“Very Nervous, Hoping for the Best - Ohio”

Omg!! as I read your story I get goosebumps to find someone who feels and is going through the same thing I am. My surgery is also on June 24 and every time I think about it I get hot flashes. The feeling is mutual  in regards to being vain. A lot of people say I should invest that money in school not understanding that every time I take a picture all I see is a wide nose. I have a round thick nose and want the sugary so bad but now that it's so close the post surgery feeling scares me. I'm so scared of removing the covering and hating my new nose. As you know at that point there is not much I'll be able to do. Deep inside the fear is taking over but the date is set and I know it's now or never. Is it vanity or is it societies fault? I want to wish you the best of luck be sure to write after your surgery. May god be with us and may we both have a speedy and safe recovery. Hope to have nothing much positive postings in the near future. I'll be sugary with Dr Yager will find out the time at the appt this Saturday. 

My surgery is scheduled for July 7th, with Dr. Steven Goldman. I am nervous at times because I am scared to death about getting poor results. I am a registered nurse, so I don't have many fears of surgery in general because it's a highly controlled environment. I am also getting my breasts done at the same time. Making sure I don't so anything to mess up my nose or breasts while I am healing is also scary since I have a 3 yr. old. I understand what you ladies are going through, my mom thinks it's silly for me to change my nose. I have been getting nose bleeds out of the left nostril for several years and the airflow is obstructed. I will be having a turbinate reduction and septoplasty. If you don't mind me asking noseybegone, who is your surgeon?

Dr Yager he is located on 181 ft Washington in Manhattan further uptown. You can google him under Dr Yager.

I had my rhinoplasty less than 3 wks ago and it was a fantastic experience. I was just like you.. so nervous and felt the same way, "how can I risk my life?" but honestly, this is how surgery is done and as my anesthesiologist told me there's a risk when you cross the street. The best advice I can give is just to make sure you choose the best doctor, with a board certified anesthesiologist with experience. My rhinoplasty went so well and I LOVE my doctor, his team, the office! I even brought them chocolate when I went back for my post operative check up because I couldn't be happier -- and keep in mind.. I'm still totally swollen and even still bruised.

Thanks for the positive feedback makes me feel a little more calm. Omg your still swollen? I only requested to weeks off work and would have to return on the third week to an office with a swollen face. What exactly was the problem you were trying to fix? I hope I have the same kind of review as you.

wow this is what i love about realself. i just had my nose job Tuesday and im healing right now with the splint, swelling, bruising and whole nine yards! i so want to see my new nose but it will be about 1.5 weeks till everything comes off. my surgical experience could not have gone better. i couldnt believe how easy it really was. they treated me like gold. boy i cant breathe out my nose and my ears are stopped up and i cant taste or smell but i sure hope this will all be worth it. last night i dreamed i have a cute little nose! it was a good dream. i cant see anything but the tip now but patience is a virtue lol. hit me up with any questions you guys may have

Hey, that's great!! I remember we chatted a while ago and you were nervous... as we all were. Aren't you glad it's over and you're well?! The hardest thing about recovery is just breathing through your mouth and for me it was not sleeping well on my back.

I'll post pictures as soon as my bruising is gone. Can't wait to see your pics too.

Hi this question is for kristenk77, I saw you are having surgery with dr. Goldman. Can you tell me what your consultation experience was with him and why you decided on him instead of other surgeons in the area?I tried to get an appt w him but he's busy they said there is a waitlist! I also wanted to know what his average costs are and How many rhinoplasties he's done. I went to a different doc in the cleveland area and he has only done maybe 100 in his 20+ year career! I don't think that's enough experience.

Hi!

It took me a long time to get into Dr. Goldman too. I made the initial consult in May and then have a pre-op appt. (per him) on July 6 a day before my surgery. I worked at UH on the post surgical ENT floor and Dr. Goldman was highly recommended by several of the nurses who worked for other surgeons there. He is an ENT surgeon first, which is extremely important, he has a solid understanding of the face and nasal structures. That is the primary reason that I chose him, and of course since he came highly recommended.

The consult was rushed as he was in and out of the office several times to see other patients. It's also the reason he wanted me to come back for a pre-op appt. The staff is incredibly friendly, his nurse is very nice and Jen the surgery scheduler is great with answering questions.

As far as his track record, he performs more rhino's and breast augmentations than any other PS in the Cleveland area. To be honest it is costly compared to other PS in the area, I was surprised. But you know what they say, you get what you pay for. From what I was told the rhino procedure is his favorite one to perform. To be honest, he seems like a genuinely nice guy. He does offer surgery in his accredited OR suite that is connected to his office (this is where I will be having mine done). This saves the patient alot of hospital fees that can be a surprise, i.e anesthesia, OR time, etc. The office works with Care Credit for 12, 18 and 24 months same as cash which is nice if you need it.

I think (so far) it would be worth the wait to get into see him. This is their busy season now through Aug./Sept. But because of his background, attention to detail and great bedside manner it's worth the wait. Good luck to you and if you have any more ques. please feel free to ask!

I had my surgery on April 13 and was back to work 12 days later. I had some swelling but no one could really tell but me. You will be fine for the wedding you have to go through. I will say that you need to be prepared to be patient during your healing. I am almost 2 months post surgery and my nose is still going through the different stages of healing. The healing works it's way down your face so right now I'm feeling tingling and some numbing right underneath my nose and that's something that didn't appear until a week or so ago. Some days my nose looks puffier than other days and that can depend on how I slept on it the night before. My doctor put it perfectly when he said that I will be swollen but it will still be a smaller nose than what I had before. You don't want a perfect nose right away since the skin has to heal around it's new shape...it's like shrink wrap. So a perfect nose right away might end up looking like too small of a nose a year from surgery. I thought breathing through my mouth would be awful but it wasn't. Day one was the only day that I woke up with the dryest mouth and it was brutal until I drank some water. After that I just made sure not to skim on the pain killers and I think that made a big difference. I had all these plans to do projects around the house and to log into work but instead I found out my attention span was short (due to pain killders) and overall I just thought it best to go easy on myself for ultimate healing. Some things to note:

Try to sleep propped up every night as this will help with swelling and with the overall healing. I made my couch into a big cloud of blankets and propped myself up in the corner of the couch and it worked really well. I slept like this for 4 weeks.

Don't be nervous about bruising. It's amazing how fast the brusing disappears. Even if you're still freaking out day 5 after you bruise just know that in another 4 or 5 days it will be all gone

Try not to pick and prod. You most likely will have stitches inside your nose that will dissolve or fall out but it could take a full month before they are ALL gone.

After two months I still have swelling inside my nose. It looks bumpy inside and it's annoying but it will eventually go away. In the interim I'm using a saline nasal rinse morning and night to try to combat congestion and clear the airways since you're not supposed to blow your nose for a while.

Don't wear glasses or sunglasses for a good month post surgery. Some doctors say it's okay to wear them and some say it's not okay. My doctor said it was okay but I chose not to. The glasses make big impressions on your skin and it *could* force the remainder of your skin to set/heal elsewhere on the nose. Personally I just found that the conservative approach was the best.

Tips:

To help with fast healing of bruising I was dilligent about applying Arnica gel. It's a homeopathic approach so not all western medicine doctors believe in it but I feel it did wonders and I took daily pictures that show how fast the healing was from one day to the next.

Even with sinus rinse twice a day I still like the idea of keeping things moist inside my nose so I use Aquaphor and apply with a q-tip. Aquaphor is like Vaseline but it has healing agents in it as well.

Everyone I know was really impressed how little down time I needed but I do remind myself every day to be patient. I think that you'll see tiny changes that only you notice on a weekly basis but overall I think the main timeline markers for healing are 3 months, 6 months and a year. Most likely you will feel completely healed in 3 to 6 months with the last 6 months being healing that you don't even realize is occuring (if that makes sense).

Don't be nervous at all. It will go great and you will look great when it's over. Happy healing!

Wow! You are all amazing. Thank you so much for everyones advice and support. I am beginning to become more excited than nervous because of everyone's positive feedback.

My surgeon is Dr. Steven Smith from OSU. He is the Director of Facial Plastics and also an ENT. I am completely comfortable with him and he has my full trust. I know he will do an excellent job. He did computer stimulation of my before and after pictures so I know what to expect as my final result. I look at the pictures everyday - I love what he will do!

I am most afraid of the recovery time and the breathing after surgery. After all, my main focus of the surgery is to not only have a better appearance but to have a more functional nose. I know breathing will get worse before it gets better but... I hope I don't suffocate haha! I'm a total hypochondriac if you can't tell.

For those of you who have already had the surgery - what did you do during your recovery. How did you keep yourself calm, relaxing, comfortable, busy? Did you watch movies? Do crafts? I don' t know how much energy I'll have but I'd like to fill my recovery time up with things that will make me feel better. Could you eat normally afterwards? How often did you take pain meds? Did you need someone to care for you 24/7?

Also, how were you able to be sure to protect you nose afterwards? I don't want anyone bumping into me or even things like kissing family and my boyfriend seem like they could be dangerous even months post op.

What's your experience?

And for those of you who will be going through surgery around the time of me - keep your comments coming! I want to have some friends to talk to while I'm recovering!

I'm glad you're getting more excited. You should be!

Here is some additional feedback based on your questions:


Q: What did you do during your recovery. How did you keep yourself calm, relaxing, comfortable, busy?

A: I had it all set in my head that I was going to do all these projects around the house and catch up on some work. In reality I found that I didn't have the stamina (probalby because of the meds) and it wasn't just physical stamina I didn't seem to have..I was just drained overall. I'd be checking my blackberry and then nod off mid-way through. I just decided it best to roll with whatever I was feeling. If you feel up to doing things than go for it. If you don't have little projects around the house to do (like organizing photos or sorting through mail that has piled up, etc. maybe get some magazines or think of things that you've always wanted to get to but just never seem to have the time to get around to it). Recoup time is the best time for this kind of stuff. I'm also 38 and it sounds like you might be younger (which means you may not feel as tired as I did). We're all different. I just found my attention span wasn't great and I had no problem just laying there dozing in and out of consciousness.

Q: Could you eat normally afterwards?

A: I live alone and didn't ask anyone to stay with me after surgery. I just didn't feel I'd need it. Beforehand, thought, I made a casserole of homemade mac & cheese and a huge pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. It was just what I needed. I just recommend soft, easy to eat foods. Pain meds can leave you feeling dehydrated so popsicles were also a staple of mine. That and lots of water.

Q: How often did you take pain meds?

A: All the time (ha, ha). I just took as prescribed so if it said 1 every 4 to 6 hours I was taking probably 1 every 5 or so hours. I did this for about 4 days and then just played it by ear.

Q: Also, how were you able to be sure to protect you nose afterwards?

A: This was a concern of mine too but your nose won't be as fragile as you think it will be. I stayed away from hard core working out (like boxing) and I stayed away from running both for a month. Intense exercise can slowdown the healing process and some activities can run the risk of hitting your nose. After a month I started running again but I have gone back to boxing. I think I could start back any time now though. Two weeks after my surgery I went to kiss my Mom and we bumped noses and boy did it hurt for a split second but no damage done. Again, I'm 2 months post op and feel like I could go back to all my normal activities with no problem.

One of the biggest things I've learned through this is to take in all the advice (even from your doctor), do your homework and listen to your gut instincts. Don't just listen to one person and think that's the answer, you have to really listen to your body as well and do what you think makes sense for you.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Like you, I wanted as much info and insight as possible beforehand so I understand what you're going through right now.....

hehe i am postop rhino day 3 and what i am doing? being on realself! lol seriously though i didnt have hardly any pain (believe it or not) so i only took the pain pills for the first 2 days. they make me feel weird and mess with my sleep. i sleep better without them actually, propped up on the couch like ChestnutHill. the hardest part for me so far---the intense congestion! my ears keep popping and i cant breathe. its just annoying thats all. i have been working for weeks non-stop before my surgery so i am really enjoying this downtime just being on the computer and watching tv and txting my friends. it has been really hard showering and trying not to get the darn splint wet! really gross too but dont forget to take some stool softners or laxative with your pain pills. constipation sucks. i look like a trainwreck. be prepared. its unsettling to look in the mirror. i really want to see my nose. i did not do the computer imaging thing so i really have no idea what to expect how crazy is that? i just trust my guy i guess what can i say. one day we will look back and be like..hey remember when i had my nosejob?

Hi,
I'm so glad it's over for you! You can just relax and heal. You're right, the congestion and sleeplessness is the hardest. Oh, and the wondering what your new face looks like, showering without getting your face wet, breathing through your mouth, and the joys of constipation from the painkillers - that's not easy either. BUT -- after a couple wks it's over, you have this great nose and you don't have to wonder about it anymore! I was bored too. Just relax, watch some guilt-free TV, and eat ice cream!

we've got to post pictures when we're healed. it's like the summer rhinoplasty club.

d.

Hi ladies, I have a question on the after care of the nose. I'm currently 5 days post rhinoplasty. I had my first appointment yesterday after surgery and they cleaned out my nostrils which was really painful. Today I woke up and me nose feels like it's full of dry blood again should I clean it out myself with peroxide? Or leave it alone until my next visit in a week? it also feels stiff and dry should I apply anything to it?

Hey Kayla, Not sure what your MD reccommends but My doc had me taking Qtips and cleaning the inside of each nostril with peroxide and then applying neosporin in there with Qtips 3 times a day for the first week. That worked great for me, but looks like your doctor would have told you about that. Hope this helps!

Hi Kayla. Even though the doctors say not to mess around with the inside of your nostrils, I found it impossible to do. What I did (and still do) is use one of those sinus rinse bottles (found in any drug store in the allergy isle). They come with saline packets so you mix the packet with warm water and then irrigate your nose. It feels good to clear things out. I also would take a Qtip but instead of peroxide I would use acquaphor (which is like vaseline but with a healing agent included). At my 1 month follow up I told my doctor that I was doing this and he said it was fine to do so.

When I went in yesterday he cleaned them out with peroxide problem is I fainted when he removed the stitches so I really didn't get to ask him. But what I'll do is call him just to make sure. Thanks

Sounds good and I thought about using the acquaphor I love that Vaseline I use it all the time. Today is my 5th day and he said he wants to see me again in 1 week. My nostrils seem really wide I'm scared of making them wider lol as silly as that sounds. I'll call him first thing tomorrow and ask him this way I can do it slowly because he is so ruff when he cleans it.
I want time to past fast I feel so funny looking right now. I can't wait for two weeks from now. Thanks for your advice 

I hear you. I'm almost 3 months post op and am still having to wear my "be patient" hat. I have thicker skin so the tip of my nose is still swollen and I just want it to be fully healed already. I'm afraid I will be one of those candidates that has to wait the full 9 to 12 months. I didn't have my nose cleaned out by my doctor nor did I have stitches removed (they were dissolving stitches but I also had a closed rhinoplasty). I would sinus rinse morning and night (still do) and then immediately after that I would apply Aquaphor. I don't think a Qtip will do damage to your nostrils but I get what you're saying. It's always best to be cautious and discuss with your doctor. Hang in there!

I had an open rhinoplasty with stitches on both corners of my nostrils to reduce size. I had a wide bulky nose so he had to reduce the width as well as refine the tip. I may end up going through the same thing you are because I have thick skin I just hope I look better then I did before I return to work in two weeks. But like u said I'll be patient and wait. Thank you so much.