Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Michael Davis21, go get a third opinion—just see if they actually agree with Dr. Račić or Glušac, but make sure you find a decent ENT first. Don't bother in a small town like Makarska, maybe try somewhere bigger like Chicago? Honestly, I have no clue who I'd recommend to you. Maybe someone here can help out...

p.s. stormyharbor2, clear out your inbox😁

Everywhere I look online, people are telling me I need open rhinoplasty because my nose sticks out way too much from my face—it’s super overprojected. Honestly, I don't know what to believe... from what I've gathered, most people here actually get the closed technique done.

stormyharbor2 said:Everywhere I look online, people say open rhinoplasty is better for my nose since it's so overprojected. I’m honestly confused because it seems like most people I see here had the closed technique done.

I had an overprojected nose too, and my surgeon used the closed technique. You should just go in for a consultation. The doctor will tell you if it's possible, though I don't see any reason why the closed technique wouldn't work for you. 😉

silentotter99 said:I actually dealt with an overprojected nose too, and my surgeon used the closed technique. Honestly, your best bet is just to book a consultation—let a pro take a look and tell you if it's doable. I don't see any reason why a closed technique wouldn't work for you...😉

So, how did yours turn out? I went for a consult, but he does everything using the closed method. I guess it should be possible...

stormyharbor2 said:How did it turn out? I went in, and he does everything under local anesthesia. It should be fine, right?

I'm not sure yet. I haven't taken the cast off, so I'll let you know once I do. It looks like my nose is shorter and more lifted, but hopefully it settles down once the swelling goes away.🙂

Why wouldn't you go under local? It seems better to me since the scars are smaller and things heal faster. Who did you see for your consultation? Did you book the surgery or are you still deciding?

silentotter99 said:I honestly don't know yet. I haven't even taken the splint off, so I'll give you the real scoop once I do. Right now, though, it looks like my nose got way shorter and lifted too much, but fingers crossed it settles down once all this swelling finally dies out. 🙂

hahahaha man, I thought the exact same thing...but trust me, it's not true. Once you finally get that mold off, you’re going to be staring in the mirror in total shock at how "huge" your nose looks from all the swelling—it'll look like a pig snout for a minute there. But seriously, it'll go down in just a few days...it gets smaller and smaller and smaller until it's just perfect. 😉

silentotter99 said:I'm not sure yet—I haven't taken the cast off. I'll let you know once I do. It looks like my nose got shorter and more lifted, but hopefully, things settle down once the swelling finally goes away...🙂

Why wouldn't you go closed? Seems better to me—smaller scars, plus the wound heals faster. Who did you see for your consultation? Have you actually booked the surgery or are you still on the fence?

Wait, who did you go to? I'm seeing Glušac, and honestly, I'm torn. I have to head back in with my insurance referral because things got messy—they told me to come back tomorrow when my doctor is actually in the office.

The nose will drop and shrink a bit—it's supposed to happen...

rustygardener172 said:hahahaha I thought the same thing... but nope. Once you get that cast off, you’ll be shocked at how "big" (swollen) the nose looks and how wide the bridge seems... but it all goes down in a few days. It just keeps getting smaller and smaller... perfect. 😉

The worst part is my nose profile was "high" (from my face to the tip, not necessarily "long" from eye to tip) (I mention this because whenever I tell people my nose is high, they give me weird looks since they assume I mean length 🤣). Now, it feels shorter, but still high 😢
. I guess I'll just wait until the bandages come off and the swelling subsides. Hopefully, it turns out okay 🙂
.
I read online that some girls used Heparin on the swelling. I picked up Heparin cream since that was all they had (it's basically the same), but I'm wondering how you apply it around the eyes? The instructions say not to get cream in your eyes, but the area right under my eyes is super bruised, so I'm not sure if I should put it there or not 🤷
.

btw rustygardener172, when did you have your surgery? Does your nose have its final shape yet, or is it still changing every day? 🙂

silentotter99 said:Honestly, I don't even know. I think I'll just wait until all these bandages are finally off and the swelling goes down a bit. Hopefully, things will start looking better then. 🙂

So, I was reading online that some girls have been using Heparin cream to deal with swelling, and since I couldn't find anything else at the drugstore, I just grabbed the Heparin cream instead—which is basically the same thing, right? But now I'm second-guessing myself. How on earth are you supposed to apply it around the eye area?? The instructions specifically say "do not get in eyes," but my bruising is most intense right around my eyelids. I'm staring at this tube thinking, do I actually put it on the skin there, or am I asking for a disaster? Anyone dealt with this before?🤷

By the way, rustygardener172, when did you actually have your surgery? And be honest—did your nose finally settle into its permanent shape, or is it still changing on you every single day? 🙂

It's not Hepanol, it's heparin. Seriously, get it right! 😁 Look, I’m not saying you can get it directly in your eyes—that’s a terrible idea. But applying it right around the eye area? That's fine. Just, for the love of god, be careful that none of it actually slips inside the eyeball itself. Seriously, watch your step there.
Don't go spiraling on me now... your nose is still going to go through a ton of changes anyway.Seriously, just don't even look at yourself in the mirror for the first month! Seriously, stay away from it. I am being dead serious here... this is hands down the best advice you'll ever get! 😉 ...but seriously, just take a picture already. 🙂 Look, if you want to see how much things actually change, just check out the nose progress shots. One week after surgery, two weeks... three... one month... two months... man, it’s a total roller coaster. Every single stage looks completely different. 😁 That's hilarious!!
So, I had my surgery on September 24th... which means it’s been about two and a half months now. Honestly? It feels like my nose is finally starting to settle into its actual shape. Don't get me wrong, I actually liked how it looked before, but now? Everything just keeps getting better and better every single day. 😁 So, the swelling at the tip of my nose is finally starting to die down, and honestly? It’s changing my whole profile. My nose doesn't look nearly as rounded anymore because the tip looks like it’s dropping. (And just so nobody gets the wrong idea—the tip itself isn't actually physically drooping; it's just that the swelling on top is vanishing, which makes it visually look like it's sinking... hope you guys catch my drift.) 😁 )

rustygardener172 said:It’s not Hepanol, it’s Heparin 😁 you shouldn't get in your eyes, but it's fine around them—just be careful not to let it actually get inside.
Don't panic right now... your nose is still going to change quite a bit...don't look at yourself in the mirror at all for the first month! I'm serious... that's the best advice! 😉 ...but take photos 🙂 so you can see the difference one week after surgery, two weeks... three... a month... two months... it looks different every single time.😁 It's a real thing!!
I had my surgery on September 24th... so about two and a half months ago... and my nose is only just starting to take its true shape. I liked it before, but now it just keeps getting prettier and prettier.😁 As the swelling on the tip goes down, my nose doesn't look so rounded in profile anymore because the tip is dropping. (Just so there's no misunderstanding... the tip isn't actually dropping, the swelling on top is just disappearing, making it visually look like it dropped... hope that makes sense.

I took the cast off and.... I'm happy with it.. for now. I'm still all swollen and don't even look like myself, so it's hard to tell how the nose actually sits.🙂 You were right to tell me not to look at myself for the next month, but since the surgery, I think I look in the mirror more than I ever have in my life.😂
I'm glad you're happy and that it keeps getting better and better.😉
I'm worried because the bridge of my nose is thick and still swollen, but it's become hard, so I'm afraid it might be cartilage regrowth.🤷 I read on a forum that some girls already had issues with this—if cartilage grows (if someone is prone to it), then it stays that way and won't shrink on its own. Since I'm one of those people who swelled up like a bumblebee after surgery, I guess I might be prone to excessive cartilage growth too.😢 It feels like I have a price tag stuck on my nose.
Has anyone had experience with the team? Is it possible for cartilage to grow only a week after surgery, or am I just panicking for nothing?

silentotter99 said:Has anyone dealt with this kind of swelling before? Is it actually possible to get cartilage buildup just a week after surgery, or am I just freaking out for no reason?

I've been wondering about this too—I read somewhere that cartilage can actually grow back. If that happens, then what...😕

Hi everyone! I honestly thought I would never be the type of person to jump into an online forum discussion. However, ever since I started seriously considering rhinoplasty, I just can't seem to help myself... To be honest, the main reason I signed up here was because of what rustygardener172 and Adam Smith77 shared regarding the surgeon they both visited. It really piqued my curiosity. If you wouldn't mind, I would be so incredibly grateful if you could send me some of your before-and-after photos via private message. Seeing those results might actually give me the clarity I need to finally make a decision on which doctor to choose...

silentotter99 said:I finally took the mold off and... honestly, I'm happy... mostly. Everything is still super swollen and I look nothing like myself right now, and it's hard to even tell how my nose looks yet 🙂 You were totally right when you told me not to look at myself for the next month, because ever since this surgery, I find myself staring in the mirror more than ever in my entire life 😂
I'm really glad you're happy with the results and that things kept getting better for you. 😉
What’s actually stressing me out is that the bridge of my nose feels thick and swollen, but it's also gotten really hard. I'm terrified that my cartilage is overgrowing. 🤷 I was reading on some forums that some girls have already run into issues where the cartilage just keeps growing—especially if you're genetically prone to it—and once it happens, there's no shrinking it back down on its own. Since I'm clearly one of those people who swelled up like a total bumblebee after surgery, I'm worried I might be one of those people prone to extra cartilage growth too. 😢 It literally feels like there's a checkmark sticker stuck on my nose.
Has anyone else dealt with this specific team? Is it actually possible for cartilage to start growing just a week after the procedure, or am I just panicking over nothing?

Ugh, tell me about it. My nasal bridge was swollen like crazy too... full-on nightmare mode. I was freaking out thinking it would stay like that forever, and I was literally questioning why the surgeon even touched that part since it seemed fine before... But listen, it's been two and a half months now, and that level of swelling is completely gone. 😁 Don't spiral. It's way too early for you to be making any definitive calls on how you look.
Cartilage grows... and man, people walk around with actual surgical scissors inside their bodies after these procedures. 😁 Look, what can I say? Weird stuff happens to people all the time... but that doesn't mean it's going to happen to you. So please, stop wrecking your head over a cute little nose by worrying about "what ifs" that haven't happened yet and probably never will. 😍

stormyharbor2 said:I'm actually curious about this too. I read somewhere that cartilage can actually grow back. So what happens then? 😕

So you just go right back in to grind it down again... and when it grows back, you grind it down again, and when it grows back, you grind it down again, and when it grows back, you grind it down again, and when it grows back, you grind it down again... yeah, it's a loop. If you're stubborn as hell, sure, you can keep playing that game. But if you aren't, you'll probably just throw in the towel after a few rounds and figure out how to live with that cartilage doing its own thing. 😂 🤣 😂 🤣

rustygardener172 said:So you just keep going back to have it shaved down... and when it grows back, you go back to shave it again, and when it grows back, you go back to shave it again, and when it grows back, you go back to shave it again, and when it grows back, you go back to shave it again... etc. If you're stubborn... but if you aren't, you'll probably just give up after a few times and learn to live with that cartilage growing all by itself 😂 🤣 😂 🤣

Cut the crap. 😂 I hope you grow extra cartilage yourself. 🤣


Just kidding. 😉

Donna Jackson8 said:Hey everyone! Honestly, I never thought I’d be the type to actually jump onto some random internet forum. But ever since I started obsessing over getting a nose job, I just can't help myself... I actually ended up signing up here because of rustygardener172 and Adam Smith77—their stories about their surgeon really caught my eye. I’d be super grateful if you two could shoot me a private message with your before and after photos. Seeing the real results might actually help me stop spiraling and finally pick a doctor...

Sent. They've got a few typos, but honestly, who cares about perfect grammar right now? 😉
I actually saw the exact same doctor as Adam Smith77...

stormyharbor2 said:Oh, give me a break, lady. 😂 May you grow an extra cartilage just for fun. 🤣

Just kidding. 😉

Hahahahahahhahahaahah, take it back! Seriously, when I hit you up in a few months... listen, since you cursed me, you’re paying for my cartilage resurfacing hahahahahahhaahahah 😂
In all seriousness though, I really hope that doesn't happen to anyone. 🙂

rustygardener172 said:hahahahahhahahaahah watch your mouth! Once I get back to you in a few months... listen, you stole my thunder, so now you can pay for my cartilage resurfacing hahahahahahhaahahah 😂
Honestly, I really hope that doesn't happen to anyone else 🙂

🤣

Me too. God help us.

In a few months, we'll all be wearing clown noses.

http://www.toonhound.com/nellie.jpg

😂

rustygardener172 said:My nose bridge was super swollen too... I was honestly terrified it would stay like that and wondered why they even touched that area when it seemed fine. But it's been two and a half months now, and that kind of swelling is totally gone.😁Don't panic, it's way too early to jump to any conclusions.
Cartilage grows back... and man, people live with actual surgical clips inside them after procedures.😁Look, anything can happen to anyone, but that doesn't mean it'll happen to you. Stop stressing over your beautiful new nose with "what-ifs" that probably won't even happen.😍

You were right, you really comforted me.😘
When I'm an absolute wreck of anxiety and impatience—it's a lethal combo.😂
Hopefully everything turns out fine. Right now, there's nothing left to do but wait for the swelling to go down.🙂

stormyharbor2 said:Wait, which doctor did you see? I went to see Dr. Glushac, and now I'm second-guessing it. I have to go back with my referrals because things got complicated, and they told me to come back tomorrow when my regular doctor is in.

Your nose should still settle down and shrink a bit more. It really should.

I missed this one. I actually saw Ostojic, but I was torn between him and Glushac.
Have you made a decision yet?