45 - Rhino, Lower Bleph, and Platysmaplasty - Charlotte, NC

Well, since I really should wrap up this review (after making a couple of stupid posts, LOL), I thought I should at least give some shots of the before and after.

Overall, I am very pleased with my outcome and feel that Dr. Freeman delivered. My nose is definitely not so very long and drooping as it was in my before pics. However, I wish it had the slightest more upward rotation, and would not have cried over a slight slope. However, it is straight, and that is nice. My nostrils still flare to the side when I smile in the pictures above, but we knew that would be the case. Dr. Freeman did not want to make those smaller until he saw how my nose responded and healed to the initial procedures, which were significant, including straightening a curve and shortening my nose via osteotomy and about five or six other discrete procedures he enumerated for me when I asked.

I am glad for this conservative course of action. Dr. Freeman, with his experience, reminds me from time to time that the enemy of good is perfect, and I understand he means to keep me from ruining something I like well enough by pursuing the possibly unachievable. The unfortunate thing is that we cannot predict precisely how we will heal, or what complications may beset us that might affect outcomes.

As for Dr. Freeman himself, at first I was uncertain about his overall demeanor, although he always conducted himself professionally and in a pleasant manner with me. There was just something else...maybe because he was not trying to oversell himself? In the end, I chose him for his experience most of all. Over the year since my surgery, he saw me multiple times as part of my follow-up plan, injected Kenalog when he felt it necessary, listened to my concerns, and it truly felt like he was my friend and my sherpa through the journey.

Well, after giving it a bit of a think, I have decided that I am going to create a new review for this latest round of adjustments to my nose. It just seems like it might be more helpful for timeline purposes, although this journey to my new nose really began nearly two years ago. Okay, see you out there, friends!

Well, here I am in round two of Dr, Freeman vs. my nose, LOL! I can’t believe I didn’t post anything past week 4 on the first surgery, and I apologize for that. I will find some pictures that show my new nose before this past surgery today so you can all see the progress. Meanwhile, for today, I want to make it abundantly clear that this was NOT a revision, but a planned second step in addressing my many issues with my nose.

So today, on the menu was alar rim reduction (YAY!) (more on the right than the left), scar tissue remediation on the inside of my left nostril (YAY!), slight tip defatting (YAY!), and possible medial crura placation (his professional recommendation, so we’ll have to revisit my enthusiasm on that one). One thing I like about my Dr. is that he evaluates what’s going on in my nose as he gets there. Obviously, it is impossible to know everything that is going on up there while I’m conscious and my nose hasn’t been flipped inside out. His promise to me is that he will take care of what needs caring for when he sees it, understanding all the while what I would like to see (or never again see!) on the outside.

I am posting my ugly pictures today to encourage all of us out there with stuffy, blocked nostrils, saturated drip pads, and high hopes. Happy healing, and keep up with the lip balm—Burt’s Bees forever!