Rhinoplasty: Stories

Hi! Glad to hear your surgery went well. I understand "trying not to freak out". I cried after my cast came off, it was awful. I went to see my doctor today. It was the first time I have seen them (him and the resident doctor) since the day of surgery. As soon as they seen me, before even touching my nose, they said I was still VERY swollen. I am so glad they said that because there was a part of me that thought they made it this big and that's how it was going to be. My tip is still really hard and kind of numb which is a sign of swelling but I needed to be told my the experts. They told me I have to give it 6 to 8 months to even know what it's going to be like. They said with the amount of work I had done and the fact that it was an open rhinoplasty the swelling will be much worse. So I am going to try to relax now. It has only been 6 weeks, they said that is not nearly enough time for us to know anything. They said they think I will be really happy with it sometime this summer. It seems like a long time but I guess for a lifetime of wanting a different nose that's not too much time to wait. People at work have already been telling me it looks good and that it's changed even since I've returned to work which has been a couple of weeks now. Good luck to you, you may not have the issues with swelling that I've had. I know everyone is different. This blog has helped me but in some ways it has made it worse. I am comparing myself with others too much and I have to stop doing that. I probably won't post any more pictures for quite a while. It's hard when people don't see any changes and then you don't get much support, so then I feel like people think it doesn't look good, which then makes me depressed....lol. It's a vicious cycle. Keep us updated on your progress and congratulations to you for going through something so emotionally and physically hard. It takes a lot of courage to do what we've all done. :-)

I love these last few sentences you wrote. This process is very emotional and physically difficult. This site does make this process hard for people like us, who cry when they get the cast off. Aloud I jokingly mimick the people who say "I love my new nose, I am so happy" ON CAST DAY!! what the hell, lucky people. Anyway, I believe in your progress and I know you will end up loving your nose. This swelling is super embarrassing, but it will all be worth it in the end. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Anyway, I hope you are feeling better lately. I will miss your photo updates, but I understand, I put a stop to posting mine for a while to. I don't want to discourage anyone, lol. Anyway, keep in touch.

It is a long haul and I can understand how encouraged you would feel to hear that it is very swollen. I am expecting swelling from all the work I had done and even my age. I am actually not looking forward to the reveal and would be quite happy to wear a cast until the swelling subsides...that probably sounds weird. There are a lot of people here who have lovely small noses beforehand and just get a little tweaking done , so it can be discouraging when their noses look so amazing almost from day 1. I am trying not to look at those too much but have a handful similar to myself who are healing slowly and are being honest about the emotional impact. Thanks for taking the time to share and I hope you stay in touch.

Thank you! I will be thinking of you on Monday and praying you get the results you want. I need to remember to exercise patience but it is so hard. I just want a nicer looking nose, is that to much to ask for? Lol. Keep us posted on your recovery. :-)

Thank you for your note! I see my doctor this Friday so I'm excited about that. :-)

Thanks for your note! Not a lot of change in the front of my nose, still wide and big at the tip. I am just hoping since I had so much work (3 hour surgery) that it's going to take longer for my swelling to go down. I do like my profile a lot better so I need to celebrate that. My nose was never wide before so it's hard to look in the mirror. I see my doctor again on the 18th so I'm going to ask him about it. I hope you are doing well and having a good recovery. Thanks again for asking how I'm doing...that was really sweet. :-)

Ahh, okay. Yeah, I'm sure 3 hours of work makes a big diff with the swelling! I'm glad you look like your profile and that's a good idea to talk about that and see what he says! My recovery is going well thanks. Much dizziness, but it's a normal side effect from my pain meds. Hope everything goes great at your next appointment!

Thanks for your message! Hopefully what we are experiencing is just swelling and in time will go down. I have noticed changes in my nose since the cast was first removed. At first, it was just a big blob, no definition at all. Now I can see definition and a shape forming. I have to go back to work Thursday and I'm stressed about it. I just don't know if people understand how long it takes for a new nose to look nice. I guess we just have to be patient. I see my doctor on January 18th so maybe he can put my mind to ease on why it looks so big from the front. I don't expect it to look tiny but bigger than before from the front is not what I wanted. Thanks for the makeup tips....and good luck to you too. :-)

I keep telling people over and over again that it takes a full year to heal and de-swell. I wonder if people actually believe me and understand it, but oh well.

Hi Gift....thank you so much!! I have been feeling so down. You're right, though, there is definition now where before there wasn't. They did three hours of work on my nose so I need to be patient and see what happens. Thanks again for your note, it really helps me feel better. :-)

Oh....and I hope you are feeling good. I just realized you had surgery a couple days ago. I hope you are having a good recovery.

Hello! It's so nice of you to ask. I have started feeling better, not so depressed. I need to celebrate the small victories, my profile is much better and shorter than before and I like it more every day. My frontal view, however, is not good. I am not able to see my doctor until January 18th but at that time I am hoping he can reassure me that it is just swelling. I'm worried because he shortened my nose and shaved some bone which I think can make your nose appear bigger from the front. I just wouldn't think it would look this much bigger. My husband keeps reassuring me it's just swelling but it's so hard to look in the mirror. I will post a couple more pictures soon. I think I may be noticing some subtle changes. Part of my fear is returning to work. I'm not sure what everyone expects and that worries me. My nose was very large so I wasn't expecting a tiny nose, just a shorter, more improved version of my God-given nose. I'm feeling guilty for thinking of myself and my nose all the time when 20 little children were murdered in Connecticut last week. I need to focus my energy on things other than myself. I try really hard...and then I look in the mirror. Thank you so much for your message and for caring...it helps so much. :-)

Hey...great to hear from you! I can understand your concern about returning to work with it so swollen, I would feel the same (and already worried about my first day back and what they will think....and I haven't had my surgery yet!!). I can see changes too; the profile is much softer. The front view still shows significant swelling (not an illusion that you will have to live with), but it is improving. So what are yiu doing now to help the swelling? I've read Arnica creams, taping at night (think you are doing that), and even gentle lymphatic massage helps. Apparently some surgeons offer that with their packages. Anyway, I think you are doing so well focussing on other things while healing. You are a gorgeous woman and your nose is only one small part of you that others see. The essence of your beauty shines through your eyes, and you will feel great again soon. Please stay in touch :)