Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

stormyharbor2 said:Give him a few days to breathe; the guy’s clearly swamped. Personally, I usually get a response within two days, and that goes for all the other doctors I've reached out to. Besides, my situation isn't just about looks—it's a functional surgery too.

I sent him an email two months ago! At this rate, how much longer am I supposed to wait? Maybe he’ll finally get back to me once I’m old and gray and just need someone to handle my funeral arrangements... 🙄 😁
Since I only need the procedure for functional reasons, maybe that’s why he’s dragging his feet. Honestly, though, it doesn't even matter anymore. Even if he replied tomorrow with a perfect solution to my concerns, I wouldn't go to him now. Once you lose that kind of trust, there's no going back!

wanderingmason86 said:I sent him an email two months ago—how much more time am I supposed to give him?

Honestly, I'm not sure what to tell you. 🤷 I got a completely different vibe from him. Maybe he’s just lazy... 😁

-edit-

Gerald Cruz71 said:And tears, obviously, plus her mouth was drooping to one side for about a month... everyone I know looks similar when that happens.

Don't mess with me. The girl herself explained why she looks that way. A crooked mouth for a whole month? Wtf? What kind of doctors are you people seeing?

Ashley Young34 said:I went through the exact same thing. I was a total mess—just constant tears for two days straight, and then my eye turned bloody for about a month. 😲

And the tears, obviously. Plus, her mouth was drooping to one side around mid-month. Honestly, everyone I know who went through this ended up looking pretty much the same way.

Oh, and I should probably mention—I still can't feel one of my toes on my right foot from the anesthesia.

Hey everyone.
So, I have a question. I had septoplasty last year, and things seemed fine for the first two months before everything just reverted back to how it was. My nose is driving me crazy again, and I want to get it fixed properly this time.
The catch is that I don't have private insurance anymore, so I'm wondering what an operation like this actually costs out of pocket?

I can give you the backstory on my situation. When I woke up from surgery, they told me everything went perfectly and they were happy with the results—even though they ran into issues because my nose was actually broken (they didn't realize that until they were mid-surgery, despite me pointing out the huge bump on my nose beforehand). It was a total shock when I looked in the mirror and realized they hadn't even touched the shape of it.😲 It was pure disbelief, but honestly, I reached a point where I was willing to live with a crooked nose just so I could breathe normally.
Like I said, after two months, my breathing went right back to square one; I can't breathe through one nostril at all. Also, if you'll excuse the bluntness, the mucus in my nose feels... stuck. It’s not that it’s runny, it’s just that every single morning my nose is completely stuffed up, and I can't blow it out—I basically have to pick at it just to clear the airway. Is it possible they messed something up with my nasal mucosa or something?👎
Anyway, the main thing is my first question: how much would a redo cost? I'm not exactly in a position to drop a massive amount of cash on this right now.

stormyharbor2 said:Honestly, I’m actually starting to freak out a little. I genuinely thought that was just some extreme outlier case, but now it turns out you guys were all looking the same way.

WE ARE NOT 😁

wanderingmason86 said:Anyway, it doesn't really matter now. I managed to track down a doctor over at a different hospital, so I'm heading in for a checkup right after New Year's Day.

The main thing is you finally found yourself a doctor, 👍

rustygardener172 said:WE AREN'T 😁

Comfort me, rustygardener172... 🙂 Maybe they just had tougher cases than yours did...

James Edwards said:Hey everyone!
So, I’ve got a question for you all. I had surgery last year to fix a deviated septum, and honestly, everything seemed totally fine for the first two months before it just reverted right back to how it was. My nose is absolutely killing me again, and I really want to get it fixed properly this time.
The catch is, I don't have any supplemental insurance anymore, so I'm wondering—how much does an operation like this actually run me?

I can give you the full rundown on my experience, too. When I woke up from the surgery, they told me everything went perfectly and they were super happy with the results, even though they ran into some issues because my nose was actually fractured (they didn't realize that until they were mid-surgery, even though I kept telling them about this massive bump on my nose). I was floored when I looked in the mirror and realized they hadn't even touched the crooked part😲. It was pure shock and disbelief, but at that point, I was almost willing to just live with a hump on my nose as long as I could breathe normally.
But like I said, after two months, my nose went right back to its old ways; I can't breathe through one nostril at all. Also, if you'll excuse the bluntness, my nasal congestion is rock hard—meaning my nose isn't runny, it's just constantly stuffed up every single morning to the point where I can't even blow it, I basically have to dig it out. Is it possible they messed something up with my nasal mucosa or something?👎
Anyway, the big question is still the main thing: how much would a redo cost? Because I'm definitely not in a position to drop a massive amount of cash on this right now.

Hospitals... man, what can I even tell you. My nose was crooked and they told me I had a deviated septum and needed surgery (I went in for a checkup because I was constantly congested, couldn't breathe without sprays, and was dealing with brutal migraines). They also told me the surgery was a success... except my nose was still just as crooked. When I asked why they didn't straighten it, they claimed I told them I didn't want cosmetic surgery. Look, I did say I didn't want cosmetic work—I wanted to keep my original shape—but surely it goes without saying that they should fix the actual deviation that was preventing me from breathing?!?! I still don't get their logic to this day!!!! After my surgery, it was just like your situation... my breathing felt worse and worse, and my nose looked more crooked by the day... I have no clue what they were even doing down there?! So, about 3 or 4 years after that first mess, I finally had a second surgery... and this one was actually successful, because even now, only two and a half months later, I'm breathing better than ever!! ...but I went to a private specialist instead.

As for the mucosa... it recovers, but it takes a year or two. Basically, right after surgery, it might feel like you're breathing worse, but that's just at the start... once the deviation is straightened and oxygen starts hitting areas it couldn't reach before, the tissue has to adjust, clean itself out, I don't know how else to put it... hope you get what I mean😁 but generally, it takes about a year for things to settle down and start functioning properly again...

stormyharbor2 said:Comfort me, rustygardener172. 🙂 Maybe they were just dealing with much tougher cases than yours?

I don't know... I mean, have you seen my nose lately? It definitely wasn't exactly a masterpiece before this... He had to break bones, shave down cartilage, reconstruct my nasal conchae...
Honestly, it all comes down to the individual and how sensitive they are... and let me tell you, I am fooooooolishly sensitive, and I didn't even look like this back then 😁
but I stuck strictly to everything the doctor told me to do... creams, cold compresses...

Gerald Cruz71 said:Also, I still can't feel one toe on my right foot from the anesthesia.

...everything feels fine except for the area just below my nose tip. It's still numb.😁

rustygardener172 said:Hospitals... what can I even say? My nose was leaning to one side, and they told me I had a deviated septum that required surgery. I only went in because I couldn't breathe without nasal spray and the migraines were becoming unbearable. They claimed the surgery was a "success," yet my nose stayed just as crooked as before. When I asked why they didn't fix the shape, they had the nerve to tell me I said I didn't want cosmetic work. Sure, I said I didn't want an aesthetic overhaul—I wanted my original shape preserved—but surely that goes hand-in-hand with fixing the actual structural bend that was blocking my airway? I honestly don't get their logic. Ever since that first procedure, things actually got worse; breathing became a struggle and the deviation seemed even more pronounced. I have no idea what they were even doing in there. So, about three or four years after that initial mess, I finally went under the knife again. This time, it actually worked. It’s been two and a half months and I can breathe better than ever. Note to self: go private next time.

As for the mucous membranes... they're healing, but give it a year or two. Honestly, right after surgery, you might feel like breathing is actually harder, but that’s just the initial phase. Once the deviation is straightened out, oxygen starts hitting spots in your airways it couldn't reach before. It’s like the tissue is just recalibrating or cleaning itself out—I don't know how else to put it. You probably get what I mean. 😁 It usually takes about a year before she's actually back on her feet and running like a normal person again.

Thanks for getting back to me. If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up paying at a private clinic? Just looking for a ballpark figure so I have some idea of what I'm getting into.
I told them I wouldn't even care if I had a hump on my nose as long as I could actually breathe. During the initial consultations, I made it crystal clear that the bump formed right around the time my nasal passages were constantly blocked, so I naturally assumed they’d fix it. Clearly, I was wrong. It's hard to describe exactly how this looks, but imagine splitting my nose into two sides and a front section. One side seems to have tucked itself under the front part, lifting it up entirely. Now, that part that slid underneath actually feels like it can move around, which—honestly—is pretty terrifying.
So, I know there’s another surgery on my horizon, but honestly? The thought of the medical bills is scaring the hell out of me.😕

I ended up dropping about $1,800 on my surgery... I was mostly looking to fix how things actually worked, but honestly, I decided to get a little cosmetic work done too 😁 because if I’m already under the knife, I might as well make sure it looks good. 😁 Just fixing the function alone would've been cheaper... if you want the lowdown on any other specific details, feel free to shoot me a DM and I'll get back to you.

Has anyone here actually sat down with Žgaljardić? His website is seriously lacking photos, so if you’ve got some, shoot me a DM... 🙂

I'm also hunting for shots of nose jobs done by Glušac—specifically looking for those straight-on frontal views.

(God, this probably makes me sound like some weirdo with a nose fetish... 😂)

stormyharbor2 said:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is99OOwzMrI

How many of you ended up looking like this after surgery?

Well, something along those lines—but that's about it. Honestly, the recovery flew by, which is the only thing that actually matters. Don't let those photos freak you out; it doesn't hurt nearly as much as it looks. I didn't even need a single painkiller. BTW, this is an open technique—you can tell by the retractor visible near the nose!

Sarah Booth11 said:Something like that, but yeah—that's basically it.

Honestly, I think I’m just gonna throw in the towel. 😢 Even though my nose really needs surgery—both for how it looks and how it actually works—I know even the "anti-surgery" crowd here would back me up on this one...

I know I'm being annoying, but I've got a few more questions. How massive are those nasal tampons they shove in there?😬 And what about the gauze—how does that work? It's not like they're stuffing both in at once, right?

Do people getting both cosmetic and functional work really have to deal with those tampons for five whole days?😢

Chloe Patel41 said:Adam Smith77, thanks so much for those photos—you really surprised me, and honestly, you look like a whole different person. It suits you beautifully, just looks totally natural and balanced. Your skin looks great, too. My own skin is incredibly sensitive and prone to issues, so I’m actually a bit terrified thinking about what my recovery process would even look like... ugh...
How is it that one person's nose keeps changing "years" after surgery, while someone else's stays exactly the same? What's the catch?

Back when I had my septoplasty at a hospital in Chicago, I was under the care of Dr. Glušac's colleague. During the procedure, the surgeon asked if I wanted them to shave down the hump a little bit, and I jumped at the chance—I mean, who wouldn't? Well, my nose kept changing shape for a long time after that surgery, and by the end, it actually looked way longer than it did before. And don't even get me started on the pain; there were moments I felt like banging my head against a wall just to make it stop. Between the agony and being stuck in the hospital for seven days, the fact that my nose ended up looking worse was the hardest part to swallow. After that nightmare, I finally decided to go see Dr. Glušac. When he performed the exam, he told me he couldn't believe what the previous doctor had done to me.

Anonymous said:I'm planning on getting rhinoplasty and I'm looking for some specifics... hopefully you guys can help me out.
1. Does it hurt, and how long do you have to stay in the hospital afterward?
2. What's the cost?
3. Is there a minimum age requirement for the surgery?

Dr. Džepina $5000 performed my procedure; it lasted about two hours, and you're discharged the very same day. Honestly, if I were you, I would opt for a major hospital rather than a private clinic, simply because having that one night to recover in a controlled setting is invaluable. There is a certain dread that sets in when you're back in your own home on that first night, staring at the ceiling, terrified to fall asleep because you're breathing through your mouth and convinced you might choke. Stick to a hospital.

stormyharbor2 said:I think I might just back out. 😢 Even though my nose really needs surgery—both for how it looks and how it works. Honestly, even the people here who are totally against plastic surgery would probably support me on this one.

I know I’m being a pain, but I have a couple more questions. Just how big are those nasal packs they shove in there?😬 And what about the gauze? How does that work? It’s not like they use both at once, right?

Do you really have to deal with those packs for five whole days if you're doing both cosmetic and functional work?😢

Trust me, you don't want to know how huge those packs are. 🙂 Whatever you do, don't look at them when they pull them out. When I went through it, I had everything—packs, gauze, a cast, bandages, and even tape wrapped around my head. You'll have gauze under your nose too. Those seven days with the packs in will fly by, though. I actually know people who fainted just seeing how many yards of gauze they had stuffed up there. 🙂
Regardless of how it looks, it doesn't actually hurt. I didn't even take any painkillers.

Gerald Cruz71 said:Trust me, you really don't want to know how massive those tampons actually are... 🙂 Whatever you do, don't look when they're pulling them out. Trust me. I went through the whole ordeal—gauze everywhere, heavy bandages, plaster, even that tight wrap around your head... and yeah, you'll definitely have gauze tucked under your nose too. Those seven days with nasal tampons go by faster than you think, though. I actually know people who straight up passed out just seeing how many yards of gauze they had to haul out of their noses... 🙂
Doesn't matter how it looks—it doesn't hurt at all. I haven't even touched any painkillers...

Metara? 😲 Are you kidding me right now? Seriously, how can you all just sit there and feel nothing? I was reading that tampons are only a few inches long... 🤷

redcobra29 said:It doesn't matter. It just isn't working. Not even by accident...

I had braces—not even for the looks, honestly, but because of actual health issues—like a messed up bite and those constant, nagging jaw joint pains. Here’s the thing: every time they move a tooth or shift your jaw, it changes the entire alignment of your facial bones, your joints, your lips, and even your nose. Until you're totally done with orthodontic treatment, you really shouldn't make any big moves... at least not for another year or so. You have to wait for your face to actually settle into its new position, because until then, your bite, your jawline, your lips, and even your nose are all still shifting around...
That goes for both the cell phone and the landline...

Glušac told me that doesn't even matter... 🤔