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POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS

36 Years Old - Rhino Finally!! - Houston, TX

ORIGINAL POST

I just scheduled and put a down payment on my...

heather78
$6,800
I just scheduled and put a down payment on my rhino surgery for June 10th with Dr. Athre! I'm super excited but also REALLY nervous - I've never spent this much money on something that wasn't really "needed" before. I'm kind of starting to doubt if I should go through with it. My husband and I can afford the monthly payments, but it's still a lot of money to pay for something cosmetic!

Dr. Athre has a lot of positive feedback on here and other sites, but if anyone could provide any additional feedback on the procedure or him, it would be really great!

So a little history - I've had a large, hooked nose my whole life. It was the source of a lot of teasing, low self-esteem and depression in my middle school and high school years. I got bullied a LOT. My mom actually took me to get a nose job when I was 12 because of it. She was set to do it, but I told her no. Even at 12, I knew I was far too young to get anything like that done. I didn't know why at the time, but it just felt WRONG (even though getting it done would have meant an end to the teasing and bullying).

So fast forward to today: I'm 36, I have an amazing job that I love (I'm a high school teacher), a wonderful husband who loves me for who I am, awesome friends, and great hobbies - I feel like I'm my own person now. I have established myself and my personality and I really like who I've become. :)
Unlike when I was 12, I have a deeper sense of self now - I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be, with who I'm supposed to be with, and if I got this surgery done now, it would only be for me - not to fit in, or to get more dates, or to stop bullying..

This surgery never came up while my husband and I were dating, and only the past few months have I talked about it at all. He's very surprised by all this, but supportive. I cringe inwardly at all of our wedding photos that are profile shots because of my huge nose - I hate looking through our wedding album because of it. We are talking about having a baby next year, and when I think about taking photos with my child and my huge nose, I cringe all over again. I think now would be a good time to get the surgery done before we have a baby. After the baby comes, it's all about him/her for the next 18 years! :)

So that's the status as of now - I'll post some before pics in a few days.

heather78's provider

Raghu Athre, MD

Raghu Athre, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Replies (5)

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April 20, 2014
Congrats, this is an exciting step for you! I appreciate you being so open about your feelings and I am so sorry to hear how self conscious you have been feeling about this. I admire your decision to not go ahead with a nose job when you were 12 (Although how wonderfully supportive of your mother to want to help you). I relate to how difficult it is to be teased about your nose in school ( High School was horrible for me as well, I got my nose job in my early 20's) I look forward to following your journey and wish you the best of luck :)
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April 20, 2014
Good luck on your surgery. You were wise to say no to your mom when she wanted you to have nose surgery at 12 years old. Looking forward to seeing your photos.
May 9, 2014
I have my surgery scheduled with Athre on the 10th too!! I put a down payment down today
May 14, 2014
Congrats! I'm glad you liked him.
May 29, 2014
Good luck! You wont feel anything. Been there best of luck. God bless
UPDATED FROM heather78
27 days pre

Pre-Op Pics

heather78
Here are a few pre-op pics. I didn't get one from the front yet, but I will soon. You can see how when I smile, the tip of the nose kind of hooks down a bit.

Ugh. Not happy at all with these...but I'm still conflicted about having the surgery. I'm really hesitant to spend that much money on something that isn't necessary! I'm not broken or dying or anything.. I have until May 21st to change my mind!

Although it looks like my surgery date will be pushed back a week. There's a family function the weekend after my surgery, and I can't show up with a bandaged face. It's looking like my surgery will be June 18th or June 19th.

Replies (11)

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May 14, 2014
Hello I live in Houston and curious of you results can you please post pics
May 15, 2014
You sound like you are a very strong and positive person. You deserve to do what you think will make you happy. Believe me having 2 children and a house that needs work I as well feel guilty for spending all this money on something that isn't needed. I'm in my 30s and I'm doing this for an improvement. This has been something I wanted since I was 14. I'm glad I'm making the choice to do it now at my age. After all this surgery stuff and I can focus on my kids, house and relationship. Keep in touch :)
May 16, 2014
I think you should do it as you will have vast improvement!
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May 17, 2014
Don't feel bad for spending the money, it almost affects your quality of life and that is priceless. You will never regret it.
May 17, 2014
Also, you don't want your future child teased about YOUR nose-- think of it as an investment in his/her future :)
May 17, 2014
Yeah, I did think about that too.. kids can be mean sometimes.
UPDATED FROM heather78
Day of treatment

Pre-Op Appointment

heather78
Yesterday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. Athre. He went through all the necessary information and gave me a packet of steps to follow for before the surgery. He also took a bunch more photos, and gave me a prescription for some antibiotics and pain meds. My surgery is scheduled for June 19th. Honestly, I wasn't excited before but now that it's definitely happening, I do feel myself starting to get excited - the nervousness is still there, of course, but it's starting to be a good kind of nervous instead of dread :) I'm trying really hard to just trust the doctor and what he wants to do with my nose instead of freaking out about what it'll look like afterwards..

It will definitely be nice not to always worry about taking pictures from the front, or to not self-consciously turn my head away when I walk by a large group of people!

Uploading a pic from the front.

Replies (6)

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June 10, 2014
Good for you making it happen! My surgery is the day after yours and I am also getting very excited! and scared too! are you nervous? I also think about the money as I am a single mom, but now is the best time for me to do this, being a teacher with summer coming up and not knowing if i will stay in teaching next year or be in a reg. job. good luck with your journey!!!! think of me the day after, i will think of you on your day.
June 10, 2014
I'm super nervous. I really can't believe it's happening.. I was going to wait until I was 40, but stuff has changed with my husband and I having a baby maybe, so I decided to do it now. I'm a teacher too - I'm a little nervous about what my students will say when I come back, but I'm sure it'll all be positive. :) Oh - and teaching IS a regular job. :) Good luck to you - I'm sure your surgery will go smoothly! Thanks for the kind words :)
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June 10, 2014
thank you! Oh, I didn't mean regular job in that way LOL. I meant, a job where it's never ending, and no more summers off. "regular" meaning "sucks" job. but that pays more! i have to pay this new nose off
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June 11, 2014
The closer it gets the more excited you will become. Congrats on setting the date! Looking forward to your updates!
June 11, 2014
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June 11, 2014
I'm excited for you!