Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I could use some advice from anyone here who has undergone rhinoplasty. 🙄
It’s been exactly eight days since my surgery at a major hospital in Chicago under Dr. Lajtman. (Has anyone else been treated by him? I heard he’s one of the best, so I’m curious.)
The procedure wasn't for medical reasons, just aesthetics. I had a bump on the bridge and wanted to lift the tip slightly. My nose also seemed too long, so I was aiming for a shorter, narrower, more refined look. Basically, I was going for something like Liv Tyler’s nose—that kind of perfection most people aim for. 🙂
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=699
Because they had to shave down the bump, the whole structure changed, so they essentially had to reconstruct the entire nose.
The bruising wasn't too bad initially, but by the second night, the swelling kicked in, and I had to take some pain medication. I wore nasal tampons for six days and finally went in yesterday, on day seven, to have the cast removed.
I expected a cute, dainty nose, but I'm honestly shocked. Right now, my nose looks incredibly thick and wide. There's a mass right in the middle, and the tip is swollen and puffy. However, my profile looks perfect. You can tell from the side that it's still swollen and oversized due to the surgery, but the profile itself is fine. It actually looks a bit like Liv Tyler or maybe even Angelina Jolie. But looking head-on is a total disappointment. 👎I look like a cartoon character; you can see my nostrils, and the tip is quite lifted because that's what the doctor did. But the width is just terrible. My eyes look squinted and small, and my cheeks seem huge. I hate looking at myself in the mirror.
I guess I’m feeling a bit depressed about it. I really don't want to end up looking like a pig. 😢
How long will I stay this swollen? When will the inflammation go down and when will the tip finally look small like it’s supposed to? Does this level of swelling usually happen when bone is broken during the process? 😕😕😕

If anyone has gone through something similar, please let me know your experiences. Thanks. 😢

redranger82 said:Hey there... what's up?

Does anyone actually know if you can go under the knife while rocking braces? Like, is it even possible to have surgery with all that metal in your mouth... or is that just asking for trouble? 😁

I’ve been scrolling through all these threads online—you know how it is—and honestly, everyone's got an opinion. Some people are out here saying there’s absolutely no point in taking it off, while others are swearing that if the doctor specifically asked you to, then you probably should... I mean, at the end of the day, it really just boils down to whatever your doctor says, right? It's all kind of up in the air...

So, I've got an appointment this Thursday with my ENT... you know, the whole ear, nose, and throat deal—and honestly, I’m lowkey stressing about what to actually say once I'm sitting there. Like, what should I even be asking? What's the best way to lay it all out for the doctor so they don't just give me some generic advice and send me on my way...? 😁

So, I'm looking into getting a deviated septum fixed—plus maybe a little bit of cosmetic touch-ups if I can swing it through insurance... so yeah, if anyone's actually been through this or has some actual wisdom to drop, please, don't hold back... 🙂

Thanks! 😉

Hey Princess and the whole crew—don't be shy, let's hear it... spill everything! 😁

Someone please help me... seriously, I need an answer ASAP. 🙂

Kate Bishop47 said:I’m hoping for the best too—I actually ended up in the ER last night, and they confirmed that my meniscus has dislocated... basically twisted itself forward. They told me I need to head back home to see my specialist to figure out the next steps. Apparently, there's a chance I can fix this with some custom medical taping/bracing, assuming everything actually holds together in the end...

Good luck!👍

wiredmaker24 said:All things considered, I actually dig her look. She’s got that vibe—sort of like a mix between Liv Tyler and Angelina Jolie...

Those two have completely different noses... 🤷

Eight days isn't nearly enough—give yourself at least a month before you pass any kind of final judgment...

wiredmaker24 said:I suppose I should be asking for some assistance and perhaps a bit of advice from anyone here who has undergone rhinoplasty. 🙄
It has been exactly eight days since my surgery at Mercury Hospital under the care of Dr. Lehman (I wonder if anyone else has seen him? I had heard he was one of the most highly regarded, so I was quite interested.)
It wasn't for medical reasons, really, but purely for aesthetics. I had a dorsal hump and a tip that needed a slight lift. My nose also seemed a bit long, so I was hoping for something shorter, narrower, and more refined. I was aiming for something akin to Liv Tyler’s nose—you know, that sort of perfect profile we all seem to desire. 🙂
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=699
In any case, because they had to shave down the hump, the entire structure of my nose had to be reworked. They essentially had to build a completely new one.
The swelling wasn't too overwhelming initially, though by the second evening, things began to swell quite a bit, and I was prescribed some pain medication. I had to wear nasal tampons for six days, and just yesterday—on the seventh day—I went in to have the cast removed.
I was expecting a lovely little nose, but I must say, I was rather taken aback. My nose looks incredibly thick and wide right now. There is a noticeable bump right in the center. The tip itself feels swollen and puffy. However, the profile is actually quite perfect. You can tell from the side that the nose is still heavily swollen due to the procedure, but the profile is there. It actually resembles Liv Tyler or maybe Angelin Jolie. But looking at myself head-on is a complete disappointment. 👎I feel like a caricature of myself because my nostrils are so visible, and while the tip is lifted as the doctor intended, the rest of it is just terribly wide and large. My eyes look squeezed and small, and my cheeks seem massive. I honestly dread looking at my face in the mirror.
I find myself feeling somewhat depressed because of it. I really don't want to end up looking like a cartoon character. 😢
I wonder, how long will I remain this swollen and puffy? When might the swelling subside, and when will the tip finally settle into that smaller shape it's supposed to have? I am also curious if this level of puffiness is directly related to the bone being broken during the procedure. 😕😕😕

So, if anyone happens to have any similar experiences, I would be most grateful if you could share them. Thank you.😢

I suspect it varies quite a bit from person to person. In my own experience, the bruising had cleared up after about 14 days, though even now, at three and a half weeks, my nose and the surrounding area are still somewhat swollen—though certainly not nearly as much as immediately following the operation. It seems to be improving slightly every day. I don't spend too much time staring in the mirror, personally; I think the shape is already excellent, and more importantly, I can finally breathe properly.
I have been applying Traumeel, which is a herbal-based cream, while massaging my nose about three or four times a day. For the next week or two, I plan to start using nasal tapes at night, and then I suppose that should be the end of it.

It might take another two weeks to really settle, but I suspect that after about eight weeks, one would see roughly 70% of the results. The remaining details are just fine-tuning, which might take up to a year for some people, I guess.

Starting next week, I’m going to focus on exercise, which I think is the most vital part. My nose has finally settled down and there hasn't been any further swelling, so a bit of physical activity to boost blood circulation can only help with the regeneration process, I imagine.

wiredmaker24 said:I could really use some help or advice from anyone here who has gone through rhinoplasty.
It’s been exactly eight days since I had nose surgery at Mercury Hospital with Dr. Lehman (has anyone actually been seen by him? I heard he’s one of the most highly recommended surgeons out there, so I was curious.)
It wasn't for health reasons, just purely aesthetic. I had a bump on my nose and the tip needed a bit of a lift. My nose also seemed naturally long, so I wanted something shorter, narrower, and just overall prettier. I was aiming for something more like Liv Tyler's nose. You know, that perfect look we all kind of dream about. 🙂
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=699
Basically, because they had to shave down the hump, the whole structure of my nose changed, so they had to rebuild the entire thing from scratch.
The bruising wasn't too bad initially, but by the second night, the swelling kicked in and I had to take some pain meds. I had to wear nasal tampons for six days, and just yesterday—on the seventh day—I finally went in to have the cast removed.
I was expecting this cute little nose, but honestly, I was shocked. My nose looks incredibly thick and wide right now. There's even a fatty patch right in the middle. The tip is just swollen and puffy. However, my profile is actually perfect. You can tell from the side that the nose is still swollen and large due to the surgery, but the profile itself is okay. It actually looks quite a bit like Liv Tyler or Angelin Jolie. But looking head-on is a total disappointment. 👎 I look like a little doll because you can see my nostrils, and the tip is a bit too lifted because that's what the doctor did. But the nose is just terribly wide and huge. My eyes look squinted and small, my cheeks look massive... I absolutely hate looking at myself straight on in the mirror.
I'm feeling pretty depressed about it, if I'm being honest. I really don't want to end up looking like a pig. 😢
How long am I going to be this swollen and puffy? When will the swelling finally go down, and when will the tip actually look small like it's supposed to? Does this level of swelling have anything to do with the bone being broken during the procedure? 😕 😕 😕

So, I'm asking you all, if anyone has any experience with this, please let me know. Thank you.😢

Please, don't even let it get to you. 🙂
My experience was exactly the same... I literally wanted to scream when I saw myself for the first time. It was just like how you described it. But after only about ten days, my nose looked way, way narrower, and that lifted tip you mentioned will eventually settle down. At first, it always sits a bit higher, but then the tip drops to where it's meant to be. For me, it's been three weeks and one day, and my nose looks absolutely brilliant. I was just looking at it today thinking how wonderful it turned out.😍
And my first impression is identical to yours: it’s way too wide, looks bloated, and just feels overly elevated

Just try to hold yourself back from staring at it for a few days, or if you absolutely have to, just keep telling yourself that it'll pass quickly 😉

Maria Bishop3 said:It all just depends on the individual—for instance, I didn't have any bruising left after about 14 days.

That’s because you’re a guy. 😉 Glusac explained to me that men typically have thicker skin, whereas mine is incredibly thin and translucent... Anyway, my bruises cleared up fast regardless. I don't know if any of you guys dealt with bruising on the sides of your mouth—you know, stretching toward the cheeks—like I did.😳

redranger82 said:Someone please help out here. Like, seriously, urgent 🙂

Seriously, just ask them everything! There’s no such thing as a stupid question when you're talking about your own health and how you're gonna look. Make sure you mention upfront that you want the cosmetic side of things too. Ask for a full breakdown of how the surgery actually works and exactly what their game plan is. I really hope you get some real answers. Honestly, during my first consultation at the hospital, all they told me was that I had a deviated septum and gave me a date for the surgery... which, yeah, was literally the extent of it. That hospital didn't give a damn about me one bit 😁

Carol Diaz31 said:Don't let it get to you at all. 🙂
I had the exact same experience. I honestly wanted to scream when I first saw myself in the mirror. It was just like you described. But after about 10 days, my nose felt way narrower, and that lifted look you're seeing will settle down. It usually looks a bit too high initially because the tip always drops slightly after surgery, so it should eventually reach the intended level. It’s been 3 weeks and 1 day for me, and my nose looks great—I was actually admiring it today. 😍
The first impression is identical to yours: too wide, swollen, and too lifted.

Just try to avoid looking in the mirror for a few days, or if you have to, just tell yourself it'll pass quickly. 😉

Thanks so much for this. I feel a lot better now. 🙂)) 😁

stormyharbor2 said:Good luck!👍

Their noses are completely different. 🤷

Eight days isn't enough. Maybe give it at least a month before you make a final call.

I know they're different. It was just an example. I meant that I actually like my current profile view. And I probably misidentified Angelin. The profile looks more like Liv Tyler. 🙂
I realize it's too soon. That's why I posted here—to see what people think, because I'm honestly a bit worried about how my face looks. 🙄
🙂

wiredmaker24 said:That profile looks just like Liv Tyler... 🙂

👍 Her profile is gorgeous, really—but looking at her from the front? I don't know... It just feels too thin for such a large face...

Just chill out for a second and try to focus on something else—just forget about the nose for a couple of weeks. Once you do that, you'll finally see a massive difference... 😉

stormyharbor2 said:How would you even begin to define "sport"? It’s such a massive, sweeping concept that I feel like we could debate it for hours over coffee. To me, it isn't just about organized leagues or professional athletes on ESPN; it’s something much more personal than that. I’ve spent a significant amount of my own life training—really pushing myself through workouts and physical discipline—so I look at it through that lens. For me, sport is that intersection where physical exertion meets a specific kind of mental grit. It’s the commitment to movement, whether you're running marathons through the streets of Chicago or just hitting the gym consistently to stay sharp. It's about setting a goal, testing your limits, and seeing if you can actually hold yourself to the standard you set. It's more than just a hobby; it's a way of engaging with your own potential. 🤷

I’m actually in the same boat; I’m finally heading back to my Pilates classes after being away for a little over a month. I’ve been making sure to stay mindful of my movements and being extra careful not to trip or bump into anything, though honestly, that kind of cautiousness is pretty much how I carry myself every single day anyway. 😁

Here we go again with those ridiculous fairy tales. 🙄

Sophia Hill22 said:Same here. I’m heading back to Pilates in just over a month. Of course, I’m making sure not to bump into anything, though I usually watch out for that anyway...😁

More nonsense stories... 🙄

That’s standard advice from every surgeon after a rhinoplasty (avoid heavy exertion, moderate exercise, don't injure the nose, they even tell you to hold off on sunglasses for a bit). Maybe try actually asking a professional before you start constantly quoting one person and rolling your eyes.👎It’s getting pathetic and sad at this point. It’s frustrating when people lack both an actual opinion and common sense...👎

Blank Vlasic mentioned she was back at training after just two days. Apparently, her nose surgery is totally painless now, though I’m still a bit lost on why she went to see an ENT specialist specifically for breathing issues... isn't that what an ENT is for?

Kate Taylor59 said:Blanka Vlasic claimed she started training again after just two days, saying the nose surgery was completely painless. I don't quite get why she went to an actress for breathing issues... isn't that supposed to be an ENT's job?

Well, look at that. I saw him too, and he told me everything I wrote, and the same to my friend... I know one case where a girl took a hit to the nose and had obstructions and facial changes, so they had to reconstruct it. She said it was a painful experience.😢So, all this advice is likely subjective. Some people handle surgery better, feel no pain, heal quickly, and so on... maybe that’s why the surgeon doesn't forbid sports immediately. It's foolish to call these "baseless stories"👎, especially when so many surgeons mention this on their own websites. But when someone acts like a total idiot and has nothing smarter to say than just talking trash, what can you even say about a person like that?👎

Hey there!🙂So, I’ve got an appointment scheduled at the Mayo Clinic in about a week to check out my deviated septum. I was thinking—maybe—of just asking the doctor if they could touch up my nose a little bit while they're at it...
Here’s the deal: I don't really have a hump or anything—it's super tiny and honestly not even that noticeable. It’s more that my nose looks a bit more prominent when I see my profile, you know? Like, the bridge bone is just a little stronger than I'd like.
Does anyone know if doctors usually only do aesthetic fixes for people with actual humps, or do they handle noses like mine too? I think that makes sense, but I'm not sure how to explain it. If anyone knows, please let me know!😕

Olivia Edwards23 said:hey🙂 I have an appointment at Mayo Clinic in a week to check out my deviated septum. I was thinking about asking the doctor if they could just touch up my nose while they're at it...
The thing is, I don't really have a hump. It’s tiny, barely noticeable. But my profile looks a bit heavy because the nasal bone is quite prominent...
Does anyone know if surgeons only do aesthetic work on noses with actual humps, or would they look at something like mine? If anyone has experience here...😕

Your best bet is to call them. Ask. If they handle those kinds of procedures, prepare your questions and be specific about what you want to change.😉

Joining the club—it’s been 7 days since my surgery...
I don't get how some people claim they didn't feel a thing—like, what, a little tickle? Total BS. For me, the pain was brutal and I'm still getting hit with it every now and then. I had both the septoplasty and the cosmetic stuff done. Still got some bruising around my eyes, but nothing crazy—they're already fading from purple to yellow 😁
The actual procedure went fine, though the anesthesia absolutely wrecked me—I was puking and crying my eyes out afterward, plus there was a lot of bleeding. Honestly, though, my profile looks amazing; it's smaller and that hump is totally gone. It just looks a bit swollen from the front. My doctor told me to stay put, so I'm basically a hermit right now—just moving from the bed to the couch and back again. I'm using Maxitrol nasal drops and dabbing some on the bruises, and they're shrinking every day.
As for breathing issues? Please. Even now, I'm breathing through my nose like I've got massive lungs. 👍

Is it actually true that they give you an enema at the hospital before surgery? :/

slyjackal14 said:Is it actually true that they give you an enema at the hospital before surgery? :/

Wait, what?

jadedriver0 said:he even advises against wearing sunglasses for a while

That’s honestly my biggest struggle right now. I love them as a fashion statement, but the real issue is that my eyes have become incredibly light-sensitive; I’ve basically been tearing up every time I step outside for the last two days. My doctor told me to hold off on wearing shades for about six weeks, but I think I’ll play it safe and wait at least two months, just in case. 😁

On another note, my mom is so obsessed with my nose that she actually went to see Bastajić for a consultation today since Tončić is away on vacation. I have to admit though, his rates are 😲 😲