David David, MBBS, FRACS

I wasn't going to write a review but as there is little information out there for Rhinoplasty in Adelaide I thought I owed it to my fellow Adelaideians.

I'm now 5 weeks from what can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster. I wanted to write this review to give everyone an idea of what an emotional journey plastic surgery is and also to cover some of the things that maybe aren't told to you before the surgery.

First of all I would like to say how freaking grateful I am for surgeons like Professor David David. He is a genius and a gentleman all in one and I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon. I will be forever grateful to him for changing my life.

Like a lot of people who choose to get plastic surgery, I was severely bullied at school for what can only be described as one huge nose. Despite trying for 15 years to get over the emotional scars that the bullying caused me I couldn't so decided it was time to do something about it.

I did my research and came up with a list of the best 3 surgeons. My final consult was with Prof David and I knew immediately that I would go with him because of how professional and experienced he was. He did throw a massive spanner in the works though when he suggested that I not only get Rhino but Sliding Genioplasty as well to correct my recessive chin. Despite being nervous about the prospect of having two surgeries at once, I knew that Professor David knew best as he is a craniofacial surgeon and looks at the face in its entirety. I booked my surgery for the 16th of June.

Now the first very important thing that I would suggest is to make sure you have a support person for the surgery. Not just for picking you up at the hospital etc but someone to talk to and who will be there for you when things are tough. I was lucky enough to have my mum and also my bestie or 'rhino buddy' as we call each other because we were there for each other through the whole journey, from consults to actually having our surgeries done on the same day! I was really lucky.

On surgery day I was really nervous. The surgery was done on the Monday morning with an overnight stay in the North Adelaide Memorial Hospital overnight. The surgery took about an hour and a half. The Rhinoplasty involved the surgeon removing cartilage to remove my huge dorsal hump, breaking the nasal bones and moving them inwards and raising the tip slighty. Basically the sliding genioplasty involved the surgeon sawing my chin off, moving it forward 7mm and using a plate and screws to fasten it in place. Easy!

When I woke up I was in a bit of pain with my nose and they gave me painkillers in recovery. When I got back to the ward my nose was bleeding slightly. Be prepared for this one - at the first sign of blood I panicked and thought I was going to have to have it packed. Slight bleeding is normal and nothing to worry about.

When I first looked at myself in the mirror the realisation of what I had put myself through sunk in. I had a massive black eye, my chin was bigger than Jay Lenos and I had a massive cast on my nose. All totally normal but upsetting nonetheless.

Professor D was fantastic post op. He came and saw me both after the surgery and the next day before I was discharged and definitely put my mind at ease.

The night in hospital was hell. My nose stopped hurting but the pain from my chin was about 5/10, I had the driest throat because I had to keep my mouth open because my nose was blocked. This made my jaw hurt because my chin was so heavy and swollen. In addition to this, you must sit upright for the swelling. This caused my back to ache.

The next day when I was discharged I saw my reflection in the car window and was so shocked at how horrible I looked. People stared at me as I left the hospital and everytime I looked in the mirror I got upset. It's really hard coming to terms with the fact that you chose to let someone do this to you!

For the next few days I slept. I only aye soft foods like mashed potato but even that was a struggle. I didn't have a lot of pain at all after the first 2 days. The most uncomfortable thing was not being able to breathe out of my nose and having to sleep upright. My back absolutely killed. I kept in touch with my rhino buddy everyday and this definitely made me feel better. My mum was so supportive.

On day 9 I got the cast off. Now, everyone says that you have to prepare yourself for this and being shocked but I can tell you now, NOTHING will prepare you for this. I knew I would be shocked and possibly hate my new face when I first saw it but it is totally different when you actually see it. I cried and had a full blown panic attack. Yes I was swollen and bruised when I first looked in the mirror but I looked nothing like myself. Not even a bit. I was so shocked and upset and immediately regretted my decision. Luckily my mum and rhino buddy were there to support me.

For the next few days I was depressed and sad wondering why I had done it to myself. Despite everyone reassuring me it looked good I couldn't get used to my new face. Professor D was so understanding and caring and told me he wouldn't abandon me. He made a follow up appointment the following week.

By the time the follow up appointment arrived I was feeling a bit better. I had returned to work and the swelling had improved. What hadn't improved was one stubborn bruise under my eye and my skin was terrible, due to an allergic reaction to the tape and also acne from not being able to clean my face when the cast was on. Also my nose was dehydrated and peeling. No one tells you about these extra things that make you feel even worse about how you look. Even 5 weeks post op my skin still isn't back to normal.

5 weeks post op and I'm feeling better about how I look. One thing to be aware of is that everyone is different and healing time is different. I was told there was going to be a drastic reduction in swelling on day 10 but it never came. In fact, front on my nose is still really swollen and this changes every day and not always for the better. Some days I love the way I look front on and others I can't stand it! It's been a long, emotional journey and will continue to be for months to come. Be aware that everyone's healing is different and be patient with your own.

I'm happy with my results, especially my side profile. I'm so glad I took Professor D's advice and got my chin done as well as my nose. My face is so balanced now. My chin is still swollen and I can't smile properly yet but I guess my time will come....slowly. My face is also thinner and longer but I don't mind it because it's in proportion.

If anyone has any questions please ask, I'm happy to help :)

Updated on 22 Jul 2013:
I also forgot that one of the major things that Professor David insists is done is cleaning of the nose. This freaked me out initially because it involves putting a cotton tip up that has been moistened with saline solution and hydrogen peroxide up there one day post op. This is because if the blood hardens it can make it difficult to remove as it is like concrete.

After I got my cast off I had to start pressing against the sides of my nose as hard as I could for 1 minute, 4 times a day. This is done because during the healing process without the cast to hold the nose in place it can heal crooked. Some surgeons don't recommend it but Professor D does. I can tell you though, pressing against a nose that has just been broken is no fun at all! The first time I did it I thought I would faint or throw up.... or faint then throw up.

HI,
i thought i would sit down and write this review for people who are getting 2 procedures done at the same time. Im a 28 year old married woman and ive always been considered pretty and been generally confident and happy with myself. Ive always had a mildly recessive chin (looks fine front on) but my side profile was not ideal. My chin was the main thing that i have wanted to improve for a very long time. My nose was ok but again not anything perfect but to be honest i never had a huge problem with it.


I went to see Prof David David in North Adelaide to enquire about my chin and he recommended a Sliding Genioplasty (where they move your own chin bone forward) to balance my profile. he also suggested a rhinoplasty at the same time because when you're chin comes into harmony with the rest of your face it can make your nose look out of balance. Anyways i booked the surgery in 6 months time (as i wanted plenty of time to research it, prepare for it and save for it!).
i didnt go to see any other doctors as i am currently working in the medical industry and Prof David David is highly regarded and considered to be one of the very best. he is a craniomaxillofacial surgeon who also does cosmetic procedures. so basically he's 'over' qualified for the job :) and i liked his no-nonsense and honest approach.

What i asked for:
- because i was generally happy with my appearance i really stressed that i only wanted a 'subtle' change. my chin to be shifted forward a small amount only. my nose to have the slight dorsal hump removed, slightly narrowed at the tip and to slightly raise the tip too.
I was really concerned about my chin being moved too far forward because i am only a petite person and i had read many unfavourable blogs about 'witch' chins etc.
i had 2 consults (prior to surgery) with Prof David David. i hadn't told anyone i was having the surgery because i figured it would be uneventful..the only people that knew were my husband, cousin and parents (who were overseas)

Surgery:
I was reasonably nervous on surgery day (Friday). surgery was performed at Memorial Hospital with an overnight stay. Prof David came to briefly see me in the waiting room and double check what we were doing and that was fine.

Recovery in hospital:
staff at Memorial hospital were excellent! very attentive and non-judgemental.
Prof David came to see me Sat morning to d/c me. i had a nasal cast on (with some serious taping to hold it in place) but no cast on my chin. i had intraoral stitches inside my mouth.
Pain: 3/10. i was very surprised that my nose did not hurt at all. im not exaggerating it - zero pain form my nose. my chin was causing me the 3/10 pain/ache and for that i was able to take panadol. I was numb in my chin and lower lip and bottom teeth. my bottom teeth also were 'sensitive' and i found it hard to sleep.

Recovery at home:
my husband took me home and i had taken just over 2 weeks of annual leave. the first week was difficult because you cannot eat solid food due to the genioplasty. my tongue and lips had very limited movement. this did not scare me because i expected this and knew it would improve with time. i took panadol 4 hourly and kept up good oral hygeine. sleep was still difficult.
The second day i was very nauseous and unfortunately threw up numerous times.
I lost a couple of kg because my appetite was poor and i couldn't chew anything.
I tried gently stretching my mouth/tongue muscles daily and i really feel that this helped.
By day 5 i was already eating very soft slow cooked meat. it was difficult but i was doing this slowly because i craved meat so bad!
My swelling on my chin was at its worse on day 2-3 (but it never got as bad as i had expected it to) and by a week it had gone down to a point that the average person would not even spot it.

Day 7: cast removal:
went to see Prof David and he removed my cast very swiftly which actually hurt! but it was like a waxing pain - fast! my nose was now tender when i touched it. when i saw my face for the first time in the mirror and i was able to see my nose and chin together.....i went into total shock.
It was the most awful experience and i was so unprepared for it :( i could not recognise myself in the mirror. i understand that i was still swollen and bruised but i just did not look like myself. Thankfully i had my cousin with me at the time (who has also had a rhinoplasty in the past) and she was very supportive.
That day i think i had my very first panic attack and i felt truly sick and upset. i tried to keep it together because this was my decision and my choice to do this to myself.

I was not concerned about the money or the pain associated with cosmetic surgery. For me, it was always about the aesthetic results. i kept thinking that i was pretty beforehand, why on earth did i do this to myself :( i found the 'emotional' journey very difficult and quite frankly i was disappointed in myself that i had not handled this better and was not prepared for it. i am generally a very tough and mentally strong individual and i was shocked that i was crumbling over this...

Day 8 & 9:
i covered my bruises with concealer as best i could and started going on daily walks. this helped significantly reduce the swelling and made me feel better. I loved my side profile- it was exactly what i wanted and asked for. i just couldn't get used to myself front-on. my lips had also changed a bit - my bottom lip was rolling inwards a bit which made my lower lip look thinner. ive always had nice full lips so i found this upsetting too because now i felt like 3 things had been changed rather than just 2.
i sent a video of my face to my parents and my mum reassured me that i actually look 'sweeter' now that my face is in proportion...yet when i saw myself at a certain angles in the mirror i still felt shocked and panicky...at this stage i was considering taking another week off work so i could drown in my own misery. My husband was starting to get worried.

Day 10:
the swelling and bruising had significantly reduced! i was actually starting to look like me again! concealer also made me feel better and look more normal. i finally told my aunt who came and visited me today. When she saw me she actually said that she could barely tell the difference :) that was like music to my ears! she said my nose looked nicer now that it was so straight and tad narrower but couldn't really notice that my chin had changed. i only ever wanted a subtle change so those comments made me feel so much better. i was starting to feel more comfortable in the mirror too :)
That night a male friend of ours popped over out of the blue. and he said the same thing - that he could barely notice a change if i hadn't of said anything. i was really starting to feel better. my smile also came back today but im still numb in the front of my chin and lower teeth. my bottom lip is starting to look a tiny bit better but still rolls in a bit, however no one seems to notice this but me.
My worst fear was that i had drastically changed my appearance as i only ever wanted to enhance it slightly...

Day 11:
i am currently on day 11 and i can honestly say that i am really starting to like what i see in the mirror. i have gotten used to my new features and i despite still being a tad bruised and a little swollen on the bridge/tip of my nose i really feel that i look prettier and more like myself. i keep looking at my side profile and i really love it. its wonderful to think that i will have this lovely nose and chin, and perfect profil for the rest of my life!

I will update this as i continue to recover but my main reason for posting my experience is to put some minds at ease...when you consider having plastic surgery please make sure that you have the mental maturity to deal and cope with the 'change' in your self. i found the hardest part to me my emotional state and my lack of patience with the recovery. It would have also been better if i had told a few more people so i could have that support when i needed it. I may have struggled more because i had 2 procedures at the same time and that was a lot to cope with all at once. maybe one surgery at a time is better - i honestly don't know.
At this stage i am really much happier with my results and everyday im looking better and more like myself - just a bit improved :)
Patience is the hardest thing but so important because your face really does continue to change for a long time and if you are going into shock after cast removal (like i did) please, please hang in there because i promise it will get better. also the major changes that you see in your face are hardly recognised by others so take some reassurance in that too.
I'll update this in the very near future, thanks for reading x



Updated on 4 Sep 2012:
Day 12:
looking and feeling better everyday! My swelling seems to be asymmetrical today - more swelling on the left side of my nose and chin (i doubt anyone other than me can notice it) and a bit of bruising left. Chin and lower teeth are still numb. Been out to the shops and i LOVE wearing my hair up, feel so pretty with my balanced profile now :)

Updated on 21 Sep 2012:
1 month:
Im loving my result now. I feel so much more like myself (just improved!) and im much more used to my new features now when i look at myself in the mirror. I love my profile and my face front-on feels so balanced - i am really happy with the results. My face does look longer and thinner but again, i do like the results now that i have had some time to get used to it. Time does wonders!
my chin seems to have completely healed but my nose changes a tiny bit every day with the swelling.
Ive found that so many hair styles that never suited me before, suit me now! its ironic, i'm doing all these new up-styles and because i have a perfectly balanced face now it seems like everything suits me :)

Recovery: my lower lip is still smaller and not as full as it previously was (im not sure if this will resolve but im happy to live with it because the rest of my result is so worth it). My lower teeth and chin are still numb but slowly getting better. The tightness in my chin is slowly recovering too and feels better. My smile is a tad crooked but no one seems to notice this but me!
so far so good!

Updated on 2 Jan 2013:
4+ Months post Op.
I'm completely comfortable with my face now. I feel so much prettier and I'm so happy to know that I will have these lovely features for the rest of my life. My nose feels completely normal now. The right side is a tiny bit more defined than the left, but this may continue to change.
My chin: I am still numb in my lower incisor teeth but I have gotten used to this and accept this as the only draw back. It may resolve in time but It doesn't affect my eating.
I am also used to my lower lip looking a tad smaller and funny enough- I now prefer it this way! In summary- I have accepted that my nose or chin may not be 100% exactly how I want but its 95% there and that's good enough because as Prof David says, 'the face is not a piece of wood that you can just chisel to your desired shape. It will move and change accordingly due to the complexities of muscles, nerves etc'. So you have to give allowances for that and try not to be so pedantic. Plus he can only work with what you got!
So thank goodness for Drs like Prof David!
Im Very happy!

Updated on 1 Feb 2014:
Its been 1year and 5 months post op. Here's a quick update. I am now 30 years old and completely comfortable with my face, i hardly spend any time analysing my features in the mirror and i just get on with life. Life is good and i am so pleased with my results.
Nose: I'm still very happy with it but you need to be mindful that the face continues to slightly change and things will never be 100% perfect. Here are the flaws: my nostrils are still not completely symmetrical but no one would notice this but me. I still have difficulty breathing clearly from my nose (its often feels constricted) and this can be irritating. I have developed a slight bump (only on the right hand side profile) on the bridge of my nose and i it feels like some tiny bones have shifted a bit (it probably didn't help that i was wearing glasses during the recovery period) and although i don't like this, i'm certainly not going to be pedantic enough to go for a revision! My nose is still a huge improvement and i'm happy with it.
Chin: my chin has not changed at all. My lower incisor teeth are still slightly numb but i am used to this now. My 'double chin' is still completely gone and i have a lovely jawline which i appreciate.
SO overall, i am very happy with my outcome :)

Facial cosmetic surgery is a huge decision and one not to be taken lightly. I hope this post helps you make a decision for yourself, understanding (and accepting) that things will never stay static, your face is unique and will respond to surgery in its own unique way, but trust in your surgeon is the key.
Good luck!

Updated on 4 Dec 2016:
4 years later. I'm still very happy. My chin has remained unchanged during this whole time. My nose does tend to continue to change. The tip now sags a little when I smile but this may be due to the act that I'm getting older!
But otherwise it's been pretty stable.
I never added photos but here they are. Demonstrating a subtle change (which is what I wanted) that is very natural and improved my look a million times over. I'm a better version of myself :)
Hope this has helped people in their own research.

I had cheek augmentation not once not twice but three times in my left cheek.The first time there was little difference I could tell and I sadly got it done again.I should have never gone back as the second time the result was way way more bone graft than I wanted.The first thing I was told is that some needed to be taken out.I sadly went back to get some bone removed and have been in pain ever since.I have pain in my nerves to my lip that has taken over my life.My local doctor called it chronic regional pain syndrome.I am on medication that provides very little relief.It has been over three years now and I can not find anyone to help me enough and given up hope that I will ever get rid of this pain.I will include one photo taken just after my second operation showing the big difference in my cheek bones and two photos taken after my third operation.The pain is the worst thing for me and having to pay over and over and over again was hard on me financially.Now I am paying for medication and looking for help for my chronic regional pain syndrome.I wish I never met him but sadly for me I did.

I will stay as far away as possible.I had that done to me and had to pay for it(see photo).Then I had to pay for the REVISION again.Then I had to go elsewhere to get it done to my standard.I also had bone graft to my left cheek three times.Two REVISIONS and yes I had to pay again and again.I am in pain.I would highly highly highly recommend you do not take my review lightly.Thank you for your time.

I hated my nose since i was young
When i was probably 7 years old i broke my nose and hated it ever since and had so much anxiety about my looks
Finally i plucked up the courage to gwt my nose done at the age of 27
I got my rhinoplasty done in 2003 by dr david david. He was recommended by a friend who said he was the best in adelaide. From my first consult with him , i should not have gone with him cos the way he treated me was horrible..he was rude and belittling but i stuck to him cos i thought he was the best...my first surgery my nose turned out worse! I had a tiny bump on my nose that i wanted gone and straighten my nose..after the swelling went down my nose was more crooked and a indentation on one side of my nose which i didnt have before..so he agreed that it needed fixing and he was going to take a cartilage from the back of my ear to fill in the indentation and straighten my nose. i also asked if he could fix my sinus problems and said he would ..so on the day of the surgery, i was sitting next to a nurse all ready to head into theater and dr david came upto me and i asked him if he was still doing my sinus and he screamed at me saying he doesnt do sinus and that i made that up that he agreed to do it..he walked off and i was crying and the nurse put his arms around me and said dont worry and he said non of the staff like him and he treats everyone like that....well my nose still isnt straight and im still not happy with how look.

Hi,

I recently had my last consult for rhinoplasty in Adelaide with Professor David David and he recommended genioplasty aswell as rhinoplasty. If anyone has experience of these procedures please get in touch :) I'm really nervous about this as I only planned to get rhinoplasty but value Professor David David's opinion.

Hi there! I've decided to write my journey for my long awaited rhinoplasty in hope to help other people thinking about going on the same journey as me. As some other girls have mentioned, there are minimal reviews or blogs about rhinoplasties in Adelaide.

My surgery is booked for next Monday (28th November!!). I've wanted this since I was 18 and only just got the courage to do it (im now 30). I met Professor David David in 2012 at a seminar he took and was mesmerised by him and the amazing work he does around the world. I also learned that he does elective cosmetic surgery which made me think about having a rhinoplasty more seriously. I got in contact with his secretary in May 2013 and when asked if I'd like to make an appointment to see him I freaked and said I'd call back when I'm ready. That was three years ago! I finally got the courage to make the phone call and even made the appointment to see him in September this year... when I met with Professor David I felt almost star struck. He was kind, polite and gracious. He asked me what I wanted done to my nose and to be honest, I didn't have a definitive idea. My nose profile is fine, it has a small bump on the bridge but it never bothered me. However... I absolutely HATE the round tip. I cannot allow front on photos because I'm so self conscious about it. So our plan is to square out the round ball at the tip of my nose, gently smooth out the bump on the bridge and reduce the entire size in general. So here's hoping it goes the way that I want it! I'll keep you updated with regular postings on this process!

Updated on 27 Nov 2016:
So it's 9.23pm and I'm due at the hospital at 7am. I'm starting to get nervous. Less than 10 hours til I'm sitting in my room waiting.... will keep you updated. Wish me luck!!

Updated on 28 Nov 2016:
So u was the last one the list for the day and didn't have my surgery until 3pm. That meant lots of thinking and questions what I was doing. But the staff were wonderful and get distracting me in the holding bay and in theatre.

When I got into recovery I felt like a bodybuilder had punched me square in the nose. The pain surprised me after reading people's blogs. They have me huge amount of fentanyl which worked a treat. When I got back to the ward I felt so tired (mainly because I didn't sleep the night before and because I was doped up on opioids). I kept dozing in and out of sleep but every time I fell asleep I woke again coz my mouth was incredibly dry! Other girls wrote that they felt like it was the worst congestive flu they've had but my congestion is localised to my nose. No headache. I rocked into my room with a black eye that kept spreading and puffy eyes. FUN times ahead!

Updated on 28 Nov 2016:
So the swelling is up and down around my eyes. Wait, let me rephrase that: the swelling to my WHOLE face is up and down. The ice pack they've given me works like a treat. But if I don't use it hourly then the swelling comes back. Also, both my eyes are black like a panda. I still don't have any pain which is amazing and nothing feels congested. My nose is about 90% blocked with a 10% feeling of air movement- this excites me because everywhere I've read it says that the nose is completely blocked for 3-4 weeks. So I'm hoping it unblocks by 10% everyday. So far so good. Aside from sleeping upright with my mouth opened and needing to sip on water every half hour.
Sleep is the devil right now. But I can see the tip and it looks smaller already! Exciting!!

Updated on 30 Nov 2016:
So it's ve managed to survive the first 48 hours. Aside from the blocked nose and stylish black eyes and puffy face, it's been pretty cruisey. I have no pain still and I'm eating pretty well. I just have to cut up my food into small pieces coz the tape restricts my mouth from opening wide enough. My tip is still swollen so it's hard to tell what it will look like. Today I also spent a lot of time obsessing with cleaning my nostrils with peroxide recommended by the surgeon. It's dissolved heaps of clots and I have about 50% air movement in my right nostril. Not enough not to suffocate though so sleeping will be awesome again.... last night I woke half hourly to hourly coz my mouth felt like a cats tongue it was so dry. I drank 700mls overnight... it's seriously a desert in there

Updated on 1 Dec 2016:
So last night I got a little bit of sleep thanks to my half unblocked right nostril. Although I got out of bed at 4am because my back was killing me using two pillows to sleep. Today my friend visited me and made me laugh and it wasn't until that moment that I realised my nose was sore. Gotta remember it's broken! Also, the tape started to get annoying and itchy maybe because today was a warm day. Bruises are now yellow but I see that my eyelids are shadowed with dark bruising still. Puffiness is better again, still using the face mask. Currently my nose is very very blocked so I doubt I will sleep much. I'm so sleep deprived it's ridiculous- definately the worst part about this experience

Updated on 2 Dec 2016:
Well last nights sleep was horrible. I was so congested I felt like I was choking. I haven't slept since Saturday and I'm exhausted. I had a cry today because I was so frustrated and tired. But the crying was inconvenient because my nose swells when I cry so it certainly didn't help my congestion. I took myself into the shower and stood there for 20mins feeling sorry for myself. But when I got out my nose felt like it was unblocking. This lasted most of the day which made me feel tip top. But now..... blocked again. Coz I'm wanting to sleep. When will this end? :(

Updated on 3 Dec 2016:
So today was a beautiful summer day of 30 odd degrees. I wanted to hang outside and read my book in the shade but unfortunately the warmth made me more congested and made it impossible to breathe. So I used the chilled eye mask the hospital gave me which helped decongest me a little. My nose has been quite runny today too but because I can't blow it I'm using cotton buds to clear out my nose so it doesn't block up my nose any more than it already is. The swelling has significantly reduced and my husband even commented on how petite my nose looks :) the bruising is yellow now too under my eyes so I'm hoping it's yellow under the plaster. Plaster comes off in four more sleeps yay! I hope this will mean I can sleep lying flat coz this two pillow thing is annoying!

Updated on 4 Dec 2016:
It's my one week anniversary since my op! Can't say it's been fun but I'm sure it will be worth it! I actually slept last night from about 11pm- 6am which was amazing!! I woke up a couple times but managed to get back to sleep thanks to my unblocked nose. I'm still sleeping with two pillows but I think I'm getting used to it a bit. Swelling looks almost back to normal with minimal swelling under my eyes. I think the tip of my nose is still swollen too but not sure. Bruises are light yellow which is awesome. Hopefully don't have much bruising under the cast. Only two more sleeps til the cast comes off :)

Updated on 5 Dec 2016:
The plaster is so itchy!!! I've tried to call the Melbourne Street office a few times to talk to them about the itching but they haven't answered! This morning I have woken up and my nose is tingling under the plaster and it's so itchy I want to rip everything off my face! The cast is due to come off in 31 hours but I literally don't know how I will handle all that time... will try calling them again at 9am to see if I can come in today..

Updated on 7 Dec 2016:
After speaking to the surgeon the receptionist adviced I take the plaster off myself using olive oil under the cast to gently remove it. I tried to persevere with it for as long as I could but when my husband got home at 5pm and commented on how swollen the tip looked I knew I had to get this thing off! I have no idea why it began to swell but it was causing me lots of pain for the first time in 8 days. So with lots of olive oil, psyching up, and hesitations.... I removed the plaster. Wow! I couldn't look in the mirror for 15mins and asked my husband to tell me what it looked like first. I'm not gonn lie, I had a mini panic attack. Literally thought I was going to faint- went dizzy, lightheaded and nauseous. I had just worked myself up so much I became overhelmed. But eventually when I looked in the mirror I saw a huge change. For the better! The round ball that I hated was completely gone and the whole nose looked slimmer and smaller. After regaining my cool I looked at my husband and said "y wasn't I born with this nose?? This one suits me better!" I took about a hundred photos and kept comparing them to my old pix. It's still very swollen but I can see the difference and am so happy I did the surgery :)

Updated on 7 Dec 2016:
Tonight I went out with friends for dinner. I've told a few close friends about the surgery and they were all pleasantly surprised with the results. They all said it's a huge change when comparing my before and after photo but the nose looks like it's always been there because it suits me so much. I feel more comfortable and confident with it and less self conscious when we took a group photo (no more posing with my head slightly to the side to avoid the round tip- coz that's my best side now!!)

Updated on 8 Dec 2016:
It's so nice not having tape and a hard plaster on my nose. My nose is completely unblocked now and I can sleep! My nose looks great. There is no bruising at all but there's still some swelling (especially first thing in the morning). After my review with Prof David he said my nose is still very swollen. He said it will take a new weeks to go down and I have a follow up appt. with him in 5 weeks time. It looks so natural on my face which I'm so happy about. I definately do not regret my decision at all and highly recommend Prof. David to the world! When I met with him I asked him to give me a nose that suited me and I told him what I hated most about it. And he did exactly that- created something for my face without making it look like a nose job! It's one of the best things I've done and it's absolutely worth it. I'm still silently concerned it's a tiny bit big but Prof David assured me it's due to the swelling so I have to wait and see. But it's a hundred times better than what it was and I can't believe how less self conscious I am!

Updated on 11 Dec 2016:
Today marks two weeks since my rhinoplasty. All has gone very very smoothly. I'm no longer congested so sleep is great because I don't need to sleep with my mouth open. I'm still very swollen under my eyes near the bridge and the tip is very swollen still. Being the first and second week of December we have lots of hot days which doesn't help with the swelling. I've been "unhealthily" obsessed with staring at my nose from every angle n taking lots of photos and comparing it to previous pix... I'm so scared my nose isn't small enough but everyone keeps assuring me it's different but it's still puffy and to give it time. I've even had a couple private teary moments coz I paid so much for the surgery and went through quite an ordeal for little change to my nose. I know I need to chill and wait for the swelling to go down coz the bones are still broken! I have a follow up with the surgeon in four weeks so will update then unless something else comes up :) happy thoughts!!

Updated on 26 Dec 2016:
The swelling near my eyes (on the bridge) has pretty much completely disappeared. The tip is still very swollen and very tender to touch though. It's also still numb at the tip and I can't completely raise my eyebrows because it all feels really tight. I feel so much more comfortable with my new nose but I'm still not in love with it because of all the swelling. My biggest issue with my nose was the round tip so
I am driving myself crazy with a thousand selfies and keep comparing them to my old photos. Fingers crossed the swelling resolves and I have a cute little nose otherwise I'm going to be devastated. I can feel hard bits inside my nose- I think it's scar tissue. There's quite a lot of it and I'm hoping that when that settles it'll give me a smaller nose. Will keep posting of updates :)

I'm booked for surgery in just under two weeks to have a rhinoplasty and septoplasty. I thought I would post so others who are considering surgery can follow my journey. Australian reviews are lacking. At this stage I am SO SO nervous... I am even worried my face with look so different it could be worse. Have found reading other girls reviews so helpful especially knowing what the bruising looks like on each day as I didn't know how long I would need off for work etc. Keep you posted.

Updated on 16 Jun 2015:
so I have survived the worst... Which wasn't actually as bad as I thought. I went through a pretty emotional few moments in the lead up, wondering why I was worrying about my nose when there was so many other things I care about. It all seemed so incredible superficial. I woke up in pain in recovery but last night I only had one dose of panadeine and it was more to try and sleep. On that note I got zero! Unable to breath at all through my nose and everytime i nodded off I woke myself up cause I was snoring or dribbling - so gross!
Professor David saw me early and took the packing out of my nose which was an awful feeling but I felt like my nose might clear a bit after he did that. I have the most incredibly swollen right eye and I can't believe how badly I have bruised. I am so thankful for reading other people's reviews and seeing photos so I knew what to expect. A few girls have nailed it though ... It feels like I have the worst head cold. My nose keeping a dripping small amounts of blood. I know being house bound is going to kill me but I am not going anywhere looking like this. To make it worse I can see as my eyes are too swollen to put my contact lenses in and I am not allowed to wear glasses.

Updated on 19 Jun 2015:
So its Saturday and I had the surgery Monday.. slowly starting to feel a bit better but tire easily. I really have hardly done a thing since being home. Im not eating much as I cant taste a thing. I really want this to clear up soon . Its amazing how much you rely on food and drinks as enjoyment.. without taste life is really quite dull and you hardly eat. Key to weight loss maybe??? I still cant breathe at all through my nose but occasionally things clear slightly and I get the most revolting smell. I have looked it up on other people posts and it is a common feature. I am hard to sleep next to at night apparently, My poor finance says I make so much noise - all that mouth breathing. I am really sick of myself at the moment. I finally managed to get my contact lenses back in today so can at least see better now - but my eye are still a bit swollen and the cast is obstructing a portion of my vision.
For anyone else considering this surgery.. be prepared for how house bound you will be. I made a list of all these jobs I was going to do while I was home, thinking I would have energy but so far nothing has been achieved. You can't bend down as you get dizzy ... I squat instead. I thought I could at least go for gentle walks but really don't have the energy and no point in cooking anything as you can't taste it. I can't wait till Wednesday when I get this cast off. I don't even know if there is more packing to come out or if he did all the day after surgery. I wish I knew when my nose would clear a bit... its so uncomfortable. Oh well... must remember.. this is all my doing.

Updated on 27 Jun 2015:
So I had the cast off on day 9 and splints out. The cast was actually a little bit painful but so relieved it was worth iy. The splints were obviously causing the major part of the blocked nose and no taste. When I first saw myself in the mirror it was so weird - the bridge looked smaller but the tip is still huge and it's upturned a bit so I think I look a bit piggy looking. I was surprised at the amount of bruising still under the cast on the right side of the bridge. I have a stubborn bruise under my right eye too. I can't smile well - my top lip is not working like it used to. I can't still see a small hump in my profile and can feel it. I don't know if this is swelling or if it will need fixing later. My skin is terrible - really really oily on the tip of my nose but also quite dry. I wake up in the morning and my whole face feels oily and horrible. I'm still snoring like a trucker and am still very congested. Awful smell in my nose persists - it's horrible!!!! I have such a good sense of smell so maybe it's just because I notice things like this. I'm really worried about the tip of my nose. I'm worried he hasn't refined it as much- I really can't remember if I told him how much I hated it. I had my first consult so long ago now I was probably focused on the bump more than anything. This has been a really difficult few weeks let me tell you and its so hard not to obsess like you keep getting told

Updated on 7 Jul 2015:
So I am 3 weeks post surgery tomorrow and I am driving myself ( and everyone around me no doubt) crazy. I had no idea this was going to be this bad despite how many reviews I have read. By the way, most reviews I have read so far have all been positive experiences with people loving their new look – I feel the complete opposite. I stare at myself so many times a day and keep taking photos from different angels to see if things have improved at all… they haven’t. I keep feeling it and can feel so many uneven sections and worry that I will already need a revision but don’t want to wait if I do need one. At the left side of my nose up the top I can feel something quite sharp – which I am guessing is a stich or something almost poking through. I have a hard lump in-between my eyebrows. I have an uneven lump on the bridge of the nose and I also have a little flat bit on the tip.
I am still very blocked up – some days are better than others but it is quite bad in the morning when I wake up and some nights I can hardly breathe at all by the time I go to bed. My smile is still not right and am trying to restrict how much I laugh because I am worried how silly I must look.
A few people I have spoken to said it is better than it was but probably not what they would have expected. I try and tell them then that its still swollen but I find it hard to believe that my nostrils will correct themselves and the small hump I have left over will vanish… I know in my heart that I will need further surgery. I can’t imagine that I still have so much swelling. I have worn sunglasses a few times briefly and when I take them off I am left with a deep indent in my nose but remember getting a bit of this before my surgery too so worry that its just the same. The surgeon did say he was surprised at how small my bones where when he did the surgery and had to make sure he didn’t make my nose too small so maybe he has thought it better to go slowly rather than alter too much and not be able to reverse the damage.
I wake up in the morning with the most unbelievable oily skin.. around my nose especially and on top but even my forehead and chin. I can’t believe the impact surgery can have on you. At least the smell has all but gone. I dream about noses and its all I can think about. I find myself staring at everyone else around me and on tv and in magazines and looking at how my nose compares.
I wonder what I was hoping to achieve by having this surgery.. did I really expect to suddenly love the way I look. I wish there was some way I could see the end result without actually going through it. Tomorrow will be my first day back at work and am so worried about what people will say. I work with a large group of people and worry that some will come straight out and ask me why I look different or others will just discuss it amongst themselves. I don’t know what is worse? Part of me too realises that overall, most people are so worried about themselves they don’t notice what is going on with other people.
I am praying that I can make peace with my new reflection and have faith this this will improve – in the mean time I will continue to obsess over what I have done and let it ruin the next few months of my life.

So I found this website when I was trying to find out info on surgeons in Adelaide. I'm booked to have my operation on Monday October 13th, so I'm getting pretty nervous. I've only had one consult with Prof David but we seem to have the same understanding of what I want. Anything I should be prepared for etc? Pain? Swelling and bruises I know are a given.... anyone with info would be good.

Updated on 6 Oct 2014:
Freaking out. Its only one weekaway now. Am excited tho. Updates soon

Updated on 7 Oct 2014:
Thought I would put some before pics up. The end of my nose is quite large nostril wise and I have a bump. This has made me a very self conscious person over the years and back in the day I copped a lot from mean girls at school..... which has permanently stuck in my mind. Hoping Professor David will do a good job and shaping it for me. I know I'm in good hands but I'm so afraid. Thanks to this site, I have had a few lovely girls contact me. One who had Prof David as her surgeon and was very happy, and another who is on the other side of the world but is scheduled for her rhinoplasty on Monday 13th October too! .Never had surgery in my life. Only 6 sleeps!

Updated on 11 Oct 2014:
So I think I am all ready for my surgery tomorrow morning. A bit emotional and scared but I cannot wait to see results. Will keep this updated.

Updated on 13 Oct 2014:
mouth much. Been on a drip to keep hydrated but now drinking water on my own. Hate these needles! Had a few light nose bleeds and the nurse has come and used stuff to clear it up. Bad headache and bruising under my eyes has begun. Can already notice my tip and nostrils are smaller even though its swollen. Seriously no where near as bad I thought!!! Will be posting every few days. Watch this space ??

Updated on 13 Oct 2014:
I did a lot better than i thought i would! Was first up this morning so had no time to over thinking it. Only threw up once because of blood at back of throat. Was able to eat a sandwich tonight. Very slowly as I cant open mu mouth much. Been on a drip to keep hydrated but now drinking water on my own. Hate these needles! Had a few light nose bleeds and the nurse has come and used stuff to clear it up. Bad headache and bruising under my eyes has begun. Can already notice my tip and nostrils are smaller even though its swollen. Seriously no where near as bad I thought!!! Will be posting every few days. Watch this space ??

Updated on 13 Oct 2014:
Mmmm I feel like I have the flu. All blocked up, headachey and lethargic. My nostrils are sore and tip very swollen. Managed to eat some porridge for brekky. Just really tired. But other than that I'm ok! Going home to my own bed.

Updated on 14 Oct 2014:
OMG IM SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I feel like I have a terrible flu. Seriously! Pain isn't an issue. But holy crap I want to blow my nose so bad!!!!! 6 more days til the cast comes off. And I swear that'll be the best day of my life... uggghhh swelling has kicked in. Bruises not much worse.

Updated on 15 Oct 2014:
Im just very lethargic and achey. I think the cast and tape is hiding most of the bruising and swelling. My headache is terrible but I think (touch wood) that im abit better. Tip of my nose isn't as swollen I dont think!

Updated on 16 Oct 2014:
Yay! Feeling a lot better. My neck and back are super achey from having to sleep up right. And I have a headache and blocked ears and runny nose (that I'm not aloud to blow) feels like I'm recovering from a yucky flu. Phew! Counting down the days til I get this off now. Bruises and swelling are mainly under tape and cast. Tape is itchy. I went outside in the sun to have some brekky and fresh air! Ahhh getting there.

Updated on 18 Oct 2014:
Definitely on the mend. Only pain is the bad headache and an achey feeling around my nose. But each day seems to be getting better now. It was a hot day today so I think it felt more swollen because of that?! Only 3 days til cast comes off and I CANNOT WAIT!!!

Updated on 18 Oct 2014:
Its abit hard to tell what my profile will be but I think its better. Cast is pretty chunky. Nostrils are getting all peely and dry now. Want this cast off.

Updated on 20 Oct 2014:
Ahhhhh only a day and a half to go and this ridiculous uncomfortable itchy cast and tape will be removed! Cant wait to see my new nose. I'm a bit nervous but just want it off!! To anyone out there who has had their rhinoplasty... does getting the cast off hurt and/or do you experience much pain afterwards? And obviously it will swell but to what extent. ... will I look stupid and not be able to go out in public?! Ice will make it feel better? Any "after cast off" info will be great!! My nose is all peely...

Updated on 20 Oct 2014:
ITCHY ITCHY ITCHY. This tape is driving my bonkers. And my nostrils are peeling from the saline solution I am cleaning with. Accidently pulled out a stitch last night.... (thought it was some dried crap and nostril hair.... oops) but it didn't bleed and it looks ok. I googled it and it said because it's been a week it shouldn't matter. Phew!! Cast is being taken off tomorrow on day 10. Bring it on. I'm not getting TOO excited or thinking of what to expect it'll look like because I know it'll be swollen etc for a while. I'm just keen to get this crap off my face. Pics tomorrow of my new (but probably swollen) nose! ????

Updated on 21 Oct 2014:
Holy crap. What an emotional day! Wowowowowowow. Everything (mainly the right side and tip/nostrils) is swollen and sore to touch. So glad to have that cast and tape off. I had a reaction to tape so I have some cream for that. My bruising isn't too bad. Mainly swelling and my headache is horrible. Im so happy with my result already and its yet to get smaller! Cannot wait.... very glad I did this. Will only make updates every few days with progress. Ignore my horrible skin tone and patchy-ness lol. I've attatched some bfor and afters! Big difference already

Updated on 24 Oct 2014:
So all is well. My tip Is still swollen and will be for a while I guess. Its annoying so I bought so bromelain because its supposed to reduce swelling. Its in pineapples too so I got lots of pineapples hahaha! Am much happier now tho. Im getting a spray tan today and going on a date night with my fiancé tonight so will be nice to get dressed up with my new nose! Here's some more before and afters :)

Updated on 29 Oct 2014:
So things are looking good. I still feel super swollen at the tip and slightly on the bridge but people keep telling me that it looks great. I am very happy. Sometimes I feel super puffy.... other times its great but its still early days. No bruising left :) and my side profile with a ponytail is great now!

Updated on 2 Nov 2014:
It still feels achey sometimes and tender to touch but am happy with the results. I feel more confident with myself and would recommend my surgeon to anyone. Yay!

Updated on 19 May 2015:
All is so well. Love love love my nose.
never regret the choice I made! got married on 11th April and the pictures I was once worried about, looked perfect. My profile looked perfect (and so did my new husband!) Have attatched some pics . To me its pretty much normal now. A bit twitchy here and there whilst nerves heel but its great. Thankyou Prof. David!