POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
3 Weeks update. Kenalog. - New York, NY
ORIGINAL POST
Wow, I cannot believe I'm actually doing this! I'm...
ank87May 2, 2014
$12,000
Wow! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm having my rhinoplasty
surgery in 5 days! I've wanted to improve the appearance of my nose for a
very long time, but never did I think it would happen under such odd
circumstances. To make a long story short, I booked a date with the
surgeon I liked in the beginning of April, just in case, because he was
booked until July at the time. His office then called me with a
cancellation in May, and I told the receptionist I'll take the date. I
was not fully committed to the procedure, so I never called back with my
credit card information to make a deposit, and, as life got in the way,
forgot all about it. So, imagine my surprise when I opened an envelope
with prescriptions and pre-op instructions 4 days ago!
I had to
make a decision quickly, and decided to go through with the procedure
sooner than later. Honestly, a part of this decision was out of
convenience - the surgeon's office was close to home, I had the date and
wouldn't have to wait until August, keeping my life on hold (I'm
planning to start a family soon!). It helped that the current surgical
date happened to be at the very beginning of my two week vacation. Most
importantly, I had a heart to heart with an office insider (who happened
to be a family member through marriage! *another surprise!* ), who
reassured me that my surgeon is a talented and seasoned professional
with very good results.
However, ever since making the decision
to go through with rhinoplasty, I have been on an emotional roller
coaster. Imagine trying to cram months of research into one week's time!
For the past four days, I have been googling: what I'd want my "ideal"
nose to look like, open vs. closed approaches, graft options, anesthesia
complications, as well as stalking and tracking down every person who
has ever reviewed my surgeon and probably annoying the hell out of my
extremely kind "insider" with incessant questions.
One minute, I
am constructing a living will in my head; another, I am picturing a
whole life span with my new nose. One minute, I am picturing quizzing my
surgeon on what we agreed on before anesthesia puts me under; another -
I am envisioning taking the cast off and seeing a positive result. One
minute, I am terrified that maybe I've made a mistake in the person I
chose; another - I am reminded of multiple successful cases like mine in
his practice. One minute, my stomach is churning with anxiety, another -
with elation. I have experienced joy, fear, hesitation, sadness, hope,
serenity, curiosity, frustration, gratitude, amusement, and that's the
short list.
Five days. I really can't believe I'm doing this! :D I
am going in for my physical, labs, and final consultation tomorrow. And
then... the waiting game begins. Any last words of advice???
ank87's provider
UPDATED FROM ank87
3 days pre
PRE-OP DAY!
ank87May 3, 2014
Today was a big day. I got up early and went for my physical and blood tests. Maybe it was because I didn't eat breakfast, but I had a ball of nervous energy sitting at the pit of my stomach. I fell asleep the night before, searching for pictures of what I want my nose to look like. Straight or sloped? How narrow? How short? Yes, I spent years pinching my nose this way and that way, smirking at myself at the mirror and thinking: "If only it looked like THIS!" You would think I'd know what I wanted by now, but with the surgery now close and palpable, the possibilities were endless.
My first and only consultation with my surgeon was a month ago, and I knew little about what I wanted then. I was really just scoping the waters out for a procedure I may or may not ever get. Our first consultation went well, and although I booked the surgery the following day, I remember feeling like I didn't get a good sense of exactly the type of nose I would end up with. For those of you going in for a consultation for the first time - be prepared! My confidence and my ability to speak "the same language" with my doctor improved significantly after I'd done my homework.
Today being my second consultation AND pre-op appointment, I desperately wanted to feel reassurance, confidence and understanding from my surgeon. Luckily, what I got - was beyond what I was hoping for! I showed him the pictures I brought in from my "research", and he pointed out the ones he thought would fit my face well. He was calm, confident, and explained intricate details of my procedure that I was interested in without pretense or trying to convince me. We discussed the difficulty of the operation because of the amount of tip cartilage I was (not blessed) with, and the steps he would take to ensure a favorable result. At the end of our appointment, I wanted to hug him. I was so nervous coming in, really unsure of whether I was making the right decision, unsure of whether I should have consulted with more doctors (I consulted with 3), and unsure of what I wanted. When we parted, I felt a giant sense of relief. It was a big and exuberant feeling of "Wow! This is my guy! I really really trust him!"
I made my full payment, received a generous gift bag with many great skin products, and left the office feeling light, happy, and SURE of my decision. I still had a whole day ahead of me, so I decided to go shopping for post-op necessities. I know I probably went a little overboard, but I got:
-2 packs of arnica montana 6c tabs
-Super Bromelain Capsules
-Chewable Vitamin C tablets
-Arnica gel
-ACT dry mouth lozenges
-OraMoist time released patches for dry mouth
-Biotene spray
-A gel cold pack
-Kiehl's lip balm
I also filled my prescriptions of antibiotics, anti-nausea medication (Zofran), and pain-reliever (Percocet). I was so excited about my purchases and a close possibility of a prettier nose, I nearly skipped home. Today was a 180 of how I was feeling yesterday. No more doubts, fear, and frustrations. No more roller coaster. Just elation, joy, and gratitude.
I will post my before pictures soon, but for now, I'm posting my nose inspiration.
My first and only consultation with my surgeon was a month ago, and I knew little about what I wanted then. I was really just scoping the waters out for a procedure I may or may not ever get. Our first consultation went well, and although I booked the surgery the following day, I remember feeling like I didn't get a good sense of exactly the type of nose I would end up with. For those of you going in for a consultation for the first time - be prepared! My confidence and my ability to speak "the same language" with my doctor improved significantly after I'd done my homework.
Today being my second consultation AND pre-op appointment, I desperately wanted to feel reassurance, confidence and understanding from my surgeon. Luckily, what I got - was beyond what I was hoping for! I showed him the pictures I brought in from my "research", and he pointed out the ones he thought would fit my face well. He was calm, confident, and explained intricate details of my procedure that I was interested in without pretense or trying to convince me. We discussed the difficulty of the operation because of the amount of tip cartilage I was (not blessed) with, and the steps he would take to ensure a favorable result. At the end of our appointment, I wanted to hug him. I was so nervous coming in, really unsure of whether I was making the right decision, unsure of whether I should have consulted with more doctors (I consulted with 3), and unsure of what I wanted. When we parted, I felt a giant sense of relief. It was a big and exuberant feeling of "Wow! This is my guy! I really really trust him!"
I made my full payment, received a generous gift bag with many great skin products, and left the office feeling light, happy, and SURE of my decision. I still had a whole day ahead of me, so I decided to go shopping for post-op necessities. I know I probably went a little overboard, but I got:
-2 packs of arnica montana 6c tabs
-Super Bromelain Capsules
-Chewable Vitamin C tablets
-Arnica gel
-ACT dry mouth lozenges
-OraMoist time released patches for dry mouth
-Biotene spray
-A gel cold pack
-Kiehl's lip balm
I also filled my prescriptions of antibiotics, anti-nausea medication (Zofran), and pain-reliever (Percocet). I was so excited about my purchases and a close possibility of a prettier nose, I nearly skipped home. Today was a 180 of how I was feeling yesterday. No more doubts, fear, and frustrations. No more roller coaster. Just elation, joy, and gratitude.
I will post my before pictures soon, but for now, I'm posting my nose inspiration.
Replies (10)
May 3, 2014
I understand what you are feeling. I look forward to my pre op appointment. I really need more reassurance from the surgeon. He was very confident and easy to talk to during my first consult but like you my mind fills up with the "what ifs". Best of luck to you. I hope your dreams come true:)
May 3, 2014
Thank you. I looked at your story and i think you made the right decision to go with your nose and to do it for YOU. Best of luck to YOU!
May 3, 2014
Good luck with your Guida nose! This surgery is very easy to recover from-- you will be very pleasantly surprised :)
May 3, 2014
Because I go on makemeheal and you posted something almost exactly like this and wrote that you were going with Guida?
May 3, 2014
So excited for you! can't wait to see your before pics, sounds like your nose is similar to mine
May 3, 2014
So excited for you! can't wait to see your before pics, sounds like your nose is similar to mine
UPDATED FROM ank87
2 days pre
My BEFORE Pictures
ank87May 4, 2014
Looking through my albums in anticipation of posting my "before" pictures tonight, I realized a few interesting things.
1) My nose has a life of its own. What I mean by this is - one day it can be big, one day it can be huge, another day it seems as if an extra bulbous hump has appeared out of nowhere and put itself in the spotlit. Still, other days, it looks normal, fitting, comfortable, even (dare I say this?) cute in it's imperfection. The bottom line is: my nose can appear quite ugly at times, but it is not.
2) I was embarrassed browsing through my pictures. I tried finding ones that best showcased unattractive angles, and realized just how many of these I have. I also realized how many of these are "outtakes" that never made it onto my social pages. I felt ashamed that I have created an image of myself on sites like Facebook and Instagram, composed of carefully hand-picked photos that do not match everyday reality.
3) Of course, my nose is far from perfect, but it never stopped me from enjoying life, achieving goals, getting ahead, making friends, feeling attractive, or being loved by others. My nose never defined me. Sure, I always wished I could look good with an up-do, not hide the candids people took of me at parties, and other silly things, but they are trivial, to say the least.
And so, with that, I present you with my "before" photos. The ones from my consultation are the most realistic views of my nose. However, I also uploaded two at extremely unflattering angles for a dramatic effect.
1) My nose has a life of its own. What I mean by this is - one day it can be big, one day it can be huge, another day it seems as if an extra bulbous hump has appeared out of nowhere and put itself in the spotlit. Still, other days, it looks normal, fitting, comfortable, even (dare I say this?) cute in it's imperfection. The bottom line is: my nose can appear quite ugly at times, but it is not.
2) I was embarrassed browsing through my pictures. I tried finding ones that best showcased unattractive angles, and realized just how many of these I have. I also realized how many of these are "outtakes" that never made it onto my social pages. I felt ashamed that I have created an image of myself on sites like Facebook and Instagram, composed of carefully hand-picked photos that do not match everyday reality.
3) Of course, my nose is far from perfect, but it never stopped me from enjoying life, achieving goals, getting ahead, making friends, feeling attractive, or being loved by others. My nose never defined me. Sure, I always wished I could look good with an up-do, not hide the candids people took of me at parties, and other silly things, but they are trivial, to say the least.
And so, with that, I present you with my "before" photos. The ones from my consultation are the most realistic views of my nose. However, I also uploaded two at extremely unflattering angles for a dramatic effect.
Replies (30)
May 4, 2014
You are going to look great when it is done! You are so beautiful now but can imagine you with your " done" nose and I am so excited for you...because It's an amazing feeling to not be ashamed of my profile anymore....I spent so many years hiding it too. I am amazed by how great it feels.
May 4, 2014
Thanks so much! I'm very excited about my profile, as I feel that's going to be the most attractive and noticeable different. I am more nervous about how the nose will look straight on, because I have so much tip cartilage.
May 4, 2014
Oh....And another supply I got for recovery while the cast was on that I really liked having was Burt's bees sensitive skin facial wipes because you can't get your cast wet and I wanted my face clean and also put some make up on and wanted to take it off at night . Good luck!!
May 4, 2014
That's a great suggestion! I always have to wash my face at night, because it gets oily. I'm going to buy the wipes tomorrow.
May 4, 2014
Make sure you get Cepacol throat spray. Your throat will be very sore!
May 4, 2014
From dryness- you won't be able to breathe out of your nose for almost a week after surgery. Your throat will hurt so badly. Get Cepacol, tea, and if you don't have a humidifier run a hot shower to moisten the air. Keep soft foods like pudding around-it will feel weird to chew
May 4, 2014
Best of luck! I had mine on friday just gone and I am feeling good today :) the only thing that had really bothered me is the sore throat and think my tongue may have been scraped at some stage as one side is very swollen but not heard anyone else complain of that so must just be because my throat is very sma the nurse said they were going to have to get a much smaller tube!
It all happened so quickly on the morning so you almost dont have the time to freak out and before you now it you are awake & healing from then on! Best of luck xx
May 4, 2014
I'm really sorry to do this but I would strongly suggest you avoid surgery with this dr! I had a terrible experience over a year ago and just had revision to fix the mess he created. I know this is probably not helpful as you are scheduled for surgery tomorrow, but if someone had warned me before I went ahead I only wish I had heeded the advice. Feel free to direct message me for more info and I'm happy to share whatever I can.
May 4, 2014
You are right. This was not helpful and some things are better left unsaid. Did you really think your comment would make me cancel my surgery two days before, when I already paid for it, and spent time preparing for it mentally and physically? I do understand your intentions were good, but your comment was reckless. Plastic surgery is risky, and rhinoplasty being among the most difficult procedures, it is almost expected that every surgeon will have a complication here and there. Dr Guida is one of the best rhinoplasty surgeons in NYC and I have as good of a chance with him as I do with the other top guys. Im sorry your surgery did not go well, but what I heard about his practice, your case is a minority.
May 4, 2014
May 4, 2014
You comment might have upset me, until I saw that your profile was created today and you only have one post. No offense, but your comment holds no credibility. Whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourself.
May 4, 2014
Stop this. Both of the posters on Guida. She is having surgery in TWO days. As we all know there are risks involved in surgery no matter who your doctor is, no matter how good. You say pastorek, I just had surgery with pastorek....He also has negative reviews....They all do! We don't need people reminding us of the risks we face. Ank87 is well aware. It's something we all know going into this elective surgery...That we may need revisions. We can only make the best decisions with the information we have. Dr Guida is considered to be a fantastic doctor and is also recommended by his peers. I'm sorry that you happened to be one of the people that had a bad experience. But PLEASE do not freak someone out right before they go into surgery especiallY when they come on here looking for support.
May 4, 2014
Also, quite frankly, the best 250$ I ever spent was my consultation with Dr.Pearlman. Because it was worth $250 to witness what pathetic practices one will go through to retain business. Dr. Pearlman was ruled out immediately after his secretary badmouthed another doctor I was going to see.
May 4, 2014
You made a decision based on a secretary bad-mouthing another surgeon. Yikes. I guess the skill of the doctor does not matter if they are sweet and nice :o. Pearlman > Guida all day, everyday. I am going to post my photos so you can see what you're in for. Thank god Constantinides was able to fix what was left of my nose. I may have well have gone to Rizk for how bad the nose was.
May 4, 2014
Cestbon, please stop trolling my blog. How can you have such a strong opinion of Pearlman if you never had surgery with him? I hate to break it to you, but he has bad results and reviews too. No, my decision about him was not made based on that single factor, but it was a contributing factor that added to the overall impression that they are hurting for business. Honestly, I'm sure he is a decent surgeon, but I chose to go in a different direction, please respect that and leave my blog alone.
May 4, 2014
I wish you the best of luck and am sure it will go well. I truly only commented because I thought back on my own surgery and how much I wish there was something that stopped me days prior. I weighed not saying anything but at the same time, given the emotional pain I've been through in the last year wanted to be upfront and make sure you were as well educated as possible. I'm sorry if I gave you unnecessary anxiety, I will hold my comments from here and send good thoughts your way! Hopefully you never need to look into a revision, but of course please feel free to contact me at any time.
May 5, 2014
It's funny how once uve had a bad experience u do everything u can to try and help others ever having to feel like that. Honestly the depression that comes along with a bad rhinoplasty can destroy u. I was angry too when I had people telling me not to do it after I had made up my mind and saved my money and booked my surgery. That's the attitude u have when uve wanted something for so long. I would've rather lost my money then ever gone thru the surgery.
Replies (9)