Septorhinoplasty - Boise, ID

I have hated my nose since I was 10 (I am 25 now). I always wanted plastic surgery, but didn't think I could do it because of the finances. I finally decided that I could figure out the finances because it is something I want that badly. I am about to become a teacher and hope to be married soon and I don't want to feel self conscious about my nose while starting my career or look back at wedding photos and feel so sad about my profile.
Just this month I went to an ENT about not being able to breathe out of my nose, but he told me everything looked good. So I just went to a plastic surgeon in the area who I had heard good things about. He saw me the next week and told me it looked and sounded like I had a deviated septum. After referring me to the ENT he works with, I found out I did have a deviation and enlarged turbinates.

I was afraid my insurance was changing and I would have to start my deductible over so my surgery was scheduled quickly (10/25/12). I am at 6 days post op right now. I have had surgeries before, but still became very nervous the night before. I had a great experience at the surgery center; they took great care of me! I did have throat pain from the breathing tube, which is made worse by having to breathe out of my mouth which causes dryness. I have also had some mild pain in my ears and mouth, which I was told is because the sinuses were worked on. My bruising was not too bad, but I did get very swollen. My face swelling has gone down, but I can tell my nose is still pretty swollen under my cast. I did have a lot of nausea but Zofran, soda and crackers helped a lot. I basically just slept the first 4 days and have only been staying awake yesterday and today. I can tell I tire easily and have tried to lay low. I would suggest a vaporizer or humidifier and waking yourself up to sip on some water to help with the dry throat.

My cast comes off on Friday (November 2nd). I am going to focus on the fact that I am still swollen, because I have heard people are disappointed at first. But I think I will be very happy with my results!

It has been 2 days since my cast removal. The actual cast being taken off was not painful or uncomfortable. The splints coming out was uncomfortable because they are so big and they have to fit out of the already sore and swollen nostrils. My doctor's office informed me that many patients feel depressed and/or regret after they first see their noses. Knowing this, I really felt like I prepared myself to realize that it would be a change and that it would be swollen for the first few weeks. I still got very upset when I first saw my nose with the cast off. I don't even really know why; it was just a weird feeling to see this new nose on my face. It is definitely swollen and bruised, but I am liking it more and more just in the days since. It is weird to still have the tip be numb, but I was told it takes awhile for the nerves to reconnect. I am excited for the swelling to go down and for the feeling to return to normal (and obviously for the pain to be gone!)

It has been 6 weeks since the surgery. I know my nose will refine out over the next year or so, and look forward to the final result, but am happy with the results. It is weird that the nerves are still re-attaching and the tip is therefore still pretty numb. The tip is also very hard and stiff. The whole thing still hurts if I accidentally bump it, but is not usually sore otherwise. I also have hard bumps (scar tissues) around the incision sights just inside my nostrils, which my ENT said will soften up over time.