Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd share my experience here.
-Today marks day 35 since my nose surgery.
-I went with Wilson—it cost $13,200, including consultations. I decided on him because he gave me a sense of security, despite some of the comments on this forum. I guess he just struck me as someone who actually knows what they're doing.
-I had a septorhinoplasty (endonasal) to fix my septum and the tip of my nose.
-The whole thing was done under general anesthesia.
-Even though the surgery lasted about 3.5 hours (since my nose was broken and had healed crookedly), I didn't have much pain or bruising afterward. Even the doctor seemed surprised; I was only slightly yellow around the eyes. Maybe it’s because I've been taking those skin, hair, and nail vitamins from NaturalWealth for five months now.
-The packing was removed on day 5, and the external splint came off on day 10.
-A little over a month out, the profile looks great. It's straight, looks natural, and doesn't look out of place on my face.
-The tip and bridge are still a bit swollen, so I'm just waiting for that swelling to finally subside.
-I've been cleaning my nose with chamomile.
-Breathing is good. Some stitches have already fallen out, and the rest should be removed once I hit the two-month mark.

James Collins22 said:Honestly, I have a million questions, and I feel like I'm being totally dramatic about this
because I want to get cosmetic nose surgery (even though my mom keeps telling me there's nothing wrong with it ☕ ,
but in reality, I know it could be better 🙄 ))

So, rhinoplasty plus a tip job—where would be the best place to go?
If anyone needs cartilage or anything like that, I'll donate it to you! 😍

Big hugs, and like brightotter21 said—please post before and after photos. I mean, I respect everyone's experience,
but we all kind of want to compare our noses to yours in the pictures... 🙂

(The guys definitely have an advantage 😉 )

Hi Lisa...well, since I've also read through this forum super thoroughly from the very beginning and even kept a little notebook of all the most highly recommended doctors who haven't had any complaints, I think I can tell you that the top names are Dr. Poe, Dr. Uglešić, Dr. Munitić, Dr. Ivkić, and Dr. Lajtman...so, I hope that helps you out!🙂

Olivia Reed94 said:I’m looking into getting surgery for a deviated septum—it’s pretty severe, actually. My quality of life is basically zero because of it. I can't sleep properly, I feel completely wiped out during workouts like I'm running out of air, and every little cold turns into a massive ordeal.
I’d really love to get this done in Washington, D.C., rather than San Francisco—mostly because I have this lingering grudge against the Mayo Clinic over how dingy their facilities are, plus the questionable hygiene and that whole "charm" doctors have there. I’m still trying to figure out the best spot in D.C. to go, though. Does anyone know how long the recovery actually takes? I heard they pull the tampons after three days, but then you're stuck dealing with stitches for a while...
I’m also a little worried about how my nose actually looks—like, what are the odds that things end up looking worse or even more asymmetrical than they do now? At the end of the day, this is basically just like any other cosmetic procedure. That's why I really want someone who is a true expert—someone with actual experience—to be the one performing the surgery.
Private healthcare is honestly such a rip-off—I mean, I'd be absolutely crazy to drop that kind of cash if I could just get the same level of care from someone just as skilled at a public hospital.
Anyone got any suggestions? I heard people talking up that hospital over in Manhattan...🙄

Honestly, I’ve got total faith in the ENT department over at Mayo Clinic.
Look, Dr. Smith, Miller, and Anderson are top-tier specialists. If you're dealing with a deviated septum, they’ll definitely fix the aesthetics for you—well, enough to make sure you don't walk around looking like you've got a permanent eagle beak.
Look, I think everyone needs to wrap their heads around one thing: when you go into any hospital—whether it’s the Mayo Clinic or some local clinic—and you drop that "hey, while you're at it, could you just fix my nose aesthetically?" line, they really do take it "as an afterthought." They’re going to focus on the actual reason you’re there—you know, making sure your nose actually functions properly—and everything else? That gets secondary. They might smooth out a bump or something, but don't expect them to obsess over the fine details of your profile or the overall shape. They might shave it down a tiny bit here or there, but they aren't going to put half the effort into the "look" as they do into the medical necessity. Just a reality check.
Maybe about 10% of the surgery was just for aesthetics.
Look, if you’re chasing that perfect, Hollywood nose—if you want "aesthetic perfection"—just go see a private specialist and pay the premium. That's their whole game. At the end of the day, for them, it’s all about one thing: sculpting a pretty nose for the client.

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Personally, I have total faith in the ENT department at the Mayo Clinic.
Doctors like Tafra, Cikojevic, Roje, and Racic are top-tier specialists. If you're dealing with a deviation, they’ll definitely fix the aesthetics for you—just enough so you don't end up with that classic "ENT hump."..
I think everyone needs to realize that in any hospital setting, when you say, "Hey, could you fix the look while you're at it?" they really do mean *just* as an afterthought. Their priority is the reason you're there in the first place—basically making sure your nose actually functions. Anything else gets handled with much less attention to detail regarding the overall shape; for instance, they might smooth out a hump, but they won't refine the tip or narrow the bridge. They might even shorten it a bit.
Maybe aesthetics only account for about 10% of the procedure.
So, if you're looking for a perfectly sculpted nose, go see a private plastic surgeon and pay the premium, because then their sole mission is to craft a beautiful nose.

I don't think that's quite right,🙄 because I've been reading here that people who went through the hospital ended up with exactly the nose they wanted, simply because it all depends on whether you actually mention it to the doctor or not... and obviously, who you see matters too. It's not necessarily about going private, since no one is going to give you a "perfect" nose if it isn't physically possible for your face, right?🙂

Hey there!

I need to get a checkup and surgery for my nose and sinuses—dealing with chronic inflammation and a deviated septum that makes breathing through the right side impossible. After digging through some threads about getting this done via Medicare versus going private, I've decided I definitely want to have the procedure done in a hospital setting.
Since so many of you have been raving about Dr. Taylor at the VA Hospital, I’m leaning toward him.
Does anyone know why it's impossible to get an appointment this year? When I called the nurse to schedule, she told me to just call back in 2011 because they aren't taking any more patients this year. She did mention I could see Dr. Brady in May, though.
The thing is, this time last year, you could actually book an appointment with Taylor without much trouble—maybe a 2 or 3 month wait, but it was doable.
So, should I just bite the bullet and go with Dr. Brady? I didn't see nearly as many glowing reviews for him, and honestly, I don't want to leave this problem unresolved or end up looking worse than I do now.

Brenda Sanders16 said:Hey!

I need to get checked out and have surgery on my nose and sinuses because of this constant inflammation and how I can't breathe through the right side. After reading some of you guys talking about insurance vs. private options, I’ve decided I definitely want to do this at the hospital.
I’m leaning toward Dr. Taylor at the VA Hospital since he seems to be the one everyone raves about.
Does anyone know why I can't even get a consultation this year? When I called to book, the nurse told me to call back in 2011 because they aren't taking more patients this year. I could see Dr. Brady in May though.
Because seriously, this time last year you could just book him and wait maybe 2 or 3 months max.
Should I just go with Dr. Brady instead? Not seeing much praise for him here, and I really don't want to mess this up and end up looking worse than I do now.

Look, I know you can't get surgery done this year if you need general anesthesia. If you go with local, you might get in within 1 or 2 months.
As for just the checkup, you're probably looking at a 2 to 3 month wait. You might have misunderstood the nurse...
Dr. Brady ended up doing my surgery by chance—it was supposed to be Dr. Mark—but honestly, I'm happy. My sensation is finally coming back in my left nostril septum.

Melissa Sanders48 said:Hey everyone,

just wanted to jump in here and share how things are going.
-it’s officially day 35 post-nose surgery.
-I went with Wilson—total cost was $13,200, which covered my consultations too. I ultimately pulled the trigger on him because he gave me a sense of security. Despite some of the chatter you see on this forum, the guy just felt like a genuine expert who knows his stuff.
-The procedure was a septorhinoplasty (endonasal), focusing on both the septum and the tip.
-It was done under general anesthesia.
-Even though the surgery dragged on for about 3.5 hours (since my nose was broken and had healed crookedly), I didn't deal with much pain or bruising. Honestly, even the doctor seemed surprised; I only had some slight yellowing around my eyes. I suspect that might be thanks to those skin, hair, and nail vitamins I’ve been taking from NaturalWell for the last five months.
-They pulled the packing out on day 5, and the external splint came off on day 10.
-A little over a month later, the profile looks great. It’s straight, looks totally natural, and doesn't look "operated on."
-The tip and the bridge are still a bit swollen, so I'm just waiting for that inflammation to finally settle down.
-I’ve been cleaning everything with chamomile rinses.
-Breathing is good. Some of the stitches have already fallen out, while others won't be removed until the two-month mark.

Hey, when you mention those vitamins, are you talking about the zinc from NaturalWell? That would make sense—my skin has been looking incredible since I started them. Since they worked so well for me, should I keep taking them leading up to my own surgery?

Chris Robinson6 said:Look, let me give you some perspective,
I dealt with chronic sinus infections myself—my entire left side would flare up periodically—all because of a deviated septum in my left nostril. That damn septum was the root cause of every single infection.
I finally went under the knife for a septoplasty 7 days ago at the Mayo Clinic with Dr. Brady. Honestly? It was smooth sailing. There was some minor discomfort, but they just used local anesthesia, so I was able to head home the very same day. I had the packing removed after two days. My nasal tip is still a little tender, but there’s zero bruising, which was actually my biggest fear...
One more thing: Dr. Brady is technically a pediatrician by trade...
And you absolutely do not go in for surgery while you're actively fighting an infection.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Thanks for getting back to me. My ENT told me to expect about a week in the hospital. I just got my CT scan results back today, and it turns out I have a right-side septal deviation. Looking at the images... man, it looks brutal.🙄
The lining is thickened on both sides, and there's inflammatory buildup in my maxillary sinuses (even after being on antibiotics for 21 days straight).
This whole situation is driving me crazy. Thank God the headaches have subsided, but the second the weather turns cold, I'm right back at square one.🙄

So, about a week ago, I went under the knife for septorhinoplasty at the VA Hospital in New York City. I was seeing Dr. Moore, who is widely considered their top ENT surgeon—people rave about him, especially when it comes to the aesthetic side of nose reshaping.

The whole process involved staying in the hospital for about 2 or 3 days. Including the time spent with facial casts and nasal packing, I was "wrapped up" for about 7 or 8 days total. Honestly, there was almost no swelling! My breathing feels noticeably better already (fingers crossed it keeps improving), and my nose looks straighter with a slightly lifted tip. As for the damage to my wallet, it cost roughly $450. That covers the general anesthesia plus everything else involving the hospital stay—vitals checks, meds, meals, doctor rounds, the whole nine yards.

Luckily, I had a place to crash while I was in town, so I didn't have to worry about extra hotel costs, just the train ticket to get there.

If anyone is curious about the specifics, just give me a shout! I’m more than happy to send you a private message with all the details on how everything went.

One quick question for the group, though. My doctor instructed me to use some Vitamin A+D drops to coat my nasal mucosa. In my rush to catch the train, I completely forgot to pick them up, and when I checked the local pharmacies here, they told me they were out of stock. Does anyone know where I can track these down in Washington, D.C.?

Chris Robinson6 said:I know it’s basically impossible to get surgery this year—if you're looking at general anesthesia, anyway. And if you go the local route, you'll be waiting 1-2 months just to get on the list.
As for just a consultation? You're looking at a 2-3 month wait. Maybe you misheard what the nurse told you...
By some crazy coincidence, I was operated on by Dr. Brady instead of Dr. Mark, but honestly, I’m happy with it. My sensation is finally starting to come back—specifically in the septum of my left nostril.

No, I didn't misunderstand her. I sent an email and she told me straight up that Taylor has zero openings for even a single consultation, and if you want to see any of the other doctors, you're looking at a 7 or 8-month wait.
I actually have an appointment with Brady in May for my first check-up.
Thanks for the info! Just one more thing—did you have any other corrections done, or was it strictly just the deviation?

Brenda Sanders16 said:No, I didn't misunderstand you. I sent an email and she told me that Taylor doesn't have any openings for an initial consultation, and that you can book with other doctors in July or August.
I'm seeing Brady in May (for the first checkup).
Thanks for getting back to me; I was also just wondering if you had any additional corrective work done or if it was just the deviation.

It seems a bit strange to me that you can't get an initial appointment with Taylor anymore. I know someone who tried to book a first visit with him just ten or fifteen days ago, and they couldn't get a slot until late August—back in 2010, of course.
Maybe try calling them directly to see if you get a different story, or perhaps head down to the VA Hospital in person to inquire, depending on where you're located.
If you ask me, you should hold out for Taylor. He’s incredibly skilled, so don't let the wait discourage you. He performed my surgery, and there isn't a chance in hell I'd choose anyone else.

Brenda Sanders16 said:No, I didn't misunderstand. I sent an email and she told me Taylor doesn't have any openings for an initial consult, but you can book other doctors in July or August.
I'm seeing Brady in May for my first appointment.
Thanks for getting back to me, just wanted to know if you had any extra work done or just the deviation fix.

I didn't do any more corrections besides the deviation. I actually wanted him to fix that little bump on the bridge of my nose while he was at it, but he said no way...
I stopped asking about it since that's basically cosmetic surgery and we hadn't talked about that beforehand.
Like I mentioned before, I was supposed to see Dr. Mark for the surgery. She said she'd take care of the bump for me, but her nurse messed up the scheduling, so I ended up with Brady instead...
Honestly, I think it just comes down to the doctor and what they decide to fix on the fly...
Good luck!!!!

Hey everyone, here's another update🙄
I’ve been reading through all these posts so closely that my eyes are actually starting to hurt—I've been glued to my computer screen for hours now🤣
Anyway, after looking at everything in detail, I've decided to go with Dr. Miller. But, of course, I've run into a little snag. I really need to get this over with as soon as possible because my ragweed allergies are absolutely brutal. I can't really deal with the summer heat, and honestly, I don't think the surgery will do much good if my nose is completely stuffed up from allergies anyway. Plus, I'm currently in the middle of my studies, and I really shouldn't be skipping classes. So, I was wondering: how long does it usually take before I can head out into the world again without people staring at me like I'm an alien?🤣🤣
Thanks so much😁

placidscout25 said:Hey everyone, here’s another update🙄
I’ve been scrolling through these threads so intensely my eyes are actually starting to fail me—been glued to this computer screen for hours now.🤣
Anyway, after deep-diving into all the details, I’ve decided Dr. Miller is the one. But, naturally, there’s a catch. I really need to get this over with ASAP because my allergies to freaking ragweed are killing me; I can't deal with summer if my nose is constantly stuffed up, otherwise, what's even the point of the surgery? Plus, I’m a student, so skipping lectures isn't exactly ideal. Does anyone know how long it takes before I can actually head out into public without people staring at me like I’m some kind of alien?🤣🤣
Thanks a ton😁

Honestly, it’s different for everybody depending on the specific procedure... but if I were you, I'd budget at least two weeks. Based on everything I've read in these posts, that seems to be the standard. When I had my first one, I was able to step out the moment they pulled the tampons out on day five since I didn't end up with any bruising... just a little swelling in the nose. Still, I stayed cooped up at home until the stitches fell out 😁 and the swelling finally went down... maybe around ten days.

rustygardener172 said:It really just comes down to the individual and what kind of procedure you're having... but I’d plan on at least two weeks. That seems to be the consensus based on everything I've read online. After my first surgery, I was actually able to head out as soon as they removed the packing on day five since I didn't deal with any bruising... just a bit of swelling around my nose. Even then, I stayed home until the splints fell 😁 and my nose settled down a little bit... maybe about ten days total.

Thanks so much!😍

Hey everyone, I've been hearing from quite a few people that getting nose surgery is basically one of the worst things you can go through—like, they describe the pain as absolutely unbearable and just nightmarish...
Also, does anyone actually know if it’s possible to just have the skin treated? Like, could they just remove the excess tissue without having to touch the bone at all?

Alex Moore62 said:It feels pretty weird to me that you can't get an appointment with Taylor anymore—an acquaintance of mine tried to book an initial consultation just 10 or 15 days ago and didn't get a slot until the end of August... obviously back in 2010.
Maybe try calling them directly to see if they give you a different story, or just head down to the VA Hospital in person to sign up—I'm not sure where you're located right now.
Honestly, my best advice? Wait for Taylor. He is incredibly skilled, so don't let the wait scare you off! He performed my surgery, and there is absolutely no way I'd trust anyone else.

Well, I called User000 this past Friday on July 7th, 2010, and then I tried reaching out to Taylor via both email and phone—but every single time, they told me there are zero openings left for this year.
It makes zero sense to me—I mean, a consultation only takes about 10 minutes, yet I’m dying to see him specifically.
I actually have a friend who works there as a nurse, and she told me I can't get in with him either, but nobody is willing to say *why* it suddenly became impossible to see him. I can't just sit around waiting until 2011 just to finally get on the schedule.
When I was poking around asking questions, people kept saying User000 is the best, followed by Taylor, and then Brady. Anyway, I've been reading your posts, which is why I decided on Taylor in the first place, so thank you for getting back to me. By the way, did you go through with the corrective procedure? How are you feeling about the results?

Chris Robinson6 said:I haven't asked for any more corrections besides the deviation—though I really wanted them to shave down that little bump on the bridge of my nose while they were at it. But the surgeon told me he wouldn't do it...
I just didn't want to push my luck by asking for more, since that technically falls under cosmetic surgery and we hadn't originally agreed to anything like that.
I actually mentioned before that I was supposed to see Dr. Mark during the surgery. She had promised she'd fix that little bump for me on the fly, but because her nurse messed up the scheduling, I ended up stuck with Dr. Brady instead...
Still, I think it all comes down to the individual doctor and what they're willing to throw in as an extra...
Good luck!!!!

Thanks!🙂

Brenda Sanders16 said:I tried booking an appointment with Paul Sullivan88 back on July 7th, 2010, and I’ve reached out to Taylor via both email and phone regarding her clinic, but every single time they tell me there isn't an opening left this year.
It just doesn't make sense to me; the exam only takes ten minutes, yet I'm determined to see him.
I actually have an acquaintance who works there as a nurse, and she mentioned that getting in with him is impossible right now, though nobody will give me a straight answer as to why it suddenly became such a hurdle. I really can't afford to wait until 2011 just to get on the schedule.
When I was asking around, people kept saying Paul Sullivan88 is the best, followed by Taylor, and then Brady. I've been following your posts, which is why I leaned toward Taylor, so thanks for getting back to me. Did you ever have them perform a corrective procedure, and how was the outcome?

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with Dr. Smith either, so don't sweat it 👍, because he's excellent.
As for Taylor, she’s likely just completely underwater this year; she carries an enormous patient load and handles incredibly high-stakes, complex cases, like oncological surgeries.
If I may offer one bit of advice: try to schedule any surgery during the colder months, like winter, rather than in the middle of summer. It makes the recovery process much smoother and helps minimize the risk of complications.
Best of luck 🙂

Alex Moore62 said:Honestly, you won't go wrong with Dr. Smith—don't even sweat it 👍, he's solid.
Taylor is probably just slammed this year—like, seriously overbooked—because his patient load is massive and he's handling some incredibly intense stuff (oncology surgeries).
And just a heads-up: try to schedule the surgery for when it's colder out (winter), rather than mid-summer. It'll make your recovery way smoother and help dodge any unnecessary complications.
Good luck 🙂

Hopefully everything turns out fine. If I'm lucky, I might actually get scheduled for surgery in October. I have to admit, I'm terrified—I've never been in a hospital in my entire life and I've never had surgery before. Please, just tell me: if you've had nose work done, are you happy with the results? I'm thinking about fixing that too, but I'm honestly freaking out about how I'll look🙂.
Thanks for all the replies, you've been such a huge help.