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Initially when I decided to begin this whole...
I'll try and probably fail not to go on about this too much. So I've been thinking about doing this for a long time, but only seriously for about a year. I wasn't even sure if it was a possibility. I still live at home and I study. I also work around 25 hours a week so I do have some money, and I thought I'd be better off considering doing this before I've moved out. I plan to pay a large portion of the fees myself, and will get some help from medicare.
I was terrified of suggesting my having a rhinoplasty to my parents. They, and I, have always been the type of people that don't particularly believe in plastic surgery. It just goes to show that you shouldn't let yourself be boxed in to being a 'type.' Everyone has different experiences and everyone will encounter exceptions to their philosophies. But they were super supportive. My mum, though not overly concerned with her own appearance, understands that I value mine. She sees that I want to be comfortable in my own skin, to be able to smile and just be without feeling overly conscious of my face. She knows that overall I am happy with the way I look and that it's only this one thing that gets in the way of not worrying about it too much.
My dad didn't get what I disliked about my nose. He doesn't see the issues that I point out to him. But similarly, he was supportive. He told me he trusts that I'm not a superficial person, and that young people do tend to fixate on things and have their insecurities tied up in certain features. Though he thinks this shouldn't be the case, he's very sensitive and accepts that that's the way it is.
So, details. I had a sporting injury when I was quite young. Though it didn't significantly disfigure my nose at the time, it affected the way it grew. After having a consultation I now understand (and I don't know exactly the correct terms or anything) that the connection between my inner septum and my nasal tip has been damaged. Because of this, my nose does not stay entirely upright and hangs a little when I smile. There's also a bump in the bone on the left side of my nose which means it looks crooked to one side. I don't mind it from 3/4 view when people are on my left but it bothers me when they're looking at me from the right. It means I've always tried to sit with people on my left and feel I can't completely relax or laugh, especially in photos, because I'm conscious of it.
I had a consultation at Chris Moss' practice in Toorak (Melbourne). It was good, I liked his staff, but with the initial consult you only get to meet one of the nurses. After that, its $450 to meet him before you go through with the procedure. The nurse was really lovely and helpful but I got the sense that I wouldn't get a whole lot of one on one time with Chris Moss, which would probably have made me feel a bit apprehensive before the surgery. I was aware that Chris Moss charges a lot, and he's very successful so the price quote wasn't unexpected. But I did decide in the end that it was too much.
I recently had an initial consultation with Howard Webster in Richmond. Both my parents came this time (just my mum came to Chris Moss) and automatically we liked him straight away. He didn't at all try to sell me on a nose job, in fact, he challenged me to think really hard about my motives and expectations for the procedure. He explained the nitty gritty of the surgery and talked extensively about his views on the pressure people have been put under since the invention of the smart phone. I got the sense that I could have said then and there "nope actually I'm not doing it," and he would have happily let me walk out. He also doesn't charge for initial consult if you mention RealSelf which is just amazing. He's got a great reputation and seems crazy experienced. I just felt like i trusted him completely.
Anyway sorry this is super long, I'm sort of writing this partly for myself. I don't know if people will even bother to read this but I'll upload updates and pictures closer to the day of my surgery.
Provider Review
I started this whole process so unsure about what to do. I had some damage to my nose when I was younger and though it wasn't detrimental, it affected the way it grew and looked. I had a bit of a dodgy septum and the bone on one side of my bridge stuck out. I liked one side of my nose but not the other, and also disliked the way it hung when I smiled. Never thought I'd consider plastic surgery, and was so scared to talk about it with my parents. They didn't think it was necessary but understood my concerns and were actually so supportive. I had a consult with another doctor in Melbourne who quoted an insanely high price. I'm sure he's a good doctor but I'm also sure Howard is just as good (if not better) and charges 10,000 dollars less. From the moment my parents and I sat down with Howard I could tell we all just trusted him instantly. I was most surprised because my dad, who thoroughly mistrusts the whole plastic surgery industry, had so much respect for him. He walked away from it saying emphatically that he really liked him, and thought he was very genuine. Through the whole consultation (which went for a considerable amount of time and was free through realself!) Howard did not once pressure me into the procedure. I got the impression that if i got up and said nope i'm not doing it, he would have said great no problem! He talked about all the pressures young people experience, how this is not necessary and that he thought I didn't have a 'bad' nose at all. But he also didn't make me feel bad about my insecurities, he said he could see where my issues were, especially with the breathing, and said he could do something about it if I wanted him to. I just thought he was amazing and booked my surgery pretty soon after that. Anyway, the day came and let me just preface this by saying I'm both a perfectionist and a hypochondriac. So being in hospital and giving myself over to general anaesthetic while someone pulls my nose off my face and fiddles around with it was terrifying to me. But Howard came and spoke to me before, he was there when I woke up to tell me it went great, and the next morning came past at 5am to speak to me again. He was so present and caring, I felt so looked after. The whole surgery was so much smoother than I expected. I was worried about being sick when I woke up, I was worried about side effects and complications, obviously I was worried about looking in the mirror and being shocked. But the anaesthetic was fine - they have all sorts of drugs for pain/nausea/anxiety. I didn't even need them, but having them on hand was great. I had a bit of a complication where one of the drugs made my heart beat super fast but I wasn't even worried about it, I just waited in recovery dreamily until it slowed down. Anyway the first week of recovery was mostly just uncomfortable. I have to admit I kind of enjoyed extracting big boogery blot clots out every morning. I didn't need the heavy pain killers they gave me. I was a bit scared of the side effect of nausea (I'm vomit phobic) so I survived just with panadeine (paracetamol with a bit of codeine) and was fine. Sleeping upright and not being able to breathe super well is vaguely irritating but to be honest I just enjoyed vegging out and taking progress pics of my swelling going down. Anyway, cast came off and even though it was super swollen I wanted to cry I was so thrilled. My nose is straight for the first time in years and I just felt so relieved and like MORE MYSELF than I had been before. Internal splint removal was so satisfying, and immediately after you can breathe and it just feels incredible. Anyway Howard was just so gentle, caring and went above and beyond in his attentions to me. His work is so amazing, refined and skillful. My nose stays up when i smile, and my bridge is straight and has the perfect tiniest bit of a slope toward the tip. Exactly what i wanted. I'm not posting pics here for privacy reasons but if anyone wants to message me privately I'd be more than happy to share!