POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty Reviews
3 Weeks update. Kenalog. - New York, NY
UPDATED FROM ank87
22 days post
3 week update - Kenalog
$12,000
Today was my 3 week follow-up with Dr. Guida, and also my first day off since I went back to work this week. I had to wait a little longer than most to go back to work, because I work as an RN at a busy hospital and run around all day, lifting people. The first day at work was absolutely exhausting. I hit a wall at 11 am, and the rest of the day could not have gone any slower. My nose was huge by the end of my work day!
Over the past few weeks, I have not noticed much of a change in the appearance of my nose, but when I looked the pictures on my phone from day 1, I saw a big difference in the reduction of swelling from the front. Speaking of, I take pictures of my nose constantly! Does anyone else!?
I have definitely calmed down a lot and embraced the imperfections that I was so hung up upon a few days after cast removal. Overall, I'm VERY happy with how my nose turned out. On one hand - I still look like me, on another - it's such a difference from before. Interestingly enough, I went to a family event a week ago, and nobody noticed! No one at work noticed either, aside from the people I told. I know my nose might still appear big to others, and it could be considered worse than some people's "before" noses, but to me - it looks like day and night compared to the old version.
At my 3 week follow up today, my surgeon also pointed out the developed supra tip swelling (though he said I'm healing nicely, and he expected the swelling to be a lot worse). We agreed he would inject some Kenalog (steroid) in two spots to move things along and prevent scar tissue from setting in in places we don't want. The first injection barely hurt at all - it just felt like pressure. The second, however, stung a lot more. Oh, the things we do for beauty... : ) I'm really hoping these will improve the areas I'm not thrilled with.
That aside, the past two weeks have been exhilarating! I didn't feel like I was too self-conscious about my nose before, but this surgery opened up a whole new world for me. A world, where I don't have to think about someone looking at my profile when they are sitting next to me, a world where any angle looks great in pictures, and (my favorite) where I don't have to have my hair and makeup done to look cute! I feel so fortunate that I had the means and was geographically located to have the surgery with Dr. Guida in NYC, and, like many of you, only wish I had done it sooner!
Some of the issues I have encountered since cast removal:
- Inconsistent breathing. One hour, I am breathing great. Another, I am struggling to get any air in at all. From what I understand, this is a result of internal swelling, especially at the incision cites.
- Frequent sneezing. Not sure what that's about. Maybe because I had to hold my sneezes in for the first week, I am now catching up on the ones I missed : )
- Terrible skin! I broke out very badly (like a teenager) all over my forehead and along my jawline.
- Make-up troubles. When I apply my liquid foundation, it does not go on evenly anymore. It flakes and melts within a few hours.
- Struggle with tape residue. It's much better now, but we're still not on first name basis.
- Numbness in the front top tooth. I'm totally used to it by now, and don't even notice it. My surgeon said it will take some time to heal, because of the open approach.
- Tenderness. Also, much better now, but I still have to be gentle around the nasal area.
I will probably post more pictures in another 3 weeks, when the Kenalog results come in.
Over the past few weeks, I have not noticed much of a change in the appearance of my nose, but when I looked the pictures on my phone from day 1, I saw a big difference in the reduction of swelling from the front. Speaking of, I take pictures of my nose constantly! Does anyone else!?
I have definitely calmed down a lot and embraced the imperfections that I was so hung up upon a few days after cast removal. Overall, I'm VERY happy with how my nose turned out. On one hand - I still look like me, on another - it's such a difference from before. Interestingly enough, I went to a family event a week ago, and nobody noticed! No one at work noticed either, aside from the people I told. I know my nose might still appear big to others, and it could be considered worse than some people's "before" noses, but to me - it looks like day and night compared to the old version.
At my 3 week follow up today, my surgeon also pointed out the developed supra tip swelling (though he said I'm healing nicely, and he expected the swelling to be a lot worse). We agreed he would inject some Kenalog (steroid) in two spots to move things along and prevent scar tissue from setting in in places we don't want. The first injection barely hurt at all - it just felt like pressure. The second, however, stung a lot more. Oh, the things we do for beauty... : ) I'm really hoping these will improve the areas I'm not thrilled with.
That aside, the past two weeks have been exhilarating! I didn't feel like I was too self-conscious about my nose before, but this surgery opened up a whole new world for me. A world, where I don't have to think about someone looking at my profile when they are sitting next to me, a world where any angle looks great in pictures, and (my favorite) where I don't have to have my hair and makeup done to look cute! I feel so fortunate that I had the means and was geographically located to have the surgery with Dr. Guida in NYC, and, like many of you, only wish I had done it sooner!
Some of the issues I have encountered since cast removal:
- Inconsistent breathing. One hour, I am breathing great. Another, I am struggling to get any air in at all. From what I understand, this is a result of internal swelling, especially at the incision cites.
- Frequent sneezing. Not sure what that's about. Maybe because I had to hold my sneezes in for the first week, I am now catching up on the ones I missed : )
- Terrible skin! I broke out very badly (like a teenager) all over my forehead and along my jawline.
- Make-up troubles. When I apply my liquid foundation, it does not go on evenly anymore. It flakes and melts within a few hours.
- Struggle with tape residue. It's much better now, but we're still not on first name basis.
- Numbness in the front top tooth. I'm totally used to it by now, and don't even notice it. My surgeon said it will take some time to heal, because of the open approach.
- Tenderness. Also, much better now, but I still have to be gentle around the nasal area.
I will probably post more pictures in another 3 weeks, when the Kenalog results come in.
ank87's provider
UPDATED FROM ank87
11 days post
*pictures* Swelling continues.
I've been wearing my compression tape pretty much 24/7, aside from a few hours. Im uploading some pictures to give you an idea of how it has progressed (ignore the mess in the pictures, I was trying to blur my surroundings). I especially love the front view, but looking at myself from the side has been nerve wrecking. I was told to expect swelling, but I think I pictured it being mostly in the tip region, and not so much on the bridge. Have you seen this before and do you think this will resolve with time? I really want the straight bridge I had when I first took the splint off!
Replies (5)
C
May 17, 2014
I think you should contact your surgeon about the curve (if nothing else, just for reassurance that it will change in the coming months). I am 10 weeks p/o and did not experience that type of swelling (also, did not have a curve to begin with). I noticed that the swelling over the bridge resolved first (when you can push down on the bridge and feel hard bone and not edema). I think that maybe what you don't like is that he did not deproject the nose as much as you may have wanted? I am sure everyone will jump on me and say that your nose deprojects more as the months go on, but I have not experienced that in terms of the deprojection (maybe 1mm or so?)
A
May 17, 2014
Thanks for your comment. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon in two weeks, so I ll ask him them. Maybe by then, the swelling will subside some. He actually deprojected my nose quite a bit. I would say im happy with the length, especially when I first got the splint off and even when I wear the tape. It doesn't look like itself in the pictures I posted last. I am convinced that its swelling, i am just nervous about its resolution.
D
May 17, 2014
That looks like swelling to me. Remember you are only a few days post -surgery. This morning I woke up and my nose looked ENORMOUS. It goes up and down. I have also read that it looks worse ( bigger) in pictures. I try to remember that too - as I scrutinize my pictures. I talked to a friend yesterday who had a nose job about ten years ago - she said at one to two MONTHS to know what it will look like. You can't even tell your result yet- said her nose completely transformed in the first year. It is soooo hard to remember this though. I think you look great ank!! Hang in there. Let's stay away from the mirrors!!
A
May 18, 2014
Thank you for your support. I am hoping my nose will transform into the shape I saw when I first took my cast off : ) For now, I'm going to try to stay away from mirrors and be patient. I'm still out of work, so I have wayyy too much free time on my hands. I think once I go back, time will move faster, and I won't obsess over my nose as many times per day as I do now. Thanks again.
T
I
May 17, 2014
You look really good.
I didn't have bone work done on my own surgery but as others said it'll take 2 to 3 months for the contours to settle and stop fluctuating all day. The tenderness lasts a while. BE CAREFUL. I learned the hard way it will be that way for at least three months, so don't stress that tissue.
I find breathable paper tape and flexitape was easiest to wear over night and arnica gel helped a lot with bruising.
One thing about swelling--it gets worse before it gets better. When my nose finally revealed itself, it seems like it happened in the space of a few days.
A
May 19, 2014
Thank you for your advice! I had a good nose day today lol. No hump. Or maybe small enough that I did not see it. Anyway, I was happy, but we ll see what tomorrow brings. The tape I'm using now is called 3M microspore skin colored tape - it was given to me by the surgeon's office. Is the one you are talking about better? If so, why?
I
May 19, 2014
Actually, Micropore is better; it's soft and flexible. I hope they're generous with it.
M
UPDATED FROM ank87
9 days post
A question about swelling and pain.
Question. So, as happy as I am with the general result, today I did a bit more scrutinizing. Today, my bridge looks quite humpy from the side. You can see it a tiny bit in the last photo I posted in the section titled "Splint is off! Happy but swollen." My concern is that it's going to stay like that. Those pictures were taken 6 hours after cast removal. I don't remember exactly what my nose looked like right after the cast was removed, but I'm pretty sure I saw a little hump when I turned to one side then too. I'm a little confused about the information I've come across regarding swelling. Some sources say - the time immediately after cast removal is not the time for critical evaluation. Others say - the appearance of the nose right after cast removal approximates the final result, because the swelling has not set in yet. Based on your experience, which one is it? I really don't mind the fatness of the nose right now, because it actually kind of suits me, but the little hump I see when I turn to the right is bothering me.
I also have two pink squishy "circles" on each side of the bridge that look like it could be swelling.
I would post a picture, but I taped myself up real good this afternoon and don't think I'll be taking the tape off for a while. By the way, I did get the tape to come off easily in the shower this morning, but tape residual is turning out to be a huge problem! I tried taking the sticky tape residual off with rubbing alcohol, cold cream, baby oil, adhesive remover, and even acetone but it does not budge! My nose is still sticky, so I just put tape on top of the stickiness to look normal. Which brings me to my next question.
How long does the tenderness last? I obviously can't rub too hard to get the residual off, because my nose is still healing and it hurts.
I also have two pink squishy "circles" on each side of the bridge that look like it could be swelling.
I would post a picture, but I taped myself up real good this afternoon and don't think I'll be taking the tape off for a while. By the way, I did get the tape to come off easily in the shower this morning, but tape residual is turning out to be a huge problem! I tried taking the sticky tape residual off with rubbing alcohol, cold cream, baby oil, adhesive remover, and even acetone but it does not budge! My nose is still sticky, so I just put tape on top of the stickiness to look normal. Which brings me to my next question.
How long does the tenderness last? I obviously can't rub too hard to get the residual off, because my nose is still healing and it hurts.
Replies (5)
A
May 15, 2014
A week from now it won't be quite as tender, but you'll still want to be very gentle. In about 3 weeks, you'll be able to put some pressure on it :)
I know how hard it is to criticize the result and constantly change your mind about every little thing. It's truly a roller coaster. It sounds crazy, but in my experience the more you can distract yourself, IE legitimately cover up most mirrors for a few weeks, the better off you'll be. Easier said than done of course, but this gets you back closer to "real life" where our nose is not the center of each day!
As far as swelling immediately after, approximating result, etc... My experience is that just after cast removal, the nose will look a bit more squished and molded by the cast, but as far as size/swelling, there won't be much, so size wise, that is more accurate.
I can relate to scrutinizing to the point of FINDING defects/issues even if there may not be. Try to remember that all noses (seriously, ALL NOSES) have imperfections, but that when you look at someone (or someone looks at you), you don't see them! It takes hours of staring at yourself from every angle and knowing your face inside and out to recognize something that could be called an imperfection.
Lastly, on the stickiness, it also seems crazy but I found that using a bit of olive oil with salt helps get the adhesive residue off (this is also my go to for super glue, go figure). You can just kind of gently pat and wipe it on, move the salt around a bit like an exfoliant, then splash it off with water and a wash cloth.
A
May 15, 2014
Thank you so much for all of the advice. I will try the olive oil with salt. I'm glad it's something I already have at home, because I feel like I spend a small fortune each day on more supplies to cater to my nose : )
C
May 16, 2014
I'm at 2 weeks and 3 days post op and I am veryyyy slightly tender still but the majority of the tenderness has gone away. I can now wash my face and nose without feeling like I'm washing a ceramic ornament. I still wash softly and don't rub hard, but yeah you get the point.
A
K
May 16, 2014
There is such a big difference, its a whole new nose!! It does look really swollen along the bridge however, I hope the swelling goes down soon :)
A
May 17, 2014
Thank you! Im very happy and grateful overall, and hoping the swelling in the bridge will resolve sooner than later.
A
May 17, 2014
you old nose looks like my nose (mine is even worse)!! ...your new nose looks very good even now that is swollen so i can imagine it will look even better :DD congratulations xx
A
N
May 17, 2014
Your swollen... for sure. And it takes several months for it to go down. Looking back at my pictures right after the splint was off (note that it's been over a year) I can really tell how swollen it was (I had no idea at the time). I think if you're concerned about something you should call your surgeon... but otherwise just try not to overanalyze (I know it's hard). It looks good, it's a big improvement over your old nose, and I bet once the swelling goes away you will be really happy with your result!
A
May 17, 2014
Yes, im actually quite happy with the pictures i posted on here. Over the past two days, the swelling has gotten worse, and the bridge has a prominent curve, which no one else seems to have. I dont mind waiting months, I just hope it goes away on its own and i dont need a revision. If the bridge ends up being straight, i ll be very happy.
N
May 17, 2014
I bet it will be. I called my surgeon freaking out because my nose looked "twisted" but it was just uneven swelling. Now it looks fine and symmetrical. I didn't notice the curve you mentioned but then again the pictures look very small on my phone!
Replies (5)