Rhinoplasty: Stories

Hello! I had a consultation for a rhino when I was 20, but backed out because I was too scared! Now I'm 30, and the time is right. I'm not at all nervous, and just excited. I tried to look for blogs about rhinoplasty recovery when I first decided to get one, but couldn't find much. Then I discovered this site, and I love reading the posts on here, so I thought I'd join so I could write about how it is when the time is really here!

I get my bloodwork done tomorrow morning! Also, my doctor called in prescriptions for pain meds, an antibiotic, and sleeping pills because I'm really afraid I won't be able to sleep with my head elevated since I'm a stomach sleeper. Not very exciting, but proof that the big day is almost here!

Does anyone have any experience with Arnica, and if so, do you think it worked? I was told to get a supply beforehand to help with bruising.

One week until my surgery! I started Arnica today, and was relieved that it's pretty much tasteless. I also got a lot of my supplies for recovery, but realized browsing on here that I need to get gloves and peas! I am so excited! The icing on the cake is that I'm a teacher, and tomorrow is field day and my last day with students =) Bring on summer vacation!

My surgery is tomorrow! I go in at noon, and surgery is supposed to start at 1:30. I have a nice little area set up here on the coffee table, next to the spot on the couch I'll be hibernating during recovery. My husband and I don't even have a tv in our room, so the living room is the best choice. I was able to find Arnica gel at Wild Oats today. I had ordered the pills online, so I wasn't sure I'd be able to get the gel, but wanted to check since I've read so many positive comments about them on here.

It's really just now sinking in that it's almost here!!

Well, I went in for surgery at noon, and filled out paperwork. They gave me a gown and little socks, and made me give a urine sample to make sure I'm not pregnant. Then the anesthesiologist came in and talked to me about my medical history, and hooked me up to something to relax me (not to the point of being knocked out though). Finally, the doctor came in, we talked briefly, and he marked up my nose. Then they took me into the room, and the next thing I knew I woke up in recovery.

The pain pills got rid of the pain, but my real problem right now is the bleeding. I didn't think it would be so frequent (around every 20 minutes I have to change the drip gauze). **The doctor just called for his post op call, and told me that this amount of bleeding is normal. and that everyone thinks they are bleeding too much. So far, I have a small bruise under my left eye.

I grosssly underestimated how many gauze things to buy, so buy a lot! I'm about to take my pain pill and sleeping pill, watch Hell's Kitchen, and then head back to the doctor in the morning!

I went in for my first post-op appointment this morning, and they took out the nose tampons. I'm not sure if they were related to the bleeding, but I now find myself not having to wear the drip gauze. I really hope this lasts! They scheduled me to come in to get my stitches taken out on Friday, and the cast/splint on Monday!

I spent all morning after my appointment sleeping, thanks to the pain meds, which is fine with me!

Today is my second day at home post op. My bruising has spread above my left eye, and on over to my right eye also. I really don't care what shape I'm in right now, but I can't tell at all what my nose looks like under this cast! I'm afraid it's going to look exactly the same.

My drip gauze is really done (I ended up wearing it all yesterday and last night), which is nice. I have some pain in my upper teeth, and I'm definitely more swollen all over today than before. I can't believe I'm posting a picture of this mess, but we're all in this together! =)

Today is my third day at home after surgery, and it's the first day I may actually feel like getting up and doing something (not that involves leaving the house!). All I have done is sleep and watch tv. I don't feel like the swelling is worse from yesterday, so I hope it will just start to go down from here on out.

Today I went in at 7:00 A.M. to get the non-dissolvable stitches taken out, and that was the most actual pain I've had the whole time. I'm out of my Rx pain medication, and am now just using Tylenol extra strength, and I can't really tell a difference between the two, thankfully. Having this splint on is driving me insane, and I'm tired of feeling like not doing anything but sleeping! I also can't tell that my nose is going to look any different when the splint comes off. On the plus side, my bruises are fading to yellow, and the swelling is going down.

I get my splint off Monday, and am counting the hours!

Well, today is day 5. I feel better than yesterday, and haven't taken any pain meds at all, even Tylenol. I woke up today and could breathe out of BOTH SIDES OF MY NOSE! I don't think I'm supposed to yet, so I'm still being mostly a mouth breather, but at least now I don't feel like I'm about to suffocate. I can almost completely cover the remaining bruises with make up, but it doesn't matter since I'm not planning on going anywhere.

I can drink without a straw, and am pretty much back to normal food, even though I have to cut everything into tiny pieces. On a side note, I don't know what on earth I would have done for the last week without Netflix streaming. Just wrapping up the entire series of The Office.

I'm adding a pic of me today (notice what seems to the typical "I've just had a nose job" immobile upper lip), and a picture of Max, who has been my faithful companion 24/7 since I walked in the door from surgery =)

Woooohoo!
I went in today to get my cast off, and oh my GOSH does it feel amazing. I have to say that my immediate reaction was disappointment, because my nose looked, well, not much different, even though it's obviously still swollen. After taking a thousand profile pictures of myself today, and realizing that my ideal "after" wasn't that much different to begin with, I'm already pretty happy. It's smaller and less pointy, and I know it will only continue to look better!

By the way, getting the cast off wasn't painful. They did do a suction thing inside my nose (barf...you know exactly what they were getting out), and THAT hurt.

I thought based on reading a million of these reviews that I would have to tape my nose up at night or all the time or something, and I don't, which I am THRILLED about.

Now, I'm off to take the longest, hottest shower I have taken in a week! =) =)

Well, I fell off the updating wagon since the cast came off, because life has been 100% back to normal since day 7. I still can't believe how easy the whole thing was! I feel like I have a little bit of asymmetry from the front (sorry no pics), but I don't think anyone would ever notice. My nose was far from perfect to begin with, so I'm totally fine with a bit of imperfection. My favorite things about the whole experience are 1. wearing my hair in a ponytail and 2. not being self-conscious about people seeing my profile. I would have had this done ten years ago if I'd known how easy it would have been. If you're trying to decide whether to get this done or not, feel free to email me with any questions!