After 6+ years of researching doctors and wavering about whether I should go forward with getting a nose job, I've finally scheduled my surgery. I know I will get some criticism from people for doing it, but at this point I am confident enough to stand up for my decision to go forward with it. I just REALLY hope it turns out well! My biggest fear is getting this done and coming out worse (like some of the horror stories I've read) but I feel as confident as I possibly can feel with the Doctor I've chosen. I've spoken to past patients of his, which has really put me at ease. He is also very patient and even gave me his cell # at my last consultation in case I had any more questions . I really feel I will get the proper attention and expertise with him. His staff was not pushy like some other places I experienced, which also helps. I am only weeks away from my surgery, and am really glad I don't have a long time to wait because waiting and wondering is probably the hardest part! I edited a profile view and also a front view of myself to show the results I'm hoping for. The doctor also did imaging but the lighting in his office did too much justice to my "before" nose that you can't really see how bad the state of my nose is in his pics!Here's what I'm hoping for (I prefer the "shorter" view of the nose vs "shortest")
Updated on 5 Sep 2014:
Updated on 10 Sep 2014:
Upon the suggestion of my plastic surgeon, I just ordered some Arnica and Bromelain online from the VitaminShoppe. My doctor told me to take: Arnica, 3 pills, 3 x day; Bromelain, 500 mg. 2 pills, 3 x day. I'm going to start taking the Arnica a week before my surgery and continue with it after my surgery for a week also. Bromelain I'll take the day before my surgery and for a week after.
I typically bruise VERY easily and very badly, so I really hope these homeopathic medicines help prevent it with my surgery! I've heard they help quite a bit.
Updated on 14 Sep 2014:
A week today until my surgery and I'm getting really nervous. :S Questioning if I'm making the right decision even though I know I'd regret not doing it. I wish I was less of a worrier! This just seems like a big deal. Front and center of my face. I've lived with a "not so great" nose there all my life and am just hoping this will all go well and I'll accept my new nose and be happy with it. I hope I haven't freaked out my doctor too much or put too much pressure on him! There's probably a big red flag over my head, ha!
Updated on 22 Sep 2014:
Here's everything I bought to prep for my rhinoplasty. I've been taking the vitamin C, A, Bromalain, arnica, and metamucil a week before my surgery. Hoping to avoid too much bruising because I typically bruise a lot!
Updated on 22 Sep 2014:
I'm sitting in the waiting room of the outpatient center as I write this. My surgery will be in an hour! Yikes! I'm more nervous than excited right now. Last night I had to take my first Xanax ever because my anxiety was out the roof. It definitely helped me calm down and sleep. No food or drink since midnight as required. Just praying everything goes well. Fears of something serious happening or of complications with my nose job are running through my head. Otherwise, I'm trying to not think too much and watch The Regis and Michael show playing on the tv here!
Updated on 22 Sep 2014:
Wow, I did it! I must say I was considering backing up even as I was already dressed in my gown. My nerves were so high that the nurses were a little concerned about how high my heart rate was. The surgery felt like it took 2 seconds and I felt fine waking up, although still anxious. My heart rate was very high. I faked them to put some music on and when my husband came in the room and was taking to me I felt better. I actually felt best once I mustered up the courage to look in a mirror and realized I didn't look as bad as I expected. Bruised under one eye but otherwise not at all (yet). I feel a sense of relief but still a little nervous in anticipation of what it will look like once bandages are up. Sorry for no pics, but I think I'll post some soon. Just a little nervous to have these pics on the Internet. If anyone wants to see any at any point just private message me.
Updated on 22 Sep 2014:
By "backing up" in my previous comment I meant "backing out" ;)
Updated on 22 Sep 2014:
Just a quick post. So far my spin during of surgery has been very minimal. In fact, I'd say I have no pain yet but just some pressure. I have my meds near my side when/if that changes though! I feel a huge sense of relief having the surgery even though I can't really see the results.
One tip from my day today for anyone undergoing facial plastic surgery. Have straws at home!! I'm glad I did anyways because I hadn't thought about how hard it would be to drink without a straw and I never read the tip anywhere else.
Updated on 23 Sep 2014:
It's the day after surgery and I'm still in no pain (awesome) and my bruising hasn't gotten any worse. I just have a bit of a bruise under one eye that has been there since after surgery. My swelling seems higher though, particularly between by eyes. I am taking bromelain and arnica pills to help with bruising/swelling and also a topical arnica cream on my bruises/swollen areas. I'm also sleeping upright. I think all of this is helping with a relatively smooth recovery.
One concern is that I've noticed that my upper lip is longer and when I try to smile it doesn't show my top teeth. I'm hoping this is just swelling and my smile will return to normal soon. I'm probably not even supposed to try smiling at this point anyways... I've read some Q&A's here from people with similar smiling issues after a nose job, and most docs say the smile will return to normal after full healing. I sure hope so!!
My surgeon wanted to see me today, which was great since he was able to tell me in person that everything went well and he believes I'll be really happy once I see the results. A big relief to hear!
Updated on 23 Sep 2014:
Here's a pick of what I'm using to try to minimize bruising and swelling. I use the little brush in the pic to gently apply the cream. I am eating pineapple a lot PLUS taking Bromelain (pineapple enzymes). Pineapple is also really with plain Greek yogurt. I hope you can't overdose on pineapple! I am also drinking lots of water, eating a very low sodium (but higher protein) diet, and sleeping propped up. I am still swollen and a little bruised, but overall not very badly at all. I am normally a horrible bruiser, so I think all these things are helping.
Also, my surgeon is GREAT with correspondence. I was able to reach him today to ask about my longer upper lip that is covering up my top teeth when I try to smile (very weird looking) and he reassured me it's only temporary.
Updated on 24 Sep 2014:
I'm 2 days post op today and I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm not needing pain meds and that my swelling hasn't gotten worse. I was told today would be the worst for swelling, but I think I was worst yesterday! My only concern today is that my upper lip is SO stiff and my smile is SUPER awkward. My doctor told me it is temporary, but I'm wondering how long "temporary" is. I really don't want to have a strange smile for months! Anyone else have these issues with a stiff upper lip? Did you do anything special to try and make it better, like ice it? Or is it best to just do nothing? Thanks!!
Updated on 24 Sep 2014:
So I've been icing my face a lot today, including my upper lip and around my mouth. It seems to already be helping my upper lip rise a little. This is reassuring me that it wont take months to return to normal since I'm already seeing improvement from icing on day 2 post-op. Whew!
Updated on 25 Sep 2014:
Well today was a stressful day. I had to take Xanax because my heart rate was sky high due to worrying about my upper lip and lack of smile. I worry a lot! But the thought of not smiling is scary. After that and some rest I felt a lot better. I know I just need to be patient. In reading back at several posts I realize I have typos all over the place, which is unusual for me, but the drugs and that I'm typing from my phone most of the time don't help! So, excuse the typos ;)
I bought some Vitamin B12 spray today because I'm vegetarian and I was doing some reading that vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin (not the cyano form that most multi-vitamins have) can possibly help with nerve regeneration. Who knows, but I'm giving it a shot.I have a feeling I don't get much B12 in my diet otherwise. I bought the Garden of Life Kind Organics Organic B-12 Spray, which I spray under my tong. I have no idea if it will help with my upper lip issue, but no harm in trying...
Heading to bed now. Tomorrow afternoon I get my cast off!
Updated on 26 Sep 2014:
I should be getting my cast off today unless the doc changes his mind after seeing me. I'm not in pain this morning but want to take something before my appointment to dull the pain from cast removal. I'm driving myself so I need something non drowsy etc . Any recommendations? Tylenol? Motrin?
Updated on 26 Sep 2014:
So I got my cast off today! It was a big relief to see a nose I was happy with. :) I actually teared up a bit because I had been so worried that I might dislike it. The results are VERY natural. I almost question if they're too natural since I think my profile still looks a little large, but I'd rather be too natural than have a nose that's too big for me. Plus, I know my nose is still swollen (and there's tape on it). It feels so nice to have the cast off and the stints out of my nose. I feel like I can breath better than ever! The biggest change I expect is when I smile (my nose really droops) but I can't really smile properly yet to show that before and after (although my upper lip is getting better by the day).
Updated on 28 Sep 2014:
I just wanted to make an update that my smile that I was so terrified was gone forever is now almost completely back! :D My face was incredibly swollen day 2 and 3 post op, and I think it was also probably numb and swollen, which made my whole face longer, and my upper lip immensely long and immovable. My upper lip could barely come over my BOTTOM teeth. I had fears my lip was forever paralyzed, because I literally couldn't move it. I couldn't make anything that even resembled a smile for 2 days. I ended up reading about Bell's Palsy, which had similar symptoms, and read not to try and force the smile when you can't, because you may train your muscles the wrong way. Who knows if that's true, but that's what I did. I rested my smile for two days, and only started to smile again once I saw I really could again. It still feels a little strained, but I have a feeling once my stitches under my nose are out it will be more natural feeling, since that is where I feel most of the strain. I also started taking Vitamin B12 (Methyl B12 form) because I read B vitamins can help with nerve regeneration, particular Methyl B12. I figured it doesn't hurt. I don't know if that had something to do with my lip getting better faster. I'm also eating more oranges to get natural Vitamin C, sprinkle chia seeds into my yogurt and protein shakes to get more omega 3 naturally into my diet (I'm vegetarian), and still downing the pineapple juice. Applying arnica cream, etc etc.
My cast came off on Friday (day 4 post op) and then my nose got tightly taped and remains taped. Dr. Nahai was so kind when I saw him at day 4 post op. I didn't feel rushed at all, he took his time taking off my cast, cleaning my nose off, and showing me how to tape. Answered all the questions I had for him, including telling me I had 0% chance my smile wouldn't return. He explained why my smile was affected since he had to cut a muscle that caused my tip to droop when I smiled.
I sleep upright still because I really don't want to swell, even though I hate sleeping that way and the doc said I can sleep normally now. My stitches come out tomorrow! 7 days post op.
My profile seems to be getting a little smaller, which I'm happy with, as the swelling comes down. Still hope it comes down more. I think my tip is so tightly taped it hasn't had the chance to swell too much. I'm still swollen between my eyes where there's no tape. Still a bit of a black eye under one eye, but easily covered with makeup. I'm putting warm (not hot!) soaked white/green tea bags on it to try and get rid of it sooner. Amazing Concealer by Amazing Cosmetics is working great to cover it up for now.
Updated on 28 Sep 2014:
Here's a side-by-side of my bruised eye taken the same day - on the left no makeup, and on the right I have concealer. This was the day I got my cast off (4 days post-op). Cast is still on with the bruise, and once I had it taken off I decided to play with makeup. I used Amazing Concealer (by Amazing Cosmetics) here in Light Golden (got it from Sephora). I apply my Arnica cream first. Then, I apply the concealer pretty thick but gently with a makeup brush, and then dust on some powder to take away some of the shine from the concealer. I can't decide if I prefer this concealer, or using Estee Lauder's Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage makeup. They both give great coverage for me. Hope this might help some of you trying to figure out how to cover up those bruises!
Updated on 28 Sep 2014:
So now that I can actually smile, here is a photo of how my nose drooped before when I smiled, and what it looks like 6 days post surgery when I smile. I am very happy there is no more droop! Still wishing my profile was shorter though... Hopefully I just need to be patient. I have a feeling it wont get too much smaller though and I'll have to accept an improved, although still larger than I'd like, nose. I think I'll be ok with that.
Updated on 1 Oct 2014:
Just wanted to post an update. Everything is going smoothly with my recovery. I still have a little bit of a black eye but it's getting smaller by the day and I can cover it up. Still applying arnica cream to it. I have most of my swelling between my eyes, although it's not that bad (but I can tell it's there). I've had my nose taped ever since cast removal. I like that it's taped because it's kept my swelling down and looks really sleek under the tape. I am only assuming that if it wasn't taped it would be more swollen.
I got my stitches out on Monday (1 week from surgery). I forgot to take some Tylenol before that, so it was slightly uncomfortable but not too bad (pinching feeling). I have some slight scabbing under my nose where the stitches were that I'm leaving alone because I want it all to heal well. At Monday's appointment, the doctor re-taped my nose, and between taping I saw it without the tape and was really happy with it. It's funny how much the tape distracts from the actual look of the nose! It looks even smaller without the tape on.
Tomorrow I'm going to take the tape off for the first time (other than once between tapings) and go out in public for the first time. I'm going to get my hair cut and highlighted, which is MUCH needed. I asked my doc if it was ok to get my hair done 10 days post-op and he said it was fine (I wasn't sure if it would be ok since I'll need to tilt my head down and breath in fumes, etc). I will just warn my hair dresser to stay clear of hitting my nose!
Updated on 22 Oct 2014:
It's been almost 5 weeks since my surgery. I keep trying to be patient that my nose will miraculously shrink and that it's just swollen but I think what I see now is pretty much my final result. My profile essentially looks exactly the same except it doesn't droop when I smile. I still feel like I have a big nose. I think I scared my p.s. away from going as small as I hoped. I'm just feeling really depressed that I'm still not happy with my nose and I'm pretty sure I'll be asking him to make it smaller. I really only wanted to go through this once :(
Updated on 12 Nov 2014:
I just wanted to post a quick thank you message, to everyone who has been so kind with their comments. This is such a caring and friendly community. It's amazing that strangers can care so much! Thank you all. You all keep my belief in the goodness of humanity strong :)
I have an appointment with my surgeon in early December. That will be 3 months post-op, and at that point I think we will both be able to better judge the results of my nose. Although they aren't "final" at 3 months, by that time frame results are pretty apparent.
My nose is better in some respects (the tip cartilage is no longer crooked and bumpy, and the profile is subtly better) so I am happy about those things. However, my nose appears curved from the front, when it never did before. I am worried that the left side of my nose on the side of the bridge may have collapsed a little, and that the right side of my tip is pinched. These two things together make it look curved. Also, my tip just looks like a ball that isn't integrated with the rest of my nose from front view. The right side of my tip (my right, left in photos) is more shadowed, more pinched, and I think that's what is causing most of the visual issues (more shadowing, strange from quarter-profile, etc).
What reassures me is that my Doctor seems sensible. He saw the things I wasn't happy about and said to give it more time. The fact that he didn't deny things makes me trust he will cooperate if at the end of all this healing I'm not happy. I hate the stories of doctors who say everything is fine when clearly it isn't. So, I am reassured that if things don't heal properly that there will be a fix. My doctor guarantees his work, so I would only need to pay hospital fees for a fix-up. I really don't want a second surgery, but, it may be what I go for. Despite the issues I see now, I still trust my doctor. He certainly didn't butcher my nose. It looks natural. It just has new issues now, and the profile still seems a little too large.
I've finally added some photos...
Updated on 5 Dec 2014:
Hi ladies, I had my 3 month post-op visit with my surgeon today. He could see the indentations that were bothering me and how they were making my nose look slightly crooked. He said that we'll evaluate everything after 1 year to see how the final result looks, but in the meantime to make me happy he could inject some filler. He used a tiny bit of Restylane in two areas. Now when I look at my nose from the front I finally see a straight nose! yay! :D It should last up to a year, at which point we'll see the final results of my nose without the Restylane. We will chat then to determine if I want a more permanent fix or if I'm fine getting a few tiny Restylane injections once a year. Today marks the very first day that I've felt happy with my nose since my surgery (or ever!). It's amazing what a few tiny changes to contours of the nose can do to the overall look of it. I'm sure no one will notice the difference, but I do and that's all that matters. Finally happy with this nose on the center of my face! I'm also really happy to have chosen a surgeon who can admit to seeing little imperfections and is willing and able to tweak those things to make them look better.
Updated on 5 Dec 2014:
Here are some pics of my results post rhinoplasty + a tiny bit of filler.
Updated on 3 Feb 2015:
It is pretty crazy to compare my nose from 2.5 weeks post op to just over 4 months post op. My nose scared the heck out of me at 2.5 weeks. It looked crooked and completely strange. The tip was a ball that didn't look integrated with the rest of my nose, and the whole thing looked completely crooked and wonky. Now at over 4 months, my nose looks straight and the tip is looking much more normal. I've attached a pic to compare. I know I still have 8 more months to go before we're supposed to completely judge, but for those freaking out at an early stage, try to be patient. Trust me, I know it's hard, but time really does fix a lot...even stuff that seems like there is no way it can get better.