Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

So here I am,
It’s been 15 days since my surgery...
Breathing through my nose is great, but honestly, I'm struggling with some of the aesthetic stuff. If anyone here can weigh in, please—I could really use some reassurance.
The thing is, I didn't even need much work done—just a tiny little bump. My doctor explained that he just shaved down the cartilage, so there wasn't any actual bone breaking involved. Right after the procedure, I was incredibly swollen and covered in bruises. Those have mostly cleared up now, though my under-eye area still looks like two empty potato sacks.
Now, 15 days in, my nose is still insanely swollen, especially right at the bridge where that bump used to be. From the front, it looks about 50% wider than it did before, and from the profile view, that section looks flat but somehow weirdly high.
Is this actually normal? Since they had to basically "attack" that specific spot to get the job done, is the cartilage area just swollen and will eventually go down, or is this just how it looks now...
For those of you who've had rhinoplasty—how long did it take for you? And specifically, does that cartilage part seen in the profile ever actually settle down?????
🤷

Ashley Young34 said:That's great😉
I'm honestly quite glad to hear that, though now I find myself wondering about the specific tests that need to be run—are you planning on having him handle all of that, or will you be heading somewhere else altogether...😁
Please, do keep me posted on how everything unfolds, because I think I'll definitely be looking into seeing him myself; I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you this coming Monday.😉

I went in for my testing today, which involved having several vials of blood drawn, followed by some imaging for my lungs and heart, and I’ve managed to get an appointment scheduled for this Friday to go over all the results at the clinic. It’s funny, I actually expected to receive a much longer list of referrals, so it felt a bit sparse.
The doctor mentioned that it's possible to have everything handled through his network within about a hundred yards of the office, but the cost would be roughly $467. Alternatively, I can just use the standard referrals provided by my primary care physician. Honestly, going through the insurance route seems much more affordable for me, and since I don't live in NYC anyway, this setup works out quite well, I suppose.🤷 👋

rowdyrider21 said:I went in for tests today—blood work (a few vials), then lung and heart scans. I’ve got an appointment at the hospital this Friday to go over all the results. I didn't get many referrals; I honestly expected way more 🤷. The doctor mentioned I could get it done through his clinic within a block of the office, but it'll run me about $467. Alternatively, I can just use the referrals from my primary care physician. It's cheaper that way, and since I don't live in NYC anyway, this works fine for me. 👋

Hey, why are you going under general anesthesia if you need all that done anyway? I'd just opt for local 😛
Can you choose those tests yourself, or does the doctor decide everything?😍

So, I've finally made up my mind—I'm going to go see Johnson, Ostojic, Glumicic, and visit the Gulic clinic...
I finally talked my old lady into it, so I'll be giving them a call tomorrow to get everything scheduled..

Ashley Young34 said:I mean, I can't help but wonder... why on earth would you opt for general anesthesia? It seems like such an ordeal when you consider everything involved. Personally, if it were up to me, I think I’d just go with local anesthesia instead.😛
I suppose one might wonder whether you can go about searching for those things on your own, or if it’s something a doctor has to formally determine for you. It feels like there's a bit of a gray area there, I guess, depending on how you look at it.😍

Yeah, I suggested we just stick to the general forum. I told him right away that the general board would be the way to go, though he did bring up the local one for a moment. In the end, he insisted that about 90% of patients prefer the general forum anyway, mostly because it’s more comfortable for us, and honestly, it makes his job a whole lot easier too, I suppose. $667 It might end up costing me a bit more in the long run, I suppose, but honestly, I have absolutely no desire to retain any memory of the surgery at all—not even a fragment. I’d much rather just bypass that entire experience so nothing from it lingers as a bad memory. 😛

When it comes to picking a doctor, I found things way easier when I actually had the option to compare—basically, I’d hit up two different docs for consultations first. If the second one didn't totally click with me or felt off, I’d either move on to someone else or just scrap the whole idea entirely. Not everyone works the same way; some people are super bold and don't overthink things once they make a call, but me? I spent months just agonizing over it.
Do yourself a favor and go get consultations from everyone you can and really do your homework—it's definitely not the same everywhere.

Rebecca Gomez37 said:So here’s my situation,
It’s been 15 days since my surgery...
I can breathe through my nose perfectly fine—no issues there—but I’m freaking out over some aesthetic stuff. If anyone here can weigh in, please, I just need some reassurance.
Basically, I didn't even have much to fix—just a tiny little bump. My doctor explained that he only had to shave down the cartilage part, so there wasn't any actual bone breaking involved. Right after the procedure, I was super swollen and covered in bruises, which have mostly faded, though my under-eyes still look like two empty snack bags.
Now, 15 days in, my nose is still insanely swollen, especially right at the bridge where that bump used to be. From the front, it looks like it's 50% wider than before, and from the side, that area looks flat but somehow weirdly high.
Is this normal? Since they basically "attacked" that specific spot during the surgery, is the swelling just concentrated in the cartilage area and will eventually go down, or am I stuck looking like this...
For those of you who've had rhinoplasty, how long did it take for you? Does that cartilage area on the profile eventually settle down?????
🤷

Don't sweat it. It's swollen now, but it *will* settle down—it's not permanent. It was major surgery, after all. Every day and every week it'll start receding, but honestly, don't expect it to look totally normal for a few months.

Alex Moore62 said:I had a deviated septum myself and went to Cedars-Sinai to see Dr. Jurlin. I can’t recommend him enough—you can be more than 100% certain he’ll get the job done right. Breathing is so much easier after the surgery.😉

There is zero reason to visit a private specialist who mostly cares about cosmetic tweaks rather than functional results. You can get everything handled at Cedars-Sinai without out-of-pocket costs if you have decent insurance; you won't even touch your savings, let alone pay for the hospital stay. The department is modern, featuring single and double rooms with private bathrooms and TVs. It’s full comfort.

Several of us here on the forum chose Dr. Jurlin, and we are all completely satisfied with the outcome.

Thanks for the advice. I prefer hearing from someone with actual experience rather than just hearsay.👍😉

mistyskipper7 said:Don't sweat it—it’s swollen right now, sure, but that'll subside. It isn't nothing, though; we're talking about surgery here. It’ll pull back day by day, week by week, but honestly? You won't see it fully back to normal for a few months.

Thanks a ton for the reply. Honestly, I'm just holding out hope that this nasal bridge looks a little better once the swelling finally goes down.😉))
Feels like this is going to be a pretty long process—honestly, a bit of a slog.😢

Just a little bit of advice here...
I spent a really long time weighing my options on who to go to for surgery—and obviously, I had my own specific demands and conditions. A few doctors actually met them, and honestly, the deciding factor for me was that one of my two top choices was right here in my hometown. It made a huge difference because my family could look after me and pamper me for about a week, even driving me to my follow-up appointments...
The other doctor was based in NYC, and since I see nobody else has mentioned him yet, I figured I’d say a few words. Just to be clear, he’s not a relative, a friend, or even an acquaintance—just a very polite and incredibly professional individual.
He really left a lasting impression on me, seriously...
His name is Dr. Dzepina, but not the one who works with Glumicica.
He's an ENT specialist as well as a plastic surgeon...
So, for all of you considering private surgery in NYC, I truly think he's worth a visit.
I know price is a major factor for everyone; he told me it would be 10 $0.00.
He has his own brand-new clinic over on Main Street...
And look, this isn't some kind of advertisement—especially since I noticed he doesn't advertise at all, nor does he chase after those American celebrities. He just does his job—and from what I saw, he does it exceptionally well.

rowdyrider21 said:Yeah, I'm going with general anesthesia. Told him straight up I wanted general. He mentioned local was an option, but said 90% of patients opt for general because it's easier on us and way less work for him too. $667 costs more, but I don't want to remember a single thing about this surgery. I don't want any bad memories hanging around. 😛

😁
I'd probably go local. I think I can handle it, haha.🤣
Keep me posted on everything, thanks.😉

driftingsurfer96 said:Hmm, that’s strange. How could they even suggest surgery if there wasn't a deviation? What was the basis for that? And if you don't mind me asking, where did you go for this...
I am extremely satisfied with my septum correction; honestly, I haven't had any issues since.

The procedure was handled quickly by Dr. Bumber. There was a deviation, sure, but that wasn't actually what was causing my breathing issues—that was just allergies. Eventually, I saw a specialist in NYC, and once he brought up a turbinate reduction, I decided to skip the bureaucracy, went to a private clinic, and fixed everything without needing any radical surgery.

Just so you know. The issue was massive. I hadn't slept in months. Constant sneezing, endless runny nose, and my nasal passages were so raw they were actually bleeding... it was honestly terrifying. At one point, I was even getting direct injections right up my nose—which is just revolting and painful. My mucous membranes were so swollen I was genuinely starting to contemplate jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Anyway, I'm fine now.

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Here’s my situation,
It’s been 15 days since my surgery...
I can breathe through my nose perfectly fine, but honestly, I’m struggling with a few aesthetic things—if anyone here can weigh in, please, I just need some reassurance.
So, I didn't actually have much to fix, just a tiny little bump. My doctor explained that he only smoothed out the cartilage part—there was no bone breaking involved. Right after the procedure, I was incredibly swollen, covered in bruises, and now those bruises have mostly faded, even though my under-eyes still look like dark bags.
And now, at the 15-day mark, my nose looks terribly swollen, especially right at the bridge where that bump used to be. From the front, it looks about 50% wider than before, and from the profile, that area is flat now but feels strangely high.
Is this normal? Since there was essentially "forceful aggression" applied to that area during the surgery, is the cartilage just swollen and will it subside, or is this just how it is...
Can those of you who've had rhinoplasty tell me how long this lasts? Specifically, will that cartilage area visible in my profile ever settle down?????
🤷

Don't let it get to you... it is way too early to tell. I went through the exact same thing—literally the same procedure. It’s been 8 months since my surgery, and I honestly don't think that swelling around the bone has completely gone down yet. For me, the biggest changes didn't even show up until month 6 or 7, and my surgeon told me it would keep shifting for a while.
In my opinion, patients who have their nasal bones broken actually see more dramatic final results than those where they just smooth out the cartilage. 🥳 🤷
You just need patience!☕

Adam Johnson said:Don't sweat it too much... it's still way too early for you. Honestly, I went through the exact same procedure... I had my surgery 8 months ago and I don't think that swelling around the bone has fully gone down yet. My nose actually changed the most around the 6th or 7th month, and the doctor told me it’s still going to keep shifting.
In my opinion, the patients who end up happier at the end aren't the ones whose nasal bones get broken, but rather the ones where they just file them down. 🥳 🤷
You just need some patience!☕

I've been trying to send you a DM, but the system keeps kicking me out—it's driving me crazy. I wanted to send you a few photos so maybe you could give me some perspective or even share one of yours to make me feel better.
Even the part they filed down slightly from underneath looks bruised to me—maybe my skin is just too thin?
My nose doesn't have that nice slope from the bridge; it just goes straight down. It looks swollen to me, but now I'm starting to wonder if it's actual swelling or if they just didn't sand it enough to create a better slope instead of just getting rid of the bump.
If you don't mind, send me your email. 🙂
I'm honestly just feeling pretty confused and kind of down about it all. 😕

Dana Cruz44 said:also, the situation was massive. I hadn't slept in months. Constant sneezing, endless drooling, and my nose was so raw it kept bleeding... it was honestly terrifying. I even had to take direct injections right up my nose (gross and painful as hell!!!). My nasal lining was so swollen I was actually contemplating jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge:-)
basically, I'm fine now:-)

That sounds brutal... Well, thank Bog you got it sorted out. I've never heard of a case being that intense. Seriously heavy.

mistyskipper7 said:Don't worry too much. It's swollen now, but it will eventually subside. It isn't just anything; after all, it was surgery. I suppose it should recede day by day and week by week, though it might take a few months to fully return to normal.

My root feels swollen as well... it seems somewhat wide, and I can feel some sort of swelling inside :S I'm not quite sure what it is or how it happened, but under my finger, it feels like a little knot (I don't have a better way to describe it🙂). 😕

It has been a month since my surgery, and it still feels swollen like this... I am really looking forward to my follow-up appointment so I can ask the doctor when this will finally pass. 🤷

slymarlin382 said:The root feels swollen to me too... kind of wide, and I can feel something swollen inside :S I don't even know what or how, but under my fingers it just feels like a knot (not that I have a better word🙂) 😕

It's been a month since the surgery, and it's still swollen like this... I can't wait for my follow-up to ask the doctor when this is actually going to go down. 🤷

That’s exactly what I’m dealing with. It isn't swollen anymore, but I can feel a specific little lump right under my finger. It's been three weeks since my surgery and I have a check-up coming up soon, so they'll tell me what the plan is then.

driftingsurfer96 said:That's exactly what I'm dealing with too... It’s not swollen anymore, but I can feel this little bump right under my fingertip. I’m three weeks out from surgery now and have a follow-up soon, so hopefully they'll tell me what the plan is for that.

It feels like we're all stuck with the exact same issues;(((
Honestly, I'm pretty unhappy because it doesn't look like things are going to improve much... Tomorrow marks three weeks for me, and I know it's early, but the profile just isn't looking "saddled" at all—it looks flat. And when you look at it from the front, there are these two tiny bumps in the cartilage area where they did the work, and I get this weird tingling sensation there—like it's not even my own nose.
My check-up is in three weeks and I am dreading the wait... I just really need to hear what the doctor has to say.
Just thirteen days after he took the bandages off, I already told him it didn't look right, but he just kept insisting that absolutely nothing can be judged before a month has passed... saying the sweet spot is really between three and six months.

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Looks like we're all dealing with the exact same issues;(((
I'm honestly pretty dissatisfied because it feels like things aren't getting much better... tomorrow marks my 3rd week and yeah, I know it's early, but it just doesn't feel right. My profile isn't even contoured yet, it's just flat. And when I look at it from the front, there are these two tiny bumps in the cartilaginous area—right where the bridge meets the tip—and I get this tingling sensation in that spot, almost like the nose isn't even mine.
My follow-up appointment is in 3 weeks and I can't wait... I really just want to hear what the doctor thinks.
Back when he took the tapes off after day 13, I told him it didn't look right, but he insisted you couldn't see anything definitive until a month had passed... saying the sweet spot is really between 3 to 6 months.

Yeah, my doctor told me the same thing—just give it a month for everything to "settle." When I went in for my first check-up, it had only been a week and a half since the surgery. The swelling is definitely down now; I can see that with the naked eye because my nasal bridge isn't as wide anymore. But that little bump? It's still right there. Sure, it looks smaller because the swelling subsided, but it hasn't gone away. And it looks bad. At least I know they'll fix it if it doesn't go down on its own. Though, honestly, I don't see how a bump like that just magically disappears...