POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
Septorhinoplasty
ORIGINAL POST
The reviews on realself help me so much that I...
MeaghanMApril 9, 2015
$5,000
The reviews on realself help me so much that I just had to post my experience too!
Background: Like many of you, I injured my nose a couple times as a kid. Pretty badly. I'm fairly certain that I fractured it. It caused my dorsum to be really flat and wide, and that only enhanced my tip projection. So, my nose deviates to the right. I do have some breathing issues that I hope will also be corrected. Finally, I am really worried about my nostrils. I think they are a bit large and with deprojecting the tip, I worry that they will be ginormous. So, the surgeon said he will assess the need to modify them at the time of surgery.
Choosing my surgeon: It was important for me to choose a surgeon board certified as an ENT and PS. There were only a couple possibilities in my area and long distance travel is not possible for me (family, kids, and job). It came down to cost and my comfort level with the PS.
Background: Like many of you, I injured my nose a couple times as a kid. Pretty badly. I'm fairly certain that I fractured it. It caused my dorsum to be really flat and wide, and that only enhanced my tip projection. So, my nose deviates to the right. I do have some breathing issues that I hope will also be corrected. Finally, I am really worried about my nostrils. I think they are a bit large and with deprojecting the tip, I worry that they will be ginormous. So, the surgeon said he will assess the need to modify them at the time of surgery.
Choosing my surgeon: It was important for me to choose a surgeon board certified as an ENT and PS. There were only a couple possibilities in my area and long distance travel is not possible for me (family, kids, and job). It came down to cost and my comfort level with the PS.
MeaghanM's provider
UPDATED FROM MeaghanM
3 days post
Day of Surgery
MeaghanMApril 9, 2015
Surgery day went well. I was, of course a bit nervous, mostly of my results, not so much of the surgery. Surgery time took about 2 hours, I think. I woke up in some pain which was quickly relieved with pain meds. Nausea wasn't bad but I did ask for a script just in case, it is nice to have. Immediately, I could breath out of my nose. It was pretty stuffy, but a relief to be able to breathe as I always worried that my breathing would worsen after surgery. They hussle you out of recovery fairly fast as it seems like you just wake up and are sent on your way. In reality, it is an hour or so, it just goes very quickly.
Once at the hotel, I rested the rest of the day and night. There was very little actual sleep as I kept feeling panicky and would shake myself awake when ever I drifted off. In hindsight, I would recommend asking for Valium or a sleeping pill just in case. I was also in a significant amount of pain all night, a lot of pressure and throbbing on my septum. I also had a weird sensation in the back of my throat whenever I swallowed. I tried to drink a lot of water and had a ton of pills to take and so this was sort of a problem. Later, I realized that I could not see my splint on that side and it may have slid back causing the weird swallowing pain/sensation. More on that later. The pain also radiated down my jaw and all along my teeth. That was unexpected. I couldn't keep up with the pain and needed something stronger. I did try and ice as much as possible and that felt really good. Peas in a glove were by far the best technique for icing. You can put a finger down each side of the nose and it molds right in there. Also, they are not heavy on the face and they don't melt. Totally the way to go!
A few supplies that I found to be a MUST:
1) Cool mist humidifier
2) Biotine mouth spray (not the gel)
3) Frozen peas stuffed in a glove
4) Water bottle with straw
5) Firm neck pillow
6) Lots of pillows
7) Chapstick
8) soft food like pudding
Once at the hotel, I rested the rest of the day and night. There was very little actual sleep as I kept feeling panicky and would shake myself awake when ever I drifted off. In hindsight, I would recommend asking for Valium or a sleeping pill just in case. I was also in a significant amount of pain all night, a lot of pressure and throbbing on my septum. I also had a weird sensation in the back of my throat whenever I swallowed. I tried to drink a lot of water and had a ton of pills to take and so this was sort of a problem. Later, I realized that I could not see my splint on that side and it may have slid back causing the weird swallowing pain/sensation. More on that later. The pain also radiated down my jaw and all along my teeth. That was unexpected. I couldn't keep up with the pain and needed something stronger. I did try and ice as much as possible and that felt really good. Peas in a glove were by far the best technique for icing. You can put a finger down each side of the nose and it molds right in there. Also, they are not heavy on the face and they don't melt. Totally the way to go!
A few supplies that I found to be a MUST:
1) Cool mist humidifier
2) Biotine mouth spray (not the gel)
3) Frozen peas stuffed in a glove
4) Water bottle with straw
5) Firm neck pillow
6) Lots of pillows
7) Chapstick
8) soft food like pudding
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM MeaghanM
3 days post
Post--Op
MeaghanMApril 9, 2015
When I took a look at my nose for the first time I was a bit horrified :( I expected to be swollen but one of my nostrils was ginormous! I was very worried. As i looked closer I could easily see the splint in that nare but it was not visable in the smaller nare. I suspected the splint had fallen back and was causing the pain when I swallowed as well. I was hoping the splints were causing the dramatic size difference in my nostrils.
I went to the PS office right away for stronger pain meds and the issue with the splints. I was relieved that he was able to remove both splints since my bleeding was not bad and it would not compromise my results. The painful swallowing sensation was immediately resolved and I could easily swallow again. Surprisingly, all my pain subsided with the splints out too! I have only taken 1 pain pill since their removal. Splint removal was a bit uncomfortable since everything is so tender. But it wasn't horrible, I expected worse. They are just so huge that pulling them out is a strange feeling. But no need to worry about it, the relief you feel after they are out makes it worth it! My nostrils are closer to the same size now and the have dramatically improved in appearance since those splints were removed.
Swelling: I think swelling peaked the day after surgery, post op day 1-2. I anticipated much much worse swelling and I really think the key to limiting the swelling was the steroid I am taking. I would highly recommend asking to be put on a steroid as I feel like it has really made a difference!
Results so far: I can already tell that I will love my profile. I really wanted my supra tip removed and it looks perfect under there. The front view looks a little different. No matter how much you think you are prepared, it seems very strange to see yourself differently. My upper lip is swollen and looks large, my tip seems a bit high and piggish. But I really did expect that and know it is likely from the taping and swelling and should go down. I am trying to be patient.
I went to the PS office right away for stronger pain meds and the issue with the splints. I was relieved that he was able to remove both splints since my bleeding was not bad and it would not compromise my results. The painful swallowing sensation was immediately resolved and I could easily swallow again. Surprisingly, all my pain subsided with the splints out too! I have only taken 1 pain pill since their removal. Splint removal was a bit uncomfortable since everything is so tender. But it wasn't horrible, I expected worse. They are just so huge that pulling them out is a strange feeling. But no need to worry about it, the relief you feel after they are out makes it worth it! My nostrils are closer to the same size now and the have dramatically improved in appearance since those splints were removed.
Swelling: I think swelling peaked the day after surgery, post op day 1-2. I anticipated much much worse swelling and I really think the key to limiting the swelling was the steroid I am taking. I would highly recommend asking to be put on a steroid as I feel like it has really made a difference!
Results so far: I can already tell that I will love my profile. I really wanted my supra tip removed and it looks perfect under there. The front view looks a little different. No matter how much you think you are prepared, it seems very strange to see yourself differently. My upper lip is swollen and looks large, my tip seems a bit high and piggish. But I really did expect that and know it is likely from the taping and swelling and should go down. I am trying to be patient.
Replies (0)