Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been planning to get nose surgery for quite a while now, but I just can't pull the trigger on a surgeon—stuck deciding between Glumičić, Tončić, or Bastaić. Has anyone here actually gone to Bastaić? Or maybe you have some intel on him... since he doesn't have his own website, I can't really compare his work against Tončić or Glumičić.

quiettiger21 said:Hey there!
I had septoplasty about two years ago at the Mayo Clinic with Dr. Shubarić, but things didn't go quite right. 😠 I’m still struggling to breathe properly, so I have to go back under the knife. 😢

I was wondering if anyone here has seen Dr. Rozita Gulic?
The Gulic clinic in Washington, D.C.

Hi!
I actually went in for rhinoplasty (for aesthetics) with Dr. Rozita Gulic at her clinic this past July. It was great! It’s been about four months now, and I’m absolutely thrilled with how my nose looks. I spent forever overthinking whether to even do this or who to trust, but everything turned out so well that my only regret is not doing it sooner. My nose isn't broken or anything; it’s just shorter, slightly lifted, and the bump is gone. I was really worried about ending up with a tiny, bulbous, "fake-looking" nose—I definitely made sure to mention that to her. She listened to me and gave me such a beautiful, natural result. It looks very refined, and I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Everyone around me has been so positive; my family and boyfriend are huge fans. My friends notice I look better, though they don't necessarily point out the surgery—they just give me more compliments on my overall look. As for the doctor, it feels like I made the right call. She was totally dedicated and really thorough with everything.
Maybe try booking a consultation first to see what she thinks.

Here I am, facing the exact same dilemma... honestly, I think I’ve finally made up my mind. I'm going for it, fully aware of all the potential fallout. I know there's a real chance things won't turn out quite right, but I'm moving forward with the hope that I won't be one of those cautionary tales. I'm leaning towards booking with Zambelli, though before I even bother making an appointment, does anyone happen to know what his pricing looks like? And more importantly, how long is the waitlist currently looking? 🤷

Hey there!
I had my rhinoplasty this past summer—back in July—with Dr. Rozita Gulic at her clinic, and honestly? I am beyond thrilled!! It’s been about four months since the surgery now, and my nose looks absolutely amazing. I spent forever agonizing over whether I should even do this, let alone which surgeon to trust, but everything turned out so perfectly that my only regret is that I didn't just pull the trigger sooner. In my case, they didn't have to fix any breaks; they just shortened it, lifted the tip, and smoothed out the bump. I was terrified of ending up with one of those tiny, upturned, "plastic-looking" noses—I made sure to harp on that point quite a bit during our consultations. She actually listened to me and gave me such a beautiful, natural result. It looks incredibly refined, and for the first time, I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Everyone around me has been so supportive—my family and my boyfriend are totally obsessed with the change. My friends give me compliments all the time, though they don't necessarily realize what happened... they just notice I look better. As far as the doctor goes, I definitely picked the right one. She was so dedicated to me; I really felt like she went above and beyond. She’s incredibly meticulous.
Just go in for a consultation and see what she says.

Mark Rodriguez12👍
Thanks so much for sharing that! I actually went in for a consultation already, and Dr. Gulić completely blew me away—she’s so thorough and really took the time to walk me through everything regarding my specific situation. Unfortunately, it looks like they'll have to break my nasal bones, 😢 which has me feeling a little nervous about going under again, but I've definitely made up my mind to go through with it.
I'm actually planning to have my surgery in July too,
so I wanted to ask—did you deal with any issues or discomfort because of the summer heat?

Hey everyone!

I’ve been lurking here for over a month, reading through all your posts and obsessing over the oblica details in private, but here I am—two days post-op...
Now, full disclosure: I am a total wimp when it comes to pain. My threshold is basically non-existent.
I wasn't nervous about the surgery at all, though. In fact, I was actually cracking jokes with the nurses and the anesthesiologist while lying on the table... right up until they knocked me out (they were probably just relieved I finally shut up 😁).
When I woke up, I was actually shocked that nothing hurt and I didn't feel nauseous at all. Eleven years ago, when I had my tonsils out, I felt absolutely miserable and couldn't stop throwing up after the anesthesia. It was awful.

My nose is naturally quite small and narrow. A lot of people have asked me why on earth I’d bother getting surgery on it, but honestly, I couldn't breathe properly because of a deviated septum, plus my left nasal passage was constantly stuffed up. From a profile view, I also had this tiny bump and it leaned slightly to the right. To me, it was super noticeable, even if others didn't see it much.
The whole thing took two hours—an hour longer than they planned because I bled quite a bit (apparently I have sensitive capillaries). My cartilage was also fractured in two places, which is why it looked crooked visually.
Yesterday, I went in to get the packing removed. I preemptively took some Voltaren rapid + Diazepam just to relax (that's what they usually give you before anesthesia anyway). At one point, the pain hit me pretty hard—so I gave the doctor a little "ouch!" haha—but luckily it passed quickly.
On Thursday, I’m going back to have the splints removed and get cleaned out, so I’ll probably dose myself up again beforehand.😁
Right now, I’ve got a syringe filled with saline to use at home; shoving non-sterile cotton swabs up my nose sounds like a terrible idea to me...
At night, I fall into this deep sleep where I end up waking myself up because of these weird noises I make—it's like I'm playing a flute through my nose...😂
I wouldn't say it hurts, per se, but there's definitely this dull ache and pressure inside my nose...

Okay, now for the tea on the doctor...
Glusac is incredibly competent. He’s a bit blunt/rough around the edges, but I trusted him completely. Besides, he’s an ENT, and I wouldn't dream of letting a plastic surgeon poke around my breathing organs!

Here’s a funny little detail: while I was waiting for my turn, a nurse shoved some magazines into my hands. I started flipping through them and realized the women's fashion mags were totally outdated... I looked at the cover and it was a magazine from 1999! Hahaha.
Basically, they aren't paying enough attention to detail to realize they should be offering you coffee or a chat, or providing a selection of current issues of Vogue, Cosm, and everything else.
Personally, I don't really care about those things—you know, the stuff where they spend way too much time (and money) on the office decor and minor details that don't actually impact the surgery or their skill level.
It reminds me of this high-tech dental office I went to once, where the doctor talks to the nurses via a headset microphone, yet the entire focus is just on the tooth... and let me tell you, they charged me way more than anywhere else.
Anyway, that's all for now. I'm going to go grab something for dinner. It doesn't really matter what I eat since nothing has any taste right now, but oh well...

northernowl14 said:I’m dealing with the exact same thing... honestly, I think I’ve finally made up my mind. I know all the risks—like, yeah, there's a chance it might not turn out perfect—but I'm moving forward hoping I won't be one of those "bad results" cases. I'm thinking about booking with Zambelli, but before I head over there, does anyone know what his prices are like? And how long is the waitlist usually? 🤷

Both me and my best friend paid $2,400. You just give them a call to schedule a consultation— $83. Look, the doctor might not be your absolute best friend or anything, but frankly, I didn't care. All that mattered was that he knew exactly what he was doing. He answered every single question I had, too. He even showed me photos of noses similar to mine—though, naturally, mine looked like the worst one in the bunch! 🙄.
In my opinion, the key is not to go in with crazy expectations, but speaking from experience, it’s only been two weeks and I can already see how great it looks. I'm seriously stunned at what he did with my old nose.
Just a heads-up: those first two days are the roughest. I was actually pretty terrified when I saw blood just slowly dripping—I thought something was wrong.
But once you get that cast off and see the result... all those worries just vanish 😲.
And honestly? It doesn't even hurt that much. You just feel like you have a slight fever, maybe around 100 degrees. Just some general weakness. Nothing major. And don't freak out when you look in the mirror at first—I looked like I’d just gone twelve rounds in a boxing ring! But that passes too...
If you have any other questions, just ask! 😉

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Did he pull a fast one on you, or what?
I wrote about this quite some time ago—how he actually caused serious damage to one of my friends—but somehow he managed to justify himself by making us believe his version of events where he wasn't at fault. Reading this now, I find it hard to believe... it seems like the same story is being repeated more and more frequently. It’s truly shameful....
For women living in Miami, he seems to be the closest option, so they head there because it's much easier to be near home after surgery rather than traveling to Washington, D.C., Cleveland, or Opati...
In Miami, you also have the option of having surgery at Salus or with Dr. Kurtovica, but since they don't advertise heavily, it appears that Glusac relies on marketing, as it makes him seem like the only available choice near Miami....

I have decided to postpone my surgery by one month, and I have definitively chosen Glusac simply because of the proximity....🤷I was searching online for Kurtovica, but no one has even bothered to speak up on this forum about their experience with him. I am certain there are excellent plastic surgeons in Miami outside of the main hospitals, but do you happen to know any, or what people say about Kurtovica? Otherwise, regarding Salus, at least their gynecology department receives high praise....🙂🙂🙂
Best regards...

analogotter6 said:I ended up pushing my surgery back by a month—and honestly, the only reason I’m sticking with Glusac is because he’s close to home. That's pretty much it.🤷I was scrolling through some stuff online and came across Kurtović—but honestly, nobody on this forum has actually mentioned visiting them. Does anyone here have first-hand experience? I know there are some incredible plastic surgeons in Miami besides the ones at the main hospital, so if you have any recommendations, let me know. Also, what’s the word on Kurtović? Is the reputation actually legit? On a different note, the OB-GYN department over at Salus gets pretty glowing reviews from everyone I talk to.🙂🙂🙂
Hey there.

I ended up having surgery with Kurtovica.😉))
Shoot me a DM.
I’ve got nothing but respect for him and his crew—he’s running point on the surgery along with Dr. Racic, who’s basically the head of ENT over at the big hospital in Miami and a professor at the medical school.

quiettiger21 said:Mark Rodriguez12 👍
Thanks for the heads-up! I just had my consultation and Dr. Gulić was absolutely wonderful—super thorough and really took the time to walk me through everything. Unfortunately, they’ll have to break my nasal bones, 😢 so I’m a little nervous about a second procedure, but I've definitely made my decision.
I'm actually aiming for surgery in July, too.
Did you run into any issues or discomfort because of the heat?

Best regards,

I didn't have any major issues with the heat, which is lucky since I usually can't stand it. The doctor did warn me that the swelling might last a bit longer because of the high temperatures, and mentioned things would likely settle down much faster once winter hits. That said, my recovery was pretty quick regardless of the summer weather. I spent most of my time in air conditioning and followed the doctor's orders to a T—basically staying out of the sun entirely. As soon as I stepped outside, I’d pop on a wide-brimmed hat and slather on SPF 50. I even went to Miami in August and hit the beach, but always kept the hat and sunscreen on. Honestly, the whole recovery process was pretty smooth for me. They removed the cast a week after surgery, and that first week was when I dealt with the most swelling. About ten days in, I was basically back to my normal routine. I think my final results really started showing at the three-month mark, though my doctor says it takes closer to six months to see the full effect. Either way, I am obsessed with my nose now and hope it stays this way forever. 🙂
Don't let the fear get to you; you're going to be so happy with the results. The main thing is to be super clear with your doctor about what you want and what your expectations are. I talked her ear off so much that I think she was actually relieved when I finally finished! 😁

quiettiger21 said:I actually had surgery at the Mayo Clinic once, but unfortunately, I ended up with the wrong doctor. That said, I did hear from the hospital staff that Dr. Ožegović is really good.

Oh, thank you!
Good luck with your surgery.😉

And thanks to George Robinson58 for the info.🙂

gentleskipper14 said:Whether we call him Zambelli or just Zambi—which is what my best friend and I usually end up calling him—the doctor really is quite the master of his craft 👍. My mother was honestly terrified about the whole surgery, and she was pretty shaken seeing how swollen I looked right after, but now she tells me she’s actually relieved everything went smoothly, mostly because she thinks my nose looks adorable now.
So, which surgeon did you go with? Are you happy with the results?

It was Dr. Ostojić. I’m already feeling incredibly satisfied with how things turned out, though, mind you, there is still some swelling, and it’s a bit tender to the touch if I'm being honest. I suppose it should all settle down and normalize over the next month or so, and the swelling will eventually subside. But regardless, 👍

rowdyrider21 said:Dr. Ostojić. I’m actually really happy with how it looks already—it's just a little swollen right now and feels kind of weird to the touch, but I know everything should settle down and look even better in about a month. Either way, 👍

My vacation doesn't even wrap up until tomorrow, then it's straight back to work. Honestly, I have no clue how I'm going to try and apply powder when the skin feels so strange 🤷. Apparently, that numb feeling sticks around for a month. The worst part is when someone tries to make me laugh—the whole area around my nose just tightens up like I had a massive dose of Botox injected. But hey, we'll get through it and it'll be worth it! By the way, what are people saying? Friends, coworkers... anything? People are actually telling me I look younger! Then there are those who say absolutely nothing—just a few vague comments and that's it. But I seriously can't believe my mom told me she likes it. That was the biggest shock of all. She wasn't really on board with the idea of surgery, but she still backed me up.

Hey girls =) I'm honestly so glad to hear some of you are happy with your results... but I'm still really struggling with my nose width. From a profile view, it looks like an A+, but when I face the camera head-on, it looks like there are these weird bumps on the sides, and because it's so wide, it just really bothers me. My mom keeps telling me I'm being crazy and that my nose is actually great, blah blah blah (though I think she's just being nice xd), but I'm just not satisfied... everything else about my face is fine, it's just this one stupid nose! It was so cute when I was little, but now, man 😲
I'm only 17, and I'm seriously terrified of surgery because so many people have told me, "Trust me, you don't want to go through that yourself," as if it were some kind of divine suffering... 😕

Just one more thing: for example, when I'm under certain lighting, like when I'm hanging out Downtown, my nose looks amazing, but in other rooms or under different light, it looks completely different... Does that happen to any of you?

Kate Alvarez47 said:I’m only 17, and honestly? I am freaking terrified of going under the knife for this surgery. Everyone keeps hitting me with that same old line—"Trust me, you don't want to go through this yourself"—as if they're describing some kind of divine torment or a descent into the underworld. It’s like they think I’m heading into a martyrdom situation rather than just a medical procedure.😕

That’s just not how it works—I actually went through this myself just over two months ago, so believe me when I say I know exactly what I'm talking about. 😉
Look, I’ve scrolled through plenty of horror stories online—people sharing their absolute nightmares and trauma dumps—but honestly? My own experience wasn't even remotely traumatic. Not even close.
I haven't touched a single painkiller. Not even one.

Kate Alvarez47 said:Hey girls! =) I’m honestly so happy to hear you're satisfied (well, some of you anyway)... but man, this nose width is killing me. From the side, it looks like a solid 5/5, but when I face the camera straight on? It feels like there are these weird bumps on the sides—plus it’s just too wide, which really bothers me. My mom keeps telling me I’m being crazy and that my nose looks great, blah blah blah (I think she's just being nice xd), but I'm just not feeling it... everything else about me is fine, it's just this stupid nose! It was actually really cute when I was little, but now... goodness 😲
I'm only 17 and I am seriously terrified of surgery because everyone tells me: "Trust me, you don't want to go through this yourself," like it's some kind of divine suffering...😕

Look, a wide nose can actually be narrowed down beautifully. But hey, if it's something you truly want, then go for it—there's no problem there. Even though my experience was pretty much perfect, one of my friends had a nightmare scenario where things got complicated and she ended up needing two surgeries in a single day. We're both totally fine now 🙏.
When I was your age, I was constantly going back and forth on whether to do it or not. And when you hear horror stories or see stuff on TV, it’s enough to make anyone lose sleep. But it weighed on me for so long that after 10 years, I basically made my decision. Honestly, hearing people's experiences on this forum gave me the boost I needed. And yeah—before my surgery, my nose looked pretty rough under bright lights.

I'm thinking about getting cosmetic surgery just for my nose tip—specifically to shorten it and give it more definition. Has anyone here actually gone through this? (And I'm not talking to Mark Rodriguez12, though her experience is basically why I decided to book a consultation with Rozita Gulic. She just isn't responding to my DMs😢)

Hey everyone,
I was actually thinking about getting nose surgery myself, but I'm honestly not even sure if I really need it, haha.
I feel kind of silly posting these photos here, but I’d love to get your honest take on things.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/5262/dsc00979uz.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6245/dsc00983mc.jpg
So, those are the two shots—I'd be super grateful if you could just give me a simple yes or no.😁

Joshua Scott62 As specified by Kenneth Kim67:
Greetings to everyone here, my good friends!
I was actually contemplating undergoing nose surgery myself, though I must admit I’ve reached a point where I’m feeling quite uncertain about whether it’s truly necessary for me at all, haha!
I must admit, I feel somewhat foolish even attempting to upload these images here, as I am quite aware of how cluttered things can get, but I find myself genuinely curious to hear what you all think about them.

I simply cannot help but feel a certain sense of profound wonder when I gaze upon such an image, even if my own ability to capture the world through a lens is, shall we say, somewhat lacking compared to the talent displayed here. There is a certain quality to the light, isn't there? It strikes me that one could spend hours just contemplating the composition, though I suppose I am perhaps being a bit too pedantic about it all. I often find myself lost in these small visual details, much like how I might get caught up in a lengthy discussion about the nuances of a classic film, only to realize I've completely missed the time! Regardless, it truly is a lovely shot that captures a moment quite beautifully.
I find myself staring at this particular image quite intently today, and I must confess, I feel somewhat compelled to share my rather wandering thoughts regarding its composition with all of you. It is one of those visual captures that seems to invite a certain level of contemplation, isn't it? I was sitting here, perhaps a bit too long over my morning coffee, just letting my mind drift through the various nuances of the frame, and I couldn't help but feel a sudden, overwhelming urge to document my reaction. I know, I know—I tend to overthink these small things, and I probably should focus more on my actual responsibilities, but there is something about the way the light interacts with the subject here that feels almost poetic in its own quiet, unassuming way. It’s funny how a single snapshot can trigger such a lengthy internal monologue, though I suppose that is just my peculiar way of processing the world around me. Anyway, I simply felt that sharing this moment, however fleeting or trivial it might seem to some, was worth the effort of typing out these long-winded observations!
Well, here are those two images I mentioned, and if it isn't too much trouble, I would be truly grateful if you could just give me a simple yes or no on them. 😁

Well, you certainly aren't mistaken; I do indeed have a hump.

Joseph Edwards31 said:Yeah, you've got a hump.

..that's not a hump, but surgery is still necessary....😁

Joshua Scott62 said:Hey everyone,
I was actually thinking about getting rhinoplasty myself, but I honestly can't tell if I truly need it. xD
I feel a bit awkward posting these photos here, but I'd really value your honest take on things.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/5262/dsc00979uz.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6245/dsc00983mc.jpg
So, those are the two shots; I'd be grateful if you could just give me a simple yes or no.😁

It’s true that there is a slight bump, but honestly, that kind of look works well for men.
A lot of male models actually have imperfect noses that give them a sense of character.
I worry that if you go through with fixing that tiny irregularity, you might end up losing some of your unique personality.
Guys often end up looking a bit artificial or overly feminine after nose surgery,
so if I were in your shoes, I would probably pass on it.
Best,