Happy gal! Be kind to yourself and be patient to see your results.

In April 2021 I had my primary rhinoplasty with Dr Mark Baldwin, unfortunately a few days after my surgery my nose went crocked. Due to the fact that I had double corrective jaw surgery when I was 15 years old and the cartilage in my nose wasn't strong enough to stay straight. A year after my primary rhinoplasty Mark and I decided to try filler in my nose, but unfortunately it didn’t help make my nose go straight. At my two year post appointment I discussed with Mark the pros and cons of revision and he told me that I would have to use my rib cartilage to help make my nose straight. I decided I couldn’t live with having a crooked nose (even though I loved my new side profile, I hated what I saw front on in the mirror every day). So, I then booked in for revision for August 2023. When I woke up from the surgery the pain in my face wasn’t too bad, however, I was in so much pain from having some of my rib cartilage taken out. I couldn’t move at all. I honestly felt like I had been stabbed in the chest. And mind you I had two major surgeries before this one, but this one topped it. After three days the pain wasn’t too bad and I was able to move around on my own without any help. When my cast came off, I definitely suffered with an identity crisis, I had really bad swelling not only in my nose, but my whole face that I literally didn’t look or recognise myself. I think I stayed in my room for 6 weeks before I saw anyone besides my immediate family. The swelling in my face probably took a good four months to go away. But a year later my nose is still very swollen, which is very normal because this is technically the third time my nose has been touched. But, I can finally say that I LOVE my nose. No it’s not perfect, but it’s such an improvement from my OG nose. I feel so much confident now with my nose and I feel like myself! Mark has been amazing throughout this whole experience and I’m glad I picked him as my surgeon. The care he has given me has been exceptional and I’m forever grateful. Going through a primary rhinoplasty isn’t easy itself and having to go through a revision is a massive emotional roller coaster for your mental health. The first four months was extremely tough for me, but for anyone else out there who is currently going through it or is thinking of doing the surgery - please be kind to yourself and be patient to see your results. My nose literally looked like a potato for months! It takes time, but I promise it gets better. It just takes time unfortunately.

Here is an update of my nose 18 months post op. My nose is very swollen, but I do get small glimpses of the swelling subsiding for few short moments (before the swelling flares up again). A lot of the swelling is near the tip of my nose, still excited to see what my nose will look like at two years post op.