32/male - Primary Rhino & Septoplasty - Very Pleased (So Far) Dallas, TX

Went to Dallas yesterday (12/9/14) to get all of the post-op stuff removed from my nose. All went very well minus a bit of a nose bleed. I expected the stints to hurt more, but it was more of a discomfort than it was painful when they were taken out of each nostril. I have to say that I am very pleased with my results even though my nose is extremely swollen still. I can already see a noticeable difference in the tip and from my profile. The discoloration from the bruising under my eyes has reduced considerably and I can finally breath through my nose(!) though I am a bit congested and don't want to blow it until another week has elapsed (per Dr. Cochran's instructions). I will keep using the Ayr nasal mist and get some sudafed (thanks for the recommendation Standard lover!) to help flush out the mucous.

Days two through five have all been pretty similar. The pain has been minimal and can usually be managed via Tylenol. My chief complaint is the stuffiness, however the saline mist does tend to help. I picked up some Arnicare Gel from CVS today in hopes of expediting the reduction of the puffiness and swelling which seems to extend all the way to my cheeks. I can already tell a difference in the shape of the columella and the tip, as the slight drooping that used to exist is no longer there and my nose seems much more "in line" with my face in that regard (which obviously makes me very happy!). It's tough to tell the extent of the difference in the dorsum until the cast is off. Interestingly enough, Dr. Cochrane decided not to make the slight adjustments that I wanted to my nostrils, as I thought that it would look to "feminine" while he was doing the surgery. Given the amount of experience that he has and his reputation, I'm inclined to believe that his opinion is valuable and potentially worthwhile in the long run (since he know what it will look like once the swelling disappears). All and all, it's been a very managable process, but I'm very eager to get the cast, splint and bandages removed so that I can get back to having my nose function normally. Updates to come after my follow-up visit.

SCHEDULING & PREPARTION REVIEW

After years of considering getting a "nose job," I finally started dive in and do some research on the cost, risks and, most importantly, surgeons to choose from. Though it goes unsaid, voluntarily changing a feature of your face (especially such a prominent feature that is the nose) is a risky endeavor that can produce an unwanted outcome, so finding the best surgeon is tantamount to saving on money or sparing extra travel. After reading various reviews and looking at the before-and-after photos on Dr. Cochran's website, I immediately felt confident that he was the best choice for my primary rhinoplasty surgery.

From the outset, his staff was extremely pleasant to deal with. I started by submitting an online application with the down payment required for an online consultation (the down payment is refundable if you elect not to get the surgery). I received feedback within days regarding my candidacy for rhinoplasty and quickly scheduled an in-person consultation in the Dallas office.

I caught an early-morning flight to Dallas from Kansas City and met with Dr. Cochran and his staff go over the details. First, the 3D-imaging that Dr. Cochran uses is very helpful in terms of providing you with an idea of what to expect. Though it's not 100% accurate, it's extremely benefficial to be able to see what the outcome should resemble in order to make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the surgery. Beyond that, I will say that Dr. Cochran exhibits a "bedside" manner that is truly top-notch. He is thorough in his explanations and is very attentive throughout the consultation; he does not make you feel rushed to decide, though I knew instantly that I wanted to proceed. (On a side note, I expected for my surgery to be completely cosmetic, however Dr. Cochrane advised that I was also a candidate for septoplasty, which enabled a substantial portion of my overall costs to be covered by my insurance (I don't know how much quite yet, but this was obviously welcome news!). I was able to schedule my surgery only three weeks out from my consultation, and the entire process of arranging for payment and preparation was a breeze. I'm unsure of what portion will be reimbursed by insurance at this point, but will follow up on that when I do.

RHINO & SEPTOPLASTY PRE/POST-OP REVIEW
Pre-op was a breeze and the staff was pleasant to deal with. The anesthesiologist came in and provided me with an anti-nausea pill and some pre-op sedatives, along with the standard explanation of what she would be doing. Upon arriving in the operating room, with the help of the nurses (since I was mildly sedated), I moved to the operating table, and within three seconds of hearing "Think of something pleasant," I was out.

Eventually I came to, sitting upright in a chair, but still felt extraordinarily tired and sedated. It took me a few rounds of waking up before I was finally able to stand on my feet and get dressed. I don't recall there being any exceptional pain or discomfort, just a lot of grogginess from the anesthesia. My father drove me back to our hotel and I immediately devoured the crackers and apple sauce that the nurses sent with us (it was around 4PM and I was starving having not eaten since the night before). Overall, the bleeding was far less than what I expected and I required only intermittent gauze changes under my nose. After eating some apple sauce and soup for dinner, I crashed pretty hard as I was still exhausted from the anesthesia. The only midly disconcerting side-effect of the anesthesia was that it took me a lot longer to start peeing once I felt the urge to go.