Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

wanderingmason86 said:It’s totally normal for everything to feel jumpy like that. On the first day, you might be spotting constantly, but after that, the itching starts, along with that constant feeling of soreness and irritation—that general "crankiness" down there. 🙂
What they actually gave you, God only knows... Maybe some kind of muscle relaxant.
Were you feeling more relaxed or just high compared to how you felt before they started digging around in your arm?
You should have been dead set on getting it right in the ass, or else you might as well have just headed home! 😁
So, looking back at the whole thing—did it feel to you like you were under the knife for an eternity?
It would have been the decent thing to do if he’d at least stopped by to visit you after the surgery...

General anesthesia isn't exactly a walk in the park either. I mean, personally, I handled it fine, but everyone reacts differently. Some people end up dealing with a nasty sore throat from the intubation, or they can't stop throwing up afterward. It’s just one of those things.

I wasn't more relaxed or high than usual. I wasn't even asking her to give me an injection in the butt again; she told me she had to go through the hip because that's where those specific nerves are that need to be numbed out. 😕

When they were working on my arm, I felt totally fine. Honestly, I don't know how long it actually lasted—it felt like an absolute eternity to me, maybe around 45 minutes or so. At least, that's how it felt.

Yeah, it would’ve been decent if they actually took a moment to check in on me and see how everything went. Instead, I just had to sit there while the nurse stood around chatting with the Sisters of Mercy, all while she was swabbing me. I was basically catatonic from fear—just frozen, unable to really process what was happening or even hear what they were saying. And honestly, it would have been nice if they’d given me a private room to have some actual peace, rather than shoving me into a semi-private space. A nurse called me today to let me know I need to head back in this Monday to have the tampon removed. I can't wait. 🙏

Even if I’d spent three days bleeding out at General Hospital, I wouldn't be able to blame anyone but myself. I forced my way into this surgery. First, I tried reaching out to Kinčl, but he never even picked up the phone. I was getting impatient, so I just called Tončić instead, and we set up the consultation right then and there.

I’m actually really curious to see how my nose turns out. I seriously can't wait!

Laura Booth6 said:I wasn't even relaxed or high or anything! And I wasn't even asking her to give me the shot in the butt again—she actually told me she had to do it in my hip because of some nerves there that needed to be numbed out.😕

When they were working on my arm, I was totally fine... though honestly, I have no idea how long it lasted. To me, it felt like an absolute eternity, maybe 45 minutes or so? Roughly.

Honestly, it would’ve been polite if she just came in to check on me and let me know everything went smoothly, instead of standing there chatting with the nurses while they were cleaning up and dealing with the tampons. Since I was basically "frozen," I couldn't even react normally or really process what they were saying. Plus, it would have been nice if they'd given me a private room so I could have some peace, rather than this semi-open setup. A nurse called me today to tell me when I need to come back on Monday to get the tampons removed... I seriously can't wait!🙏
Man, even if I had spent three days straight dealing with bleeding after general anesthesia, I still would have preferred this. But hey, I can't blame anyone since I practically forced my way into this surgery! I originally decided on Kinčl and tried calling him, but nobody picked up. Because I was being so impatient, I ended up calling Tončić, and he set up the consultation right away.

I am dying to see how my nose looks now. I seriously cannot wait!

Wow, quite the experience... The doctors definitely messed things up a bit there.
For me, the only thing about that sedative injection was how boring it was. I was just sitting there waiting for them to finally come grab me so we could get the surgery over with, just so I wouldn't die of boredom.🙂
There wasn't any sign of fear or discomfort at all.

I trust it'll all be worth it in the end. Just in case, you should feel free to post some "before and after" photos here for us to check out—don't worry about anyone trying to hit on you; it seems like this thread is strictly women, except for me, right? 😉.

God help me...
I honestly can't believe this... 😲😲
It’s absolutely horrific!!!

I need to know—has anyone actually dealt with the public hospital system over the last year or two? I mean, through Medicare, not some private clinic???
How does that even work—do you just sit there for 7 or 8 days?? And during surgery, are you under general anesthesia—where you literally see nothing and hear nothing, you're just out cold???? 😕

There’s no way everyone is just flocking to private specialists!! LoL 🤷

By the way, how long are we talking for waiting lists for surgery at a public hospital?? Is it a couple of months, or more, or less??

wanderingmason86 said:Man, what a mess... They definitely messed something up with the dosage.
For me, that sedative injection was just boring. I was basically sitting there waiting for them to finally come grab me so we could get the surgery over with, just to avoid dying of boredom. 🙂
I didn't feel a single trace of fear or discomfort.

I trust it’ll be worth it in the end. Just in case, you can post "before and after" photos here for us to judge without worrying about getting hit on—looks like this thread is strictly women, except for me, right? 😉).

Honestly, I wouldn't know if they botched the dose because this was my first surgery ever (and hopefully my last 😁), but I assume they did, because it felt absolutely terrifying...

Right now, I've only posted a shot of my nose incision. Once everything is fully healed, I'll put up actual before and after photos. Until then, you'll just have to settle for the bruising... It's not huge, everything looks the way it should, maybe it's under the bandage near the top, maybe it's all purple, but from what I can see, it's just in the corners of my eyes. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and brighten them up so you guys can see what it actually looks like... People always act surprised when they visit because they expect me to be unable to open my eyes.

Grace Williams19 said:Jesus God,..
I can't believe this.... 😲😲
That sounds horrific!!!

What I want to know is: has anyone been to a hospital through public insurance—like, not at a private clinic—in the last year or two???
How does that even work? You stay for 7 or 8 days?? During surgery, you're under general anesthesia, so you don't see or hear anything, you just sleep???? 😕

There's no way everyone goes to private clinics!! LoL 🤷

By the way, how long do you usually have to wait for surgery at a public hospital?? A month or two, or more or less??

I don't know about the hospitals, but yeah, if it's general anesthesia, you feel absolutely nothing. You're essentially "dead," which is why there's an anesthesiologist right there managing your breathing for you.. 🙂

Laura Booth6 said:Ah, I honestly can't tell if they messed something up—this was my first surgery ever, and fingers crossed it’ll be my last 😁—but I’m assuming they did, because it felt absolutely terrifying...

I only posted the nose incision shot earlier; once everything is fully healed, I'll put up actual before-and-after photos. Until then, you'll just have to settle for the bruising... which isn't even that bad. Everything feels pretty much the same, maybe there's some swelling under the tape at the top, maybe it's all purple, but from what I can see, it's mostly just in the corners of my eyes. I'll snap a photo tomorrow and brighten it up a bit so you guys can actually see what's going on... people always act surprised when they visit because they expect me to be unable to open my eyes...

I don't know about specific hospitals, but yeah, if it's general anesthesia, you feel absolutely nothing. You're basically "dead"—that's why the anesthesiologist stays right by your side, since they're the one responsible for making sure you keep breathing... 🙂

Girl, you look great. When I went through this, I was all bruised and swollen around my eyes and corners—it peaked on day two and three. Honestly, I was terrified my kid would go into shock just looking at me. How are you handling the tampons? That was hands down the worst thing in my life, even though I only had them for a day... I felt like I was choking, and my mouth was so dry constantly. As for the anesthesia, it sounds like they dropped the ball; I work in the medical field and you shouldn't have had that experience, but it'll all pass quickly. The main thing is that the nose is going to look beautiful

gentlemaker46 said:Girl, you look great. I remember being all bruised up around my eyes and under them—day two and three were the absolute worst. I was honestly terrified my kid would go into shock just looking at me. How are you handling the tampons? For me, that was hands down the worst part of the whole experience, even though I only had them for one day. I felt like I was suffocating, and my mouth was constantly bone-dry. As for the anesthesia... they totally botched it. I work in medicine, and that shouldn't have happened. But look, it’ll pass quickly. At least the baby clothes will be cute.

So, the bruising and purple discoloration started tonight. I think it's just getting started. Yesterday it was just swelling, so I can only imagine what I'll look like by Monday. 🤣 It’s like a rainbow under my eyes. 😁 I'll post pictures a little later, but right now my head feels like it's the size of a planet. Those tampons are absolutely killing me. I can't wait until they take them out; I honestly feel like ripping them out myself. My head pressure is insane—it feels like it's going to explode. I can barely catch a full breath; I can only manage half an inhale before needing more. And at night, 😲 my mouth gets so incredibly dry. I actually woke up today and licked my tongue just to check, because it was so parched and slimy. I feel dizzy, almost like I'm seeing double. Oh, and my nose (the cartilage) has been aching since yesterday. I just want this to be over. 🙏

That local anesthesia was such a joke. 👎 I should have just gone to the hospital in Chicago and called it a day instead of messing around and listening to him.

God, Laura Booth6, this is just awful... honestly, I think I would have lost my mind with that doctor. I’ve never heard anything like that in my life... though I suppose he doesn't need much more of a "recommendation" than what you just described.

But anyway, it's over now. Things will start looking up soon. Just don't go expecting any miracles the moment they take the mold off; it takes a long, long time for the swelling to actually subside, even if it doesn't look too dramatic. Just keep in mind that it'll take at least six months for the nose to even begin finding its shape, and at least nine months before you can breathe normally again.

Based on what Laura Booth6 is describing here, it seems quite clear that she was administered anesthesia without an anesthesiologist actually being present to supervise the process, which is just terrifying to contemplate. 😱It would be like suggesting an anesthesiologist should step in to perform surgery instead of the surgeon; it simply doesn't make sense, and I believe it creates an incredibly perilous situation. From my own personal experiences, as well as those shared by my cousin, both local blocks and general anesthesia can be remarkably comfortable and well-managed, provided they are overseen by a highly skilled anesthesiologist who is properly supported by an anesthesia technician. It has now become painfully obvious to me why surgeries performed by Tončić are so strikingly cheaper than those at other facilities. It appears they are cutting corners at the direct expense of patient safety.

@Olivia Gonzalez11, that’s exactly what he told me and my boyfriend right before I went under. He claimed some women find it incredibly pleasant and even mentioned one woman saying she’d never felt better. Well, some people definitely botched it. If you ask me, there was absolutely no anesthesiologist present, period. It was just me, the doctor, and two nurses in the room.

But here is what really stung:

I’ve been messaging another user on this forum about these surgeries and all the logistics. He’s actually scheduled for his procedure in ten months... also with Tončić.

I had my consultations with him before the surgery, and then again an hour before the actual procedure. As you guys know from my previous posts, I kept pushing him to use general anesthesia. I told him I’d pay extra—and I meant it—but he wouldn't budge. Both Dinko and Rajko kept insisting they don't do that anymore and that there was zero chance of getting general anesthesia. That’s why I didn't pay the full amount upfront to the nurse at the office; I was spooked. I even considered going to Kinčl instead, but I ultimately stuck with them. I paid a deposit via bank transfer and settled the rest on the day of the surgery. I wanted to be able to recount the whole experience to this other forum user so he could email Tončić, and this is what he got back:

"Dear Mr. *****,

We are more than happy to answer our patients' questions. We regret that you have not come in for a physical examination, as that would allow us to properly address all your concerns regarding the procedure and anesthesia. It isn't always simple, and sometimes it's impossible to resolve every detail over email or phone.

All decisions are made in agreement with the patient. During the final exam, following consultations and prior to surgery, the patient signs the agreed-upon consent form. All details regarding the operation, including anesthesia, are defined during the examination. Locally reinforced anesthesia is much better for the patient because breathing remains spontaneous and recovery is significantly faster. Furthermore, general anesthesia unnecessarily increases the cost of the procedure by $333. With experience from over 3,000 rhinoplasties, our advice regarding surgical details is invaluable.

Your surgery is booked personally with Dr. Rajko Tončić."

So, who's the crazy one now??!! 😠 What is wrong with him?? He looked me in the face and said there was no way he’d put me under, and he didn't mention a single damn thing about the price hike $333—there wasn't even a hint of it! I would have gladly paid much more than $333... I should have just gone to Kinčl!

Now I’m honestly terrified of what my nose is even going to look like! 😢

ADMIN EDIT: Let's try to refrain from this kind of open and unnecessary hostility that doesn't contribute to the discussion. 😉 Share your experiences, but please don't resort to crude labeling. Be respectful (for your own sake 😉).

Honestly, I can’t even believe what I’m reading here 😲😲
I wouldn't wish an operation like that on my worst enemy... absolutely terrifying!!!
I feel like the sheer shock—if anyone were actually going through that—would just knock them unconscious on the spot!!

I see we have some medical professionals in this thread 🙂 so let me ask one quick thing --- when someone is under general anesthesia --- are they breathing on their own? Or what exactly happens????
I know this is all routine stuff for hospital staff, but still... I'm curious..

+ also, how long do those bruises/hematomas/discoloration actually last??
Can you fix that with some kind of cream 🤷🤷 i.e., just slathering it on to speed things up, or do you just have to wait it out??

(I'm planning to go in around January or February -- but I'll be using my insurance, which I think should kick in soon, so that's why I'm asking -- because I really need to get back to work, you know?)

sent you a PM... everything's cool, don't sweat it...

Oh my god, wow!!!
I was at Tončić's place for my sixth month check-up and everything went absolutely smoothly!!!
They used local anesthesia—I didn't hear a thing, didn't see anything, let alone feel a single thing... they didn't even wake me up until it was all over and I was already moved to my room, getting compresses and whatnot... and get this, my surgery was actually pretty complicated—it lasted over an hour and I was bleeding like crazy because I'm anemic—my levels were all low on those blood work papers... whatever... but I don't remember any of that. I didn't want general anesthesia, and honestly, I didn't even bother asking about it...

I can't believe what I'm seeing, I feel so bad for them... 😢
Everything was perfect for me—doctors, nurses, everyone... 😉

He’s still the junior one—as far as I know, Dinko isn't doing nose jobs solo yet, just assisting... unless something changed recently.
He handles ears and stuff on his own, though..

Regarding what Laura Booth6 was saying, there’s one thing I just can’t wrap my head around...
If they were already struggling with "getting the needle in"—you know, actually administering the anesthesia or the sedative—where exactly did things go sideways? How did they just decide to plow ahead with the procedure?
I mean, sure, the patient is screaming and everything, but is that really the vibe? Like, "Whatever, let's just keep cutting"?
It’s not like she was in the middle of an emergency heart transplant where every single second was a matter of life or death.
I can't even imagine how traumatic that experience must have been. Honestly, I wouldn't wish that on anyone (though, granted, I've had my fair share of traumatic moments myself, but those were usually either due to pure bad luck or, well, my own damn fault).

Laura Booth6, I am seriously so sorry you had such a rough experience.
I actually had my surgery with Dr. Ostojić. During our consultation, I told him straight up that I was terrified—like, really scared—and he immediately told me he didn't want to put me through that stress since things can get messy if you have a panic attack on the table. He was actually the one who suggested general anesthesia. Honestly? It was seamless. I laid down on the table, got an injection in my arm, and was out in seconds. I woke up already in my room and everything went smooth. No nausea, no vomiting, nothing. Anyway, I truly hope the worst is behind you and that your results turn out exactly how you wanted them to.🙂

Hey everyone, I wanted to share my personal experiences from the hospital... I'm actually posting live updates over at www.operacija-nosa.com. Definitely take a look if you have a moment; I'm hoping my journey might be helpful to someone else going through this.

Just taking a quick look—thanks for sharing. Honestly, I’m still not even a little bit spooked... that "shading" you had going on was pretty interesting; that color actually looks good on me too 😉... yeah, seen it all before

Look, let's stop stressing over it. What happened, happened... it's over now. 🙂

Honestly, I think I'm partly to blame for rushing things too fast. 😬

Thanks everyone for the kind wishes!! 😘

I can't wait to finally get these nasal tampons out. My head feels pressurized, there's this constant ringing, and it just hurts. Every time I try to eat or drink anything, I feel like it all drains straight into my nose right at the front, and since the packing is still in there, it's miserable. 🙄 They were supposed to be out by now!

I was checking their website, and they mentioned removing the mold about 7 or 8 days after surgery... so that could be sometime this week. Not sure if I should be excited or nervous about it. 😂

And there's this weird stinging sensation inside, like when you have a bad cold and your nose gets super irritated from blowing it constantly. It feels like my nose is going to explode because it wants to swell up, but the mold won't let it. 😛

Here's a photo from today: (just ignore my eyebrows and everything else 🙂)


Basically, the swelling is worst in the corner of my eye where it's dark purple, and now it's spreading out. I don't know if it's going to get worse. My eyelid is the same way, and right under my eye, it looks yellow-green at the moment. 😁

It’s actually much worse than it looks in the photo. It's hard to get a good shot, and the swelling under my left eye is definitely more intense than the right.

ruggedbadger9—man, you are swollen pretty bad yourself! You've got some serious bruising and swelling. Which hospital are you at? How much longer are you staying there? How have you already seen your nose? And do you also get that feeling where food seems to go straight into your nose when you eat?

Grace Williams19 said:I honestly can't believe what I'm reading right now 😲😲

I see we've got some medical professionals hanging out here 🙂 so I've gotta ask one quick thing --- when someone is under general anesthesia --- they aren't breathing on their own, right? Or what's the deal????
I know this stuff is basically routine for you guys, but... yeah... just curious..

+ also, how long do those bruises/hematomas/discoloration last??
Can you fix that with some creams 🤷🤷 you know, like rubbing something on to make it fade faster, or should I just wait it out??

)

When you're under general anesthesia, the patient isn't breathing on their own—they're intubated (that means a tube goes through the mouth down into the trachea).
Complications are possible, though they're relatively rare—it's just that you never truly know who's going to be the unlucky one... we're talking sore mouth and throat, hoarseness, injuries to the oral cavity or teeth, being conscious during the anesthesia, nausea and vomiting, bruised blood vessels, aspiration (inhaling stomach contents), or even pneumonia.
I personally know people who were awake for the whole damn thing, feeling the pain even under general anesthesia. I even know someone who loses parts of their memory every single time they go under, and it's permanent...

So yeah, both sides of the coin come with risks...

One thing is for sure: before and after surgery, you definitely need to take Vitamin C. It's essential for building up your body's "glue"—collagen—which helps strengthen your muscles and blood vessels, helps wounds heal, and keeps allergic reactions in check.

For skin regeneration, I swear by Biofarm Aloe Vera gel, Nickel's oil for strengthening capillaries, and Dermapip propolis herbal oil (with calendula)—those are my tried and true methods.
A light, gentle lymphatic drainage massage (moving from the periphery toward the center) on the cheeks also helps...

Laura Booth6 said:ruggedbadger9—man, you look seriously swollen! You’ve got all that inflammation and that purplish tint going on... which hospital are you at right now? How much longer are they keeping you there? And how on earth could you have seen your nose already? Do you also get that weird sensation where you can actually taste food in your nose when you eat?

I'm currently staying at the Sisters of Mercy hospital. Looking at the chart posted by my bed, it looks like I'll be here until Tuesday.
As for seeing my nose, I caught a glimpse of it from underneath just now while I was swapping out the gauze pads under my nostrils.
Regarding the food issue, I haven't really dealt with that part yet.

However, that stinging sensation you mentioned? I definitely felt that last night. To be honest, I decided to skip my pain medication for a bit, and around 2:00 AM, I started feeling incredibly agitated and restless. So, if I can offer some advice, just take something for the pain (we're using Advil here) and it will make things so much easier to handle.

On another note, my roommate just had his nasal packing removed about two hours ago. He told me it felt like someone was literally pulling two aliens out of his brain! He had some nosebleeds for a little while afterward, but he seems fine now. He even said his sense of smell is already coming back.