Going to the Hospital and We're...gonna Get a New Nose! - Los Angeles, CA

The Day Before...
I've thought long and hard about getting rhinoplasty and decided to do it. It's an interesting way to spend the holidays no doubt, but this was the only time I could use up my vacation time from work and have the recovery time to heal without it interfering with anything else in my life.
Tomorrow is the big day! After consulting with a few surgeons, I decided on Dr. Hamilton to operate on my virgin nose. I felt like he understood what I wanted and he certainly knows he has the skill to do it.
I haven't told a single soul that I'm having surgery. I'm pretty private and I don't have that many friends anyway. The only reason I'm writing a review is because when I was doing research, it truly helped me when others shared their experiences with the world and so, I want to do the same. I will figure out how to upload my pics while blacking out my eyes and such. But since I have nothing else to do in while I recover, I figured I could at least document my experience.

First thing I would like to let people know about the process. I'm an out of town patient so all of my interactions have been over the phone.
Be advised, I had to do a lot of calling and follow-up with the surgery coordinator so please make sure you are on your game and get your paperwork in order early.
Ask for ALL of your pre-op paperwork at least 5 weeks in advance and before that, start making appointments to see your PCP. Dr. Hamilton requires that you have a physical, lab work, and a chest x-ray. If you have anemia, depending on the severity, you may have to have your surgery postponed. So get your bloodwork done early so you can start taking iron supplements and not worry about having your surgery rescheduled.
Also, if you are out of town, there is usually a pre-op visit the day before your surgery so make sure you plan in advance to be in LA in time to make that appointment as well.

Tips that helped me:
Stay in a hotel with free wifi (a must for me).
Stay in a hotel with a mini fridge so that you can pack some comfort food.
(Women) If you can, keep track of your monthly cycle and try not to schedule surgery during it. You just don't want something else to worry about. But bring back ups just in case (once I had to be put under for dental work and when I got home I had started bleeding even though I wasn't on my cycle. Perhaps the stress?).
Well I know I don't have pics posted yet so this review isn't quite as exciting but I'll figure it out.
I'll check in tomorrow after my surgery and let ya'll know how it went.

Well I made it! I'm sitting in my hotel room after a nice dinner so at least you know the pain/discomfort will not prevent you from eating.
Surgery went well. I finally met Dr. Hamilton face to face (and yes...he is as handsome and charming as everyone says).
Details about my surgery. I had osteotomies (bones broken) to narrow my bridge, I had come tip refinement and I had my nostrils reduce. No implants/grafts or anything like that. I had the best team. Everyone was so nice.
I'm not sure what to think so I won't go through the full gamut of emotions yet. I am praying that I made the right decision. But Dr. Hamilton has a pretty good track record and I trust his knowledge for AA noses and what looks aesthetically pleasing on them so we will wait and see.
I'm taking phots as I go. Hopefully I'll figure out how to get them up here.

Nothing really to update. I did have some pain yesterday so I took the medication and mainly slept. Swelling is pretty bad. I mean really bad. No pain though. I can't really tell if I like anything because my face looks so bad. I hope tomorrow things will look a little better. In the meantime, back to Orange is the New Black!