Love It! - Cleveland, OH

My nose had a wide bridge when I broke it before puberty. My nose was OK after my growth spurt. (Thankfully, things always get better on me with age). But it really bugged me when people would take pics at that one side of the nose at the 3/4 angle that made it look like I had sausage stuffed in the middle. The thought of someone taking that pic at my "future" wedding or when I have my "future" newborn hospital photo, sent me here. I also had a deviated septum and sinus problems. I went in for an open turbinectomy, septoplasty and rhinoplasty combo and I couldn't have been happier. I'm a difficult candidate due to my European thick skin and the fact that my nose was straight to begin with from the profile view. I didn't think he could make it that much better and I haven't seen any pics of people with my nose go in for surgery (other than the middle east maybe? No idea.)... but lo and behold.

Recovery was unexpectedly great. I had almost no bruising and my eyes weren't swollen much. I was able to breathe through my nose on day 1 and 2. I began to be a bit concerned wondering if I got much work done at all! Then day 3 the swelling came on with soupy drainage that pretty much made breathing non-existent until 2 days before I got the splint removed (thanks for the sleeping pills prescription!). I didn't have to use any pain killers after the pill that they gave me on the first day. I ended up spending my first day in a bliss listening to music and sleeping off either the pain killer or the anesthetic, and changing out the drip pad frequently. The drip pad was gone by the next day. When I got home, I had no nausea... and really, an appetite of a parade of elephants.

When the cast came off, the nose was quite a bit swollen, but I would have taken that nose right there! Next day, the swelling went down further... and each day, I get my strength back and a better nose. I do have some bumps around the eye area, but I think it's just swelling. It's not even two weeks post OP. The nose looks like a refined version of my old nose. It's like someone took a beauty knife and artfully sculpted a new one... Oh, wait. They did.

I highly recommend Dr. Guyuron so far! Let's hope it continues to heal well. He also has a gorgeous waiting room and nice nurses. The nurses, anesthetist, and personnel at the surgery center are great too! The worst experience was getting the IV. I think that 3 attempts to put in an IV likely points toward someone not being good at their job. I think I have an IV phobia now.

If you are looking to take off from work, please take off 9 days at least. I took off 6 work days (including surgery) and two weekend days, and went two days of work with blood/gore on the underside of my nose and some reddish discharge. I also didn't expect to be so lethargic and tired. Don't plan on getting too much accomplished during recovery... (What was I expecting? a vacation?) I ate a lot of smoothies and baby food in a week and craved coffee. Too bad hot foods didn't make my nose feel good. Also, don't plan on wearing makeup immediately after the splint removal. The dead skin looks a lot worse with makeup (maybe a tinted moisturizer or a mousse product would work)! Do get a humidifier though. Sleeping elevated and with a humidifier helps. Also, talking on the phone really, really doesn't work. (What was I thinking scheduling five butchered phone interviews during the first week of recovery?)

I am a perfectionist and a skin picker. Now, I wear no foundation or contouring makeup at all! Thanks to this surgery I feel like I can flaunt ME. I didn't realize that my pores and uneven skin tone bugged me only on my nose. When the nose shape was improved, all of the imperfections aren't as noticeable to me. *Knock on wood!* Now, I get by with some eye makeup, blush and bronzer.

Yes, it's quite an investment but so far, this one has been worth it.