Rhinoplasty This Summer with Dr. Anil Shah

I am having surgery with Dr. Anil Shah in June 2015. It took me a while to decide on a surgeon, but after some research and narrowing down, I decided he is the one! I used a chart to organize all the doctors I was considering and all the requirements I want them to have (after researching which requirements a Rhinoplasty specialist should have). I tried uploading the document but it won't let me add a PDF. If you want it, let me know! It helped me stay organized in picking a surgeon because I can be pretty scatterbrained.

I appreciate everyone who has been posting their stories because you've really helped me make this decision. I don't want to live with my nose anymore, so I am not going to! I am relieved to finally feel at peace with my decision. I spent too many hours trying to talk myself out of it. I watched countless rhinoplasty surgeries on youtube and looked at every negative review and botch job I could find. NOTHING could talk me out of it. After a year of research, I feel I have done my due diligence and am just going to enjoy the ride as much as possible.

I have always hated my nose, but didn't consider a nose job for a while. I just didn't think it was a reasonable, affordable option for lil' old me. I always thought of it as something movie stars did. One day, I was talking to a friend about insecurities and I told her how I felt about my nose. She said that I was lucky that it is something I can at least have fixed if I wanted. She, on the other hand, had a physical insecurity that you can't really do much about (small eyes). At that moment, I thought that she is right. Why not fix it? I started researching the surgery that day and now am just waiting for it. Right now, I am most nervous about the post-surgery blues. I have been doing a lot to try to avoid this and even have a vacation a week after surgery to stay busy.

I have included my "before" picture and then a picture of someone I found online. I think it is her "after" and I love it! In an effort to maintain privacy, I will not be posting full pictures.


Until next time... :)

It is finally becoming real. I have booked my hotel, booked my appointment for my blood work to be done, and ordered all my supplies from the online drugstore. I am just waiting for the surgery day to come. Right now, I am taking a lot of pictures to remember what my nose looks like. I haven't taken many pictures in my life because I have always hated how my nose looks in them. The downfall to this is that during recovery I'll have an altered view of what my nose used to look like. So in case I have any regrets the weeks after, I want to be able to look back and remember why I did it. How sad that I am in my mid twenties and have a camera attached to my phone that is available at all times, and I could probably count on two hands the amount of pictures I have of myself. I am looking forward to capturing more memories after this surgery.

Something I have noticed about getting a major surgery like this, is how much money in addition to the surgery you spend. The blood work will cost around $250-$300, the supplies have added up to about $230, hotel costs $650 for three nights, the back and forth for gas (5 hours of driving one way for me). This is all in addition to the surgery price they give you. Just something to consider for those of you who may have financial hesitations. This is my first ever surgery so it was something (naively) I didn't think about.

I have also been looking around on this website under "nose job" and "Revision Rhinoplasty" as there are a lot of helpful stories there. I have noticed recently that some people-more than I expected- had their incisions get infected. Has anyone else noticed this or had experience with it? Is there a way to avoid it or is it just bad luck?

I am still excited and haven't been having any hesitations so hoping those nerves never arrive. I've included my supply list below if it helps :) My list is a compilation from things other users on here have found helpful. I will let everyone know what I found useful and what I did not. Some of this is just to boost health for a better recovery. Let me know if you have experience with anything else that is not on here.

Humidifier--about $50
Neck pillow--$8
Silicone Scar Stick-$15.00
Swiss Therapy Eye Mask Compress from MakeMeHeal.com -$45
Bedrest Pillow for sitting up in bed-$20
Calcium Adult Gummies-- $11.99
Sheer Oil Free Sunscreen Stick --$5.99
Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Body -- $8.99
Iron, Tablets--$4.99
Arnica Tablets --$5.99
Arnica Max Gel -- $8.99
Quercetin with Bromelain--$16.99
Vitafusion Power C, Immune Support, Adult Vitamins-$4.59
Biotene Moisturizing Mouth Spray --$5.52
Antiseptic Wash, Hurt-Free --$3.49
Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy --$4.79
Hydrogen Peroxide 3% First Aid Antiseptic--$1.00
Gentle Laxative Stool Softener --$2.99
Vitamin E with Folic Acid & Vitamins B6 & B12 -- $8.99
Saline Nasal Mist --$3.00
Bacitracin Zinc Ointment-- $6.00
Bendy Straws--$2.00
Cutips--$4.00
Dry Shampoo-$15
Tylenol
Vaseline
Tissues
Rubber Gloves to fill with ice

I got new make up for bruising coverage--Make Up Forever Foundation $40, Nars concealer $30, Kat Von D concealer $25. We will see how these work out. I bought a few fancy hats as well to protect my nose from the sun this summer.

I still need to stock up on books, movies, magazines, and some food. Any suggestions on food that is easy to eat after surgery?

I had my surgery on Thursday. I arrived to the surgery center at 10AM which was an hour before the procedure. I submitted my final payment and went over paperwork. I had my mom read it through with me because my adrenaline was pumping and I couldn't focus. But I didn't want to miss something important.

Around 10:30 the nurse came for me and took me to the back to change into the hospital gown and take a urine test. My surgery was scheduled for 11. After they hooked up the IV, they brought my mom back to sit with me. I guess Dr. Shah was running pretty behind because I didn't go back into surgery until 1:45. So I sat in the hospital bed from 1040-145 wishing I had brought something to do. It was freezing back there by the way and my mom waited in the back with me. She said she wished she had brought a heavy sweater.

Dr Shah came up to me before surgery to go over everything one last time. It was a really fast meeting because I had skyped with him earlier in the week to go over everything to ease my mind. Then I met the anesthesiologist and the nurse. After surgery, they woke me up and I felt so crabby! Haha. I think I was just exhausted. I was a little nauseous but that subsided pretty quickly. My surgery was scheduled for two hours- rhinoplasty, septoplasty, turbinate reduction. However, I guess my septum was such a mess that it took a little over 3 hours.

Now I am back at the hotel and my mom and dad are being great. I have felt no pain at all. My nose just feels like I have a heavier pair of sunglasses on at times. But seriously, no pain. I'm stuffed up but oh well. I've been sleeping pretty easily - but I am a dork and practiced sleeping upright before surgery so I'd be used to it.

Day of surgery- I just wanted to sleep. I wished I had checked into the hotel beforehand because getting everything set up after was annoying and I was tired. My parents helped but they didn't know what was what. So if you can set everything up before, do it. I slept for most of the rest of the day, cleaned my incisions, and took my meds. Bruising had started and I was icing on and off everything 20 min. I changed my gauze a few times but the bleeding wasn't too bad.

Post day 1- bruising lessened a little bit. I wasn't really swollen. Slept on and off. I slacked on the icing a bit. I tried pineapple but I don't like the taste. Had a Greek yogurt smoothie, pretzels, a donut and a salad. My appetite isn't really back but I am trying to eat. The bleeding stopped mid day with one or two drips of blood in the evening. The Swiss eye compress from makemeheal.com has been amazing! My bruising is not bad at all and I kinda think it is because of them. My arm where the IV was inserted is more bruised. Nose looks good so far! Hard to tell right now. I have to use the bathroom every 15 minutes! I think because of all the fluids they gave me.

Post op day 2- bruising is so light! I cannot believe it. My nose is still incredibly stuffed. Nothing else new. It is hard to drink from a straw or regularly. I have been putting the straw at the back of my teeth to drink.

Things I wish I had brought- scissors (opening things with your teeth is not gonna happen), a tray to eat on, a baby toothbrush, ziplock baggies to store the Swiss therapy eye compress, a fridge- my hotel doesn't have one.

Things I am so glad I have- neck pillow, bed rest pillow, humidifier, Swiss eye therapy compress, a cooler to keep everything cold (ice buckets melt quickly), I requested that my room be right next to the ice dispenser which has been great.

Could have gone without - arnica gel. It stings!