Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

I haven't seen a single word from analogangler5 yet. Where are you hiding? Everyone else is chirping away and you're just silent. Come on, spill it. kaže:
Don't get bogged down in the tiny details. It'd be such a shame if you ended up looking like Michael Jackson—though honestly, looking at the crowd we have around here, that wouldn't even be that much of a stretch.🙄😢Look, if you're telling me it's narrow—but hey, looks good from the front, right? Honestly, wtf... just enjoy it and stop acting like such a jerk about it.🙏

I’m with you on this one. Honestly, the surgeons around here are a total disaster. Look, if you think your nose is ugly, just don't go under the knife. Seriously. Because if things go south, you’re stuck living with a face you never actually wanted—some glass-like, artificial mess that was forced upon you without any real choice. That is a nightmare. Dr. Borić in Washington, D.C., and Ignatovski in Milwaukee? They have zero mercy. And I bet they aren't even the only ones out there padding their pockets with pure charlatanism. When it comes to your face, a face is a face, and there is absolutely no room for error. There's no "oops" in plastic surgery. When you're dealing with functional surgeries—stuff that isn't about looks—it's fine if a doctor uses every technical tool in the kit to fix the problem. But with aesthetic work? It’s all about the end goal. The surgeon's entire job is to actually deliver exactly what was agreed upon. Period.

If you hate your nose, just DON'T DO IT.

You really think the people who actually hate how they look would be satisfied?😕 Hell no. Especially when you need to shrink the nose, shave down the bone, and completely reshape the tip and bridge... Honestly, I’d feel way more comfortable getting this done in the States. 🙄

stormyharbor2 said:Do you really think people who are actually unattractive would be satisfied with that?😕 And hell no! Especially when you need to shrink the nose, straighten the bone, and completely reshape the tip or the bridge... Honestly, I feel like it would be way better if I just went to the States to get it done. 🙄

That’s not what I meant. My point was that it’s worth taking a small risk if the nose is truly an eyesore. But you're right—it's definitely better to pay more than to end up at one of our local clinics where everyone from all over the world and us locals are crammed together.

stormyharbor2 said:Shouldn't that just be the default setting without even having to ask?🤔 I highly doubt Tončić and Ostojić are doing things that way...

They probably aren't, but if you handle it yourself, you eliminate the risk of dealing with their incompetence. You won't end up paying for them to use you as an experiment while they "practice" on your face. They’ll look you straight in the eye and lie, promising your nose will turn out fine—as if that's just some magical guarantee.
I really hope our lawmakers finally step in and regulate this whole industry, so people who cause actual damage can't just walk away without consequences while making a killing off it.

Honestly, I’m starting to get a little scared now. 😢

analogangler5 said:Honey, I am so incredibly sorry for everything you're going through😢. But seriously, don't give up; reach out, speak up, and make some noise. Someone very close to me went through this and ended up receiving a massive settlement. I can see how much this is weighing on your mental health, and if you've had to see a psychologist or psychiatrist because of the trauma, that’s all part of your damages... just please, don't let them fix this on your dime, girl!!😢

Oh dear, thank you so much for posting this. You know, their biggest advantage is that most of us tend to keep these things quiet, not wanting to drag ourselves back to court or relive the same traumas in the public eye over and over again. I have so much respect for anyone you know who actually has the courage to step forward.
The bottom line is to use your head and look for specialists who aren't necessarily the ones being hyped up in the media, but rather those with the deepest experience. Don't look at press coverage; look at the track record. Ask them to show you proof of at least 30 revision cases they've handled—even better if they can show successful revisions—before you make any decisions.
In my opinion, someone who has mastered difficult revision surgeries isn't going to mess up your initial procedure.

swiftdriver86 said:I actually had my local outpatient procedure done recently. While the anesthesia part went perfectly fine, I ended up seeing Dr. Ignatovski in Milwaukee, and honestly, the guy felt like a complete amateur; things just happen how they happen, and frankly, it’s a massive risk. You really need to double-check who you're booking with and demand they sign a contract regarding the final aesthetic outcome—something based on computer imaging—otherwise, you have absolutely no recourse.

I suspect there isn't a single surgeon in the US who would actually sign a contract guaranteeing a specific look, though I really think something like that ought to be implemented. Even then, we're talking about a margin of error of maybe a millimeter, because hitting an exact target within half a millimeter is physically impossible.
It would protect both sides. As it stands now, the patient is always treated like the "fool" because people just say, "Well, that's what they asked for," but the real issue is what they actually intended to achieve. I'm certain there are patients with totally unrealistic expectations, just as there are doctors who stubbornly apply the exact same methods and nose shapes to everyone.
In most cases, it's definitely the latter.

boldeagle3 said:I had septoplasty surgery. Sadly, the outside of my nose looks exactly the same.
I was stuck in the hospital for 7 days.
And those nasal tampons... I had them in for 5 days!!! (It nearly killed me—honestly, breathing through your mouth for 5 days and 5 nights is enough to drive anyone crazy).
Getting the tampons out wasn't actually the hard part, though.

Same thing happened to me, but it was about 10 years ago—I don't remember all the details anymore.
They did something inside my nose, not sure what exactly, related to correcting a deviated septum, but the exterior still looks pretty bad 🙂

Waking up from anesthesia didn't shock me much, though I did vomit blood twice because it had drained down my throat... but at least I knew where I was, what day it was, the month, the year, and all that. 😁

See, they didn't even give me general anesthesia—just local. So I was awake for the whole procedure, and I have to say, it definitely wasn't painless...😢
It was one of the worst experiences of my life, something I'll avoid at any cost, even if I end up looking like Quasimodo...

Just, I should mention, I had this surgery covered by Medicare at the public clinic near the city center, so maybe that's just the difference between actual humanity and just going through the motions...

The only thing that really hurt was my throat for 5 days because of the intubation. It made eating almost impossible, and having to breathe through my mouth was so frustrating, but everything else was fine.
The best thing to do is just sleep through those days in the hospital.

That part is tough to get past, but you adjust after a day or two... it's not a massive trauma.

I didn't deal with diarrhea either.

Quote:

Ashley Johnson6 says: It was the exact same thing over here, though it was about 10 years ago—I can’t recall the precise details anymore. They did something to my nose—honestly, I have no clue what—something related to correcting a deviated septum, but from the outside, the nose still looks pretty rough.🙂 See, they didn't give me general anesthesia; it was just local, so I was wide awake during the whole procedure—and let me tell you, it definitely wasn't entirely painless.😢 It was one of those absolute worst experiences of my life—the kind of thing I would avoid at all costs if I could, even if I ended up looking like Quasimodo... Just, I should mention, I had this surgery covered by social services at the public clinic near the park, so maybe that's the difference between actual humanity and just being reckless... The only thing that really hurt was my throat—and that was for five days because of the intubation—so I could barely eat, and having to breathe through my mouth was driving me crazy, but everything else was fine. The best thing to do is just sleep through those days in the hospital.

That part is a bit hard to swallow, but you get used to it after a day or two; it isn't some massive trauma.

Neither did I have diarrhea.

Hey there!! I have to go in for a deviated septum surgery because of some health issues. But wait, I see people do aesthetic work at the same time too? Does that cost extra if they fix the look of the nose while they're at it?? Is all of that covered under Medicare?? THANKS!!

stormyharbor2 said:I agree. Honestly, it’s probably best to get this handled abroad—maybe in the US, which was my suggestion. My case isn't simple, and if they mess it up here, I don't have anyone to turn to.

I'm on the same page. I've posted about this before, and I am deeply dissatisfied with my own rhinoplasty. To be blunt, I regret ever going through with it.
The reality is that about 90% of our surgeons here still use a universal template for noses, much like they did thirty years ago. While risk exists everywhere, failing to utilize computer simulations in this day and age is simply unacceptable.
Just look at how long some of these procedures take—barely thirty minutes and they call it a day?🙄
It’s no wonder the results are sloppy. When the time comes, I’ll likely consider a revision overseas, specifically in the US.
I need an "upgrade." From the front, the tip feels far too lifted, and the bridge is overly recessed.
Rhinoplasty is a discipline where millimeters are everything.

Given the experiences many people have had with nose jobs in America—and even more so with revisions—it's clear that many practitioners aren't even competent enough for primary surgeries, let alone secondary ones. Regardless of a lower price tag, you really have to ask yourself if the risk is worth it.

Hey there! I was wondering if someone might be able to help me out with a quick question. I've been told I need surgery to fix a deviated septum because it’s actually causing some health issues—you know, breathing problems and all that. But, looking into it, it seems like it's also possible to do some aesthetic work at the same time? I'm curious—is that treated as a separate thing you have to pay for out of pocket if you just want to tweak the look of your nose while you're at it? And would any of this be covered by Medicare? Thanks so much!!

frozenridge13 said:Hey! Can someone please help me out here. I have to go in for septoplasty because of some health issues, but I noticed you can also get cosmetic work done at the same time. Does that cost extra if they fix the shape of my nose while they're at it?? And is all of this covered by Medicare? THANKS!!

From what I know, there shouldn't be an extra charge. But honestly, just sit down and have a real talk with your doctor before the surgery and hammer out all those details.

Amy Williams34 said:Honestly, thanks for posting this. You know, their biggest advantage is just how much we all tend to keep things quiet—nobody wants to drag themselves back to court or relive the same traumas over and over in the public eye. Major props to anyone you know who actually has the guts to speak up.
It’s simple: use your head. Don't just run to whoever has the loudest marketing or the flashiest social media presence. Go to the people with actual experience. And I don't mean "experience" as seen in some glossy magazine spread—I mean look at the paper trail. Ask them to show you at least 30 noses they've worked on, including revisions. Only then should you even consider making a decision.
If someone can pull off successful revision surgeries, they aren't going to mess up your primary procedure.

People will literally try to pass off anyone's work as their own!!! I’m telling you again: "Either get a signed contract, or don't bother at all."

analogangler5 said:Look, if everything you people are whining about is actually true—and I mean all of you complaining here—why don't you just take it up with the head of the plastic surgery association in the USA😕 🤷? As far as I know through someone close to me, that’s Dr. Zambelli. If you actually file a formal written complaint, attach your proof that you were even under that surgeon's knife, and then clearly, logically lay out how they failed you—the lack of professionalism, the rudeness, the botched work, or even sexual harassment—you can put it all on paper and fight for a refund or damages. For crying out loud, stop just bitching about it here. Stand up for yourselves; none of you are made of money.🙄Do a little digging, dammit. It’s not all hopeless. Planning more nose jobs entirely out of your own pocket? Like, wtf??😲 😂 😢

The president of some surgical association? Honestly, whoever that is, they aren't authorized to settle damage claims, so expecting them to help is pointless. Your only real shot is court, but you'll need hard evidence—proof of what the nose was supposed to look like versus what they actually did to you.

Hello, I was wondering if anyone might know when the sensation typically returns to the upper lip... specifically, when I'll be able to smile normally again?

Just wanted to drop a few quick thoughts about my son's rhinoplasty from nine days ago. First off, huge shoutout to Dr. Glumičić and his entire team—those guys are absolute masters at what they do. I will say though, this isn't exactly a walk in the park; you need a serious amount of patience and nerves of steel during recovery. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't actually hurt, it’s just incredibly uncomfortable trying to breathe. If you can handle that part, go for it, because the results are totally worth it. Once again, massive thanks to Dr. Glumičić. He’s hands down the best in the business, no contest.

Hi everyone🙂>
It feels a bit silly to be starting a whole new thread here, and honestly, I’m not even sure if this makes sense given my specific situation... but to put it briefly, I have an appointment scheduled with Glumičić, though I’m still stuck in this limbo of not being entirely certain if I’ll actually pull the trigger on a rhinoplasty. My dilemma is this: I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar and might have some advice for a paranoid soul like myself. To be fair, this whole thing started with a few insecurities and spiraled into something much more intense than I intended. My nose has always been an aesthetic issue for me, though perhaps not in the way you'd think. As a kid, I struggled quite a bit with breathing issues, tonsillitis, and minor polyps, but those things eventually settled down, and back then, I didn't really give the aesthetic side much thought. I have to admit, the issue with my nose is probably far more psychological than physical, but once this "obsession" took hold, I started noticing its asymmetry and how poorly it fits with the rest of my face. Everyone around me claims they don't see anything extreme, but when I point out these tiny—yet definitely visible—irregularities, they just sort of mutter that it looks a little odd. By the way, I also have a mild septal deviation, which causes my nasal columella to tilt toward the left, making my left nostril look noticeably smaller and harder to breathe through.😢The part that bothers me most is that asymmetry, which becomes so much more obvious whenever I catch myself in photos or looking in two mirrors at once. In person, my nose doesn't strike me as being quite that asymmetrical. I have a slightly drooping tip, but nothing dramatic; it isn't exactly bulbous, yet it lacks that refined shape—it's not dropped, but it's not perky either. My right profile is actually great, except maybe the nose is a bit short, but the left side is a completely different story, almost as if it belongs to a different person altogether. I’m genuinely terrified of sitting down in front of the doctor and laying all of this out, because I feel like he’ll just think I’m losing my mind. But my eyes don't lie; we’re talking about mere centimeters that totally change my facial features compared to how they would look if my nose were narrower, shorter, and had a more defined tip. I’ve simply never seen a nose quite like mine—so undefined and unphotogenic, yet it doesn't fall into any of those "critical" categories people usually worry about. It's just... frustrating.

So, here’s the thing: for quite a while now, I’ve had this unconscious habit of touching, fidgeting with, and basically squeezing my unfortunate nose, almost as if I think doing that will somehow change anything. But I’ve noticed that when I press on my nose with my fingers, there’s this clicking and popping sensation happening inside, haha. My nose has visibly narrowed compared to how it used to be, and the tip seems longer now, but the cartilage has become incrediblyeee soft, and now my nose moves every time I move my mouth, which definitely wasn't happening before.Is it possible that my nasal cartilage has weakened because of this constant, subconscious picking and squeezing? Could things actually get worse? Or is the fact that my cartilage and tip are now significantly softer actually a positive sign for the surgery??

Could anyone offer some advice regarding the bolded part? Thanks...

There is absolutely no way you did anything dramatic just by touching it—I mean, you’d have to be pressing hard enough to actually feel pain, like you were trying to snap your own nose off or something...

My experience was pretty much identical to yours. Everyone around me kept acting like I was losing my mind, asking what was wrong with me, simply because I didn't have some massive, protruding hump on my profile... but even then, it was crooked and totally uneven. And whenever I pointed it out to them, they’d play it down, saying, "Oh, let's see, it really *is* crooked." Of course, if you looked at the photos, it was glaringly obvious... plus, whenever I moved the tip of my nose, you could actually hear this clicking and shifting sensation happening inside.

Now, after the surgery, there's no more clicking at all. My nose had actually been broken in two different places... though, granted, I also had a smaller bump visible from the profile that the doctor removed, along with fixing a deviated septum.

Look, the nose is a breathing organ, period. There are actual specialists who deal specifically with this, especially if you need to fix a deviated septum rather than just chasing pure aesthetics. Go get some consultations with an ENT or a plastic surgeon!

feralowl19 said:Does anyone have any info on IMED, specifically regarding Dr. Aleksandar Milenović and nose surgery?

Stay far away—seriously!!! A friend of mine went in for polyp surgery and they left her with a huge bump on her nose—they messed up her cartilage so badly she had to go back for another procedure just to get everything straightened out again.

Hey everyone! 🙂

The more I read through this thread, the more anxious I get!

I’m dealing with constant sinus infections and throat issues—my entire upper respiratory tract is just a mess right now 😠 so I've decided to go ahead with a sinus CT scan and get all the necessary testing done... even if it means surgery

If anyone here has been through something similar and actually got it sorted out, could you please reach out via DM or post here which doctor you saw and what the process was like?

I'm planning on seeing an ENT at either Rebro Hospital or the other major clinic—I really don't want to go to a plastic surgeon since this is a genuine health issue 😉

By the way, to everyone who has already made it through surgery—huge props to you! I truly admire your bravery! 🙂 🙂