“Fat Grafting + Open Rhinoplasty Journey - Turkey”

I underwent open rhinoplasty on the 6th of July 2011.

Reason -
I had very balanced facial features - no knife required - until my last bf (aggressive and violent) hit me on my nose during a heated argument. That broke my cartilage and my nose deviated to the right hand side of my face ruining my facial symmetry. I was facing domestic violence with him - several blows to my face and several blue/ black eyes later my face as if had lost its volume.

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My doctor suggested that I had some extra fat grafted in my face to bring back the volume (I am 25 years old, so it wasn't natural aging that I needed grafts. Also, my doctor did the grafting free of cost - so he didn't suggest it because of his monetary gain).

Fat Grafting (forehead, upper cheeks, nasolabial folds):

I will start with cons first because it has just been a week since my surgery and I am yet to see any final results that I can sing about as pros.

My face was as swollen as a watermelon. I couldn't recognize myself in the mirror. I felt someone had stripped me off my identity- that's the worst thing that can be done to a person. If I walked fast - I could feel my cheeks dancing up and down until the 3rd day - it is a weird thing to say - but my eyes looked like they belonged to a fat ass cat - swollen shut but the remainder of my mouth looked like a bull dog's.

The swelling was partially from rhino as well, may be fat grafting alone wouldn't have caused so much swelling - I don't know.

Swollen shut eyes for 3 days.

If I didnt touch it - my face wasn't hurting - but sites of injections hurt a bit upon digital examination. There was also numbness around my forehead for some 2-3 days. I ran my fingers across my head to detect lumps (after reading dreadful lumping stories here) - there were no lumps - I was happy.

My doctor has either filled my forehead with a tad too much fat or there is still much swelling because when I look up with my eyes (without turning my head) - I see my temple and it feels like Im wearing a permanent cap on my head.

Worst is that because of the fat in my forehead - I CAN NO LONGER MAKE "ANGRY" EXPRESSİONS - CANT SQUINT EITHER. Thıs can be a real problem for actors/ performers who need all their facial muscles/ expressions in order. Though Im equally pissed.

I have a long, chiseled face in general. Now the cheeks do look fuller but I look chubbier - it doesn't suit my slim, proportionate frame.

My eyes look much smaller. I have large, almond shaped eyes in general. I hope it is the swelling - otherwise I am going to get the micro lipo thing done for sure. I think my heavy forehead is drooping way too much on my brows - making my eyes look tinier.

I dont know if my smile has been effected - I cant smile yet because of the rhinoplasty anyways.

Pros - I don't know. Still much swelling to know the final results.

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Rhinoplasty (open, nasal bone was broken too, alar base reduction)

My only hope from this rhino was to get my old nose back because I love the face I was born with. On a second thought, I decided a small change in the alar base wouldn't do any harm and went for it.

My cast isn't off yet. But I can see my nostrils look very close to as I had imagined- slight (noticeable only by me) asymmetry but I dont care.

Too soon to say whether or not I have the nose that I wanted :)

Other common problems with nose job persist - conjestion, dry mouth and sore throat due to constant breathing via mouth, swelling etc.

No pain though :) Mild, tolerable headaches.