Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Rebecca Gomez37 said:That’s just my take on how the whole team operates—it's usually the case when you're under general anesthesia. Now, since I was under local, I can't say for certain, but I suspect that in some surgical suites, nurses might step in to assist the doctor during the procedure. In my experience, it was two surgeons plus the rest of the medical staff.🙂
All in all, Jeffrey Perez, you definitely came out on top here. As for me? I think I got the short end of the stick when it comes to the price tag.
A. Ostojic is running about fifteen hundred cheaper than Glumicic... why is that? Who knows.😕I suppose both of them have their own distinct strengths. You’ll always find a massive crowd of people who are perfectly happy with either, but you'll also inevitably run into a handful of critics who weren't satisfied with one, and certainly aren't satisfied with the other.
Good luck. My advice? Be direct and precise when you make your decisions. You really need to tell the doctor exactly what’s on your mind. What is it you’re actually looking for? i What exactly is it that you don't want?No matter what he says about the whole situation, I've come to realize that those girls are never going to be truly satisfied anyway.
It’s funny how things work out—I honestly would have preferred more of this and less of that.
You’re essentially a case study in what most people would consider "fine." If you were in their shoes, most folks wouldn't lift a finger either. Even a doctor might look at the situation and reach a similar conclusion. But then again, you have your own perspective, don't you? There's no reason to be afraid of actually speaking it out loud.
I’d even suggest just using Photoshop to edit things together wherever you can, then bringing that version to the doctor.

It’s true—looking back at things realistically, I have to admit my expectations were probably way too high. There are certain structural elements of nasal architecture that simply shouldn't be messed with. For me, the issue is that my tip isn't perfectly rounded; it has these slight bumps caused by the alar cartilages. You can't just go cutting into those areas, otherwise you risk necrosis. It's the same deal with the septal cartilage; if a surgeon removes too much, the whole thing can collapse (which is what happened to George Robinson58, if I recall correctly).
We weren't born with perfect noses, so why act like we can actually achieve perfection? What I have now is about 99% of the ideal look I was going for, and honestly, I need to just be happy with that. Let’s be realistic here: my nose looks a hundred times better than it used to. Why should I obsess over two tiny little bumps that drive me crazy when absolutely nobody else even notices them?
😁

Nicole Nguyen34 said:Honestly, looking back with a bit of perspective, I have to admit my expectations were way too high. There’s certain "nose architecture" you just can't mess with if you want to stay functional. For me, it's those tiny bumps on the tip—they're caused by the alar cartilages, and you can't just slice those away without risking necrosis. Same goes for the septum; if a surgeon takes too much, the whole thing can collapse (which is exactly what happened to George Robinson58, if I remember correctly)!
None of us were born with these flawless, movie-star noses, so let's be real—perfection isn't happening. What I have now is about 99% of what I actually wanted, and I need to just accept that. At the end of the day, my nose looks a hundred times better than it did before. Who actually cares about two little bumps that only bother me? NOBODY else even notices them!
😁

I'm with you on this!!!👍
Things seem to work out differently here in the States, so hopefully I'll end up as happy as you are.🙄
The only thing I told the doc was that a "piggy" look is absolutely off the table. I told him no narrowing the nostrils because I don't want to end up looking like a synchronized swimmer—especially after seeing how weird I looked with that nasal dilator in my Photoshop edits.😂

Rebecca Gomez37 said:With Glumicic, you’re looking at a price of roughly $1,800, and I'm certain of that.👍
I suspect that’s just the standard baseline, the average, if you will...
There are certainly pricier options, like Zambelli or Zgaljardic; my own procedure with a specialist in St. Louis ran closer to $2,000.
I find that Smith's pricing hard to believe if it's actually accurate!🤷
The professionals all tend to stay in sync, and when you consider that during surgery you have the lead surgeon alongside anesthesiologists, technicians, and nurses, it makes sense why the total bill for the operation ends up being so high overall.

It isn't quite true that everyone stays in lockstep regarding their rates. There can be discrepancies exceeding $3.25!
I was nearly floored when a different doctor gave me a quote for a procedure that costs about $23,000 with Smith. This particular doctor was asking for $12, which represents a massive gap in cost.
One really needs to do their due diligence on pricing before selecting a highly skilled, proven surgeon. Ultimately, cosmetic surgery isn't something where you should pinch every penny, though a higher price tag doesn't necessarily guarantee a superior outcome.

Furthermore, I know for a fact that Smith offers a financing plan. He mentioned that he didn't offer installment payments previously, but he noted that the market has shifted and everyone has to adapt to current economic realities.

Rebecca Gomez37 said:I couldn't agree more!👍
In America, things usually work out differently, so I’m hoping my experience ends up being just as positive as yours.🙄
The only thing I told the doctor was that a nose clip is absolutely out of the question; I refuse to let them constrict it because, honestly, after seeing some photoshopped shots of myself, I realized I end up looking like a synchronized swimmer wearing one of those ridiculous nose plugs.😂

So, who exactly handled that Photoshop job for you?

Kate Thompson45 said:So, who on earth did that Photoshop job for you?

Well, I actually went down to this local photo studio—they do all sorts of high-end wedding stuff and standard IDs—and I specifically asked them to shoot me from both profiles plus straight on.
I sat there with him for a solid hour while they messed around with my nose settings.😂
I was literally screaming "nooooooo" when he narrowed it—it was a total disaster. I was so convinced it would make me look better; I have a long face, big eyes, full lips... and then a tiny nose? Absolute horror movie material.!!!!

I actually think that’s a pretty clever idea.
I might just try shrinking my own nose that way; I have enough photos of myself to build a whole gallery, and besides, I’ve got Photoshop at my disposal. 😁
I just need to work on mastering some of the more complex tasks first... 😂

I actually had a photo edited in Photoshop once—and honestly, after seeing how good I looked in the final version, I was totally sold on getting surgery. If the actual results turn out like that... then I'm all in!

Kimberly Baker13 said:I actually had a photo of myself photoshopped once, and seeing that result was exactly what pushed me to finally go through with surgery. What if the actual outcome ends up looking just like that edit?

That’s a fair point; the odds of it turning out exactly like a digital edit are probably one in ten thousand.😁
These simulations are really a double-edged sword. You might end up with a nose that looks perfect in the app, but then you can't let go of that specific image, only to find the real-life version is slightly different—and that's where the disappointment sets in. It’s impossible to achieve a 100% match, so the goal should be aiming for something that captures the general vibe of the simulation rather than expecting every tiny detail to be identical. Is it realistic to expect perfection when we're dealing with human anatomy? Not really.

My nose looks perfectly fine in some photos, but in others... 😢

Kate Thompson45 said:My nose looks fine in some shots, but in others... it's a disaster.😢

Same deal here😁. I'm just worried about my profile view😂. Hopefully, they get it sorted out😍

Ashley Young34 said:I’m feeling the exact same way 😁, though my main anxiety centers on my profile 😂, and I can only hope everything gets sorted out smoothly 😍

It’s going to work out perfectly for you. 😁
Only eleven days left, right? Are you feeling the anticipation? I imagine you're checking this thread at least twenty times a day. 😂

northernpanther12 said:What if, say, after the surgery, I realize I can't breathe through my nose??
And I have to wait a few days for them to remove the packing

I wouldn't worry too much about that... nature usually handles things, and I guess you'll just start breathing normally again by reflex... I suppose even if you hyperventilate (that's the fast breathing during panic, right?), nothing bad will actually happen... I think it's mostly just that uncomfortable feeling that comes with panic, but objectively, you should be fine😉

Um, I've noticed a tiny new bump forming 🙂 I think it’s extremely small and barely visible, and my nose looks about 500 times better than it used to, but right where they probably broke the bone, I can feel this slight irregularity 😁

Why is it like this now?
And how do I get rid of it? Maybe massage will help? Or would I need to go out and yell at my doctor 😁

Kate Thompson45 said:Everything's gonna be great! 😁
Only 11 days left, huh?! You hyped? Checking this thread 20 times a day? 😂

Man, 11 more days... I've stopped counting because I'm freaking out😢. I'm checking this thread constantly🤣. Ugh, I just want it to be tomorrow so this is over, but... it'll get here fast enough😁.

slymarlin382 said:Honestly, don't sweat it too much... Mother Nature has everything under control, and you'll find your rhythm again before you know it. I mean, even if you do start hyperventilating—that’s when your breathing gets all fast and shallow during a panic attack, right?—you aren't actually going to hurt yourself. It’s just that nasty, uncomfortable sensation that comes along with the panic, but objectively speaking, nothing bad is going to happen to you. 😉

Hyperventilation basically kicks in once you ramp up your breathing frequency—you know, when you start breathing faster and faster... (which is pretty much a given with panic, since that rapid breathing is such a huge part of the whole experience)... but either way... I've actually got surgery scheduled in two days... 🙂
And look, it’s not even the recovery period that’s weighing on my mind—it's the general anesthesia part that really has me feeling uneasy. :S

Ashley Young34 said:Man, only 11 days left—I’ve actually stopped counting because I'm so nervous😢—and I find myself refreshing this thread every single hour🤣... ugh, I honestly wish it would just happen tomorrow so I could get it over with, but hey... it'll be here before we know it😁

Jupa! Trust me, I'm definitely not the only freak checking this thread 20 times a day!🙏

Kimberly Baker13 said:Jupa! I'm not the only freak here starting threads like twenty times a day!🙏

No way, no way... who are you even visiting, and when?
It won't let me use emojis.

Ashley Young34 said:No way—who are you actually seeing and when?
(I’m just not feeling those emojis right now...)

I'm still torn between Ostojić and Glumičić—honestly. Since I'm not based in Washington, D.C., I won't be able to swing a consultation until April, so I'll probably make my final call then.🤷

@ Zachary Nguyen29, believe me, I know the feeling! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reopened this thread or refreshed the same articles and websites just to absorb more detail. 😍 It’s a completely natural reaction. Honestly, I’ve even had vivid dreams about it all…

@ Noah Moore4, I’m assuming you’ve reached out to former clients or people who have actually sat in their chairs, perhaps asking them to send over some before-and-after shots. If you haven't done that yet, it might be worth your time. Even though they both maintain professional websites where you can gauge their specific styles, a direct recommendation carries more weight. Personally, I find Ostojić's portfolio much more convincing because he provides full-face shots rather than just tight profile views. If you’re still stuck between the two of them, my advice is simple: book consultations with both and let the better professional win you over. 😂

Kate Thompson45 said:Zachary Nguyen29—yeah, I totally get that! I used to start threads constantly myself—just reading through all those articles and sites over and over again. 😍 That’s totally normal! Honestly—I’ve had my fair share of wild dreams too...

Noah Moore4—I’m guessing you’ve already reached out to people who've used them and had them send over some before-and-after shots? If not, that might be a smart move. Both of them have photos on their websites, so you can get a feel for their work there, too. Honestly, Ostojić’s photos look better—he shows more than just a profile view, he actually includes shots from the front. If you’re still stuck between the two, your best bet is just to book consultations with both and see who wins you over! 😂

Actually, I'm not—I only checked in on Kroketica to see how her recovery was going after that surgery at Glumičić’s, but it looks like she hasn't been active around here for a while. Honestly, it's kind of a drag having to chase people down. 🙄 So, I’m putting this out there—if anyone feels like sending those photos over via DM, I would seriously appreciate it!👍
When it comes to the photos on their websites—Ostojić definitely wins there—but Glumičić has been using the exact same three shots for like ten years now. 🤷 I'm feeling that pull toward Glumičić again—honestly, I can't wait to finally get to my consultation and settle this whole dilemma once and for all...