Rhinoplasty/ Septoplasty/ Turbinate Reduction Surgery 5 Days Post-Op

I went through most of my life not really minding my large nose until I got into my 30's and it seemed to grow bigger and I gradually started experiencing difficulty breathing through my right nostril, to the point of almost complete blockage. At times I felt like I was suffocating. As the years went on I started being very particular on what side of my face I allowed to be photographed. My nose was very projected, with an unstable, bendy and droopy tip, a dorsal hump, "S" shaped bridge, and large uneven nostrils. Within the past two years I really started digging deep and researching the process and plastic surgeons in Los Angeles who specialized in facial procedures. The idea of getting my nose done became a thought that crossed my mind on a daily basis and when I reached that point I felt it was time to get the ball rolling in making this a reality.
I had 2 surgeons I was interested in initially. Dr. Grigoryants & Dr. Zoumalan. Both do exquisite work in my opinion. I had a consultation with each of them; one via email and the other in person. My gut was set on Dr Zoumalan from the beginning of my search though. His work speaks for itself, he is a double certified plastic surgeon, he has a friendly laid back disposition, he was professional & straight forward, didn't rush through any of the appointments, our ideas and expectations matched, and he's a true artist who appreciates classic beauties such as Sophia Loren and the like. Additionally, I found nothing but 5 star reviews on him across the board!! It was a no-brainer that he was the surgeon for me.
I'm currently at Day 5 Post Op and wasn't sure if I wanted to document my experience here or keep it private as I do most things. Real Self guided me so much on this journey, I can only hope that sharing my story helps out those of you out there still contemplating.

Day 1- Surgery Day
Everyone I interacted with while waiting to be brought in for surgery was wonderful. My anxiety was strong when I arrived so my blood pressure was registering higher than normal. Dr Zoumalan said this was a big job and would take about 3 hours to complete the procedure. A nurse came in, held my hand, and escorted me to the operating room. They got me comfortable and immediately set up. We were all chatting and then I was off to la la land. Then I felt like I had time traveled and it was over. I was waking up and could hear the nurse and my husband in the room. My husband snapped a couple super unflattering photos but I could see the new shape of my nose instantly. There was no swelling or pain that first night and I felt great when I got home and was coming off anesthesia, just very disoriented and confused.
Days 2, 3, 4
Swelling, bruising, and pressure... oh my!
The bruising and swelling was pretty intense by the evening of day 2. No pain, just so much pressure. Lots of icing. The mouth breathing and dry mouth is probably the most uncomfortable part of recovery so far. Biotene Mouth Spray provides some temporary relief with that. Eating soft foods is best unless you want to feel exhausted after eating. I have found that I get bursts of energy throughout the day but its best to take it easy and relax rather than overexert myself and become easily wiped out.
Day 5- Swelling and puffy sacks under my eyes are much better today but the bruising still lingers. It's yellowing though so it's on the mend.
I won't lie, I've had a few low point moments where I really feel like I look like a freak. I'm not used to seeing the space between my top lip and nose. I can't smile properly and feel like a Dr. Seuss character. I'm trusting the healing process though and trying to remain patient and confident that the final results will be perfection.
Tomorrow is my post-op appointment. I don't feel ready to face the public yet but I'm excited to feel the relief of having my cast removed and to really get a good look at the nose that has been reconstructed for me.
Stay tuned for more updates...

I had my cast, splints, and stitches removed yesterday and as much as I immediately wanted to love it, there's a lot that is worrying me the day after removal. The ability to breath was such a huge relief, but looking at it this morning in the mirror is making me nervous again. The many emotions of this process, I know. It's SO swollen and bruised still that it distracts from being able to grasp whether I'm going to like the results or not. It's sitting very high between my eyes, very very wide, with the definition of a potato at the tip. It looks very obvious like I just had a nose job at the moment and it's not subtle. The shape is almost sloped today which is opposite of what I wanted. I've read numerous posts with similar concerns and almost all mention that it gets better. I'm just going to take deep breaths and see what happens in time since it's still so early...