Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

So, after more than a month had passed, I finally made it to my first follow-up appointment with the doctor. Everything seems to be going quite well, and he actually seems really pleased with how things are progressing. He mentioned that he wasn't entirely sure it would turn out this well, mostly because he was concerned about my rather critical tip and the thickness of my skin (or at least, that’s how Dr. Carić described it, anyway). He sent me straight to get some photos taken immediately; even though he noted it might still be a bit early in the process, he felt it was important to document such a significant change so soon. Honestly, I don't even know how to put into words how thrilled I am with the results so far. 🙂

I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind sharing, how long did you all continue using the nasal spray after your surgery?
My nose still feels somewhat stiff at the tip, so I'm a little hesitant about blowing it too hard.

Honestly, hats off to you ladies, because I don't think I could handle that... I can't go even a single minute without breathing through my nose, my nerves are absolutely shot, and I feel like after just one day of this, I’d be ready to just throw myself off a balcony...
And I really don't get it either... my nose looks perfectly fine in photos during the day, but at night? It looks like a total monster...

So, look... you might think I’m being a bit of a snob here, but I have a question for the veterans... is there any way to somehow manipulate getting a referral for surgery even if I don't technically have a deviated septum or anything like that? (At least, that's my guess—my nose is slightly off-center, though you'd only notice if you were really staring at it). The thing is, I have a large nose and, as I mentioned, it's a bit crooked, so I’d love an aesthetic procedure, but I certainly don't have the cash for that. To get this referral, do I just need an opinion from a single doctor (either a GP or a specialist), or am I going to have to practically bribe the entire medical establishment...

Please don't come for me over this question

Grace Kim39 said:Well, let me start by saying... you might think I’m being a total snob here, but I have a rather peculiar question for all you seasoned veterans out there... is it actually possible to somehow secure a referral for surgery even if I don't technically have a deviated septum or anything quite so severe? At least, that's my assumption, though my nose does tilt just a tiny bit to the side—though honestly, you can only really tell if you're staring intensely at it. The thing is, I have a rather large nose and, as I mentioned, it is slightly crooked, so I would love to go through with cosmetic surgery, but I simply don't have the funds for it. Does one merely need an opinion from a single doctor—perhaps a GP or a specialist—to get that referral, or am I going to have to practically beg and bribe the entire medical bureaucracy?

Please, don't come for me over this question.

I suspect you might be looking at this from the wrong angle; I truly believe the most vital factor should be who is performing the procedure, rather than whether the surgery itself is free. In our public healthcare system, those free hospital procedures are often handled by residents or very young specialists who possess minimal experience. This is precisely why we frequently see cases where the initial surgery doesn't go as planned, and seeking a revision becomes a nightmare because a) it involves yet another surgery with an uncertain outcome, b) it ends up costing significantly more than the first attempt, and c) it is incredibly difficult to find a surgeon willing to take on corrective work. I say this with a heavy heart, having learned it through my own unfortunate experience.

redmarlin92 said:Hey everyone...

It's been eight days since my surgery—finally feeling like I'm doing okay...
There’s just one thing—I had that tampon removed four days ago, and I still can't breathe through my nose. One nostril is relatively clear, but the other... basically nothing.

I'm curious about everyone's experience—how many days did it take before you actually started breathing through your nose again?

If I even manage to catch some sleep, I’m waking up to a dry throat and pain. It's enough to drive me a little crazy...

Hey, so it’s day 6 post-op for me. Breathing through my nose feels okay for the most part—it gets stuffy every now and then, though... My doctor had me using Benil nasal drops from the moment they took the tampons out until the packing was removed today. Now he wants me to ditch those and just switch to Aquamaris whenever I feel the need. Up until now, I've been using the drops every four hours because once that window passes, my nose clogs up and I'm stuck breathing through my mouth again...

darkhawk10 said:Both Tončić and his partner seem like reliable surgeons... has anyone here had nose surgery with them? What’s the damage? I'm looking to slim mine down a bit—maybe straighten it out and shorten the tip too :-))

My advice? Go see everyone on your shortlist for a consultation. Just go until you find the one you actually trust—that's what matters. I was torn between Tončić and Bastaić... but once I met Bastaić, I canceled my appointment with Tončić right then and there. I just knew. If you want more specifics, just ask—I actually had my dressings removed today...🙂the cost usually runs anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on which surgeon you pick and how you pay.

Kyle Bishop2

You can always tell them that breathing through your nose feels impossible, that it’s seriously bothering you, and just let them deal with the mess... you just can't give up on pursuing it, period. A real doctor will spot a deviated septum instantly, even if it's just a tiny 1mm shift to one side. It's worth a shot just to see where things land...

So, I’m currently at day 10 post-op. I took the foils off and removed the splint three days ago... my nose looks better every single day. It’s straight, though there's still quite a bit of swelling. What’s tripping me up a little is that it doesn't look perfectly flat yet—the hump is gone, but now there's this slight indentation instead. Well, the tip and the area near the bone are still swollen, so I'm not sweating it too much... it's obvious that things improve with every passing day... but man, it's definitely not easy going through this again, haha.

redcrane59 said:Kyle Bishop2

You can always claim you're having trouble breathing through your nose, complain about how much it bothers you, just muddle through that... just don't give up on it and that's that... a real doctor will spot a deviated septum immediately even if it's only 1mm off to one side, so just try it and see what happens...

Anyway, I'm at day 10 post-op. I took the foils off and removed the splint three days ago... my nose looks better every single day. It's straight, though there's still quite a bit of swelling, and the thing that's bothering me a little is that it isn't perfectly flat—meaning the hump is gone, but now there's a slight indentation. Well... the tip of the nose and the area near the bone are still swollen so I'm not really worried... it's obvious that it gets better every day... but obviously, it's not easy again, haha.

People, please stop talking nonsense... Don't get me wrong and I don't want anyone to take offense, but you can't tell someone things like that. Someone who doesn't have a deviated septum or any actual medical issue can't just walk into a hospital and demand an aesthetic nose job! Hello!!! An ugly nose isn't a medical condition!! Think about it—what if money was being spent on beautifying someone's nose while someone else with a serious problem couldn't get surgery because there's no money left!! For that stuff, you go to private clinics, you don't have Medicare paying for someone to fix their looks.

She has nothing to insist on if she doesn't have a deviation. On what basis would she insist? What's going to happen when she sees an ENT and they tell her there's no medical problem, and she tells them she needs the surgery anyway because, you know, she demands it?

First off, the girl needs to go for an exam, and if they diagnose a deviation, any doctor will operate on her because that IS a medical issue, and in that case, she has a right to the surgery. Then she can ask the doctors to touch up the aesthetics too. But I'm telling you, if there's no deviation at all, there's nothing to insist on, let alone expecting the hospital to perform plastic surgery for free.

Personally, I know a girl who tried the same thing—trying to play the doctors and pretend she had a deviation and breathing issues just to sneak in some cosmetic work... and they told her straight up that she had no problem and that the hospital certainly wouldn't operate on her via Medicare. So in the end, she went to a private clinic and paid for it.
I mean, it's like some idiot thinking they could go to a hospital and insist on getting breast implants and having Medicare pay for all of that.

Grace Kim39 said:Look, I might sound like a total snob, but I have a question for the veterans here... is there any way to get a referral for surgery if I don't actually have a deviated septum or anything like that? (At least, I think I don't—my nose is just slightly off-center, but you can only tell if you really stare at it). The thing is, my nose is large and, like I said, a bit crooked, so I’d love an aesthetic procedure, but I definitely don't have the cash for it. Do I just need an opinion from one doctor (like a GP or a specialist) to get that referral, or do I have to go begging and bribing the entire medical establishment?

Please don't roast me for asking this.

Don't gang up on the poor girl.🙂
Kyle Bishop2, I feel the same way—there is zero chance they'll do this for you for free...
They wouldn't even operate on a mole in my hair that sticks out so much it catches on my comb and has bled several times already. My primary doctor told me it was mandatory to have it removed; I went to dermatology and explained everything, and some doctor there just lectured me about how it wasn't a big deal and that it didn't matter if it bled. Then she suggested I just go to plastic surgery...
I'm telling you this just for comparison—the system basically just wants to get rid of you...

As for the money, I don't know how old you are or what your income looks like (allowance, salary, student loans...), but I can tell you what I did.
When I was 20, I decided I wanted a nose job (purely cosmetic).
I realized then that it's a massive, irreversible decision, so I gave myself three years. If I still wanted it after that, I'd go for it.
In the meantime, of course, I saved up bit by bit.
I mean, it's not impossible to scrape together a thousand or two bucks.
Now I'm 23, I still want the nose job, and I actually have the money for it.🙂
I had a consultation at a private clinic and it was a pleasant experience; I got the impression they would actually take real care of me.

Nobody was trying to attack the girl; if anything, it’s the exact opposite. She clearly doesn't understand how any of this works, and then you get people jumping in here giving her "expert" advice like "insist on it," "don't give up," or "act like you can barely breathe..." just to pressure her into going to the hospital and demanding free cosmetic surgery. If she actually goes to a doctor and puts on that act, she’s just going to end up in an awkward situation and look like a complete joke. Are doctors supposed to be idiots? They can tell when someone has a legitimate medical issue versus someone playing games just to try and trick Medicare into paying for a procedure. Not to mention the whole moral and ethical mess of even trying that.

She doesn't even know if she has a deviation yet. Period. The only thing she can actually do is go for an exam, hear what the doctor says, and then decide on a plan based on that. Maybe she really does have a medical issue and they'll operate without any trouble. But let's be real—everyone here knows there is absolutely zero chance a hospital is performing cosmetic surgery on people and having insurance pick up the tab.

You’ve got a point there... it isn't exactly ethical, but well...
I just wanted to say that pretty much everyone deals with at least a tiny little deviation from the norm...

darkhawk10 said:I feel like Dr. Tončić is a really reliable surgeon—both of them, actually. Has anyone here had nose surgery with them? And what’s the damage? I’m thinking about narrowing mine out a bit, smoothing things over, and maybe shortening the tip just a touch :-))

You're looking at anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on how complex the procedure ends up being...
I'm actually heading in to see him for my own surgery at the start of February!
I really liked the guy—super professional—and the clinic itself is top-tier... the initial consultation is $83.

Hello everyone,
I’ve been following this discussion closely, particularly regarding surgeon recommendations in the Miami area. I had an initial consultation with Glusca; he’s certainly an eccentric character, though I walked away with the impression that he is highly competent. However, after reading some of the recent comments here, I’m feeling rather conflicted... Does anyone have another recommendation, or perhaps some specific insights regarding Dr. Lisac? My situation involves a revision surgery, as my original procedure was performed abroad about ten years ago. I am looking for someone with a truly masterful, delicate touch, and due to my current schedule, I simply cannot afford an extended stay in the city. Thank you all in advance....

darktinker93 said:Hey everyone,
I've been following this thread—mostly because I'm looking for surgeon recommendations in the Miami area. I met Glusca; he’s definitely an eccentric character, but he seems competent enough. That said, after reading some of the comments here, I'm second-guessing things... Does anyone have other suggestions? Specifically, does anyone know anything about Dr. Lisac? I'm actually looking at a revision surgery—had my first one done abroad about 10 years ago. I need someone with a really delicate touch, and because of my schedule, I can't afford to spend a long time hanging out in the city. Thanks in advance....

You could look into Dr. Kurtović👍—he handles ENT and maxillofacial stuff over on Biokovska Street—and there's also Roju-cisti, a plastic surgeon who works with Vica Grabovac down in Bacvica.
Personally, I saw Lisac for some sinus issues. In my opinion, he's way too expensive—plus, he told me my nose was perfectly fine and he wouldn't even touch it... which clearly shows he isn't much of an aesthetician, even if he is a pro when it comes to making sure everything functions properly.
Good luck.😉

Thank you, George Robinson58. To be honest, reading your posts has actually started making me second-guess myself. I did a bit of deep diving into the training and credentials of all these local surgeons, and based on my initial research, Glusac seemed like the most competent choice—but now I’m beginning to question that conclusion. Regardless, I am truly glad to hear you’re happy with the outcome; from what I can gather, it seems like you fall into that small percentage of people who get everything just right. Srdacan pozdrav

darktinker93 said:Thank you, George Robinson58. Your posts have actually caused me to start second-guessing my own decisions. I spent some time researching the training and credentials of all these local surgeons, and based on that, Glusac seemed to be the most competent option... though now I find myself questioning that conclusion. Regardless, I am truly glad to hear you are satisfied with your results, as from what I read, it seems you belong to a very small percentage of successful cases. Srdacan pozdrav

I’ve also been feeling quite hesitant because of her posts, and honestly, I can't say I blame anyone for feeling that way. 5.01 I am heading in for purely aesthetic surgery with Kurtović, and I am just hoping everything turns out smoothly. Aside from what George Robinson58 mentioned, I’ve heard nothing but positive things from his former colleagues, but one can never truly know until it happens. I really hope I don't end up being the exception to the rule. Personally, I’ve always been wary of people who speak about themselves in such high superlatives; they often tend to make mistakes. Fingers crossed for me...

Look, hopefully everything turns out absolutely perfect!
I’ve shared everything I know and everything I’ve seen—now the ball is in your court...
Personally, what really sold me on Dr. Kutovica was how calm he is—he just takes full responsibility for everything and fixes things if they aren't quite right.
And honestly, once I saw all his before-and-after photos, there was zero hesitation left... especially after he mentioned that Prof. Racic might be assisting with the surgery—and we all know he's basically the top expert in Miami. People at the hospital are practically fighting over appointments with him; I felt so lucky just to get in!
analogotter6, I am dying to hear what you think🙂))))))) Before this, I was losing sleep or having endless dreams about it😉

Alright, let's skip the total newbie questions about which doctor to pick for your funny little Disney organs and get to the real stuff. It’s been about two and a half months since my surgery, and I’ve got a question: is my nasal tip ever going to go back to how it was originally? The upper part where that bump used to be has kind of "sunk" quite a bit now, and the skin on the tip itself feels incredibly thick. On top of that, I’ve started getting these tiny black spots all over it... Before the surgery, my tip was sharp and thin; now, it’s been lifted a bit, but the skin still feels weirdly thick and greasy. What am I actually dealing with here?

George Ramos11 said:Look, let's not waste time on rookie questions about entertainment or picking out "doll doctors" for your silly little organs. What I actually care about—since it's been 2.5 months since my surgery—is whether the tip of my nose is going to return to how it originally looked. The upper part where the bump used to be has kind of "sunk" now, and the skin on the tip feels incredibly thick. Plus, I've developed these little black dots on it... before the surgery, I had a sharp, thin tip, and this procedure lifted it a bit, but the skin still feels thick and greasy... what is that actually?

I actually had my surgery on the exact same day as you—pretty wild how differently things turn out for everyone, right?
For me, the tip went back to its original shape, but that area where the bump was removed keeps changing constantly—I’m talking changes from morning to night. It’ll be swollen in the morning, then settle down by evening. It's like the bone is finally setting itself.🙂
In my experience, the tip can really only go one way: sagging further down. A friend of mine ended up looking like Miss Piggy for a while, but within four months, it completely dropped—though it didn't get thinner, it just sagged.
So, I have no idea why yours feels thicker right now.
Is it possible the shape changed enough that it just *feels* different to you?🤷
Personally, mine looks better every single day... and you seriously have to believe that time does its thing. When we're most obsessed with our noses—right after surgery—what we see isn't even a realistic reflection of the final result. You just have to wait and wait!
Patience is everything here—assuming, of course, that the surgeon actually did their job properly.😉

George Ramos11 said:Look, let's not waste time on basic newbie questions about entertainment or picking out which doctor is best for your "funny little organs." What I actually want to know—since it's been 2.5 months since my surgery—is whether the tip of my nose is going to return to how it used to be. The upper part where the bump was has already "sunk" quite a bit, but the skin on the tip feels incredibly thick, and on top of that, I've developed these little black spots on it... Before the surgery, I had a sharp, thin tip; now it’s kind of lifted slightly, but the skin still feels thick and greasy... what exactly is that?

I actually had my surgery on the exact same day as you—pretty wild how differently things turn out for everyone, isn't it?
My tip went right back to its original shape, but that area where the bump was removed keeps changing constantly—I mean, it shifts from morning to night... it's swollen in the morning, then settles down nicely by evening. It's like the bone is setting itself🙂
Honestly, I think our tips can only keep dropping more and more over time. A friend of mine looked like Miss Piggy right after hers, but within four months, everything completely dropped into place—though it didn't get thinner, it just settled lower.
So, I have no idea why yours feels thicker right now.
Is it possible the shape changed enough that it's just playing tricks on your perception?🤷
Personally, mine looks better every single day... and you really have to believe that time does its thing. That period when we're most obsessed with our noses—right after surgery—isn't even close to the final reality. You just have to wait and wait!
Patience is everything here—provided, of course, that the surgeon actually did a good job.😉