Trying Again... Better Be the Last Time! -Miami, FL

My original rhinoplasty was in June of 2011. I knew immediately (even with the splint still on) that I ws not happy with the aesthetic results. My nose looked assymetric with the right side being more "pinched" and I had a bulbous, polly-beak, if you will. Initially, my breathing was improved, especially in my left nostriI, however, with time I began to have impeded breathing on my right nostril.

I met with several doctors around February of 2012 and did more research the second time around. It is now August of 2013, and due to my increased breathing "uncomfortableness" which makes me very wary of my assymetric nose, I have decided to pursue a revision. I have decided on Dr. Riahcard Davis in Miami. I have met with him twice. He seems very knowledgble and genuinely concerned with his patients. He will not rush your appointment.

Can't breathe yet and have been icing, icing, icing. Getting sick of laying down.

Well, the doc did say my nose might very well be coming out of my skull at an angle... the tendency is still for the tip to look more toward the right, and even my nostril on that side to be smaller. This has been consistent since the beginning of time... Honestly, I grew up with it, so I knew it was that way, but never really got fixated on it. My initial surgery was just to remove a hump.

That being said, the dr. gave me some "forms" if you will to place in my nostril(s) at night to see if it would even out the shape. I doubt it will but have been trying it becuase 1) it does help my breathe though my nose and 2) it's worth a try.

However, that's just part of my quirky body, I guess. The rest of the nose looks good, albeit super swollen. There doesn't seem to be any assymetry as I was complaining about before, and nothing looks pinched. I'm pretty confident at this point I will at least get closer to a natural looking nose and am praying that the brething will be improved.

For now, I have just started to smell things again. I can breather maybe 20% out of my nose - not enough to use it exclusively yet. However, when I put in these "spacers" he gave me, which are essentially little covers for a nose instrument he uses, I can breather more like 40%, and that allows me to actually breathe through my nose more at night (Thank God).

I am still icing at night and try to at least once during the day for 30-60 minutes or so. I have 3 small children and am a very antsy person, so it's hard for me to sit still. LOL! I'd rather get out of the house and do something.

I am on trck for all the wounds to be healed by the 2-wk mark, but am guessing the swelling is going to last awhile. I feel I look a bit like a muppet, but my hairdresser (a wonderfully sweet gay man) told me my face has never looked more youthful than today (I think all the swelling helped fill in the wrinkles temporarily - LOL!). He said he'd guess me at 24 years-old (I'm 35)... LOVE that man! ROFL!

Still swollen and breathing not 100% yet. Follow-up appointment with doctor in 10 days.

I don't have any huge updates... Saw Dr. Davis a few weeks ago... He said the only part he was cocerned about was the fact that my nostrils were still somewhat assymetrical. They are. But in my opinion still Waaayyyy better than they were. He advised me to press on my nose accordingly. There is also a small bump that developed on my bridge, but I feel (and doc feels) its because the part of my nose that had no work done on it had the swelling go down, and now that marks the area where the surgery was performed, so it's still swollen. No biggie. He did mention if my swelling was still present at my chcekup on Nov 22, he might consider some steroid injections.

Breathing is still hindered on right side. Attributing that to swelling still, I guess. Hope it gets better over time.

Overall, still happy with results.

Ear is still a bit tender. Looks fine s far as I can tell.

Will take/post pics as I find time, but life gets busy...

:)

Sorry. Have been busy with life. And also,my computer died so now I am, using an old laptop with a million stuck keys. I hate it! Typing is enough of a chore. so I might not be able to post pics until I get a new laptop.

My breathing is not perfect. I go back to see the doctor on 11/22. I think I am still swollen. Breathing is about the same as pre-revision surgery. No worse.

Still happier with the look of the nose and external scars healed so much better than last time. My nose is still a little red or "rosy" in spots, which bugs me because I feel like I have to always wear makeup. But the skin has finally stopped peeling and flaking around the nostrils (don't know if I had a bad reaction to the tape/splint adhesive (sensitive skin) or what).

Overall, glad I had the revision, but really wish I would've went to Dr. Davis the first time!

Saw Dr.last Friday. Said swelling was coming down,but there was still some more residual on right side than left but that it was probably caused by the fact he put the septum graft on the right side... We talked about cortisone shots and I agreed with him that we should wait and see. He said my lesser ability to breather on right side was because of that swelling.

I am so happy I am not obsessing about my nose anymore. Sure, it's not perfect - it never was, but it's sooooo much better after the revision than after the first rhinoplasty. Still don't remember what it feels like to breathe 100% out of my right nostril, which is annoying, but the breathing is no worse than it was before the 2nd surgery - I'm just not sure it's any better yet at 5 months post-op.

So hard to remember to log in anymore... Just so busy, and the best reason I don't think about logging in anymore is that I am still no longer fixated on my nose! So true! Breathing has not changed... and nose is still a bit crooked, but I am so happy it isn't collapsing anymore and looks normal! I was never looking for perfection, so I had low expectations on this revision, and all I can say is that I am a lot happier with the results than my first time. My doctor, however, is a bit more of a perfectionist than I am (which is good) - he is not happy with a little bump on my bridge that has supposedly appeared as swelling has diminished... Honestly, it hasn't bothered me. Last appointment, he mentioned he was not happy with it and was potentially up for a revision when the time came.... Personally, I am happy enough with what I got! Why f@&* with that when it could end up much worse? :)