Rhinoplasty recovery: What to expect?

Alright, here’s the deal: I had nose surgery about a year and a half ago. I’ve dealt with insecurities about my nose my entire life because it was crooked and had this massive hump right in the middle. I went under the knife with a highly respected surgeon who did an absolutely stellar job. Before the actual procedure, I had consultations where he walked me through the plan—exactly what he would do, how he’d do it, and helped me define the look I was going for. The surgery itself lasted a little over three hours under general anesthesia. When I finally came to, my nose felt incredibly heavy, my lips were swollen shut, and I couldn't say a word. All I could manage to mutter was how freezing cold I felt. I didn't feel any pain during that first day since the anesthesia was still lingering. I wouldn't even dare look in a mirror; I just stayed in bed all day. Once the anesthesia wore off that evening, though? The pain hit hard. It felt like my entire head was being crushed—like someone was using a meat grinder on my nose or parked a semi-truck on my skull. No pill on earth can touch that kind of pain. The following days were even worse. You’re starving, but you can’t open your mouth. Your palate, nose, cheeks, eyes—everything swells up more by the hour. The peak was when a hematoma formed around my eye. That was the moment I finally looked in the mirror. Honestly, I looked like I’d been in a major car accident. Purple bruises everywhere, a swollen face, lips looking like they were injected with silicone, and half my face covered in plastic and gauze. You can't eat, you can't shower, and you can't even dress yourself. After three weeks, they removed the packing. It feels like someone is yanking things straight out of your sinuses—painful, but over quickly. About a month and a half later, the casts and bandages came off. The result was stunning. A perfectly straight nose with just a very slight, natural slope. My lips look better now, too, and my eyes seem larger because they actually stand out. The nose is beautiful. The recovery path was grueling. There were stitch removals, getting silicone plates taken out, and constant follow-up appointments. My case was complicated; it wasn't just cosmetic, it was functional too. They had to widen the nostrils, fix the septum, and smooth out the bridge. My doctor told me it was one of the toughest procedures of his career, but he did a hell of a job. Everything finally settled down after about three months. Even now, I have to be careful not to take a hit to the face. All in all, it isn't easy. You need nerves of steel and a lot of patience (shoutout to Mom for helping me through), but I don't regret a single second. In fact, for this result, I'd go through the whole thing again. I hope this helps some of you, and I hope I didn't scare you off too much. Just keep in mind that my surgery wasn't your run-of-the-mill cosmetic tweak. Kisses. 👋

A few final thoughts regarding the doctor. Dr. Gorazd Poje is truly the most wonderful physician I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He is a rare soul—deeply empathetic, profoundly human, and incredibly subtle in his approach. I feel immensely fortunate that he was the one to perform my surgery. It isn't just that he's a lovely individual—where the patient-doctor relationship feels more like a bond between close friends—but he is also a top-tier specialist who genuinely lives for his work. What struck me most, however, was his patience and the gentleness with which he explained everything to me, a complete layman. He truly cares about the common man. My nose serves as living proof of just how masterful his skill is actually

Honestly, I’m right there with you—I totally get why you're so hyped about this guy... 😍

Melissa Rivera47 said:Oh, I was totally floored by Dr. Glumičić's prices too, believe me... 13k and 200 for surgery, $50 exams, and $200 testing... just terrifying...

That’s actually not right! Dr. Glumičić handles the nose procedures $2667. That's exactly what I paid him, and it's the same amount a friend of mine paid after her recent surgery!

Plus, you can get all those tests done at the hospital using your insurance!

Looking at someone else's recovery process... yeah, it stings a bit, but it’s totally worth it. You won't see the full results right away; it takes a few months to really settle, and you might still feel some tenderness if you touch the tip of your nose up to a year later. It is a complex procedure, for sure, but an absolutely incredible option for anyone dealing with breathing issues or just wanting to refine their profile.

Whatever path you choose, make sure you sleep propped up—either semi-sitting or fully upright! Whatever you do, don't lie flat. If you do, all that bruising is going to migrate straight to your forehead, and you'll end up looking like a very agitated extra from a sci-fi movie. Also, just a heads-up: having those nasal packs removed on day seven can be pretty uncomfortable.

Don't skip out on facial massage or lymphatic drainage after the surgery. Honestly, it feels great and it's super helpful for the healing process!

Make sure to load up on B-complex vitamins before the big day!

Greetings to everyone
It’s been exactly two weeks since I underwent rhinoplasty and septoplasty with my surgeon, and I have to say, things aren't nearly as catastrophic as some people here seem to make them out to be, I guess. On Saturday morning, I arrived, they gave me two shots in the hip to help me relax, and after about half an hour, they administered a sedative—not full general anesthesia, just enough to knock me out—and once I was under, they applied the local anesthetic. About an hour and a half later, I woke up with absolutely no recollection of what had actually happened, so I just drifted back to sleep in my room for a bit; then, another ninety minutes later, my folks picked me up and drove me home. Two days later, they removed the nasal packing—which feels like a sudden, sharp coughing fit but lasts maybe half a second, nothing too dramatic—and a week later, the cast and bandages were finally off.
In my case, besides the nose itself, the doctor also had to adjust the muscle between my nose and my lip, so I still have some internal stitches near my mouth because the muscle was too short and was pulling my nose downward. He also had to shave off a few millimeters of skin above my upper lip and stitch it back so my lip wouldn't get pulled too far inward... he basically refined my philtrum and fixed part of the septum base that was sitting right over the bridge and obstructing my breathing.
Years ago, I actually broke my nose—an external fracture where the bone shifted—and that specific spot was blocking the airway in the upper third of my nose, while the septum base was clogging one nostril. Now, I have a lovely, clear nose and a perfect upper lip; the only thing is that I'm still a little swollen, and that muscle above my lip hasn't quite "woken up" yet, so my face looks a bit puffy. As for the bruising, there's hardly anything left, just two tiny little spots under my eyes that are easily hidden with concealer. I'll be heading back to work in two days.
It doesn't really hurt; during those first couple of days when I felt discomfort, I just took a couple of Advil throughout the day and it passed. My nasal mucosa is still a bit swollen and dry, so I've been using a saline spray a few times a day.
So, there's a little encouragement for anyone who might be feeling anxious 🙂
The surgeon is a very calming presence, incredibly kind, and honestly just a great guy.
As for the swelling and puffiness, that's probably the most annoying part of the whole ordeal, though it does seem to subside a little more every single day.
Honestly, those TV shows about plastic surgery don't show the reality of the recovery process at all 🙂
I've actually been thinking about starting a blog with photos—since I take pictures of myself every day to track my progress—so people could follow my transformation day by day and better prepare themselves for what to expect 🙂

With all due respect to those who think I'm exaggerating, I strongly disagree. I wasn't trying to scare anyone; I was simply sharing my own experience with you all. I didn't go into full detail—let’s just say I also dealt with a torn muscle, foreign tissue implantation, and the whole nine yards. Personally, I’ve never been much of a nasal breather. When the doctor removed the packing and told me to take a breath, I honestly didn't know how. He spent twenty minutes coaxing me to close my mouth and try breathing through my nose. The filing process? Ugh, painful, yet simultaneously beautiful, like throwing open the windows on a summer day. And yeah, I had no idea everything around us smelled quite so intensely. I remember asking my mom, "Do bananas actually smell like that?" Some people here had their packing removed after two days; well, mine stayed in for three weeks, which I think speaks volumes. It took me three months to get back to work. As for the removal itself... compared to the rest of it, it was a mere hiccup. I spent ten days in the hospital. But again, I’ll repeat: this isn't a typical case, so please don't use me as your baseline! That's all from me. I felt a strong need to defend myself because I know what I went through, and I don't like it when someone who had a routine procedure tries to downplay it. Just go for it; you won't regret it, and you're going to look and feel phenomenal!! 😘love you all

coastalpanther96 said:With all due respect to anyone who thinks I’m being dramatic, I just can’t bring myself to agree. ... But then again, I should probably mention that this isn't exactly a textbook case, so please don't hold my experience up as the standard! That’s all I have to say, really; I just felt this sudden, intense urge to defend myself because I know exactly what I went through, and I find it frustrating when people who’ve had routine procedures try to downplay what happened to me.

I don't think anyone is trying to minimize what you went through, nor am I suggesting you're overreacting—it’s actually quite the opposite. Because your situation was clearly an outlier, it might actually scare off others reading this, so I suppose your experience shouldn't be used as a benchmark for everyone else. I wasn't even targeting you specifically; I was more reacting to the people describing their "typical" recoveries—you know, those who act like dealing with tampon removal or breathing through your mouth for three days is some kind of monumental ordeal.
I guess the pain following the surgery isn't particularly extraordinary in the grand scheme of things.
I'm not sure how it felt for you, but I truly wasn't aiming at you when I suggested some people here were exaggerating.
A standard septoplasty or a basic cosmetic nose job isn't exactly a life-altering trauma, and usually, within two weeks, you feel almost entirely back to normal.
I certainly hope you're feeling like yourself again by now and that you'll be able to put this whole thing behind you soon. 😉

That’s exactly why I’m telling you not to use my situation as a blueprint. Don't even bother reading my post; go read what Jacob King5 wrote instead! Seriously, it's not a big deal if we're talking about a standard procedure. A friend of mine was back to her old self within a week—she treated it like getting her tonsils out, so...
Yeah, I'm already starting to forget all about it. It still stings a bit if I apply too much pressure, but otherwise, I'm fine. I hope you're happy with the results too; Dr. Smith is a top-tier specialist!
Sending love to everyone recovering from nose surgery; I know you guys are amazing 😘

Melissa Ramirez53 said:Look, nobody is trying to downplay what you went through, and I don’t think you’re personally exaggerating either—it’s just that because your experience was clearly something out of the ordinary, most people reading this might find it terrifying. Your situation isn't exactly the standard benchmark for everyone else. I wasn't actually aiming at you specifically; I was talking about the people posting about their "normal" experiences—you know, the ones saying pulling out the tampons was the worst part, or complaining about breathing through their mouths for three days straight, or dealing with minor bruising.
The pain after surgery isn't actually that big of a deal.
I don't know how it went for you, but I really wasn't targeting you when I said some people here are overreacting.
A "standard" deviated septum correction or a basic aesthetic rhinoplasty isn't actually scary; within two weeks, you're pretty much back to feeling like nothing even happened.
I hope you're already feeling back to normal too and can put all this behind you soon 😉

Well, I actually saw Smith about two weeks ago myself. Honestly? I'm super happy with how it went. I slept right through the whole procedure and didn't feel a thing. We just did the aesthetic work.
My bruising was barely noticeable, they pulled my tampons out the very next day, and by two days later, I was already out and about walking and driving (even if I was still wrapped up like a mummy 🙄).

My nose is still a little swollen and tender if I touch it, but other than that, there was zero pain—I didn't even need meds. I'm stoked with the results so far; I'm just waiting for the swelling to go down to see the full picture. They told me it takes about two months to hit its final shape.

Anyway, I had to wear the splint for 7 days, and by day nine, I was already back at work. My face was a tiny bit puffy, but totally fine for being seen in public.

All in all, it's not scary at all. It's more annoying (because of the splint) than it is painful, but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.

I honestly find myself wondering just how many people actually undergo this procedure, to the point where I catch myself questioning which faces out on the street are genuine and which have been surgically altered 🙂 if they haven't already, since everyone seems to know at least one person who has gone through it 🙂
I haven't started my blog yet, though I've decided I definitely want to, even if some of the photos are a bit gruesome and leave me feeling slightly embarrassed, but I suppose it doesn't matter much 😉
As for whether I'm satisfied, I suppose I am, although I didn't immediately burst into tears of joy in front of the mirror or start hugging the surgeon like they do in those reality shows 😁
I'm slowly trying to adjust to the change. It feels as though I might be a little too old for such transformations, and after staring at my own face for so many years, it's hard to get used to something new in just a few days. I felt a bit discouraged during my first day back at work today, too, because everyone kept giving me these surprised looks and telling me I looked strange 😢
Still, my face feels quite stiff, especially around the upper lip and that muscle just above it, so I'm really hoping that’s the main issue and that once the swelling goes down, people will just look at me normally again...
Oh, so Susan Scott5, you were basically at the same place at almost the same time as I was 😉
I was there on Saturday, April 19th
Yes, Dr. Smith is truly fine, but I have to say his charming nurse is absolutely wonderful and sweet; she was so kind, and it made things feel a bit easier whenever she spoke to me or offered a little smile...
It was actually quite lovely during that last minute before the surgery when I had to take off my shirt to lie on the operating table; my tattoos on my back, shoulder, and foot were visible, and they both just started shouting "WOW!" about how cool they were and what a badass I was—those tattoos really boosted my morale, and for a moment, I felt like the bravest person in the world, haha 😁 😁

Haha, you actually cracked me up!

I did the exact same thing—took my shirt off and they immediately started commenting on my tattoo! Honestly, those two are such total weirdos, which is actually why I felt so relaxed; there was zero awkwardness at all.

I went in on Tuesday the 16th. 😉 My muscle under my upper lip is still acting super stiff, so I look ridiculous whenever I laugh—you can totally tell my top lip isn't quite right yet. My nose is pretty swollen in the mornings, though it settles down by the evening. The only annoying part is that the stitches haven't fallen out yet, but I’m too terrified to pull them myself, so I’m just powering through it.

So, tomorrow marks three weeks since the surgery. There's no actual pain, just some occasional stuffiness (probably from the swelling and the sutures) and it's definitely sensitive if I bump it or touch it. They told me things will keep shifting until I hit that two-month mark.

Melissa Ramirez53 said:Honestly, I’m shocked by how many people actually undergo that surgery. It makes me wonder which noses I see walking down the street in New York are original and which ones have been done 🙂—even if they haven't, everyone knows at least one person who has 🙂.
I haven't started my blog yet, but I've decided I definitely want one. Even though some of the photos are pretty gross and I feel a bit embarrassed about it, whatever 😉.
As for satisfaction, I am happy. Not that I stood in front of the mirror and immediately burst into tears of joy or hugged the doctor like they show in those reality TV shows 😁.
I'm slowly adjusting to the change. It feels like I might be a little too old for these kinds of transformations; I've been looking at my own face for way too long to get used to something new in just a few days. My first day back at work today was a bit discouraging, too—everyone kept staring at me like I was weird 😢.
Anyway, my face is still stiff, especially my upper lip and the muscle right above it. I’m hoping that's the main issue and that once the swelling goes down, everyone will look at me normally again...
So, Susan Scott5, you were basically at the same place at almost the same time as me 😉.
I was there on Saturday, April 19th.
Yes, Dr. Smith is truly great, but I have to say his charming nurse is absolutely wonderful and sweet too. She was so kind, and her smiling and talking to me made everything feel a bit easier...
The best part was that last minute before the surgery when I had to take off my shirt to lie on the operating table. They saw my tattoos on my back, shoulder, and foot, and both of them just shouted, "WOW!" They said the tattoos were amazing and that I looked like such a badass. It really boosted my morale; I felt like the bravest girl in the world right then, haha 😁. 😁

I know exactly how you feel. You need time to adjust to your new look, and so does everyone else. You also have to keep in mind that it takes time for the swelling to subside and for things to settle. It took me forever to get used to it. Like you said, I wasn't thrilled the first time I saw myself; I just felt strange, like, "WTF, that's not me." Because I used to have such a large hump—a very "high" nose—I couldn't get used to having a profile that was flat. I felt like a puppy, if you know what I mean.
Maybe try changing your hairstyle? For instance, I always wore bangs, but with this nose, they look terrible on me now, so I keep my hair away from my face.
There will always be people who thought you looked better with your old nose, and in my case, there are plenty of them. My husband, for example.
And the people saying you look weird? Honestly, they're just incredibly jealous! 😉

So, Susan Scott5, you’re brushing me off for another four days, though I suspect you aren't feeling much better than I am—you know, that numb upper lip, that vacant expression whenever you try to smile, and those stitches still lingering... I keep telling myself that everything will just settle down in maybe three or four days. 🙂
Hehe, seriously though, let me know when the stitches finally come out and you can actually move your upper lip normally again, just so I have some idea of what's waiting for me in four days. 😉

coastalpanther96,
it’s exactly what you said—as for my hair, I haven't even figured out how I might change it yet, but right now, I have absolutely no clue how to do my makeup because nothing seems to work anymore. Whether it’s dark shades, bright colors, gloss, or matte, every single lipstick just makes my swollen lip look even more exaggerated, and as for my eyes, whatever I apply just seems to highlight the dark circles and the swelling. Honestly, without any makeup at all, I look like I just got jumped half an hour ago 😁 I suppose I either need to find a whole new routine or just wait until I get used to this...
My family keeps telling me I look fine either way, and they know I tend to value inner beauty more anyway (I know, it sounds like a total cliché, but I really do mean it), and honestly, looks aren't even the point here; I just wanted to be able to fall asleep at night without having to tug at my nose or stretch my face just to breathe... plus, I'd give anything to lose this sensation of being constantly pulled by the nose, haha. 😁
And now that that's gone, I'm dealing with the weirdness from everyone around me—just people staring and making comments about how strange I look. It's not like I was aiming to be some breathtaking beauty, but I didn't exactly want people commenting on how odd I look with these expressions... maybe it's just the first-day jitters, I'll see tomorrow. 🙂
It isn't jealousy, really, since most of the reactions are coming from men, mostly older guys, and even a few older women, and I highly doubt they have anything to be jealous of. I think they're just from that generation where nothing new ever seems to be good enough, Google. 😉 I guess I've finally realized that now. 😉

I’m seriously vibing with the idea of getting a nose job this summer, so I’ve been deep-diving into these forums to see what everyone else’s journey was like!
From everything I’ve heard and seen online, Dr. Poje and Smith seem to be the absolute rockstars everyone raves about, and it looks like you guys have had some amazing experiences with them too...
So, I was just wondering if they run their own private practices or if they operate out of specific hospitals (and hey, if anyone has their digits, please send them my way!), and of course, what kind of damage am I looking at for the price tag?
Oh, and one more thing—do they charge for that initial consultation?
For example, I noticed Dr. Kinčl does charge for it.
Also, if anyone has any tea to spill regarding Dr. Dobrović, let me know!
Thanks a million!

http://www.smith-medical-center.com/ Smith actually gets back to you via email, and honestly, I’ve had a really great experience with them personally.🙂 They do charge for the initial consultation, though.
From what I've seen, Dr. Kinčl doesn't always charge for the check-up, but apparently, they felt the results weren't quite detailed enough regarding the nasal passages.😁😁 Usually, they'll charge for that first visit.$67 And since they're private practitioners, they tend to perform surgeries right in their own clinics!
That's just what I know, anyway—I don't have a ton of firsthand experience with this specific stuff.🙂

Thanks so much for reaching out!
I honestly don't mind paying for the initial consultation at all; I just want to get a ballpark idea of how much cash I should have ready to go.

Susan Scott5 said:I went in this past Tuesday. 😉 My muscle under the lip still feels a bit stiff, so I end up looking pretty ridiculous whenever I try to laugh—you can really tell my upper lip isn't quite back to normal yet. My nose stays swollen in the mornings, though it seems to settle down by the evening. My only real annoyance is that the stitches haven't fallen out yet, but I don't quite have the nerve to pull them myself, so I'm just dealing with it.

So, tomorrow marks three weeks since the surgery. There’s no real pain, just some occasional congestion—probably due to the swelling and the sutures—and it's definitely sensitive to any touch or bumps. They told me things will keep shifting until we hit the two-month mark.

Hey Susan Scott5. My last stitch in my nose actually just fell out today. The ones under my lip dropped off a while ago. It's been a little over a month since my procedure, and those final two bits from the nostril finally gave way today. 🙏👍😁 Honestly, I'm relieved; I was starting to get paranoid that I was feeling some kind of growth instead of a thread, because that's how it felt when I touched it. I have a follow-up appointment this Tuesday, so I'll see what the doctor has to say about it.
The muscle between my nose and my lip isn't exactly perfect yet, but I suppose it's behaving itself reasonably well enough. 😁 Maybe in a little while, everything will eventually smooth out completely. My lip still feels tight, so I can't exactly give a massive, toothy grin to the whole room, but then again—I'm still expecting to see a few more degrees of progress every day, much like I have so far. 👍 How are things going with you? Are you feeling any better than I am? 😁

Hey girl,

I am seriously impressed—not a single one of mine has popped out yet 🙂! To be honest, those bits right under my lip have been gone for ages. My muscle still feels a little stiff, though, just like you described, but I barely had anything come out of my nose!

Since I’ve been using Q-tips to clean everything up, I’ve only managed to pick up two tiny little threads. Those big stitches are still hanging on there, too, so now I’m starting to wonder if they just fused shut inside, haha!

A friend of mine told me she was still shedding bits of them three months later, so I’m really hoping this is all totally normal. Plus, the stitch sites still ache whenever I catch them on something, so I don't think everything has fully healed over yet.

There’s still a tiny bit of swelling where that bump used to be, but it’s smoothing out beautifully. I’m honestly so happy with how it looks—you look absolutely gorgeous 😍

I won't be heading back for my follow-up until around the six-month mark, so definitely let me know what the doctor says! Xoxo!

Has anyone here gone through getting both a nose job and chin implants at the exact same time?