Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Sarah Brooks said:Hey girls, I'm scheduled for my procedure on May 28th, so I guess I can be your guinea pig... just to let you all know whether you should run for the hills or if you should be counting down the days. I actually put myself on the waiting list back in December for surgery, but they didn't schedule me until late May...

👍...oh man, that really is a long wait, but I'm hoping it ends up being totally worth it... good luck!

I’m planning on making the trip either this winter or next summer.
I won't be pulling the trigger until I know exactly what I'm getting into.
My plan is to work with either Smith or Johnson. What are their pros and cons? And more importantly, are there any dealbreakers I should watch out for?

Sarah Brooks said:Hey ladies! So, I'm heading in to see Dr. Miller on May 28th, so I guess I’ll be our little guinea pig... just so you all know whether to run for the hills or start counting down the days. Honestly, I booked my surgery back in June for a May slot—crazy wait times, right?

Awesome, please let us know how it goes immediately! Are you going for purely aesthetic stuff or is it functional too? And man, you got in so fast... did you go to him for an initial consultation first? I haven't been keeping up with your old posts if you've mentioned this before—sorry about that!

Hi everyone. I’m reaching out because I’ve run into a bit of a situation, and I’m hoping someone here might have gone through something similar and can offer some perspective. It’s been 17 days since my rhinoplasty—I went under the knife to fix a prominent hump on the bridge and to shorten the tip. My surgeon was very confident beforehand; he promised he’d smooth out that bump and refine the profile, and everything sounded perfectly straightforward. However, looking at where I am right now, I’m honestly struggling to find any satisfaction with the results. The nose is still incredibly tender to the touch, and the lower section feels remarkably hard—though I suppose that’s just the swelling doing its thing. What’s really eating at me, though, is the shape. It looks... well, "potato-like" is the word that comes to mind. I can't even say the nose looks smaller yet; it just looks different, which isn't exactly what I signed up for. To make matters worse, one nostril seems to sit differently than the other, creating this visual illusion in photos that my nose is actually drifting to one side. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of asymmetry or odd shaping during the early stages? Can I realistically expect the swelling to subside enough for things to settle into a normal shape? And it's not just the shape—while the hump on one side seems okay, I can feel a small, lingering protrusion on the other side when I touch it. It isn't glaringly obvious, but it's there, and frankly, the whole situation is leaving me feeling quite desperate. I am fully aware that the healing process is a marathon and that it takes a significant amount of time for the final shape to emerge, but given how it looks right now, I’m finding it hard to stay optimistic. Sorry for the long-winded post—I know it's a lot—but if anyone has had a similar experience during their recovery, please, share it with me. I just need to know what to expect and if there’s actually light at the end of this tunnel. Thank you all so much for any insight you can provide. 🙂

rowdybison122 said:Hi everyone! I’m running into a bit of a situation and was hoping someone might be able to share their experience to help me out. It’s been 17 days since my rhinoplasty. My nose was quite large, with a very noticeable bump on the bridge. Before the surgery, my surgeon promised he could smooth out that bump, refine the tip, and make everything look perfect. Well, honestly, I am not happy with how things turned out so far. My nose is still incredibly tender to the touch, and the lower part feels extremely hard—I assume it’s just heavy swelling, but it’s frustrating. What really bothers me is that it looks somewhat "bulbous." It doesn't actually feel any smaller; it just looks like a different shape than what I started with. It also seems like one nostril looks uneven compared to the other, which makes it look like my nose is "tilting" to one side in photos. Has anyone else dealt with this after their procedure? Can I realistically expect the swelling to go down and things to settle into a normal shape? And that’s not even all of it... the upper part where the bump used to be looks okay on one side, but when I touch the other side, I can still feel a small protrusion. It isn't huge, but it's definitely there, and it's driving me crazy. I know it takes a long time for the final shape to emerge, but given how it looks right now, I'm feeling pretty discouraged. Sorry for the long vent! If anyone has gone through something similar, could you please share your story? I just need to know what to expect and if there's hope for a better result. Thank you so much for any replies! 🙂

Would you mind sharing which doctor you went to? Thanks!

I wasn't seeing a private specialist—I was actually at the hospital over in Columbus. Because of that, I’m not entirely sure if my experience will be useful to anyone else here... but honestly, if anyone has gone through something similar, please share. I am truly in a bad way right now. I just need to know if anyone else has dealt with these kinds of complications and, more importantly, how things turned out for you in the end.

I haven't had a chance to experience anything like that myself since I haven't made the trip yet, but I'm planning on it! Maybe someone else here on the forum can weigh in and help you out. Unfortunately, I can't really give you any firsthand advice 😢 Perhaps it would be worth giving that doctor a quick call just to ask if everything is proceeding exactly as it should be?

I’ve already gone through the checkup, but his feedback was nothing more than a series of dismissive "everything looks great" and "don't worry, you'll be fine" comments...🤷 Honestly, I can't shake the feeling that it's just easier for him to play it safe than to actually admit if something went sideways—it's almost as if acknowledging a potential mistake is too much to ask. Of course, there's also the very real possibility that I'm just spiraling over nothing and things will turn out perfectly fine in the end, which is exactly why I decided to reach out here and see if anyone else has dealt with this kind of ambiguity..

rowdybison122 said:Hey everyone. I need some advice based on what you guys have been through. It’s been 17 days since my rhinoplasty. My nose was huge with a massive bump on top. The surgeon promised he'd flatten the bump, shorten the tip, and make everything look perfect. Well, I’m hating the results so far. It still hurts like hell if I touch it, and the bottom part is rock hard—probably just swelling, but it looks totally "potato-shaped." Honestly, it doesn't even look smaller; it just looks weirdly shaped now. One side looks different than the other, so in photos, it looks like my nose is crooked. Has anyone dealt with this? Will the swelling actually go down and normalize? And that’s not even all of it. The top part that used to be bumpy looks okay on one side, but I can feel another small bump on the other side. It's not super obvious, but it's there, and it's driving me crazy. I know it takes a long time for things to settle, but right now, I'm miserable. Sorry for the long rant, but please share your experiences so I know what to expect. Thanks. 🙂

Don't freak out too much. You're only 17 days out, which is basically nothing. I'm almost 2 months post-op and my tip is still numb. It's way too early to stress. Hopefully, it all settles, but honestly, I'll always say you're better off going to a private specialist. 😉

Ashley Young34 said:Don't panic too much—it’s only been 17 days since your surgery, so everything is still incredibly fresh. It's been almost two months for me, and I still have some numbness at the tip of my nose. It is way too early to worry, but I really hope everything returns to normal for you soon. Personally, I’ll keep insisting that going to a private specialist is definitely the best way to go. 😉

I don't know... I suppose you might believe that paying someone extra ensures better care, and in most cases, that actually turns out to be true. However, most of those surgeons at the hospital mostly run their own private practices anyway. From my own experience going in for checkups—even with the ones who are genuinely top-tier—every single one of them has their own private clinic, so it all ends up being more or less the same thing.

Dana Alvarez said:I don't know... I think you're leaning on the idea that paying extra guarantees better care, which is usually true. But most of those surgeons at the hospital run private practices too. Every time I've gone in for checkups, even with the good ones, they all have their own private clinics. It basically ends up being the same thing.

A lot of people are fed up with how hospitals are run. I'm not saying private clinics can't screw up, but there are way more screw-ups happening in the public hospitals.☕

Ashley Young34 said:So many people are incredibly frustrated with how things are being handled at the hospitals. I’m not saying private clinics are perfect—they definitely mess up too—but it feels like there are way more screw-ups happening in the public hospital system. ☕

I guess there’s really no point in us even debating this.😉I was actually going to ask if you could shoot me a private message with the names of any doctors or hospitals you know that have really messed up or something like that.🙄I guess I’m just feeling a bit more on edge lately since my surgery is coming up.🙂

Dana Alvarez said:Look, there's no point arguing about this😉...I just wanted to ask if you could DM me some names of doctors or hospitals you know that messed up🙄...my surgery is coming up soon and I'm freaking out🙂

Honestly, I have no clue about specific names. I went private to see Dr. Smith and I was extremely happy with the results. 😉

Rebecca Gomez37 said:Hey everyone...
Checking in. Three weeks post-op... and I’m more than satisfied.🙏
Those who have been following along know this is my second surgery... This time they went with an osteotomy—essentially breaking the lateral bones entirely to reconstruct the cartilage...
I wanted to share some advice. After my first procedure—it was just a dilation back then—I looked absolutely horrific. Honestly, I was a mess... bruised everywhere, swollen beyond recognition. I hadn't prepared myself at all. That’s why this time, I actually did my homework and stayed on top of things. It made a huge difference. Just some light purple circles under my eyes, and everything cleared up quickly...🙂)
What did I even do...?
I was taking zinc tablets and Vitamin C powder daily. Seven days prior to surgery, I took homeopathic Arnica pellets, and continued for another seven days following the procedure...
I applied the LIOTON gel to my bruises... then 24 hours after the surgery, I tried keeping the gel-led on my neck, a bit on the back of my head, a little around the eyes... five minutes at a time... then repeating every hour...
After surgery, everyone just wants to get back to their old selves immediately. But honestly, with this kind of procedure, you'll be completely fine within seven days... I haven't even touched foundation or concealer lately, and my nose looks great...👍
Hello...

Hello. I see you’ve already undergone two surgeries and had to break those lateral bones. I haven't gone under the knife yet... still planning. Deciding on the where, the how, and which surgeon... but breaking the bone seems inevitable given my wide nose. I'm wondering if breaking those side bones requires two separate procedures, or if it can all be handled in one go. Honestly, I don't quite grasp why you had to go back a second time...

One more thing. Most people here claim they're happy with Dr. Smith's work, but I just spent some time reviewing his portfolio and... I'm not feeling it. While his bone structure work seems solid enough, the nasal profiles are just unattractive. Too many bulbous noses, and the nasal bridges look like they're floating in mid-air. I don't know what results you all are getting from him, but personally, it’s nothing special...

I just took a look at Dr. Smith's portfolio, and I have to say, I’m really impressed. His profile looks fantastic, and it seems like a ton of women are choosing him for their procedures. By the way, when you go in for your initial consultation... does the doctor usually show you a preview of what the results might actually look like after surgery, or what kind of things do you typically discuss?

On a side note—and I'm just dreaming here!—if Fanny ever had plastic surgery, I would absolutely love for my surgeon to give me a nose just like hers:
Honestly, looking at Smith's work, he really seems like a total specialist in this field.🙂

Chloe Watson35 said:Hey, I see you had to go under the knife twice and deal with breaking side bones. I haven't done it yet—still figuring out when, where, and who—but I know I'll definitely need the bone work because my nose is wide. Does breaking those side bones mean you have to go in for two separate surgeries, or can it all be handled at once? Also, I don't get why you had to do it twice :/.

One more thing: most people here swear by Dr. Smith, but I just looked at his work and I'm not feeling it. The bone structure looks fine, but a lot of the noses look tacky to me. The bridges look too elevated, almost like they're floating. I don't know what kind of results you guys are getting, but personally, I'm not impressed.

Looks like you don't really know how this works. You don't need two surgeries just to break the side bones; that’s all handled in one go. The reason I'm posting is about Dr. Smith
specifically his work. I had my nose done by him, including the side bone work, and he doesn't just do those upturned noses. He does whatever style you actually want, or whatever fits your face best.☕

Amanda Morris76 said:I just went to check out Dr. Smith's portfolio, and I really love his work. His profile looks amazing, and it seems like a ton of women choose him. By the way, when you go in for your initial consultation... does the doctor actually show you what the results might look like after the surgery, or what kind of things do you guys discuss?

Anyway (and I'm not saying this is a fact), but if Fanny had plastic surgery, I would absolutely love for my surgeon to give me a nose just like hers:
and honestly, Smith's work makes it look like he's a total specialist in this field.🙂

Oh man, I don't know! Everyone has different tastes, so please don't take this the wrong way, but I find it hard to believe you think Fanny's nose is actually that beautiful.😕...

I’m not a fan of Fanny's nose either. It looks way too small, almost artificial. A slightly larger one might actually suit her better, since her eyes look like donuts.

Now, I need someone who actually knows what they're talking about to answer me. I was browsing Dr. Smith's website again and stumbled upon this photo: If that was the result they offered me, I'd walk out immediately.

Here’s the situation: Like I mentioned, I have a pretty wide nose. In profile, there's a bump, then a dip, and then a rounded tip. Honestly, the whole thing just looks like a potato. If my eyes were bigger, I wouldn't even bother with surgery, but they're small—I end up looking like characters from Avatar.

Basically, I'd need someone to break the side bones and deal with that bump to reshape everything. My question is: to get results like the picture, does it HAVE TO be done with an incision under the lip? Or is there another way? I’m terrified of that. They can mess with my nose all they want, but there is zero chance they'll be cutting into my mouth area.

Has anyone here had a similar nose shape, and how did you handle it?

Here is a photo that looks exactly like my nose: http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1603/yo20.jpg

And this is what I’m aiming for—maybe even a bit narrower: http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7188/yo1rr.jpg

Please, if anyone knows, let me know. Thanks.🙂

Chloe Watson35 said:I'm with you—I don't love Fanny's nose either. It looks way too small and artificial. Maybe if it were just a little larger, her eyes wouldn't look quite so huge, like donuts.

Anyway, I’m hoping someone who actually knows their stuff can help me out. I was browsing Dr. Smith's website and happened to stumble upon this photo: If that's the direction they'd take with my face, I'd be walking away immediately.

Here's the deal: As I mentioned, I have a pretty wide nose. In profile, there's a bump, then a dip, and then a rounded tip. To put it bluntly, it looks like a potato. If I had bigger eyes, I probably wouldn't even bother, but since mine are small, I end up looking like a lead actor from Avatar.

So, it sounds like I'd need to have the side bones broken and that bump shaved down to reshape everything. My big question is: To get results like the one in the photo, does it HAVE to involve an incision under the lip? Is there any other way? I'm honestly terrified of that part. I don't mind if they fix my nose, but there is absolutely no way I'm letting anyone cut into my mouth area.

Has anyone here dealt with a similar nose shape, and how did you handle the procedure?

This photo is basically a twin of my nose: http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1603/yo20.jpg

And this is more or less what I'm aiming for (maybe even a bit slimmer): http://img34.imageshack.us/img340/7188/yo1rr.jpg

Please, if anyone can answer that question above, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks.🙂

In my opinion, all rhinoplasties look a bit intimidating at first. I was scared too, but let's be real—nobody is dying from this. Think about how many people have gone under the knife multiple times and are still here, living their best lives. Plus, you won't feel a thing while you're under general anesthesia anyway.

My question is for Nika🙂 and anyone else who has been through this: What do you actually talk about during that first consultation with the doctor? Do you bring in reference photos and discuss exactly what kind of nose you want, or is it more of a general conversation?

Thanks so much.

Chloe Watson35 said:I’m not a fan of Fanny's nose either—it looks way too tiny and fake. Honestly, maybe a slightly larger one would suit her better because right now her eyes look like huge donuts.

Alright, I really need someone who actually knows their stuff to weigh in here. I was browsing Dr. Smith's website again and stumbled upon this photo: If that's what they’d do to me, I’m out. No thanks.

Here’s the deal: Like I mentioned, I have a pretty wide nose. In profile, there's a bump, then a dip, and then the tip is just rounded off. To put it bluntly, the whole thing looks like a potato. If I had bigger eyes, I probably wouldn't even bother with surgery, but mine are small, so I end up looking like one of those lead actors from *Avatar*.

So, basically, they’d need to break my side bones and fix that bump to reshape everything. My big question is: to get results like the picture, DO THEY HAVE TO DO THAT INCISION UNDER THE LIP? Is there any other way? I am terrified of that. Look, I don't mind if they mess with my nose, but there is zero chance they're going to be hacking away at my mouth area.

Has anyone else dealt with a nose similar to mine? How did you handle it?

Here’s a photo that looks exactly like my nose: http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1603/yo20.jpg

And this is more like what I want (maybe even a bit narrower): http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7188/yo1rr.jpg

Please, someone help me out with that question above. Thanks! 🙂

Don't take this the wrong way... but it would be helpful if you actually read the whole text instead of just glancing at the pictures. 🙂 Check out this snippet from Dr. Smith's site: "Additionally, the nasolabial angle (the angle between the nose and the upper lip) needs to be measured to determine if the nasal tip droops during facial animation." This means they don't just do that to everyone—only to patients whose nose tips tilt downward when they talk. Try talking while looking in the mirror; if your nose dips down, you might fall into that group where they have to adjust those muscle fibers. Again, I'm repeating myself: it doesn't necessarily mean they'll do that to you. You won't know for sure until the first consultation when they look at your face in person. All in all... even if they do have to make an incision, it's really not a big deal, it's not painful, and you can't see the scar afterward.

As for those two nose photos... honestly, it looks like the exact same nose to me. 😁 Maybe my perception is totally off, but it looks like one nose photographed from two different angles and distances. The first shot is a close-up, fairly centered, and the second is taken from further away and more from the side. I feel like I'm rambling now, so I'll stop. 🙂 😁