Open Septorhinoplasty/Hump Removal/Alar Base Reduction. Pittsburgh, PA

Like many of you RealSelfers, I have disliked my nose ever since I was a teenager. It drooped when I smiled, had a bump on the bridge, and I couldn't breathe correctly out of my right nostril. My "bad side" on the right actually looked noticeably different than the left "good side" due to my apparent C curve. I always described it as my right side looking like it had collapsed or been crushed in. I have always been particular about the way that I sleep, too, because of my breathing impairments.

I had a consultation with Dr. Capone in Pittsburgh a few months back and knew right away that I wanted to book my surgery with him. Not only is he an amazing doctor with his own accredited surgical facility and lots of experience, but you can tell he actually cares about his patients and wants to help them achieve their goals. Everyone in his office was fantastic, from the receptionists to the patient care coordinators to the nurses... Every single one! Everyone treated me with respect and made my case feel important, which I think is extremely critical in making personal decisions like this. He knew all of my insecurities with my nose before I even spoke about them. I could tell that he is very meticulous and he took his time with me. I didn't feel rushed or pressured. I knew I was willing to put my trust in him.

Another RealSelf member actually recommended him to me even though she was unable to book her surgery with him due to travel restrictions. She said he is the "best of the best" and I'm thankful for her recommendation because I believe it to be true. My medical diagnosis was internal and external nasal deformities so I underwent an open septorhinoplasty/hump removal/alar base reduction recently in December to fix my deviated septum and improve the balance of my facial proportions. I normally don't care much for social media sites but I feel inclined to give credit where credit is due, and the posts I have been reading over the past year have really helped me through this process. More posts to follow soon.

Happy healing everyone!

Surgery day - I was asked to arrive by 6:30 a.m. We got there around 6:00 because traffic wasn't as bad as we anticipated. I was taken in at 6:30, met with the nurse, signed a few papers, then met with the anesthesiologist. Dr. Capone came in then to say good morning and then I was taken into the operating room. I was pretty much out right away and the only thing I remember was I kept trying to touch my face when I was coming out of the anesthesia. Everyone kept saying, "Don't touch your face" over and over again. I dreamt about it so many times I wanted to make sure it was actually real this time. I remember the doc telling me he had to cut my muscle because of my drooping tip so he told me not to worry about the piggish look I would be sporting for a little while. Procedure took 2.5 hours.

After surgery I had some ginger ale, got dressed back in my own clothes, and got to see my husband and my mom. The nurse went over my discharge instructions and then they took me home. Nothing really worth mentioning except that I didn't have any pain and slept really well the first night.

Day after surgery - I woke up in a panic attack because of the packing in my nose and major dry mouth. I wanted the packing out so bad because I was having a hard time getting accustomed to eating or drinking. I asked my husband to call the office and see if they could take it out sooner. He told me there's no way they will do that because it's too early. I knew he was right but I asked him to humor me. He called and the nurse said it is way too soon and just to take it slow. The packing was still uncomfortable all day but I got used to eating and drinking better by the afternoon. Very minor pain started to set in after lunch so I took two extra strength Tylenol which helped right away.

2nd day after surgery - I looked much worse than I felt but was getting even better with drinking and eating with the packing in. Still only had minor discomfort and nothing that extra strength Tylenol didn't fix. Very sleepy that day and took many naps.

3rd day after surgery - my husband worked so it was my first day alone since the procedure. I took it easy all day and watched football with the dogs by my side. My parents came to visit us for an hour or so in the evening when my husband got home. I wasn't sure if I was really up for a visit but I knew they really wanted to see me. It was really nice talking with them and I was so glad they came over. I am so grateful that everyone in my family that knows about this is being so supportive and caring. I couldn't ask for a better support system. After they left, my husband helped me wash my hair and it felt so great to be clean. No pain all day so no complaints.

4th day after surgery - bloody packing, drains, and tape were all removed this morning. The hardest part is truly over. My husband got me a Panera Bread strawberry smoothie on the way home and it was so cold, tasty, just perfect. I sat in the car drinking that while he ran into the mall quick for something. The elderly couple that parked next to me were staring at me but I didn't care. I was just enjoying my smoothie. :)

Dr. Capone gently removed my cast and stitches without causing me any pain. The stitches were worse than the cast only because they made my eyes water since the nostrils are so sensitive. I braved that appointment alone and the nurse was sweet enough to hold my hand when the stitches were removed. Then it was time for me to look in the mirror. My nose was obviously swollen but it was straight, smaller, and beautiful! I could finally breathe through both of my nostrils and it was strange at first to keep my mouth closed since it was open for the last six days. I was then instructed how to do nasal compression exercises and was told to do this three times a day for the next month.