Rhinoplasty: Stories

Ever since I was very young (around 7) I can remember disliking the appearance of my nose from the side; specifically, the large hump that grows even larger when I smile. I grew increasingly more ambivalent towards a nose job as I got older. Sometimes I would absolutely decide to get one. Other times I would tell myself no, my future children won't look like me, I won't know who I am anymore, etc.

My dad had mirrors in his bathroom that could be adjusted in such a way so I could see myself the way other people saw me (instead of merely a mirror image). This was the summer of 2010 and I was horrified! My nose stuck out from my fase, curving to the right and ending in a downturn. That asymmetry is another aspect I've always detested--I believe I look completely different if my face is turned to the right or the left. I decided that the left side was the good side, so in every single picture my face was always turned to show this.

I finally decided to get the surgery in May '11 after watching the episode of Glee in which Rachel almost gets a nose job. Something Quinn said resonated with me: she got her surgery because she loved herself! That day I made an appointment for a consultation with the same doctor my friend's sister went to for her nose job. I left in June for Army Basic Combat Training. Someone said I looked like a bird--no one had ever made fun of my nose before. He was right, of course. When I found out the dates of my leave in December, I scheduled the surgery and paid the deposit.

In six months of training I managed to save half the cost of the surgery with my mom covering the other half. I wasn't nervous at all the day of--I completed trusted my doctor. It felt right; I had a good gut feeling. I was ready to say goodbye to my beak.

The first couple of days were the worst. I had a drip pad under my nose and I just sat on the couch and watched TV/movies. I slept on the couch too, sitting up, which was difficult. I don't think I left the couch for three days! My nose was completely blocked off so my mouth and lips got so dry during the night. I woke up every hour with a tongue that felt like sandpaper in my mouth. It didn't really hurt that much but the cast applied so much pressure that I had to take vicodin so I wouldn't feel it.

At first I thought my nose was too far upturned, but now I know I was just getting used to the difference. The doctor rotated my tip and shaved down the bump. My surgery was on a Monday, and on Friday I got my stitches out. I still had the cast on but I started going out in public on Friday anyway. The following Tuesday I got my cast off. By Thursday I was on a plane back to work!

My nose is still tender eighteen days post-op but I absolutely love it. At this point I can't believe I used to walk around all the time with my old nose on my face. Even though I kind of liked the left side, I really only had one good angle--this way is much better and I don't feel self-conscious if someone is standing on my side.