POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
Tip Plasty with Temporal Fascia Grafting with Daily Journal
ORIGINAL POST
22 Years in the Making: Consults and Computer Imaging
WORTH IT$9,800
I've wanted a nose job for 22 years, and to be honest, over the years my nose has become less pronounced and perhaps this surgery isn't needed. Perhaps, my desire to move forward is based on the remnants of what was...But there are still a couple of spots I want to clean up so I'm going to do it. I'm so over obsessing about my nose or feeling like I can only photograph from one side, do you feel me?
That said, I had two consults. The first surgeon I consulted with is one of the top Rhinoplasty surgeons in Nashville on Real Self. Let's call him Dr. G. The second doctor, Dr. Larry Young, has a small online presence, but I was told by two cosmetic surgeons (who do not perform rhinoplasty) and two nurses (one who is a personal friend) that he is one to see.
To be honest, I went into the consults assuming that Dr. G was my man. He has so many positive online reviews and definitely focuses on the nose. I went into his office on a high and left entirely deflated. The "consultation," if you can call it that, was a complete joke. I am shocked that they charged me for the visit.
During the consult, I explained to Dr. G what I wanted, but we just weren't communicating on the same wavelength. What I wanted was a very subtle change, really a refinement. I want to look like me and wouldn't be hurt a bit if most people never noticed that I had something done. To demonstrate his interpretation of this, let's turn to pictures. The first photo I attached below is a side-by-side. The photo on the left is a computer image of what Dr. Young heard me say I wanted (which is correct), the one on the right is what Dr. G heard me say I wanted (which is not correct). Really take some time and zoom in on that nose, it's different, and from the front, I looked like an alien.
Initial miscommunication, of course, is not a dealbreaker. I was willing to be patient and to work through the revisions to get my nose the way I wanted it to look. Dr. G. made about three attempts at the nose which took maybe five minutes (15 minutes total in the consult room), and when I asked him to make a fourth change, he told me to go home and think about it and to come back later. I told him that I had been thinking about it for 22 years, but that didn't change his position. To me, this was a huge red flag! I can understand if we had been in there hashing it out for an hour, but it wasn't like that at all. I don't want to project on him what I think he was feeling or thinking, but it wasn't cool, and made me feel like he was not the one for me.
Dejected, I went to Dr. Young's office, from the moment he walked into the room, things felt right. He got me the first time and spent over an hour talking to me. Unlike Dr. G who simply focused on computer imaging, Dr. Young pointed out so many things about my nose that I had never noticed. He also allowed me to ask questions, something I did not get to do when consulting with Dr. G. Even my husband was impressed with the level of detail he gave and the value he added to the overall conversation. Beyond that, and this is huge, let's talk about my chin!
I am currently undergoing jaw treatment (reviewed on realself) so I have braces on my bottom teeth and my teeth are in a temporary position giving me an open bite which makes my lips strain a bit. I shared this with both doctor's. Dr. G insisted that I needed a chin implant. He actually had me convinced too. Dr. Young, however, noted that my muscle was not only straining my lips, but my chin. The muscle strain was literally working and flattening out my chin. He took me into a different room, gave me a shot of Botox, and one week later, my chin popped right out! (see pre and post Botox picture). Can you imagine if I had agreed to a chin implant what things would have been like when I had my braces removed?
Moral of the story, online reviews are great, but also find a surgeon who you vibe with, who gets you, who adds value during the consult and doesn't just focus on a few computer imaging tricks.
So here we go! October 18th and feeling so excited and a little scared.
That said, I had two consults. The first surgeon I consulted with is one of the top Rhinoplasty surgeons in Nashville on Real Self. Let's call him Dr. G. The second doctor, Dr. Larry Young, has a small online presence, but I was told by two cosmetic surgeons (who do not perform rhinoplasty) and two nurses (one who is a personal friend) that he is one to see.
To be honest, I went into the consults assuming that Dr. G was my man. He has so many positive online reviews and definitely focuses on the nose. I went into his office on a high and left entirely deflated. The "consultation," if you can call it that, was a complete joke. I am shocked that they charged me for the visit.
During the consult, I explained to Dr. G what I wanted, but we just weren't communicating on the same wavelength. What I wanted was a very subtle change, really a refinement. I want to look like me and wouldn't be hurt a bit if most people never noticed that I had something done. To demonstrate his interpretation of this, let's turn to pictures. The first photo I attached below is a side-by-side. The photo on the left is a computer image of what Dr. Young heard me say I wanted (which is correct), the one on the right is what Dr. G heard me say I wanted (which is not correct). Really take some time and zoom in on that nose, it's different, and from the front, I looked like an alien.
Initial miscommunication, of course, is not a dealbreaker. I was willing to be patient and to work through the revisions to get my nose the way I wanted it to look. Dr. G. made about three attempts at the nose which took maybe five minutes (15 minutes total in the consult room), and when I asked him to make a fourth change, he told me to go home and think about it and to come back later. I told him that I had been thinking about it for 22 years, but that didn't change his position. To me, this was a huge red flag! I can understand if we had been in there hashing it out for an hour, but it wasn't like that at all. I don't want to project on him what I think he was feeling or thinking, but it wasn't cool, and made me feel like he was not the one for me.
Dejected, I went to Dr. Young's office, from the moment he walked into the room, things felt right. He got me the first time and spent over an hour talking to me. Unlike Dr. G who simply focused on computer imaging, Dr. Young pointed out so many things about my nose that I had never noticed. He also allowed me to ask questions, something I did not get to do when consulting with Dr. G. Even my husband was impressed with the level of detail he gave and the value he added to the overall conversation. Beyond that, and this is huge, let's talk about my chin!
I am currently undergoing jaw treatment (reviewed on realself) so I have braces on my bottom teeth and my teeth are in a temporary position giving me an open bite which makes my lips strain a bit. I shared this with both doctor's. Dr. G insisted that I needed a chin implant. He actually had me convinced too. Dr. Young, however, noted that my muscle was not only straining my lips, but my chin. The muscle strain was literally working and flattening out my chin. He took me into a different room, gave me a shot of Botox, and one week later, my chin popped right out! (see pre and post Botox picture). Can you imagine if I had agreed to a chin implant what things would have been like when I had my braces removed?
Moral of the story, online reviews are great, but also find a surgeon who you vibe with, who gets you, who adds value during the consult and doesn't just focus on a few computer imaging tricks.
So here we go! October 18th and feeling so excited and a little scared.
RoseyTee's provider
UPDATED FROM RoseyTee
19 days pre
Nesting Phase?
I had my pre-op appointment a few days ago and I'm all cleared for the 18th. I feel like I'm going through some weird nesting phase. Anyone else? I seriously have a closet full of things I might need and a freezer full of foods that my husband can quickly prepare. I also made a spreadsheet of all the meds I have to take because it's a lot!!!
My biggest concern right now is being able to stay upright while sleeping. I bought a TV pillow and tried it last night but it was horribly uncomfortable. I also tried to stack pillows but found myself sliding down or turning on them. Any ideas?
My biggest concern right now is being able to stay upright while sleeping. I bought a TV pillow and tried it last night but it was horribly uncomfortable. I also tried to stack pillows but found myself sliding down or turning on them. Any ideas?
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM RoseyTee
20 days post
Weeks One, Two, and Three: Day-By-Day Journal
I did it! Well, kind of. I did cut back on the original plan. Dr. Young was awesome and patient. I ended up having two in-office consults and a couple of phone calls. In the end, we came up with a minimal plan that we both felt great about. We decided to leave the top alone so no breaking, but we did do a slight shave off the bone. Most of the work was done on my tip which included a temporal facial graft. During recovery, I wasn't up for getting on the computer, but I did take notes:
WEEK ONE: The one where I played a zombie
Day One:
I look like Miss. Piggy. I had a lot of tip work done and it’s very swollen and upturned and my nostrils look like caves. I feel like a zombie but the pain is minimal. It feels like I’ve been wearing a pair of heavy sunglasses too long. Do you know that feeling? Like pressure on the bridge.
So far, I can breathe through my nose so that's nice. The ice soaked rags also feel awesome. On the downside, I can’t empty my bladder all of the way. I asked my husband to google (Because Lord knows that if I Google, I'll find out that I'm dying.) and he said this is a possible side effect of anesthesia. It’s annoying because it feels like I have to pee but nothing comes out. Finally, I’m starting my antibiotics tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to that because I don’t do well with them usually.
Day Two:
Today is worse than yesterday. I heard days two and three are the peaks so I’m hoping to feel better soon. The only thing that makes me feel better is sleep, and I'm doing a lot of it. Also, I can pee now, so that's cool. On the downside, I can't breathe, I'm bruised, and I'm bloated. I can’t breathe through my nose at all. I knew this was possible but I expected that it would feel like a cold, but it’s so much worse. It’s a complete blockage and sometimes that blockage also gets in my throat which makes me feel suffocated. My face, in general, is very swollen and sore. I’ve only taken Tylenol today but I’m going to take a real pain killer tonight. Finally, my stomach is so bloated that I can’t even touch it without pain. It’s horrible. I’m ready to turn a corner soon.
Day Three:
I’m dead. Like officially dead. My nose is at least double the size it was before surgery and the swelling is very uncomfortable. I do have slight bruising below my eyes. I also have the world’s worst headache and feel disgusting. How anyone is even remotely functional at this point is beyond me. I feel like I’ve been beaten with a baseball bat.
On a positive note, sleeping still feels amazing. It’s the only time I’m comfortable. As mentioned yesterday, I'm on the real pain meds now and when I take one, they knock me out. I'm okay with that. On the downside, I really dislike the packing in my nose. That's what's causing the choking feeling I described. Every time I swallow it creates a vacuum-like suction in my nose as to not allow any air in there. It feels like choking or suffocating and it’s even a little difficult to eat.
Day Four:
I’m feeling a little better but I look rough. My nose is still just as swollen (my tip is easily double its normal size) and bloody as day one. I have no idea what it’s going to look like and that makes me feel a little panicked but I just try to bring my mind back to healing.
Today I’m also getting off of the pain meds. My nose feels swollen and like some of the junk has crusted inside so that’s uncomfortable but it’s not painful and I think I will feel better if I move on without meds. I also feel more swollen under my eyes today. Maybe I’m a slow sweller?
As far as how I feel, the anesthesia headache and fogginess are gone. Right now, it feels like I have a terrible cold and haven't eaten in a few days. How are people so upbeat and energetic after rhino? I don’t get it. I can’t even walk up the stairs without getting weak. I still feel dizzy and like my heart is going to best out of my chest. Maybe it’s the antibiotics? I took a nap today and had a solid sweat. Maybe it’s withdraw?
What I really want to do is jump in the shower and scrub, but I can't because I can't get the cast wet but also I have staples in my head from the grafting. My hair is matted together on that side with dried blood. I'm pretty gross. I also dislike not knowing what I’m going to look like. I know I’m going to look different, but how? It’s weird.
Day Five:
I’m still not getting people who are back to work or out running errands on day five. I do feel better, and I even had a couple of normal moments today but I also had challenging moments.
I think my tip is now 1.5x it’s normal size. I still have blood inside and outside of my nose so leaving the house is out of the question, not that I want to. My biggest gripe is that I’m so dizzy. Maybe it’s a reaction to the meds I’m taking or the fact that my sinuses have been packed with junk for days but if I bend over even slightly like to brush my teeth or toss something in the trash, it’s like the whole world is spinning. I also have the shakes. I can't even hold my hand steady. Maybe it’s withdraw from all the crap they put in my body? I’m also over sleeping upright which sucks because I think I have to continue sleeping like this for six weeks. My neck is so stiff from it! Next up, I can’t smile. My upper lip won’t move enough to eat properly or allow me to floss. I hear that resolves in time. Finally, I wake up with horrible cottonmouth at night and my bottom lip is very swollen and dry from mouth breathing.
On a positive note, my husband agreed to wash my hair today which might help me to feel more human. He can’t really scrub or wash the side with the staples, but I’m still looking forward to it. There are also moments when a little bit of air can pass through my nose now. Yay! This is new. And awesome. The little suction action that closed off my throat seems to be subsiding. I’m wondering if the packing finally dissolved? That said, I still can’t breathe through my nose mostly because of the spray I have to use every hour to keep my nose moist. I’ll finally get to that point where a little air passes through and it’s time for the spray which clogs me up again.
Right now, my faith in Dr. Young is keeping me going. Picking a surgeon you trust is so important. I know he’s a good doctor. Did I mention that my anesthesiologist even told me that she wants face work done and wouldn't let anyone besides Dr. Young touch her? High compliment. Anyway, in the end, it’s going to look great because he did it, but right now, I’m not feeling so cute.
Day Six:
The mornings are really hard for me because sleeping is so terrible with being upright and the mouth-breathing which causes my bottom lip to swell and chap and cotton mouth so bad it wakes me up multiple times per night but as the day goes on, things lookup. Also, only one more day until they take this darn cast off. I can’t wait.
Most of the blood that was in my nose has dried up regardless of saline use, which looks horrible and worse yet, as excited as I am tomorrow, I’m worried that cleaning this crust out will be uncomfortable or painful. I plan to take Tylenol beforehand. Thankfully, a dry nose means no more dripping so I took the drip pad off today. The surgical tape created a rash on my cheeks that looks a bit like eczema but I’m hopeful it will go away soon. I also happened to have PCA’s CliniCalm on hand which is a 1% hydrocortisone product and it really helped with my itchy, painful skin.
As far as how I feel, I would call it an elevated version of yesterday. My nose looks about the same, but the dizziness is less and I have more energy. Also, the shakes are gone. Hallelujah! Also, for the first time ever, I have some oxygen pumping through BOTH nostrils. It’s still stuffy, but it’s clear enough that I’m not 100% mouth breathing so I’m training my lips to go back together. They don’t want to since the top one is broke and the bottom one is swollen, but I’m trying.
At this point, it feels like I’m on the tail end of a terrible cold. You know how you’re a little dizzy and breathless at times but still functional? Just like that. I am cooking my own meals, did a load of laundry, cleaned up my surgery nest, and held a conversation with my husband that wasn’t all about me. He also made me laugh for the first time since pre-surgery and that was tough. Don’t laugh!!! I felt like my nose was going to explode but it was still a good moment. It felt normal, which is good.
That said, I still wouldn’t leave the house just because of all the blood on/in my nose and honestly, I’m afraid to drive because of the dizzy spells. I’m hoping I feel like it tomorrow morning because I really don’t want to ask one more thing of my husband, but he might have to drive me to the cast party. TBD
Day Seven:
Things really went downhill after my update yesterday. I ended up having the most terrible stomach ache. It was incredibly painful like scratching in my intestines that turned into diarrhea. I wasn’t able to eat anything and I felt weak and defeated. For the first time, I let negative thoughts creep in like “why did I do this,” “if I could choose again, I would choose not to do this.” And then I cried. My little one-woman pity party.
Thankfully, today is cast-off day! Also thankfully, I didn’t mouth breath last night so I got my best night's sleep in a week. I pulled myself together and triple thankfully, my husband insisted on driving me. As far as the upset tummy, Dr. Young said it’s probably the antibiotic and he said I can stop taking them which I’m soooooo excited about as I typically try to avoid them like the plague and don’t do well on them. I’ve already started adding healthy bacteria back to my gut.
As far as the appointment, I wasn’t able to take a Tylenol beforehand as I had no food on my stomach so I was extra terrified but Dr. Young was very careful and thoughtful per usual. Taking the staples out of my head was nothing. The packing had dissolved but I had splints in my nostrils which he removed. That actually felt good, relieving. He also suctioned tons of gunk from my nose and removed all of the dried blood. The worst part was removing the stitches from between my nostrils. That hurt enough to make my eyes water.
After that, he removed my cast and it was fine for the reveal. Honestly, I was terrified because the changes we made are so subtle that I assumed there would be no way I would be able to tell anything besides looking at a nose that is bigger than before. We didn’t straighten my nose, we didn’t remove a hump, we just fixed the tip and my tip (with the cast on) still looked...well...big and not cute, but when he handed me the mirror I could see it. He shaved down my bone up top a bit which gave my whole nose definition and a cleaner profile and the tip is big and swollen but I can see where it’s headed and it’s going to be cute. And with the blood gone, I made my first Publix appearance today. Literally, Publix. Other than that, I’m going to take it easy to allow my stomach to heal. I’m also allowed to take a modified shower now. I can’t go all in as I have more staples in my head that he hasn’t removed and I can’t let my nose get hit by the water or wash it, but it’s better than nothing. My only complaint right now is that I need to blow my nose something awful but can’t yet do that. Imagine having a runny, sniffly nose but you can’t ever blow it. That's this stage. Other than that, everything is the same until the next visit.
WEEK TWO: The one where I wondered what the f' I just did to myself.
Day 8:
My smile is back! It's so awesome because my smile is one of my distinguishing features so I look like me again. I still don't have full lip mobility, but it's enough to smile. Also, my voice is back (It's no longer nasal-y. ) and the swelling in my face is going away. Also, my dry mouth is getting better, though not gone. I went to Walgreens today to buy a spray to help.
On the downside, a drop of blood ran down my nose and Dr. Young had instructed me to NOT clean the inside or outside of my nose. He repeated this thrice so the blood droplet will stay for the week. It's better than a nose full of blood. My taste buds are also still gone. Kind of like when you have a cold. All I want to eat is mashed potatoes and chicken.
Day 9:
I don't work, but if I did, today is the day that I would say I finally feel good enough to go back if I had to force myself. Even still, my recommendation is that you take two full weeks off. I'm still not keen on driving, but maybe you will feel differently? Physically, I still have lots of obvious swelling and the little bit of dried blood on my nose so I probably would have been too self-conscious to return to work at this point, but from an energy level and mental clarity, I could have handled a work-from-home day.
Day 11
So many panic attacks. If last week was the week of physical challenges, this is the week of mental challenges. I'm really questioning myself and all the changes I made pre-surgery. I told Dr. Young that I like a gentle sloped nose-think triangle-but right now my nose looks like an exaggerated triangle and I'm freaking out. It looks so much wider on the bottom because of the triangle shape and smaller on the top. I look crazy. Not cute. I'm wondering, "Is it just going to be a smaller version of this same shape?" Even though I know it will change, I can't get my mental state to line up with my knowledge. It's such an internal battle. To make matters worse, my husband and son keep telling me I look great which is sweet but it's freaking me out. Because it makes me think, “Am I not swollen?” “Is this me?” So I guess I'm saying that your nose is going to look unattractive this week and that’s normal and something you should be prepared to deal with. That said, today I would totally go back in time and keep my old nose if I could, but I can't so I'm going to focus on the future.
Things I’m looking forward to:
1. A nose that feels like it’s not going to fall off my face.
2. Sleeping on my back
3. Hugs without fear
4. Sex
5. Hot showers that involve actual hair washing on the right side.
6. Wearing shirts that pull over my head.
7. Wearing sunglasses
8. Sneezing and blowing my nose
9. Mental stability
Day 14
Still panicking. It’s strange because I know it’s swelling. I know it’s going to change. I know I had a great doctor, but even knowing all of this, I feel panicked. I just don’t see how this is going to look anything like the computer-generated after photo and I’m freaking out about it. For me, what causes the most panic is comparing myself to others. I got on YouTube today because misery loves company, but I didn't find misery. What I found was other girls saying that their noses were perfect at week two with pictures to prove it. Welp, not me. But if their noses already look the way they want and mine looks so different from the after concept, what's up? Is it that I made the last-minute changes? Is this what I asked for?
That said, I saw Dr. Young today to get the rest of the staples out of my head. He told me that the cartilage graft that he used causes more swelling than a non-cartilage rhino because cartilage holds water. He said that I won’t see the shape for three whole months with refinements happening up until the one year mark. So I need to be patient. Ironically, that is also when I get my braces off so I'm feeling like January is going to be a good month for me.
Removing the staples doesn't feel like anything but I still have stitches left where the staples were as well as stitches inside my nose that have yet to dissolve so I have to be careful. I can at least touch that part of my scalp, but I still can’t scrub which is what I want to do. The only other new privilege I get this week is that I can gently wash my nose which is great because the skin on my nose looks wrecked. Olesa told me that this is totally normal. My pores are so congested that it looks like I’m growing a forest and I have patches of skin that are dry and peeling off. She said the molting process is due to the swelling and part of the process. There isn’t anything you can do to speed up the peeling but they gave me a really nice exfoliating face wash, a lotion, lip mask (needed), and a high-quality SPF. As a skincare junkie, this gift speaks my love language. They said next time I come back, I also get to schedule two skin treatments!!!! I’m so excited.
WEEK THREE: The one where my skin fell off.
Day 16:
My skin is still rough and bubbled up and today it itches and burns. It’s uncomfortable. I’m ready for it to peel. PCA’s CliniCalm is helping more than lotion.
As far as my looks, there's some improvement today. In fact, I had a cute moment. However! And this is a biggie that I read elsewhere: don’t get attached to any look cute or not cute. Yesterday I had the cutest button nose. I would have kept it for the rest of my life. Today, it’s gone and I have my mom’s nose. Though I love my mom and think she’s beautiful, it’s freaking me out so bad. But I have to remember that tomorrow, my nose will be different yet.
So for now, I am back on a positive track and focusing on patience and knowing that some girls may have results at two weeks or a month, but for me, it’s going to be longer.
Day 17:
When I started the day, I found my nose to be itchy but also noticeably redder than the rest of my face giving me a sort of Rudolf effect. It’s also still bumpy with little white bumps all over. Olesa told me that there wasn’t anything I could do to speed up the process but I put a Burt’s Bee moisturizing mask on and took a shower. When I got out, I was molting (see picture). Most of the white bumps popped open and my nose is peeling everywhere but especially in the corner which is basically just a sheet of white. Right now, my nose is not public presentable but I have hope that this molting will be what I need so that I can once again leave the house without a hat.
Second, I haven’t said much about my scalp but it’s still tender to the touch and a little numb. Dr. Young said I’m clear for a hair cut in three weeks so it should be healed by then.
Finally, I also started back with a modified workout today. I’m a weight lifter and did my full Monday routine without weights. I plan to do that all week with lots of walking.
Day 19:
Still peeling. I actually think I'm peeling more (see picture). I had no idea this was possible and I guess it doesn't happen to everyone, but it's happening to me. Thankfully, it doesn't look as crazy as it does in the picture 24/7, just when I get out of the shower. If I apply some lotion to it, it calms down a bit but it's not noticeable. My son, for example, said, "Mom, it looks like your skin is coming off!" I'm still wearing a hat to leave the house but I think it's close to being done. I can still feel some bumps that need to burst but not as many.
As far as the shape of my nose, it's so much better. I can feel a bit of swelling on the bridge and I think the tip is still swollen but I can see a big difference in the projection (see picture). There's one angle I don't love but I can deal and there are several angles that are really cute. I especially lover the shorter projection of my tip. It's adorable.
Finally, I drove today for the first time. The dizziness is 100% gone and I'm off all of the meds, including Mucinex.
Day 20:
I can touch my scalp today without pain or numbness. I think that means I'm ready for a scrub!!!!!!!!!! Since this is the first day I've been able to say that so I'm actually going to wait until tomorrow but I can't wait to get in there and clean my scalp. It's been so itchy and that particular spot a little greasy since it hasn't been cleaned well in over 20 days. #yuck
Finally, I made a list of my favorite surgery things:
1. Mediation - You have to be in a strong mental state. Even with my practice, I had bouts of anxiety and worry.
2. PCA CliniCalm for peeling itchy skin
3. Saline Spray
4. Bioten dry mouth spray
5. Check out VitaMedica’s website. I bought clinical support and wish I would have checked here before buying bromelain.
6. Leg elevation wedge. I bought a tv pillow and a travel pillow and tried regular pillows but my leg elevation wedge was the best for sleeping. It really kept me upright in a semi-comfortable position.
7. Prepared homemade foods. You want to keep your salt intake low so takeout isn’t a great option. I made a few salt free freezer meals beforehand that kept me fed during the first week.
8. The highest quality Chapstick or lip mask you can find.
WEEK ONE: The one where I played a zombie
Day One:
I look like Miss. Piggy. I had a lot of tip work done and it’s very swollen and upturned and my nostrils look like caves. I feel like a zombie but the pain is minimal. It feels like I’ve been wearing a pair of heavy sunglasses too long. Do you know that feeling? Like pressure on the bridge.
So far, I can breathe through my nose so that's nice. The ice soaked rags also feel awesome. On the downside, I can’t empty my bladder all of the way. I asked my husband to google (Because Lord knows that if I Google, I'll find out that I'm dying.) and he said this is a possible side effect of anesthesia. It’s annoying because it feels like I have to pee but nothing comes out. Finally, I’m starting my antibiotics tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to that because I don’t do well with them usually.
Day Two:
Today is worse than yesterday. I heard days two and three are the peaks so I’m hoping to feel better soon. The only thing that makes me feel better is sleep, and I'm doing a lot of it. Also, I can pee now, so that's cool. On the downside, I can't breathe, I'm bruised, and I'm bloated. I can’t breathe through my nose at all. I knew this was possible but I expected that it would feel like a cold, but it’s so much worse. It’s a complete blockage and sometimes that blockage also gets in my throat which makes me feel suffocated. My face, in general, is very swollen and sore. I’ve only taken Tylenol today but I’m going to take a real pain killer tonight. Finally, my stomach is so bloated that I can’t even touch it without pain. It’s horrible. I’m ready to turn a corner soon.
Day Three:
I’m dead. Like officially dead. My nose is at least double the size it was before surgery and the swelling is very uncomfortable. I do have slight bruising below my eyes. I also have the world’s worst headache and feel disgusting. How anyone is even remotely functional at this point is beyond me. I feel like I’ve been beaten with a baseball bat.
On a positive note, sleeping still feels amazing. It’s the only time I’m comfortable. As mentioned yesterday, I'm on the real pain meds now and when I take one, they knock me out. I'm okay with that. On the downside, I really dislike the packing in my nose. That's what's causing the choking feeling I described. Every time I swallow it creates a vacuum-like suction in my nose as to not allow any air in there. It feels like choking or suffocating and it’s even a little difficult to eat.
Day Four:
I’m feeling a little better but I look rough. My nose is still just as swollen (my tip is easily double its normal size) and bloody as day one. I have no idea what it’s going to look like and that makes me feel a little panicked but I just try to bring my mind back to healing.
Today I’m also getting off of the pain meds. My nose feels swollen and like some of the junk has crusted inside so that’s uncomfortable but it’s not painful and I think I will feel better if I move on without meds. I also feel more swollen under my eyes today. Maybe I’m a slow sweller?
As far as how I feel, the anesthesia headache and fogginess are gone. Right now, it feels like I have a terrible cold and haven't eaten in a few days. How are people so upbeat and energetic after rhino? I don’t get it. I can’t even walk up the stairs without getting weak. I still feel dizzy and like my heart is going to best out of my chest. Maybe it’s the antibiotics? I took a nap today and had a solid sweat. Maybe it’s withdraw?
What I really want to do is jump in the shower and scrub, but I can't because I can't get the cast wet but also I have staples in my head from the grafting. My hair is matted together on that side with dried blood. I'm pretty gross. I also dislike not knowing what I’m going to look like. I know I’m going to look different, but how? It’s weird.
Day Five:
I’m still not getting people who are back to work or out running errands on day five. I do feel better, and I even had a couple of normal moments today but I also had challenging moments.
I think my tip is now 1.5x it’s normal size. I still have blood inside and outside of my nose so leaving the house is out of the question, not that I want to. My biggest gripe is that I’m so dizzy. Maybe it’s a reaction to the meds I’m taking or the fact that my sinuses have been packed with junk for days but if I bend over even slightly like to brush my teeth or toss something in the trash, it’s like the whole world is spinning. I also have the shakes. I can't even hold my hand steady. Maybe it’s withdraw from all the crap they put in my body? I’m also over sleeping upright which sucks because I think I have to continue sleeping like this for six weeks. My neck is so stiff from it! Next up, I can’t smile. My upper lip won’t move enough to eat properly or allow me to floss. I hear that resolves in time. Finally, I wake up with horrible cottonmouth at night and my bottom lip is very swollen and dry from mouth breathing.
On a positive note, my husband agreed to wash my hair today which might help me to feel more human. He can’t really scrub or wash the side with the staples, but I’m still looking forward to it. There are also moments when a little bit of air can pass through my nose now. Yay! This is new. And awesome. The little suction action that closed off my throat seems to be subsiding. I’m wondering if the packing finally dissolved? That said, I still can’t breathe through my nose mostly because of the spray I have to use every hour to keep my nose moist. I’ll finally get to that point where a little air passes through and it’s time for the spray which clogs me up again.
Right now, my faith in Dr. Young is keeping me going. Picking a surgeon you trust is so important. I know he’s a good doctor. Did I mention that my anesthesiologist even told me that she wants face work done and wouldn't let anyone besides Dr. Young touch her? High compliment. Anyway, in the end, it’s going to look great because he did it, but right now, I’m not feeling so cute.
Day Six:
The mornings are really hard for me because sleeping is so terrible with being upright and the mouth-breathing which causes my bottom lip to swell and chap and cotton mouth so bad it wakes me up multiple times per night but as the day goes on, things lookup. Also, only one more day until they take this darn cast off. I can’t wait.
Most of the blood that was in my nose has dried up regardless of saline use, which looks horrible and worse yet, as excited as I am tomorrow, I’m worried that cleaning this crust out will be uncomfortable or painful. I plan to take Tylenol beforehand. Thankfully, a dry nose means no more dripping so I took the drip pad off today. The surgical tape created a rash on my cheeks that looks a bit like eczema but I’m hopeful it will go away soon. I also happened to have PCA’s CliniCalm on hand which is a 1% hydrocortisone product and it really helped with my itchy, painful skin.
As far as how I feel, I would call it an elevated version of yesterday. My nose looks about the same, but the dizziness is less and I have more energy. Also, the shakes are gone. Hallelujah! Also, for the first time ever, I have some oxygen pumping through BOTH nostrils. It’s still stuffy, but it’s clear enough that I’m not 100% mouth breathing so I’m training my lips to go back together. They don’t want to since the top one is broke and the bottom one is swollen, but I’m trying.
At this point, it feels like I’m on the tail end of a terrible cold. You know how you’re a little dizzy and breathless at times but still functional? Just like that. I am cooking my own meals, did a load of laundry, cleaned up my surgery nest, and held a conversation with my husband that wasn’t all about me. He also made me laugh for the first time since pre-surgery and that was tough. Don’t laugh!!! I felt like my nose was going to explode but it was still a good moment. It felt normal, which is good.
That said, I still wouldn’t leave the house just because of all the blood on/in my nose and honestly, I’m afraid to drive because of the dizzy spells. I’m hoping I feel like it tomorrow morning because I really don’t want to ask one more thing of my husband, but he might have to drive me to the cast party. TBD
Day Seven:
Things really went downhill after my update yesterday. I ended up having the most terrible stomach ache. It was incredibly painful like scratching in my intestines that turned into diarrhea. I wasn’t able to eat anything and I felt weak and defeated. For the first time, I let negative thoughts creep in like “why did I do this,” “if I could choose again, I would choose not to do this.” And then I cried. My little one-woman pity party.
Thankfully, today is cast-off day! Also thankfully, I didn’t mouth breath last night so I got my best night's sleep in a week. I pulled myself together and triple thankfully, my husband insisted on driving me. As far as the upset tummy, Dr. Young said it’s probably the antibiotic and he said I can stop taking them which I’m soooooo excited about as I typically try to avoid them like the plague and don’t do well on them. I’ve already started adding healthy bacteria back to my gut.
As far as the appointment, I wasn’t able to take a Tylenol beforehand as I had no food on my stomach so I was extra terrified but Dr. Young was very careful and thoughtful per usual. Taking the staples out of my head was nothing. The packing had dissolved but I had splints in my nostrils which he removed. That actually felt good, relieving. He also suctioned tons of gunk from my nose and removed all of the dried blood. The worst part was removing the stitches from between my nostrils. That hurt enough to make my eyes water.
After that, he removed my cast and it was fine for the reveal. Honestly, I was terrified because the changes we made are so subtle that I assumed there would be no way I would be able to tell anything besides looking at a nose that is bigger than before. We didn’t straighten my nose, we didn’t remove a hump, we just fixed the tip and my tip (with the cast on) still looked...well...big and not cute, but when he handed me the mirror I could see it. He shaved down my bone up top a bit which gave my whole nose definition and a cleaner profile and the tip is big and swollen but I can see where it’s headed and it’s going to be cute. And with the blood gone, I made my first Publix appearance today. Literally, Publix. Other than that, I’m going to take it easy to allow my stomach to heal. I’m also allowed to take a modified shower now. I can’t go all in as I have more staples in my head that he hasn’t removed and I can’t let my nose get hit by the water or wash it, but it’s better than nothing. My only complaint right now is that I need to blow my nose something awful but can’t yet do that. Imagine having a runny, sniffly nose but you can’t ever blow it. That's this stage. Other than that, everything is the same until the next visit.
WEEK TWO: The one where I wondered what the f' I just did to myself.
Day 8:
My smile is back! It's so awesome because my smile is one of my distinguishing features so I look like me again. I still don't have full lip mobility, but it's enough to smile. Also, my voice is back (It's no longer nasal-y. ) and the swelling in my face is going away. Also, my dry mouth is getting better, though not gone. I went to Walgreens today to buy a spray to help.
On the downside, a drop of blood ran down my nose and Dr. Young had instructed me to NOT clean the inside or outside of my nose. He repeated this thrice so the blood droplet will stay for the week. It's better than a nose full of blood. My taste buds are also still gone. Kind of like when you have a cold. All I want to eat is mashed potatoes and chicken.
Day 9:
I don't work, but if I did, today is the day that I would say I finally feel good enough to go back if I had to force myself. Even still, my recommendation is that you take two full weeks off. I'm still not keen on driving, but maybe you will feel differently? Physically, I still have lots of obvious swelling and the little bit of dried blood on my nose so I probably would have been too self-conscious to return to work at this point, but from an energy level and mental clarity, I could have handled a work-from-home day.
Day 11
So many panic attacks. If last week was the week of physical challenges, this is the week of mental challenges. I'm really questioning myself and all the changes I made pre-surgery. I told Dr. Young that I like a gentle sloped nose-think triangle-but right now my nose looks like an exaggerated triangle and I'm freaking out. It looks so much wider on the bottom because of the triangle shape and smaller on the top. I look crazy. Not cute. I'm wondering, "Is it just going to be a smaller version of this same shape?" Even though I know it will change, I can't get my mental state to line up with my knowledge. It's such an internal battle. To make matters worse, my husband and son keep telling me I look great which is sweet but it's freaking me out. Because it makes me think, “Am I not swollen?” “Is this me?” So I guess I'm saying that your nose is going to look unattractive this week and that’s normal and something you should be prepared to deal with. That said, today I would totally go back in time and keep my old nose if I could, but I can't so I'm going to focus on the future.
Things I’m looking forward to:
1. A nose that feels like it’s not going to fall off my face.
2. Sleeping on my back
3. Hugs without fear
4. Sex
5. Hot showers that involve actual hair washing on the right side.
6. Wearing shirts that pull over my head.
7. Wearing sunglasses
8. Sneezing and blowing my nose
9. Mental stability
Day 14
Still panicking. It’s strange because I know it’s swelling. I know it’s going to change. I know I had a great doctor, but even knowing all of this, I feel panicked. I just don’t see how this is going to look anything like the computer-generated after photo and I’m freaking out about it. For me, what causes the most panic is comparing myself to others. I got on YouTube today because misery loves company, but I didn't find misery. What I found was other girls saying that their noses were perfect at week two with pictures to prove it. Welp, not me. But if their noses already look the way they want and mine looks so different from the after concept, what's up? Is it that I made the last-minute changes? Is this what I asked for?
That said, I saw Dr. Young today to get the rest of the staples out of my head. He told me that the cartilage graft that he used causes more swelling than a non-cartilage rhino because cartilage holds water. He said that I won’t see the shape for three whole months with refinements happening up until the one year mark. So I need to be patient. Ironically, that is also when I get my braces off so I'm feeling like January is going to be a good month for me.
Removing the staples doesn't feel like anything but I still have stitches left where the staples were as well as stitches inside my nose that have yet to dissolve so I have to be careful. I can at least touch that part of my scalp, but I still can’t scrub which is what I want to do. The only other new privilege I get this week is that I can gently wash my nose which is great because the skin on my nose looks wrecked. Olesa told me that this is totally normal. My pores are so congested that it looks like I’m growing a forest and I have patches of skin that are dry and peeling off. She said the molting process is due to the swelling and part of the process. There isn’t anything you can do to speed up the peeling but they gave me a really nice exfoliating face wash, a lotion, lip mask (needed), and a high-quality SPF. As a skincare junkie, this gift speaks my love language. They said next time I come back, I also get to schedule two skin treatments!!!! I’m so excited.
WEEK THREE: The one where my skin fell off.
Day 16:
My skin is still rough and bubbled up and today it itches and burns. It’s uncomfortable. I’m ready for it to peel. PCA’s CliniCalm is helping more than lotion.
As far as my looks, there's some improvement today. In fact, I had a cute moment. However! And this is a biggie that I read elsewhere: don’t get attached to any look cute or not cute. Yesterday I had the cutest button nose. I would have kept it for the rest of my life. Today, it’s gone and I have my mom’s nose. Though I love my mom and think she’s beautiful, it’s freaking me out so bad. But I have to remember that tomorrow, my nose will be different yet.
So for now, I am back on a positive track and focusing on patience and knowing that some girls may have results at two weeks or a month, but for me, it’s going to be longer.
Day 17:
When I started the day, I found my nose to be itchy but also noticeably redder than the rest of my face giving me a sort of Rudolf effect. It’s also still bumpy with little white bumps all over. Olesa told me that there wasn’t anything I could do to speed up the process but I put a Burt’s Bee moisturizing mask on and took a shower. When I got out, I was molting (see picture). Most of the white bumps popped open and my nose is peeling everywhere but especially in the corner which is basically just a sheet of white. Right now, my nose is not public presentable but I have hope that this molting will be what I need so that I can once again leave the house without a hat.
Second, I haven’t said much about my scalp but it’s still tender to the touch and a little numb. Dr. Young said I’m clear for a hair cut in three weeks so it should be healed by then.
Finally, I also started back with a modified workout today. I’m a weight lifter and did my full Monday routine without weights. I plan to do that all week with lots of walking.
Day 19:
Still peeling. I actually think I'm peeling more (see picture). I had no idea this was possible and I guess it doesn't happen to everyone, but it's happening to me. Thankfully, it doesn't look as crazy as it does in the picture 24/7, just when I get out of the shower. If I apply some lotion to it, it calms down a bit but it's not noticeable. My son, for example, said, "Mom, it looks like your skin is coming off!" I'm still wearing a hat to leave the house but I think it's close to being done. I can still feel some bumps that need to burst but not as many.
As far as the shape of my nose, it's so much better. I can feel a bit of swelling on the bridge and I think the tip is still swollen but I can see a big difference in the projection (see picture). There's one angle I don't love but I can deal and there are several angles that are really cute. I especially lover the shorter projection of my tip. It's adorable.
Finally, I drove today for the first time. The dizziness is 100% gone and I'm off all of the meds, including Mucinex.
Day 20:
I can touch my scalp today without pain or numbness. I think that means I'm ready for a scrub!!!!!!!!!! Since this is the first day I've been able to say that so I'm actually going to wait until tomorrow but I can't wait to get in there and clean my scalp. It's been so itchy and that particular spot a little greasy since it hasn't been cleaned well in over 20 days. #yuck
Finally, I made a list of my favorite surgery things:
1. Mediation - You have to be in a strong mental state. Even with my practice, I had bouts of anxiety and worry.
2. PCA CliniCalm for peeling itchy skin
3. Saline Spray
4. Bioten dry mouth spray
5. Check out VitaMedica’s website. I bought clinical support and wish I would have checked here before buying bromelain.
6. Leg elevation wedge. I bought a tv pillow and a travel pillow and tried regular pillows but my leg elevation wedge was the best for sleeping. It really kept me upright in a semi-comfortable position.
7. Prepared homemade foods. You want to keep your salt intake low so takeout isn’t a great option. I made a few salt free freezer meals beforehand that kept me fed during the first week.
8. The highest quality Chapstick or lip mask you can find.
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