Rhinoplasty recovery: What to expect?

Look, I had my surgery about a month ago. I barely hesitated, honestly—I just knew I wanted it, and strangely enough, I wasn't even scared... which is weird for me. It’s a big decision, though. A lot depends on whether you actually trust the surgeon after meeting them... anyway, maybe skip doing it in the summer. You can't really be out in the sun for a while, and that's a bummer.🙂

Amy Moore38 said:I have been contemplating this surgery for ages. Last April, I finally made up my mind to go through with it, though I lacked the courage to actually pull the trigger. 😢I honestly don't know what else to read; I've scoured this entire forum and everything on the internet regarding rhinoplasty. I wanted to go through with it because I feel I would look much better if my profile changed, 😁 but it seems impossible because the fear is just overwhelming!

Anyway, ladies... how long did it take you all to make the final decision? Which surgeon would you recommend? Is it a bad idea to choose summer, considering the heat and the issues with swelling and packing? Thanks!

I spent a few years debating it. I finally decided when I could no longer breathe through my nose at night. That was it. The moment of truth.🤷

Don't be afraid. You'll survive, you'll forget the pain, and you'll be left with a beautiful nose.😳

Avoid summer. It’s a terrible idea. Between the bleeding, the bandages, and the packing, it's too much. Plus, it's 100 degrees out, and you aren't allowed in the sun or even wearing sunglasses.🤷

Emily Campbell36 said:Is that just for function, or does it include the cosmetic side too?

Well, I have a deviated septum, and I recently found out I can get the surgery covered by Medicare at no cost to me. Since I broke my nose back in the day—it’s not exactly a disaster, I’ve seen much worse 😁—it’s mostly about my profile. That little bump and that tiny 'lump' on the tip have always bothered me... I asked the surgeon if he could touch up the aesthetics while he was at it, and he said he could. So, here we go... just two more weeks until the big makeover. 😂

It’s day seven post-op. They finally took the cast off today, and honestly? I am absolutely thrilled 😉!
Sure, my nose looks thick right now—swelling is a real thing—but even like this, I love it. If this is the baseline, imagine how good it'll look once the swelling actually goes down. My man says it was worth every single penny 😉.

That’s great, I’m really glad to hear you’re happy with how things turned out.

Maria Diaz79 said:It’s day 7 post-op. They took the mold off today and I am loving it 😉!
Obviously my nose looks thick right now—it's just swollen—but even like this, I'm stoked. Once the swelling goes down, it's going to be even better. My man says it was worth every single cent 😉 .

Which doctor did you go to?😁

Glumičić. Look, the jury is still out on the whole mold removal process. My nose looks totally fine right now, but I’ve been reading up on it, and apparently, you can deal with all sorts of weird bumps, crustiness, or whatever else pops up over the next few days or months. How much of that is just normal healing? Who knows. I'll be sure to post updates on everything, but for the moment, I am—as I mentioned before—extremely happy with the results.

Maria Diaz79 said:Glumičić. Look, the whole thing isn't officially settled until the swelling goes down and the molds are out. My nose looks fine right now, but I’ve read stories about all sorts of lumps and crustiness popping up days or even months later. I'll keep everyone posted on how it develops, but for now, just like I said, I'm really happy with it.

Oh, that's great! Honestly, so glad to hear it... How's the tip looking, though? Is it upturned or does everything look pretty standard? What about the bridge?

Grace Hernandez66 said:Oh, fantastic. Just wonderful... What’s going on with the tip? Is it tilting upward, or does everything look exactly how it should? What about the bridge of the nose?

The tip is tilted up just a tiny bit, though my man insists the nose is perfect and looks completely natural. I suspect it's just my tip being pulled upward a little too much 🙄. I’ll be sure to bring that up with the doctor during my next visit. As for the bridge, that swelling is just because all the fluid shifts upward under the cast, creating that bump at the base; it should subside within about seven days. There was actually a lovely girl there who had her surgery on the very same day. (HEY T.! REACH OUT TO ME!) It was quite striking to notice that her nasal tip was twice as thin as mine—that really caught my eye at first 😁. I kept glancing back and forth between her nose and mine in the mirror, thinking my own looked incredibly thick 😛. However, once I stepped back and looked at my entire face, I realized: that's it! That's the proof right there that the doctor doesn't just give everyone the exact same nose; he actually adapts the work to fit individual faces and features.

Jerry Torres74, how did that first day on the job go? Did anyone even bother to notice you were there?

I was just curious because my peer didn't have any issues with the swelling going up, though some people mentioned it can subside—hopefully mine stays down.
That bit about the water is interesting; I can't actually see the swelling at the root, but I can definitely feel it when I press on it. It’s been 12 days now, and it hasn't budged.

My close friends and family are absolutely loving it—they can't believe how natural everything looks. Meanwhile, everyone else just gives me these weird looks, probably sensing a change they can't quite put their finger on. What you said was worth every penny... every time I catch myself in the mirror, or when my husband looks at me like he's seeing me for the first time instead of someone he's known for years... it's wonderful.

Are you heading to the concert anytime soon? I won't be there for another two months.