“Cast Just Came Off..a Bit Concerned. - Minnesota”

I was always uncomfortable with the size and shape of my nose - I have a narrow, feminine face with big eyes and big lips (think Anne Hathaway), so a large, wide nose just looked out of place. I managed to save up enough money for the surgery then proceeded to research doctors - pretty sure I called every plastic surgery office in the metro area!

I chose my surgeon because he was very willing to talk - and listen - to me from the very beginning. When I called his office initially, he heard the receptionist talking to me, picked up the phone, and answered all of my questions! I would have been treated like a crazy woman if I had even asked to speak to a doctor at any of the other places I called. He also had over twenty years of experience (older guy), performed rhinoplasties regularly, and was realistic about results (he flat-out told me at the initial consultation that he "could get me 65-80% of the way to a 'perfect' nose").

In retrospect, I should have been clearer about what I was looking for - I told him that I wanted a more feminine nose which was smaller and would better fit my face, and he did everything he could in regards to that. It's a bit scooped-out at the base, although he was very careful not to go overboard into ski-jump territory, the nostrils were reduced significantly, and he did quite a bit of work on the tip, which will surely become more apparent as swelling goes down. Unfortunately, the nose still appears wide, which was my main issue with it in the first place. The doctor chose to "shave down" the bones rather than break and mold them, which seems strange, in retrospect.

I'm only a week post-op, which is definitely too early to judge, as I'm still quite swollen and bruised. I was feeling well enough to go back to classes yesterday, but it looks like somebody's been beating on me, even with excessive amounts of makeup. I only told a very select few people that I was getting a nose job - my parents don't even know yet - but nobody's said anything to me about it. I'm a bit worried that I may have gained some weight during recovery - I couldn't really do anything besides eating and sleeping, so I did a lot of both! ;)

Hopefully, the nose will continue to improve as swelling goes down. If it doesn't appear less wide over time, I may start saving for a revision. In conclusion - it's not life-changing, but it's an improvement, and it looks natural. I would highly recommend my doctor for candidates who are interested in making minor refinements to their noses without having a face that screams "NOSE JOB," but people with wider noses may be better off elsewhere.

Updated on 15 Nov 2010:
UPDATE:

I feel pretty stupid right now. My doctor completely ignored my wishes (narrower nose w/nostril reduction) and deviated from what he promised. My nose is just as wide as it was before, as he didn't even break the bones, and it's verging on ski slope territory. I feel like a pig.

If you're thinking about rhinoplasty:

MAKE SURE YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT CHANGED AND WHAT THE DOCTOR AGREES TO DO IN WRITING - if doctor deviates from what he/she promises, you're more likely to get a revision for free

TRY TO GO TO A DOCTOR WITH COMPUTER IMAGING - that way you KNOW you're on the same page

MORE EXPERIENCE IS PROBABLY BETTER, BUT NOT NECESSARILY - he/she may be set in his/her ways, overconfident, and unwilling to listen to what YOU want.

LOOK AT BEFORE/AFTER PICTURES - should seem obvious, but I was so embarrassed about my nose that I hurried into scheduling as soon as I found a doctor that seemed trustworthy

GO TO MORE THAN ONE CONSULTATION - different doctors take different approaches and have different results. No matter how much the first doctor impresses you, remember that plastic surgery is ELECTIVE, so their paycheck depends on impressing you. Don't let smoke, mirrors, or statistics cloud your judgement.

Updated on 16 Nov 2010:
It's starting to look a little better. Tip is still bulbous but will likely improve..I had somewhat thick skin near the tip, so the swelling will take a while to go down.

Updated on 25 Nov 2010:
Three weeks in: nostrils are still very noticeably uneven. Nose still appears too wide for face. Surgeon kept talking about how "thin and elegant" it looked when I went in for checkup. Um, NO. Hopefully it's just swelling. =(

Updated on 30 Nov 2010:
Looking even more uneven as the swelling starts to settle..ugh.