Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

analogotter6 said:You can actually get a handle on acne if you just use Aknet solution—basically, clean your face first and then dab the Aknet on. A few months back, I had this total disaster with some local esthetician, and after the treatment, my skin looked like an absolute breeding ground for breakouts (huge whiteheads, I swear I could practically watch them grow)—gross, God forbid anyone goes through that. But honestly, it helped me out big time afterward. On my dermatologist's advice, I went to see Marina at Modern Aesthetics, and now my skin is smooth as a baby's—zero blemishes left.
PS: I think I read somewhere that you're from Miami, so I really hope Aknet and Marina work their magic for you.

Thanks so much for the advice... I'm feeling way better now.😉
Hopefully, everything starts getting back to normal soon!
POZZZZ

Just wanted to drop a little something here to boost the morale of anyone currently weighing their options about fixing those "breathing issues"... It’s been a month and ten days since my procedure, and I’ve actually been back out on the soccer field playing consistently for a week now. I even headed back to work just two days after they took the mold off. My nose still feels a tiny bit tender if you touch it, and honestly, I can't tell if it's actually swollen or if it's just always looked this way—I don't know if anyone else can even tell if there's swelling or if that's just my face. But all in all, things are looking solid... nothing too over-the-top (unlike Nicole Pišek ;), but the hump is gone and it's a bit shorter, which finally makes the whole ordeal feel worth it. As for the whole "confidence boost" thing? I haven't really felt a massive shift. To be fair, I don't think people were staring at me differently before or anything, but hey, maybe you'll realize it a bit later down the road...
Unfortunately

Hey, I’ve been lurking here for about a month now, just reading through everything. I’m actually on my third nose job here in the States—the most recent one was just last month. Now, right when things were supposed to be settling down, the cartilage at the base of my nose suddenly flared up. Honestly, I’m baffled. How is this even possible? I literally had surgery specifically to fix this exact issue two years ago. I think George Robinson58 dealt with something similar... the tip looks great, but there’s still this bump that isn't just going to vanish on its own. Apparently, they have to go back in, shave it down again, and use an implant—kind of like a little structural patch—to get everything level. I’m completely lost and, frankly, pretty stressed out because I have no idea what the end result is even going to look like anymore. George Robinson58, could you send me some photos so I can see what happened with your nose? I'll send mine over to you too.

mellowraven14 said:Look, I’ve been lurking here for a month now, following all these threads. I’m actually on my third nose job in the States—had the last one just a month ago. Now, when everything should be settling down, this damn cartilage at the bridge of my nose suddenly starts swelling up. I can't wrap my head around it; I literally had surgery for this exact same thing two years ago. I think George Robinson58 dealt with something similar... the tip looks great, but there's still this bump that isn't just going to vanish. They're saying they have to shave it down again and use some kind of implant—like a little shim or something—to get it level. Nothing makes sense anymore and honestly, I'm spiraling because I have no idea what the end result is even going to look like. George Robinson58, please, send me some photos so I can see what happened with yours. I'll send mine over to you.

Sent you a DM, go check it.🙂

I just read that Zambelli from Cleveland was the one who fixed Madonna's nose.
To me, her nose looks alright now? It used to be way too thin after that surgery she had with Glumičić, and there were those holes on the sides, though I can't tell if it's still slightly crooked or if it's just my imagination.??????
What are your thoughts on this?
Has anyone here actually worked with Zambelli before?

hiddengardener11 said:It’s been 4 weeks since my surgery. I’ve got this weird indentation on the left side, near the base. At my checkup today, the doctor told me the skin has stuck to the bone. Has anyone else dealt with this?
By the way, I still have a little swelling on my upper lip too... :-(
please, help!

Hey there. So, here I am, 6 months post-op. Honestly, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, so let me walk you through it.

1. The skin on my nose actually fused to the bone. I knew right away something felt off, but I was honestly too terrified to touch it. Then the doctor told me to massage it a few times a day to try and loosen the skin from the bone. After about 10 days, I just couldn't wait anymore, so I ended up back on the exam table for a quick little procedure. He used a needle to get under the skin and separate it. It wasn't exactly "fun"—that sensation of a needle scraping against bone is just gross—but the skin detached way faster. Since then, I’ve been massaging constantly because if I hadn't, it would’ve just stuck again. It feels a lot better now, though you can still see a tiny bit of that dent, just barely.

2. Whatever you do, do NOT blow your nose. Just don't. One time I blew my nose a bit too hard and noticed the skin on my nose actually puffed up. It meant air was leaking through a wound that hadn't fully closed yet. I got chills just thinking about it, but luckily it healed up fine and the little bubble on my nose is gone :-)

3. About two months in, I noticed this black speck on the tip of my nose. It was poking out slightly from under the skin. I thought maybe it was just a stray stitch, so I tried to grab it with tweezers, but it wouldn't budge even a millimeter. That went on for a month until the whole thing got inflamed and people started asking if a wasp had stung the tip of my nose. Needless to say, I was back at the doctor's office. Turns out, my body was rejecting the synthetic suture he used to join the cartilage at the tip—my body just refuses to accept anything artificial. I joked with him that I'm glad I didn't get any silicone put in, or it might end up migrating down my neck haha. The doctor had a bit of a struggle getting it out, but thankfully everything healed up perfectly with no lasting issues.

4. Now for the big one—I still can't breathe properly. I never used to snore in my life, and now look at me. My doctor says the airway is clear and tells me to just be patient, that it'll get better. It opens up sometimes, but mostly it feels congested, though I think it's improving slightly. Maybe I should start using nasal drops? I've been avoiding them. If anyone knows of some gentle ones that won't mess up my mucous membranes, please let me know.

Man, crazy stuff happens. But honestly? I still think it was worth it. I feel great, my nose looks sweet, and it totally fits my vibe... it's just *me* now.

Cheers everyone

This doesn't really have anything to do with what's going on with me right now, but watching this thread unfold, I noticed a lot of people constantly asking about the different types of anesthesia—so I figured I’d just copy-paste some info from a decent medical site.
Hopefully, this helps anyone currently staring down the barrel of an upcoming surgery.🙂

1. Local anesthesia involves injecting a local anesthetic directly into the tissue surrounding and within the surgical field. The only painful part is the initial needle prick and the medication application itself. After a short while, the sensation of pain vanishes, though you might still feel a faint sense of touch. Only then does the actual procedure begin in that numbed area. The numbness usually wears off in two to three hours, and if you're feeling discomfort after that, you can take whatever over-the-counter pain relievers you have on hand.
2. Local anesthesia with sedation combines the method described above with a sedative administered intravenously. To make this happen, an IV line is placed in a vein in your wrist or elbow before the local anesthetic is given. This allows for the delivery of the sedative, which makes you feel pleasantly drowsy or puts you into a light sleep where you can still chat with the surgeon or anesthesiologist. All your protective reflexes—things like coughing, sneezing, and swallowing—remain fully intact. Once the procedure wraps up, the medication is stopped, and you'll be wide awake within 30 minutes to an hour. Just a heads-up: don't drive, use heavy machinery, take any psychoactive meds (like sedatives, hypnotics, antipsychotics, or antidepressants), or drink alcohol for the rest of the day.
3. General anesthesia is a process using drugs designed to induce complete unconsciousness, painlessness, and muscle relaxation during the procedure. It involves setting up an IV infusion and administering medications that specifically target the central nervous system and muscles. During general anesthesia, your airway needs protection, which is handled by placing an endotracheal tube into the trachea. The process itself is painless, as it only begins once the hypnotic drugs have sent you into a deep sleep. Like the other methods, general anesthesia is safe because the anesthesiologist monitors your vital signs and organ functions (heart rate, blood pressure, EKG, temperature, oxygen saturation, and lung function) the entire time. You'll receive an oxygen-enriched air mixture, and the IV ensures you get enough electrolytes and glucose. Once the surgery is done, they stop the medication and you wake up. Afterward, you'll need to stay under medical supervision for about 3 to 4 hours while they continue to monitor your vitals. Once the drugs wear off, you can take pain medication if needed. Again, don't drive, operate electrical equipment, take psychoactive drugs (sedatives, hypnotics, antipsychotics, antidepressants), or consume alcohol for the remainder of the day.

Hey everyone. So, I’ve got a deviated septum that definitely needs surgery, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on it. Honestly, I've kind of grown attached to my little bump 😁. Looking at the posts here, it seems like everyone has their own story. I'm not actually nervous about the procedure itself—a close friend of mine had it done and she was totally fine—but I have a question. I heard that if you're dealing with actual medical issues, you might be able to get cosmetic corrections covered under insurance at the same time. Is there any truth to that? Has anyone here actually dealt with that before?

You’ve probably seen plenty of people talking about this over in the septoplasty thread😉
As far as I know, based on what a nurse at their ENT clinic told me, you can only get an appointment for a consultation on the waiting list as early as next November, and then the actual surgery wouldn't happen until April of the following year.
So, I guess I’m basically just joining you in asking the same questions😁: my referral expires at the end of this year, so I really need to pick a surgeon within the next few days, but it took me two whole months just to get on the list for this one (total panic alert).

Hey everyone, if anyone has recommendations for a hospital where I can get my nose straightened out—somewhere that isn't on that specific waiting list—please let me know🙂.

nimbletiger19 said:You can find plenty of info on the nose surgery and septum deviation thread.😉
For now, my only experience is that at Mayo Clinic, you can only book a consultation for next November, and then surgery wouldn't be until April—at least that's what the nurse at their ENT clinic told me.
So, I’m basically just echoing your question here😁: My referral expires at the end of the year, so I need to pick a surgeon in a few days, but getting an appointment at Mayo took two months already (total panic alert).

Anyone have recommendations for a hospital to fix a nose where it isn't Mayo? Please let me know.🙂

I signed up in January this year and finally got my consult in April. The doctor said I needed surgery right away, but the nurse told me they were fully booked for the year and to come back in June to get on the schedule for next year. So I showed up in August, got my date for September, and I was operated on two months ago. I'm happy with it; you're basically out the door the day after.🙂...And yeah, all of this happened at Mayo.😁

Hey there!
I had septoplasty done about two years ago at the Mayo Clinic under Dr. Shubarić—who, honestly, did a pretty lousy job😠—and I'm still struggling to breathe properly. Now I'm looking at having to go under the knife all over again. 😢

Has anyone here actually seen Dr. Rozita Gulic?
I'm looking at the Gulic clinic in Washington, D.C.

Donna Wells90 said:So, I signed up for an appointment back in January of this year, but I didn't actually get called in for my checkup until April. Then, once I was finally there, the doctor told me I needed surgery. I wanted to book it right away, but the nurse told me they were already fully booked for the rest of the year. She suggested I come back in June to get on the schedule for next year's program instead. So, I showed up in August, eventually got a date for September, and honestly, I was operated on about two months ago now and I'm really happy with how everything turned out. You basically just go home the very next day🙂...and yeah, all of this happened at Rebro😁

Wait, hold on—isn't there some kind of rule stating they have to see you within a month after you've put your name on the list?

If anyone happens to be wandering through here who has had nose surgery at a hospital, I would really appreciate a fresh recommendation on where to go and which surgeon to see... because Rebro isn't an option for me.
anybody, please...

Alright, here’s my little contribution to this thread.
I had my nose job 12 days ago, and honestly? I'm already loving the results.
They fixed a broken bone, narrowed the nasal passages, lifted my drooping tip, and smoothed out the bump.
The swelling is mostly gone now—just a bit of puffiness right between my eyes.
I spent a long time overthinking this decision. To be honest, what really spooked me were those shows on TV where they show people getting hit with hammers and all that crazy stuff 😲.
Even though I acted tough when some idiots on the street would laugh at me or point and sing songs about Pinocchio... it definitely got under my skin.
And don't even get me started on being compared to Barbra Streisand, only to hear: "Well, you're prettier than her, but you still remind me of her." 😕
I much preferred hearing: "You look like Eva Mendes." 😍
Anyway, everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads when I told them I was actually going through with it.
Then came the endless commentary: "You don't need it," "Your nose is fine," "It fits your face perfectly," or even "There are plenty of people with much worse noses..."
But look—when you truly want something—like fixing something that's been bothering you for years—surgery is a fantastic solution! Of course, you have to save up the cash first.
Just a heads up: those first three days after surgery are the absolute worst, and you'll find yourself complaining a thousand times over.
A close friend of mine had hers done two months ago, so I had someone to grill about every single detail.
I stumbled upon this forum thread over the summer and was shocked to see it wasn't just celebrities, models, or people whose entire career depends on their looks who get these procedures. Seeing regular people talking about it gave me such a boost, and I'm so glad I found this! 🙏

If anyone happens to wander in here who’s actually had nose surgery—I am dying for a fresh recommendation on where to go and which surgeon to trust... just keep in mind I can't do anything at Cedars-Sinai, so looking elsewhere.
anybody, please...

So, I ended up at KBD for my procedure, but unfortunately, I ended up with the wrong doctor—total disaster—but I did hear from the hospital staff that Dr. Ožegović is actually really good.

gentleskipper14 said:Well, I suppose it’s my turn to weigh in on this discussion.
It’s been about twelve days since my rhinoplasty, and I think I can honestly say I’m already quite happy with the results.
The surgeon dealt with a broken bone, narrowed the nasal passages, lifted a drooping tip, and smoothed out a bump.
The swelling has mostly subsided now; there’s just a bit of lingering puffiness right between the eyes.
I spent a very long time contemplating this surgery. I guess I was most intimidated by those old medical shows on TV where they make it look like they’re hitting people with hammers and all sorts of dramatic nonsense 😲.
Even though I tried to stay composed—especially after some idiots on the street used to mock me or point at my nose while singing songs about Pinocchio—it still got under my skin, I suppose.
And don't even get me started on being compared to Barbra Streisand, only to have someone follow up with: "Well, you're prettier than her, but you still remind me of her." 😕
Personally, I much preferred it when they told me I looked somewhat like Eva Mendes. 😍
To be honest, everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads when I finally told them I was going through with it.
Then came all the unsolicited advice: "You don't need it," or "Your nose is perfectly fine," or "It fits your face so well," or even the classic "There are people with much worse noses than yours..."
But when you truly want something—when you want to fix something that has been bothering you for years—surgery really does seem like the right path. Of course, you do have to save up the cash first.
I should mention that those first three days after the procedure are probably the worst, and during that time, you'll find yourself complaining at least a thousand times over.
A friend of mine had hers done about two months ago, so I had someone to grill with every single question I could think of.
I stumbled upon this thread on the forum this past summer, and I honestly couldn't believe that nose jobs aren't just reserved for celebrities, models, or people whose entire livelihood depends on their looks. Finding out regular people go through this too gave me quite a boost of confidence, and I'm really glad I found it. 🙏

I feel like I almost recognize myself in your post. 🙂 It’s a nearly identical situation for me. I’m currently about a month post-op. And I also couldn't wrap my head around how many people deal with similar issues—just totally normal, everyday Americans... whereas I had always assumed I was somehow alone in this. 🙈
By the way, which surgeon did you go to?

rowdyrider21 said:I felt like I was reading my own life story in this thread. 🙂 It’s almost the exact same situation. I’m about a month out from my surgery right now. Honestly, it was such a shock to see how many people deal with these same issues—just totally normal, everyday people... and here I was thinking I was the only one going through it. 🙈
By the way, which surgeon did you go with?

I went with Zambelli—or "Zambi," as my best friend and I call him. The guy is a straight-up master at what he does 👍. My mom was absolutely terrified about the whole procedure, and she totally freaked out seeing how swollen I was afterward—but now she's telling me she's actually glad everything went smoothly because my nose looks adorable.
Who was your surgeon? Are you happy with the results?

I honestly think everyone who actually went to see Glusac is going to walk away feeling incredibly let down. The guy just doesn't have a clue about what he's doing, and he always has some convenient excuse ready for why things went sideways—as if it’s never his fault
.
He just talks and talks, rambling on endlessly just to try and inflate his own ego and "impress" people
.
Usually, the outliers are the ones who aren't satisfied, but with him, it's the exact opposite; somehow, the exceptions are actually the ones who are happy...

[🙏[/QUO

quiettiger21 said:I actually had surgery at KBD, but unfortunately ended up with the wrong doctor—total waste of time. That said, I did hear from the hospital staff that Dr. Ožegović is actually quite good.

Vinogradski, Djepina, and Bedekovic-cula are my top picks, hands down.
I personally went to see Djepina for a consultation, and honestly, he was wonderful... I have all these issues with my nasal function, so that’s what we focused on. He was so intuitive that he just casually mentioned, "While you're here, I could put together a great profile for you."
I couldn't believe it—I hadn't even asked him anything—but he professionally noticed a tiny bump that I hadn't even brought up.
In the end, I opted to have the actual surgery done in St because it was just way more convenient for me, but that doctor definitely left a lasting impression.

loneotter47 said:I honestly think anyone who’s actually been under Glusac’s knife is going to be seriously disappointed—this guy has zero clue what he's doing, and there's always some convenient excuse for why things went sideways. It's never his fault, obviously.

He just talks in circles constantly, puffing himself up with all this chatter just to hike his prices and try to "impress" people.

It should be the exceptions who aren't happy, right? But with him, it's the opposite—the exceptions are the ones who are actually satisfied...

Did he screw you over too?
I wrote about this ages ago—he really messed up one of my friends, but somehow he managed to talk her into believing it wasn't his fault. Reading this now, I can't even believe it... clearly, the pattern is repeating itself. It's pathetic.
He targets women from Miami because they're close by—it's just easier to stay local after surgery rather than traveling to Washington, D.C., Cleveland, or Opati.
In Miami, you have options at Salus or with Dr. Kurtovica, but since they don't run aggressive ad campaigns, it seems like Glusac's marketing is working—otherwise, people would realize he's not the only option near Miami.