Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Kate Lee43 said:I’m really curious if anyone knows what the actual process looks like when you're just fixing the tip of the nose—you know, specifically focusing on the cartilage part.
I just want to slim down that specific area a bit, make it look smaller...
Does this actually require full-blown surgery, general anesthesia, nasal packing, and all that?
Please let me know if you have any insight!
Thanks so much!😉

Oh, absolutely—it’s a "yes" from me. Honestly, there’s way more work involved than people realize!
The silver lining is that your recovery time should be a lot smoother. And hey, you don't necessarily need to go under general anesthesia; depending on what you and your surgeon decide, it’s totally doable using enhanced local anesthesia instead.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to pop in, say a huge hello to all of you, and share my little saga regarding my nose job. So, when I finally decided to pull the trigger on a rhinoplasty because my septum was acting all wonky and split, I started hitting up different doctors. First, I went to see Dr. Kinčl for a consultation—he gets tons of rave reviews online, but let me tell you, those prices listed on his website? Total lie! They aren't even close to reality because they tack on extra charges for the anesthesiologist, the nursing staff, and who knows what else, making the final bill absolutely outrageous. I bailed on him immediately. Then, I went to see Dr. Tončić, where I actually met Tončić Jr., who honestly seems like he knows about surgery just as much as I do! He’ll suggest one technique, then call his dad over, only for his dad to be like, "Nah, that technique is garbage," and suggest something else entirely. I walked away feeling like they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Eventually, I decided to go with OSTOJIĆ because he seemed totally amazing at first; he explained everything so clearly and I thought, "This is it!" I went through with it, had the surgery, went home, got my tampons out the next day, and then a week later when they removed the cast... oh my god, my nose felt like it was burning worse than ever! Now, my nose looks completely crooked. While he did fix the septum, the whole thing pulls to the right, so the right side is way wider and larger than the left—it's honestly hideous. To top it all off, we got into a massive argument, and he actually kicked me out of his office because he was being a total creep and hitting on me! AND ALL THIS FOR JUST 15 $0.00! Seriously, stay far away from OSTOJIĆ. I haven't been back for a single follow-up since the cast came off. I even tried to file a complaint over at the clinic on Šubićev, but it was useless because all the doctors there just look out for each other. 👎

I finally took the splint off today! My nose actually looks quite straight, even though it’s pretty large. I’ve got some bruising and some skin discoloration in that area right now, but I’ll be able to see the true results in about a month once the swelling goes down and my skin settles back to normal. Regardless, my nose already looks better than it did before. Just a word of advice, everyone: be really careful about where you choose to go for these things. I didn't end up seeing any of the doctors you mentioned because they all seem to just rush through these routine thirty-minute procedures—and well, look what happened there. In contrast, my surgeon was incredibly thorough, spending two and a half hours meticulously working on my nose. I'm not entirely sure how the final shape will look once all the swelling subsides, but at this stage, I am genuinely happy with the outcome. 🙂 :P

rustycrane12 said:Just wanted to say hi and share my experience with nose surgery. When I finally decided to get it done because my septum was a bit split, I went through several doctors. First, I went to consult with Dr. Kinčl—he gets a lot of praise, but those prices listed on his website? Total lies. They end up being at least double once you factor in the anesthesiologist, the nurses, and whatever else... the final bill is just insulting. So, I passed on him. Then I saw Dr. Tončić, where I was seen by Tončić Jr.—who honestly seems to know about surgery about as much as I do. He suggested one technique, then called his dad over, who basically said, "Nah, that technique is useless," and proposed something else. I walked away feeling like neither of them had a clue. Eventually, I went to Ostojić, who seemed great at first. Everything sounded perfect, so I pulled the trigger. After the surgery, I went home, had my tampons removed the next day, and a week later when they took the mold off... my nose hurt worse than before. Now my nose is crooked—he fixed the septum, sure, but now the right side is wider and bigger than the left. It’s awful. To top it all off, we got into a fight and he actually kicked me out of his office because he was hitting on me. AND ALL THIS FOR JUST 15 $0.00. Whatever you do, stay away from Ostojić. I haven't gone back for a single follow-up since the mold came off. I tried complaining over at Šubićev, but nothing happens—all these doctors just protect their own.👎

Man. 😢 I am so sorry. This is actually the second time I've read on this thread about Ostojić hitting on someone—apparently, he was touching another girl on her thigh. 😳

Anthony Kern43 said:So, I finally took the cast off today. Honestly, my nose looks totally flat right now, even though it’s huge. I’ve got some bruising going on and the skin is looking a bit weird in that spot, but I won't know the real deal for another month once the swelling actually dies down and my skin settles back into place. Regardless, the shape is already better than what I started with... seriously people, watch where you go with this stuff. I didn't end up going to any of those places you mentioned because they all just rush through it in like thirty minutes, and look what happens when they do that. My surgeon actually took his time—spent two and a half hours working on my nose. I have no clue how it'll look once the puffiness fades, but for now, I'm pretty happy with it 🙂 :P

So, who did you actually go to? Give us the details! Help out those of us who haven't pulled the trigger yet but definitely need to 😁

I’d love to give you a specific recommendation, but I should mention this doctor is actually an ENT specialist. Honestly, given the current economic climate in the US, it’s tough to justify the massive fees for those "private" surgeons—you know, the ones who sound high-end because they use the word "private," but in reality, they’re just overpriced specialists with big reputations and mediocre skills. My surgeon might have specialized in plastic surgery, but he truly loves what he does. He spent two and a half hours working on my nose, which says a lot. Whether the final results are perfect remains to be seen once I get all these stitches out, but I can tell you this: while I can't name him or his clinic, he clearly knows his craft. He doesn't do these procedures every single day, but when he does, he focuses on quality over quantity.

Right now, my nose looks a bit swollen, but from the profile view, you can see it’s already straightening out and the tip is lifted—just enough, though. The real test of the results will be seeing if the size settles into something realistic and whether the tip stays in this position or drops slightly over time.
I really have to hand it to the doctor for his dedication and effort; I’m feeling confident that once everything settles, I’ll have that straight, masculine look I’m going for.

For anyone looking to get this kind of work done properly, my best advice would be to look outside of the major hubs like Washington, D.C. Often, surgeons outside the big metropolitan circles put in more effort simply because they aren't riding on a famous name yet—they are still hungry to build their reputation and grow their practice.

After waiting for seven long days, I’m finally checking into the hospital tonight... following all those endless check-ups, I was actually scheduled to be admitted last Friday—meaning I should have shown up that Sunday (exactly seven days ago) to get settled in. But, knowing how things go, I didn't just show up; instead, I spent every single day calling at 2:30 in the morning just to ask if I was actually needed that day... and well, here I am, checking in this evening. Honestly, Lord, please help me with Gudelj... up until now, I’ve only ever read glowing reviews about him, but suddenly these negative comments are starting to pop up everywhere... I really hope he doesn't mess this up for me.

To be honest, those seven days of anticipation were killing me—just wanting to finally get this over with. It’s been over two months since my initial exams... I’ve got my laptop with me and a USB internet stick, so I’ll post the results directly from the hospital once I'm feeling settled.

The crew here on the ward was actually praising Gudelj quite a bit... so I'm trying to find some hope in that, too. I'm actually pretty happy with how my nose looks right now—the shape is fine—so I just hope he clears out the nasal passages and leaves everything else exactly as it is. Anyway, I'll check back in later tonight once I've found my room... hopefully they actually feed me dinner.

Oh, I forgot to mention—when I swung by last Monday morning to check in, they gave me the option to stay overnight. Thank goodness I didn't, otherwise I would've been stuck in the hospital for a whole week. That setup works well for people coming from outside the city, since they don't have to worry about travel costs—because let me tell you, you can be certain they won't admit you exactly when you're scheduled; they'll mostly just take your paperwork and wait for an anesthesiologist to become available, if you haven't seen one already. There's a little cafe and sandwich bar right in the lobby, and a few other spots just across from the hospital... At least you get a few days of paid accommodation here in Washington, D.C., and since you aren't officially on the operating schedule yet, I figure you can just wander around the city while you wait to be added to the list. That seems like a decent deal for anyone traveling from out of town—maybe they have some errands to run while they're here. Just a word of advice: don't bring a car. Parking is non-existent. Thankfully, I have a business connection with the hospital, so I can use the staff lot; otherwise, I wouldn't even bother driving. Searching for a spot around here is a nightmare, and you never know when the parking enforcement might be lurking. Better to just forget about it.

Anyway, I'll touch base this evening.

Honestly, if you're heading into surgery today, I don't think you'll be in much of a headspace for typing or posting once you wake up. Between dealing with a swollen nose and trying to shake off that heavy anesthesia fog while managing the pain, 😉 you probably won't even be thinking about checking the forums for at least another two days. 🙂

Anthony Kern43 said:I mean, look—if you’re actually heading into surgery today, just trust me on this: you aren't going to be in any kind of mood to sit around typing or posting once you wake up. Between the swelling from the rhinoplasty making your nose feel like a lead weight and that weird, hazy fog where the anesthesia just absolutely batters your brain—not to mention the pain—it's just not going to be happening. You'll mostly just want to sleep it off. 😉 You won't even be able to wrap your head around the decision for another two days—give yourself some breathing room before you start overthinking things. 🙂

So, here I am, stuck in the hospital... I checked in last night, around 7:30 PM—you know, that awkward time when they serve you dinner way too early. Honestly, what a waste of time. I had some free time until 10:00 PM, so I slipped out for a quick smoke break—just needed a moment of peace, really. While I was out, they came by and gave me an injection in the abdomen to prevent blood clots, along with one of those sleeping pills that, frankly, doesn't do a damn thing. It’s hard to sleep anyway when everyone around you is snoring like crazy, their noses completely stuffed up... just constant noise. Then, suddenly, at 6:00 AM sharp! Wake up call. Thermometer check, making the bed, the whole routine... and now I'm just sitting here waiting for the doctors to make their rounds. I'm actually first on the list for surgery today. Wish me luck.

I’ll get back to you either tonight or sometime tomorrow... sending greetings from room number 4—up on the second floor of the ENT department at Rebro Hospital. 😁

I was wondering if anyone here has gone through nasal surgery specifically to fix airflow issues—basically, to stop that constant nasal resonance while speaking.

My voice sounds so muffled and dull, and honestly, I’d love to just get this operated on so I can finally stop talking through my nose. Has anyone actually dealt with this before?

wanderingmason86 said:Yeah, totally—there's way more to do than it looks like at first glance.
The only upside is that your recovery should be a breeze. General anesthesia isn't a must, either—if you clear it with your doctor, they can actually do the whole thing under local anesthesia instead.

So, I just got back from my consultation with Dr. Zambelli.
He told me I actually have a really nice, slim nose with a pretty pronounced tip in the cartilage area.
His plan is to just inject the nose locally, shave down that bit of cartilage, and lift it slightly to hit about a 105-degree angle—he mentioned that anything between 95 and 110 degrees is basically the sweet spot for women.
Supposedly, I'd just have to wear some little bandages for two weeks, and the actual procedure only takes about 20 minutes.

I'm still on the fence about jumping into it, especially since my cartilage is kind of tough...
The wildest part? He won't even guarantee that the cartilage won't just grow right back...😕

Kate Lee43 said:I honestly can't decide if I should just dive headfirst into all of this, but man, I have such a massive craving right now! It’s like that feeling when you're staring at a menu and you know exactly what sounds good, but you're still second-guessing if you should go big or stay safe. I'm totally torn!
Here’s the kicker—the part that really gets you thinking—he won't actually guarantee that the exact same cartilage won't just decide to grow right back again!😕

It really all comes down to a few things—your age, where you stand financially, and just how much you're willing to invest in yourself! It’s like choosing between a reliable used sedan and a high-end luxury ride; your budget and your stage in life dictate which path makes the most sense for you. 😉
If you’re still really young, my advice is to just hold off for a bit. Take some time to sit with it, breathe, and maybe even learn to embrace that little "imperfection" of yours. You might find that once you grow into yourself, it doesn't feel like such a flaw anymore!
Look, I’ll be real with you—it all really comes down to how your recovery plays out once the dust settles. Everything depends on that post-op journey! While we always hope for the absolute best-case scenario, we have to stay grounded: there is definitely a possibility that things won't turn out exactly how you've pictured them in your head. It's all about how your body responds to the process!
Based on everything you’ve described, it honestly doesn't sound like anything stands out or looks out of place. If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't bother "fixing" it at all!

Chloe Perez44 said:Well, here I am, still stuck with my "old nose."😁
Klapan😉, not Kaplan. I went to him for a consultation, and honestly, he seems incredibly serious—like, he doesn't want to take any risks. He’s not into making radical changes to noses; he prefers a flatter profile. He does a computer simulation that costs $500😲, and overall, he left a good impression on me. But man, he’s pricey. And what really turned me off—I was almost ready to book the surgery—was that he wouldn't give me a straight price. He made up some excuse about telling me next time. What next time? I have no clue. I haven't shown my face there since.🤷

Kaplan Clinic - Just stay far away from them.

I was there a few days ago, and I really feel like I need to share this so nobody else goes through the same thing. Here’s how it went down:

I've been dealing with some swelling in my neck.

1. I make an appointment.
2. I show up 5 minutes early.
3. I sit in the waiting room for 35 minutes listening to their super annoying mono music.
4. They finally call me back.
5. Klapan takes a quick look at my throat and nose, recommends some Klavocin antibiotics, something for gargling, and a nasal spray. Then he tells me to come back for a follow-up in 10 days. (The whole thing lasted maybe 10 minutes.)
6. They charge me $100 for the visit.
7. I head to the pharmacy to pick up meds that cost $83.

The longer I wait and take these meds, the worse things seem to get.

8. I schedule that follow-up.
9. I arrive 5 minutes early again.
10. I wait in the waiting room for 25 minutes. Interestingly, someone who arrived after me and had a later appointment got called in before I did.
11. The doctor basically tells me it’s probably nothing and suggests I go get an ultrasound at a different clinic and then come back for another check-up. (Again, lasted about 10 minutes.)
12. They charge me $50.

In the end, I wasted $233 for absolutely nothing, and now I have to find a new doctor. To me, prescribing medication without doing any real checks feels incredibly irresponsible—not to mention the waiting room and the ridiculous prices.

Daniel Lewis45 said:So, here I am in the hospital... checked in last night around 7:30 PM... they fed me dinner early—damn... I was trying to stretch out my time until 10 PM, maybe sneaking out for a smoke... then I got hit with that blood thinner injection in the stomach... and some sleeping pill that honestly didn't do squat... everyone else is snoring away, noses totally stuffed up... and yeah, 5:30 AM wakeup call!!! Thermometer check, making the bed, then rounds... that’s what I’m waiting on now... I’m first on the list for surgery.

I’ll check back in tonight or tomorrow... sending good vibes from room 4, second floor, ENT department at Rebro Hospital 😁

Oh, and right before I shut my laptop, the nurse came to get me... "Take off your chain, earrings, watch, everything you've got," she said, and moved me down to the pre-op area. Just sat there for a few minutes before being moved to the table... I actually laid down on that table at 8:30 yesterday... just lying there for half an hour waiting for the doctor to show up... the last thing I remember is the anesthesiologist telling me, "You're going to feel a little dizzy now..." and the next scene is them telling me to move back to my own bed in the ward... that was around 11:30 AM. By 1:00 PM, I had to be up walking already—I was getting bored—the anesthesia had fully worn off. I would have typed more yesterday if I hadn't fried my laptop charger; my girlfriend brought over a soldering iron today so I managed to fix it... They left me with one of those IV drips where they push the pain meds... I asked for them twice, but by evening, they weren't giving them anymore. The only thing was, I couldn't sleep for the life of me... around 2 AM I was tossing and turning, it was either too hot or everyone was just snoring too loud... so I decided to wander the halls and stumbled upon room 6—it was completely empty, had a TV, and the window was wide open... I went back to my room, scribbled a note for the nurse saying I’d moved to room 6 and she could find me there... In the morning, she brought me my thermometer, gave me a smile, and told me it wasn't even that bad for me... So, I ended up staying in this room. The TV is on, I'm the king of the castle here, and now they're bringing in some guy who's been in surgery all day for vocal cord cancer or something... he'll be on a ventilator, so at least he won't be snoring, though I wonder how much noise all that equipment makes...

During rounds, Gudelj stopped by. He said I did the right thing, and that tomorrow he’ll pull the tampons and put in shorter ones... man, that feeling of having a stuffed nose and not being able to blow it out is just awful. Otherwise, everything's a 5/5. Went out for coffee this morning, obviously, though I can't taste a thing... lit a cigarette, even though it felt like I couldn't really taste it. The food is fine and there's plenty, considering the body isn't burning through any fuel... Dinner last night was spaghetti bolognese, breakfast was bread, butter, and deli meat, lunch was a risotto and roasted chicken... Now I'm just waiting for dinner; it's right around the time everyone loves Raymond 😁... so, back to the laptop, putting on a movie, and maybe taking two more sleeping pills. Nobody here seemed to be able to sleep at all, I don't know why... heaven knows what they're giving us... All in all, it's okay, but this nose is driving me crazy—I feel like pulling the tampons out myself at any second. And then there's the nightly blood thinner shot in the gut, followed by an IV injection in the morning that makes your genitals itch like crazy—no joke, it stings so hard for about 30 seconds you feel like you're losing it... though my whole scalp was itching too, I think I'm the first person to mention that...

If anyone wants to know anything, just ask...

As they say back in the day—let’s just keep moving forward... I wasn't in that Room 6 for very long, maybe just one night... honestly, when they first brought me in and hooked me up to everything, I was just relieved they moved me over to Room 5. There are four of us here now. But hey, what can you do? Though, I have to say, they've already shortchanged me on my nasal tampons twice. Today, things got so weird I could practically feel the sensation through my nose. The guy who had surgery right after me is heading home today, while I'm still stuck here in the dark. I really don't have a clue what's going on because every time Gudelj goes to swap out my tampons, the nurse starts cleaning me up, and suddenly he's vanished—gone before I can even ask a single question. And during rounds? Forget about it, there's zero chance of getting any answers. It’s frankly ridiculous; I mean, I am the patient here, and shouldn't the patient be the one receiving the focus? I've been here for four days now and I still know nothing... except that my nose looks straight. That's all I know because I had to sneak off to the restroom by myself just to peel back the bandages and see what the damage actually looks like. My nose is still incredibly swollen, and they've stopped giving me the meds—now I'm just passing the time in every way possible to stay sane. Getting any sleep in this place is an absolute nightmare; everyone snores, and after surgery, it sounds ten times worse because everything just drains into your mouth, making everyone sound like they're drowning. To make matters worse, it is stiflingly hot in here. If you open the window, you get a draft, but if you turn on the AC, someone else complains that it's too cold. I am counting down the minutes until I can finally get home and get some decent, uninterrupted sleep.

Daniel Lewis45 said:everyone snores anyway—but after surgery, it sounds even worse because everything just drains into your mouth and people end up sounding like they're literally drowning.

It’s honestly as morbid as it is hilarious. 🤣

I've been lurking on this forum for about a year and a half now, and honestly, I've come to one conclusion... you just pick a surgeon who gives you a good vibe, book the appointment, and pray to God everything goes smoothly. For every single doctor I look up, I find two girls who are absolutely thrilled and two others who they completely ruined... I guess it's just a roll of the dice at this point, unfortunately. I'm planning to go under the knife this winter... and the more I read, the more lost I feel. 😢 I’ll start touring offices and doing consultations soon to figure things out... like I mentioned before, I really want to straighten my profile and fix the tip. If anyone here has seen a surgeon who nailed the tip work, please post pictures or shoot me a DM

Hannah Long36 said:From everything I’ve gathered while lurking on this forum—and I’ve been reading here for about a year and a half now—it seems clear: you pick a doctor you actually feel good about, book the appointment, and then just pray to God everything goes smoothly. For every surgeon I look up, I seem to find two women who couldn't be happier and two others who feel like they were completely ruined. It feels like a roll of the dice, doesn't it? I'm planning my surgery for this winter, and honestly, the more I read, the more lost I feel. 😢I'll start visiting offices and scheduling consultations soon to get a better sense of things. As I mentioned before, my goal is to slightly straighten my profile and refine the tip. If anyone has seen great results specifically regarding their nasal tip, could you please post photos or send me a private message?

That’s the reality of it. This forum is a double-edged sword. The most important thing is finding a doctor you personally connect with and making sure you iron out every single detail during your consultation. Don't rely too heavily on hearsay; after all, every case is unique, and yours will be too.

Hannah Long36 said:From everything I’ve gathered while lurking on this forum—and I’ve been at it for about a year and a half now—it seems pretty simple to me... you just pick a doctor you have a good gut feeling about, book the appointment, and pray to God everything goes smoothly. Honestly, for every surgeon I look up, I find two girls who are absolutely thrilled and two others who were completely wrecked by them... I guess it’s just a matter of luck, unfortunately... I’m planning on going under the knife this winter... and the more I read, the more lost I feel about which direction to even 😢 take. I’ll start touring clinics and doing consultations soon to figure it out... like I mentioned before, I want to smooth out my profile and fix the tip. If anyone has seen a surgeon who did a great job specifically on the tip, please post photos or shoot me a DM

I'm with you there. Honestly, it might be better to just get it handled abroad—like in the USA, which is what people have been suggesting to me. My nose isn't exactly a simple case, and if they mess it up, I don't exactly have anyone to turn to for help.

Daniel Lewis45 said:So here I am in the hospital... rolled in last night around 7:30... they served dinner at a decent hour... damn... wasted all my time waiting until 10 PM... could've gone out for a smoke without any issues... then they hit me with an injection in the stomach to prevent blood clots.... plus some sleeping pill... which is basically useless... everyone’s snoring, noses stuffed up... and then... 6 AM!!! wake up call... thermometer... making the bed... doctor rounds... now I'm just waiting... first on the list for surgery...

I'll check in tonight or tomorrow... cheers from room 4. Second floor, ENT, rib or holy spirit 😁

Wait, why do some people get it while others don't?🤷...The old lady sharing my room got one, but from everyone else I talked to (mostly younger folks), nobody got anything...