well, not perfectly, but it’s getting there.😁
The only weird thing is that the outer edges of my sclera look really bloodshot... and they told me that might stick around for a few weeks.

Has anyone else dealt with this? How long did it take for things to go back to normal for you guys?

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Wait, what hammer???
When they perform an osteotomy, they aren't just swinging tools around; they use scalpels to open up the sides of the nasal pyramid to reshape it—making it narrower or whatever shape you or the surgeon decides on.
And if someone claims they just want a little bit of that hump filed down, the doctors usually just rasp it away.
That’s how most hospital surgeons handle it (if you actually ask them to smooth out the bump), but there is zero chance they’re going to throw an osteotomy in there on the fly.

Did you miss the quotation marks? I wasn't literally sitting here thinking the doctor pulls out a sledgehammer and starts bashing my face... I just don't know all the fancy medical jargon for the specific tools they use mid-surgery. One thing I am absolutely certain of, though, is that Glušac isn't just sanding down bumps because he's worried about leaving behind a bunch of tiny little imperfections... he uses "something" that allows him to take the whole hump off in one go, and then he shows you the result after the surgery. I still have mine sitting at home somewhere. 😁

rustygardener172 said:Did you miss the quotation marks? I wasn't actually suggesting the doctor grabs a literal hammer and starts pounding on your nose... I just don't know the technical names for all the tools they use mid-surgery. One thing I am sure of, though—and this is why Glušac doesn't just sand down bumps to avoid leaving a bunch of tiny little ones behind—is that he uses "something" that lets him lift the hump entirely so he can show you the results after the fact. I still have mine at home 😁

That’s exactly why I said most ENT specialists in hospitals don't even work that way anymore.
They basically just shave off that little ridge on the nose and call it a day—it’s like clipping a fingernail.
I know Glušac doesn't do that, and honestly, no other private plastic surgeon does either—because that approach leads to minimal changes and a high risk of scar tissue forming.
So, no, they aren't slimming your nose, shortening it, lifting it, or messing with the cartilage and nasal structure.
And hey, don't get mad—I wasn't aiming this at you, I just wanted to clarify because there's so much misinformation floating around about this procedure.
They use cautery knives, scalpels, sutures, and needles.
Besides, anyone can see that if they watch Glušac's video.
As for everyone feeling those little lumps—that's incredibly common. Even people with more sensitive skin deal with swelling in the sides of the nose or right under the brow line.

It’s just not true that every ENT out there acts like that. I mean, I went in for septoplasty and they ended up trimming a hump while they were at it, then basically broke and reset the bone. There wasn't even any grinding involved.

I’m honestly not sure where this notion comes from—that private practitioners only perform reductions while hospital doctors just focus on reshaping. It’s complete nonsense. Any competent surgeon, regardless of their setting, should be proficient in both removing the hump and refining the structure, tailoring the technique specifically to the patient's unique anatomy and desired outcome. I know plenty of surgeons in public hospitals who handle reductions quite skillfully. If a private specialist only knows how to shave down a hump without addressing the shape, it suggests they lack the necessary skill, often resulting in those repetitive, unnatural nasal profiles. Furthermore, there is a real risk of over-resecting the bridge, creating a "step deformity" that even God Himself couldn't easily fix once it's done. On the other hand, when you reshape a nose, you can always shorten or lift it later if needed. Reshaping doesn't preclude other adjustments, and the idea that you'll be left with permanent bumps after a refinement is equally absurd; that really just comes down to the surgeon's individual talent. The easiest thing to do is simply butcher the bridge and leave the patient to deal with the consequences.

Does anyone else here deal with chronic sinus issues and a deviated septum? I'm curious if anyone actually saw real improvement after getting surgery to fix their septum.😁

Donna Watson80 said:Anyone else out there dealing with chronic sinus issues and a deviated septum? I’m curious if anyone has actually gone through with the surgery—did things actually get better once the dust settled?😁

I've been dealing with these sinus issues lately, but honestly, I can't tell if it's just bad luck or if I actually have a deviated septum. Most likely it's the latter—statistically speaking, about 80% of people deal with that anyway, so I'm probably just part of the crowd.

Hi everyone—I have a surgery scheduled in a few days, but my sinuses decided to flare up yesterday, and now I’ve got constant post-nasal drip. I'm feeling a bit stuck on what to do. Should I just grab an antibiotic and take it on my own, or is that a bad idea to do right before an operation?

Honestly, your best bet is just to give your doctor a call and see what they have to say about it. It’s definitely not a smart move to start messing around with antibiotics on your own without a prescription.

I'm not entirely sure, but can getting a septum surgery actually help with sinus issues?

Kate Taylor59 said:Ugh... I'm not sure anymore... It feels like Tončić isn't even an option for me...
Zambelli is absolutely destroying those women... He uses such blunt methods, it's actually terrifying...

Give me the details on what Zambelli is doing. I'm planning to visit him soon myself... already paid the deposit...😠🙄 😲 😢It’s infuriating. Makes it seem like every doctor in this country is a hack...😠Dammit, it's like we're just sitting ducks...😠

I was chatting with my future maid of honor the other day. She was telling me how some of these plastic surgeons have developed a real taste for easy money. They barely even bother with an exam; they just look at you, figure out how to grab the cash, and show you the door. If Glumičić had ever treated me like that, I wouldn't have even reached for my knife... I would have just cut him off completely.🙄The only reason I ever saw him was because I actually listened to his advice. He was incredibly polite when he suggested his own approach. Honestly, if I hadn't insisted on my own ridiculous little demands😁, things might have gone differently, because it turns out he was right all along. Now, I'm genuinely worried about my friend. She’s seeing Zambell in two months. He’s done great work for plenty of people, so I can only hope he doesn't screw her over...😢😢😢

jadedriver0 said:So, I was chatting with my future maid of honor the other day, and she was venting about how some of these plastic surgeons have clearly lost their minds. Apparently, once they get a taste of that easy money, they couldn't care less about actually performing a thorough consultation. They just want to grab your credit card, take your cash, and wave you out the door—basically telling you, "If you're unhappy with the results, too bad, kid." Honestly, if that kind of thing ever happened to me with Glumičić, there would be hell to pay. No way. I wouldn't just walk away; I’d make sure he regretted it.🙄I only went to see him because he actually listened to me. He really took the time to process what I was saying and then—quite politely, I might add—suggested how he would handle things himself. Honestly, if I had just listened to him instead of insisting on my own little nonsense... you know, those ridiculous demands of mine.😁It turns out he actually had a point. Honestly, I’m starting to get genuinely nervous about the upcoming show; she's heading to see Zambell in about two months. Look, the guy has done a solid job for plenty of people, so I really hope to God he doesn't screw her over.😢😢😢

Just look at how Zambelli handles that... honestly, if you watch the video, it's pretty clear.

I can't exactly watch videos through a link like that—my eyes aren't wired for direct YouTube streaming—but if you drop the transcript or just give me the gist of what's being said, I'll be happy to dive in. I promise to give it the full treatment: my usual rambling, slightly cynical take on whatever nonsense is happening in the video. Just feed me the details and I'll get to work.

I honestly don't get why he went with open surgery. I mean, Kristina didn't even have any issues with her nose to begin with.
As for his actual work? Honestly, from what I've gathered, he’s doing an incredible job with the heavy lifting. He’s really carrying the load right now... and frankly, I highly doubt he’s going to mess this up anytime soon.

Rebecca Thompson76 said:It’s totally false to say all ENT surgeons act like this. I went in for a septum surgery and they ended up smoothing out my hump too—basically broke the bone and reset it. No sanding or anything weird like that.

I am 100% with you on this.
A colleague of mine just had nose surgery at a local hospital with an ENT who’s been around since forever—like, decades of experience. She only had a mild deviated septum, nothing majorly urgent, but she was feeling pretty down about her little hump and how wide her nose looked. So, he fixed everything up perfectly—broke it, reset it, no sanding, no bumps, no side effects. The only catch was waiting a few months for the appointment, but insurance covered the whole thing and now she’s got a gorgeous nose.😉

jadedriver0 said:Could you please write out a detailed breakdown of what Zambelli actually does? I’m thinking about seeing him soon myself, and I've already put down a deposit...😠 🙄 😲 😢It just makes me furious. It ends up looking like every single doctor in this country is just some hack.😠Dammit, it's like we're nothing more than lab rats here.😠

Honestly, I don't get it at all... I mean, what's the issue if someone uses open surgical techniques? Someone watches a video of an operation and then starts claiming they're "mutilating" people... I guess watching a surgery isn't quite the same thing as looking at a cartoon.🙄
What do you guys think any other surgery actually looks like? When they're working on your heart or your brain and all that...🤷

jadedriver0, I really don't think that you or your friend have any reason to worry. At the end of the day, what matters is that the doctor knows his business and why she chose him in the first place—not how the procedure looks visually or specifically how he maneuvers.

Also, I highly doubt anyone in that field is just looking for ways to get rid of patients to grab a quick paycheck. Obviously, if someone messes up once, it won't ruin them, but to act like that constantly? People talk. And I don't think it's in any surgeon's interest to have that reputation. A good reputation travels fast, but a bad one travels even faster.😉

stormydrifter11 said:I am 100% with you on this.
A coworker of mine just had nose surgery at a local hospital here in the States. She saw this ENT who’s basically a legend—guy has been doing this forever. It wasn't even anything serious, just a slight deviated septum, but she was feeling pretty down about her profile and how wide her nose looked. So, he went ahead and fixed everything up. He basically reshaped the whole thing, and honestly? It turned out perfect. No weird bumps, no extra scarring, nothing. The only annoying part was waiting a few months to get the procedure, but since her insurance covered everything, it was totally worth it. Now she has an amazing nose. 😉

I didn't even have to wait that long myself... maybe a month and a half. I actually could've gone sooner, but I had some personal stuff going on that kept me from booking it right away.

On March 14th, I'm scheduled for septoplasty at Mount Sinai. For those of you who have gone through this procedure, how old can my lab results be (EKG, blood work, urinalysis, etc.) before they're considered expired? I want to get everything done now so I don't run into issues getting admitted. Thanks.

Does having an allergy to penicillin, or any other medications, actually have any bearing when it comes to anesthesia?

Donna Watson80 said:Do penicillin allergies or reactions to other meds have anything to do with anesthesia? Like, does it matter when they put me under?

Hey there. You absolutely have to mention those allergies to the anesthesiologist when you're talking. They’ll know exactly how to handle it. Ugh, I'm still stuck in this cycle too... just a few more test results to get back from and then I'm finally done.🙂

nimbleharbor14 said:I've got my septoplasty scheduled for March 14th at the local hospital, so I was wondering (for anyone who's actually gone through this) how old my test results can be? Like, the EKG, blood work, urine, APTT... I want to get everything done now so they don't turn me away when I show up. Thanks!

Honestly, just get everything done a few days before the surgery. In my case, I had my blood drawn on Monday, and the surgery was that Friday. The results were ready by Wednesday, and I even gave my doctor a call to run them by him. They didn't even make me do an EKG because the doc told me he’d just handle that right there at the clinic before they wheeled me in.