Bad Revision Rhinoplasty & good genioplasty - Dr Bart van de Ven

Hi everyone,

Here's my story... like so many of us, I too stood in the back of the line when they were handing out chins and noses ;-) Got teased a lot about my nose as a teenager. People can be cruel, especially 14 year olds! As soon as I managed to muster up the courage, I let my mom make an appointment with a surgeon; I was 17 at the time. Unfortunately, the doctor was a bad choice, as he wasn't a plastic surgeon but a nose-ear-throat specialist. Either way, the guy was cheap and who knew things could go horribly wrong? After the cast was removed, my nose instantly looked great. it was exactly what I wanted. After a few months the swelling subsided and it became apparent that I had a big dent in my nose where my nasal valve collapsed. For years I figured I shouldn't be splitting hairs and just accept the situation. It wasn't like people were pointing at me in the street anymore...

The last couple of years though, it has become increasingly difficult to look the other way. I want to be pretty too! :-( So I made an appointment with dr Bart van de Ven in Belgium. For some reason I started to consider a genioplasty as well, to balance out my features. The doctor was very professional and kind and made many good suggestions. My operation is booked for the 16th and I'm freaking out. I have difficulty trusting people and I would have liked to have spent more time talking to the doctor to explain in detail what I am looking for :-) I'm a little neurotic that way!

I've taken a few weeks off from work and haven't told anyone what I'm up to. Hopefully the changes will be very subtle and no one will notice. Idle hope perhaps but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!

So that's kind of the background. I'll be posting throughout the recovery period. All your stories helped me so much so I want to give a little back :-)

Thanks for reading!!!!

I am sh*tting myself right now! Evening before my surgery. I'm slowly but surely going crazy with fear. Had my pre op consult today and the doctor made a simulation of my nose and chin. I looked at it and it was like i didn t even recognize the person in the picture! So it finally hit me like a ton of bricks that this is really happening and there's a chance i'll hate the outcome. It took a lot from me not to storm out of the office and flee home to hide under my bed.

I was looking forward to this soooo much and now i'm only seeing the risks. When everything is still abstract and far in the future, you kind of downplay anything that could go wrong. All i could think of was how i'd finally feel good about myself (best case) and what a relief it would be that i wouldn't have to hide my "bad" angles anymore.

Today i'm obsessing about how they will break my nose and slice through the bone of my chin. Feeling guilty that i'll be putting my body through this while it's perfectly healthy and in no need of surgery.

Guess everyone feels that way the day before surgery?

Worst thing i ever been through. I'm in pain, caughing up blood and my nose looks terrible. Am i crazy or do i have the katie holmes look right now?