Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

rustygardener172 said:Just checking in... I sent out inquiry emails to Dr. Miller, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Thompson regarding surgery. I included a clear photo of my nose in the email 🙂. They all got back to me individually. Dr. Miller was pretty brief—basically just said it’s better if I come in for an initial consultation first so we can discuss details. Meanwhile, the other two doctors actually took the time to write out thorough answers to all my questions. They were all in agreement on the diagnosis: subluxation of the lower edge of the nasal septum... which apparently makes this one of the most complicated nose surgeries out there. Because of that, they recommended general anesthesia; there's too much risk of feeling pain under local. Dr. Smith quoted $13 $0.00, while Dr. Thompson came in at $15 $0.00.
Just thought I'd share... maybe this helps someone else.
Cheers 🙂

Reading what you wrote, I’d honestly suggest looking for a doctor who is an ENT combined with a maxillofacial surgeon rather than just a pure plastic surgeon—this sounds like a much more complex issue.
I know plenty of people who ended up struggling to breathe through their noses after a botched aesthetic job, and let's be real—half those famous surgeons are just selling smoke and mirrors. I've heard stories of "oh, I fixed her breathing while I was doing the cosmetic work," which is usually total nonsense.
Based on just your photo, they can only see the aesthetic side of things, but an endoscopic exam and a CT scan are what will give you the full picture of what's actually going on inside.
Good luck👍

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Reading what you wrote, I’d honestly suggest seeing an ENT who also specializes in maxillofacial surgery rather than just a standard plastic surgeon—this sounds like a much more complicated mess.
I know plenty of people who ended up struggling to breathe through their nose after cosmetic work, and let's be real, those famous surgeons we see on TV are basically just selling smoke and mirrors—claiming they "just happened" to fix breathing issues while they were touching up the aesthetics.
Based on just your photo, they can only really see the aesthetic side of things, but an endoscopic exam and a CT scan are what actually show the full picture of what's going on inside you.
Good luck👍

Exactly! That’s been weighing on my mind too... which is why I’m planning to go to someone who prioritizes actual health over just looking pretty. I’m leaning towards... Dr. Baker... he’s a top-tier specialist for a reason. I’ve already been in for surgery once before using my insurance, and as you can tell (since I have to go back in), even those big-shot specialists don't always get the credit they deserve if things don't go perfectly. 🙂 Nowadays, there are zero guarantees for anything... maybe if you pay enough...

rustygardener172 said:Exactly. I’ve been thinking the same thing... That’s why I’m going to the top expert in health first, then worrying about aesthetics. I'm leaning toward... Dr. Baker... he’s the chief for a reason. I’ve been through surgery before using my insurance, and honestly, looking at how things turned out (since I have to go back), even those specialists weren't exactly 🙂 Nothing is guaranteed these days... maybe if you pay up...

Look, I don't want people thinking I'm shilling for Dr. Smith, but seriously—he specialized in facial and neck surgery and ENT, so he knows everything there is to know about noses. 😁

Does anyone have tips on how to clean my nose—and what should I actually use—since I’m strictly forbidden from blowing it? 🤷

northernpanther12 said:So, if you aren't allowed to blow your nose, what am I actually supposed to do? How do I clean it out without making a mess—or worse, making things worse?🤷

Look, instead of just trying to blow it out, you basically have to pull it straight back into your throat and then spit. And don't even think about skipping the saline solution—that’s non-negotiable. Just grab a big bottle, get some infusion supplies, a needle, and a syringe, and then flush it up your nose until it hits the back of your throat so you can finally spit it out. Ugh, gross—honestly, it's revolting, but hey, it's what needs to be done.🤣

George Robinson58 Asks:
Look, instead of just trying to blow it out, you seriously need to pull it all the way back into your throat and then spit. And don't even think about skipping the saline solution—that’s non-negotiable. Just grab a white bottle from the pharmacy, get yourself a needle and a syringe, and gently flush it up your nose until it hits the back of your throat... then spit it out. Ugh, gross, I know—but hey, a little bit of nastiness is worth it if it actually works.🤣

So, I finally got set up at the hospital—they gave me an IV line and the whole syringe setup—but don't get too excited, it’s not like they're pumping fluids into me at full blast or anything. It’s just a slow, steady drip... you know, just a few drops here and there at a time rather than a massive flow.🙈

Hey everyone, 😁
I made it through surgery yesterday too. Going in today to get the tampons removed. Everything went fine, except I’ve got massive bruising and I'm swollen as hell right now. 😲
Hey, and big kiss to you, Paul Sullivan88 😍

Ashley Young34 said:Hey everyone, I managed to 😁
get through my surgery yesterday too. I'm headed in today to have the tampons removed, and everything seems to have gone smoothly so far, though I am currently dealing with massive bruising and significant swelling. 😲
Best, and much love to you, Paul Sullivan88. 😍

Dragaaaaa!
I was just thinking about you! 😁
It is wonderful news that everything went well. Are you in any pain?
Are you back home yet?

Greetings, everyone. 🙂
I am a newcomer to this forum, having just undergone surgery yesterday. 😱
The procedure took place yesterday from 8:45 to 10:15 AM at the Klapan Clinic; it involved a deviated septum repair, polyp removal, sinus cleaning, and some work on my upper jaw...
The surgery itself was performed under local anesthesia. It is a rather unsettling sensation to be aware of the sound of a hammer or a chisel and feel various tugging sensations, yet one feels no actual pain—you remain conscious, almost as if in a dream state.
It wasn't the surgery that was difficult, but rather the recovery period. Last night, I found myself convinced that I was experiencing the most excruciating pain imaginable; no medication seemed to offer any reprieve, and I felt as though I might lose my mind. It wasn't until the Ketoral forte kicked in after two hours that I felt even a modicum of relief. I didn't sleep a wink. By morning, things had worsened. I am dealing with pain and agitation; everything hurts—my nose, teeth, face, palate, even my scalp. Good grief! I have returned to the Ketoral, which provides relief after another two-hour wait. I find myself wondering: is my pain threshold simply exceptionally low, or do others experience this and merely choose not to speak so candidly about it? That said, I harbor no regrets about undergoing this procedure. I have endured four years of constant inflammation, congestion, and sleeplessness, and I haven't been able to smell anything for a year now, so there really isn't much of an alternative. My doctors previously attributed all of this to allergies, but Dr. Miller maintains that these structural issues are the true culprit. If he is correct and this resolves my problems, I might just build him a monument in the middle of Chicago!
Generally speaking, the service at the Klapan Clinic is of an extremely high standard; the staff is polite, and Dr. Miller himself is a kind and approachable man. The only drawback is the high cost. However, health is priceless, so I don't regret spending the money, provided the results are positive.
I am scheduled to have the packing removed this Thursday. There are sponges inside that leak slightly, making the entire recovery process quite unpleasant. Forgive my bluntness, but I believe it is better for people to know exactly what they are facing. I am somewhat taken aback by how taxing the recovery has been and how ineffective the painkillers seem to be. I had anticipated a much smoother transition. Has anyone else here had experience with the Klapan Clinic?

Lawrence Ortiz8 said:Basically, they did the surgery under local anesthesia. It’s honestly a little creepy when you can hear the mallet and the retractor and feel someone tugging around in there, but it doesn't actually hurt—you're just wide awake, kind of like you're in a dream state...
The actual surgical part wasn't even the worst part; it was the recovery time. Last night, I swear I thought I was experiencing the most agonizing pain on the planet. No pill in my cabinet could touch it—it was enough to make you lose your mind! Eventually, the Ketoral forte kicked in after about two hours and gave me some relief, but I didn't sleep a wink. Then, by morning, everything went south again. Now I'm dealing with this intense pain and total irritability; my nose, teeth, face, palate, even my scalp—everything hurts! Ugh! I'm back on the Ketoral, and it takes another two hours to settle down. I'm starting to wonder if my pain tolerance is just bottom-of-the-barrel low, or if everyone else goes through this and just keeps their mouths shut about how much it sucks?

Honestly, it's different for everyone. That goes for both the intensity of the pain and your individual threshold. After my first surgery, I didn't get a single bruise; I barely felt a thing, absolutely nothing. As for the swelling... my nose was the only thing puffy, and even that cleared up in a week or two. I didn't sleep the first night, but that wasn't because of the pain—it was because the lady staying in the room with me was snoring loud enough to wake the dead (I'm pretty sure people in the next rooms over were struggling too 😵).
I'm not sure if you've caught up on all the posts in this thread... if you had, you'd see you aren't alone in this. Plenty of people have dealt with pain just as bad as yours. While it obviously depends on how heavy the surgery was and which surgeon you got... personally, I think it mostly comes down to your own body and how it reacts.
Bottom line? This isn't a permanent thing. Just grit your teeth and power through these next few days. Once you can finally breathe through your nose normally again, you'll realize the struggle was totally worth it... you'll probably forget the whole thing entirely. Hang in there! 👍

Ashley Young34 said:Hey guys, so I 😁
actually made it through my surgery yesterday. Heading in today to get those tampons pulled out. Everything went fine so far, except now I’m dealing with massive bruising and I feel completely swollen up like a balloon. 😲
Later! And hey, big hugs to you, Paul Sullivan88! 😍

So? How's the nose looking? 🎉

driftingsurfer96 said:Public hospitals always keep those nasal packs in for five days. You’re stuck there until they pull them out. Private clinics? They just torpedo you and send you home the second you wake up from surgery. Different procedures entirely...

Not always. I was in the hospital last year for septoplasty, and they pulled my packing out the very next day. As soon as it was out, I headed straight home...

Kate Thompson45 said:Dragaaaaa!
I was just thinking about you! 😁
Glad everything went smoothly! Is it hurting?
You home yet?

Look, I got home last night. Nothing hurts except a massive headache, but man, I'm totally wiped out. My right eye is practically swollen shut, plus it’s super red and watering constantly. Left cheek is puffed up too...🙄
At least I'm going in to get the swabs removed today, so I'll finally be able to breathe normally.😁
How are you doing? How's your recovery?
As for my nose, looks like it'll turn out fine, but it's hard to tell with all this swelling.😢
That's the update for now. Can barely even type because this eye is driving me crazy...😛
Kisses....

Ashley Young34 said:So, I finally made it back home last night. Honestly, nothing really hurts except for a bit of a headache—but man, I am absolutely wiped out. I’m basically one giant bruise at this point. My right eye is almost swollen shut, and on top of that, it’s incredibly red and won't stop watering... plus my left cheek is pretty swollen, too.🙄
Well, at least I'm heading in to get those swabs taken today—hopefully that means I can actually breathe normally again.😁
How are you doing? How’s the recovery coming along?
As far as what I can actually wear, things are looking pretty good—but honestly, with this swelling still acting up, it’s hard to say for sure. 😢
That's all I've got for now—I can barely even type because this eye of mine is driving me absolutely insane...😛
pussies....

I went through the exact same thing—just totally bruised, swollen, and looking like I had bags under my eyes for days. Seriously, go grab some Heparin right now and start tracking it; this stuff moves fast.🙂))
And then you've got those homeopathic little sugar pills for everything else on that list—which, let's be honest, does just about as much good as a screen door on a submarine.
Hang in there—it’s all worth it once you actually see the results.🙄
People tend to gloss over the ugliest part of this story way too fast—and honestly, that’s the most important bit.😉)

Rebecca Gomez37 said:I was looking totally blue, bloated, with puffy eyelids too... go grab some heparin right now and start applying it, things move fast.🙂))
You can also get those homeopathic pellets for everything mentioned, they work pretty well too.
Hang in there—for a good result, it's all worth it.🙄
People forget the ugly part of this story pretty quick, and that's what matters most.😉)

Thanks a ton for the advice🙂, I need to go buy something because I'm terrified to look in the mirror😲, hopefully I won't have to obsess over this anymore🤣

Ashley Young34 said:Thanks so much for the advice—I really appreciate it!🙂I really need to go out and pick something up—honestly, I’m actually a little terrified to even look in the mirror right now. 😲Well, I guess that’s it—I think I’m officially done with all this studying! 🤣

Look, I’m telling you—the more you just sit around on the couch, the higher the chances you're gonna end up with some nasty swelling. It’s basic stuff! You really need to get moving a little bit—just a decent walk here and there—otherwise, all that inflammation is just going to settle in and leave you feeling totally wiped out.👍

Quick question for you guys: for anyone dealing with a deviated septum, have you ever dealt with random nosebleeds out of nowhere???

brightotter21 said:I have a question: for those of you who had septoplasty, did you ever experience nosebleeds just out of nowhere???

after the surgery??? A few details would be great if anyone's willing to share.

I believe this is nonsense. I am seventeen years old, and my view is that people should simply look the way they were born. Everyone is born with their own unique flaws, and there is no reason to change them.

northernpanther12 said:Wait, after the surgery??? A few more details would be great!

Aha... my bad! 🙂

It’s actually not even about after the surgery—it's more like, before everything starts, I feel like it's super hard to breathe through my nose. It's been going on for a while now but I haven't done anything about it yet (though I totally plan to!). And then out of nowhere, one day my nose just starts bleeding for no reason... could that be a symptom of a deviated septum or something?