Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

He didn't clear up a single thing for me—honestly, I felt more like I was just hanging out in the waiting room than actually getting treated. It’s pretty obvious everyone handles this stuff differently, but my gut tells me this guy just wants to collect his insurance money and get me out the door as fast as possible... which explains why I still have this lump. I'm planning to call him tomorrow to let him know it's still there. Last time we spoke, he basically told me he'd never seen a case quite like mine and suggested I just keep rubbing corticosteroids on it because something probably just got nicked during the procedure. Can you imagine? There's this hard little knot right where he was working... oh man, help me, it's already starting to mess with my profile. I'm not foolish enough to go running to some other doctor just to have them tell me what it is and what to do next...
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Nancy Allen said:Don't stress out too much. Dr. Rajko Tončić is going to check you over again right before the surgery anyway—they have to finalize the plan or whatever. I had my consultation with Dr. Rajko Tončić, and then they examined me again on the actual day of my procedure (both of them), which felt totally normal to me. Honestly, given how nervous I was, it was actually pretty comforting! You really just need to decide if this surgery is something you want and how important it is to you personally... Anyway, good luck! Let us know how it goes. 😉

I know... hopefully everything turns out fine 🙂. I'm heading in for tests tomorrow. Just one more day of testing, then tomorrow after that! 😲 And I actually have a straight nose! Of course I want the surgery, I just wanted Rajko to be the one to examine me properly. It seems logical that he should explain everything to me (the younger guy didn't explain a single thing to me... nothing at all. I was the one doing all the talking while he just sat there saying, "Ohhh, we could potentially do thiiis..." 😁

Susan Watson31 said:Honestly, wouldn't it be better just to be home? My own bed, my music, some tea...

I’d love to be let go too, but what if I actually tell them I want to go home? Would they even listen?😕

By the way, what exactly are "cold operations"?😁

Donna Wells90 said:Look, I’d love to be heading home too, but let’s be real—if I actually told them I wanted out, do you honestly think they'd just let me walk?😕

I honestly think they’d just make something up. Once they start throwing all that technical jargon around at you, your brain just hits a wall and goes blank.

Donna Wells90 said:Well, I’d love to be sent home too, but if I told them, "Hey, I really want to go home now," would they actually let me go?😕

Look, unless there's a major change in your stats, they aren't going to let you walk out those doors. Back in the late nineties, I remember being held at the hospital for five whole days after my surgery just to finish up a course of penicillin...
And honestly, I didn't have any complications at all; I felt pretty great!
But that's how it works—they'll always justify keeping you a little longer just as a precaution against potential infections and stuff like that.

Donna Wells90 said:Look, I’d love nothing more than to just get the hell out of here and head home, but what am I actually gonna say to them? Seriously, what's the move?

By the way—what exactly are "cold operations" supposed to be?😁

The stuff that isn't life-or-death—you know, the non-emergencies.

wanderingmason86 said:Unless they changed the rules, they aren't letting you go. Back in the late nineties, I was stuck in the hospital for five days straight after surgery just because they wanted me on penicillin...
And honestly? No complications at all—I felt fine.
But hey, they’ll always claim that keeping you there is just "precautionary measures" against potential infections and whatever else...

Look, they don't just throw penicillin at you for kicks. Usually, it's because they're worried about a beta-hemolytic strep infection or something similar.

I'm back home. Surgery is over, and honestly, I'm speechless. I am never, ever going under general anesthesia again. I don't know how you all managed to sleep through yours, but I certainly didn't. I maybe caught five minutes of shut-eye when they were swapping out the hammers and drills! I’m not trying to scare anyone, and I won't be posting a play-by-play here, but if someone really wants me to dictate the entire surgical process, just send me a PM. It was pure chaos. To make matters worse, they didn't even get the sedative into my system until after the fourth needle prick. First they went left, then up, then down on my arm, then the right arm, and finally they tried the exact same spot where the nurse drew blood during my initial checkups..

But whatever, the main thing is that it's over! Though, if anyone asks me if I’d ever do this again under that kind of anesthesia? The answer is a hard no.

It was a nightmare. The only thing they got right was saying everything would feel like a dream—except right now, it feels more like a fever dream, like being snatched away by those guys from the hostel.

And yeah, sure, my eyes will be closed (well, technically, because there’s a massive surgical light right in your face along with three smaller ones from the doctors and nurses).

Laura Booth6 said:Back home now. Surgery is done. I’m speechless. Never again am I going under general anesthesia. I don't know how you guys slept through it, but I didn't. Maybe for five minutes while they were swapping out the hammers and grinders. I'm not trying to scare anyone or post this on the forum, but if anyone wants me to dictate the whole procedure to them, just send me a PM. It was horrific. To top it off, they didn't even get the sedative in until after the fourth needle prick. First the left arm, then high, then low, then the right arm, then bottom, and finally they tried the same spot where the nurse drew my blood during the checkups...

Whatever, at least it's over. But if anyone asks if I'd do it again under that anesthesia? The answer is a hard no.

It was insane. The only thing they got right was saying everything would feel like a dream—and right now, it feels more like a nightmare, like being kidnapped by those guys from the hostel.

And yeah, obviously my eyes will be closed (there's a massive light right in your face plus three smaller ones from the doctors and nurses).

Yeah, we get it, the local stuff is one thing, but tell us how you actually feel now. Are you in pain or what? 🙂

[QUOTE=George Ramos11;22367983]Fine... you all ignored my first post... but whatever. I'll decide for myself who my Dr. Nozic will be—thanks anyway. My second question is this: Has anyone else here actually fully recovered from their surgery? Is a "total recovery" even a realistic concept? Does a state exist after surgery where things feel exactly as they did before? Has anyone reached that stage? You all talk incessantly about post-op complications, yet I have yet to hear a single person say, "I have zero pain... it’s been about a year and it's like I never even had the surgery." What is the point of all this constant complaining?[/QUOTE

Look, I'll give you my answer: It's been six months since my surgery and everything feels completely normal—honestly, it's as if I never even went under the knife. I can breathe through my nose perfectly fine, just like before.[/QUOTE]

Ashley Young34 said:I get all that regarding the local clinic, but look, just tell me how you're actually doing now. How are you feeling? Is the pain still hitting you?🙂

Things are okay now. Honestly, the worst part is over, thank God. It hurts a little, but it’s manageable. I might post a photo tomorrow if you guys want to see—since everyone seems obsessed with the details and how everything looks—but actually, since you're all so curious, I'll just take a picture every day and add them to an album. That way you can track it all. I felt alright today; I looked pretty normal, too. No bruising or anything like that yet, though I'm sure that'll show up tomorrow or the day after. So, for today at least, here's a decent little snapshot. 🙂

Laura Booth6 said:Well, things are okay now—thank God the worst part is over... It hurts a little, but it's manageable. I might post a photo tomorrow if you guys want—actually, since everyone seems obsessed with the details and how everything looks—I'll take daily photos and put them in an album... then you can see for yourselves. I felt fine today, and I looked pretty normal (no bruising or anything yet, though that'll probably show up tomorrow or the day after... so for today, it's a decent enough picture)🙂

I don't get it... did you actually feel anything during the surgery or what???
I'm out of the loop here—was this done privately or through Medicare at the hospital???

Oh my God...

Yeah, yeah, post it so I can see how it looks afterward???

wanderingmason86 said:If the numbers haven't shifted, they aren't letting you go. Back in the late nineties, I was stuck in the hospital for five days straight after surgery—on penicillin the whole time...
And honestly? No complications at all, felt perfectly fine.
They’ll always use "precautionary measures" or potential infections as an excuse to keep you hooked up...

So where did you have this surgery—was it a private clinic or a public hospital????

If it's a hospital—which one, and is it actually any good??