Butterflies!

Almost 2 weeks after my cast removal:

It feels like I've had this new nose for months now, yet time's flown so fast it feels like I got my cast off just yesterday... Does that make any sense? I can't believe how weird time is...

I haven't updated in a while, partly because I've been so busy and tired (energy level was still at a low but finally back to normal this week) and partly because I was trying to stay away from this site. I love this site and it's wonderful connecting with other people and reading their journeys/tips, but I was getting really worried about my nose... So I took a step back to try not have my surgery be the center of my thoughts 24/7.

I was religiously putting on traumeel gel 2-3x a day and I stopped a few days ago because again I felt like I was making too much of a fuss over my nose and it seemed like the swelling was getting worse and worse. I should be patient and let my nose heal naturally I decided. Plus I was getting weird brown spots... which disappeared after a long steamy shower. Ever since I quit the gel my nose has been getting smaller - my bf and family all noticed. I was getting annoyed my tip was getting wider and bigger, but now I'm relieved to know it's smaller. The left side's swelling is coming down nicely too - much less curved. Also, my tip came down nicely. I still have some ways to go... The progress is getting better though! I feel better now :)

One thing I really love about my surgery is that my upper lip looks bigger. I never would consider getting lip augmentation/botox/whatever but I of course daydreamed of plumper lips. They definitely look plump now! Maybe it's the weight or my facial features stand out more now that my nose is smaller.. I don't know? But loving it!

I'll put up pics tomorrow... Way too tired now :). Still taking arnica montana pills, still polysporing it 2x a day, still saline spraying it 2x a day. My left nostril's stitches (inside of course) are finally dissolving. Right side stitches are dissolved but I think there's still some healing to go there. It seems like it's taking a long time for them to heal. Is everyone else finding that their stitches take this long to heal? Outside stitches at the bottom of my nose healed a bit ago, but now I have this darker line... I'm hoping that fades overtime because I think I look like Frankenstein hahaha.

Anyway... goodnight everybody! pics to come tomorrow. Need sleep...

Hello! I'm sorry I haven't been updating you guys. I started work on Monday and I get exhausted by the time I come home. I work spilt shifts so on my break I go home to nap for a few hours, go back to work, come home to devour a few servings of dinner, then I pass out. That's been my routine so far :). On the weekend I had bbqs to go... the shopping and food prep killed me Fri Sat Sun.

He's a tip to people recovering... Just because you have the cast off doesn't mean you have recovered! You can go back to work, but ease into your normal routine. I personally get exhausted very quickly. It makes sense... you go through a surgery, you lose a lot of blood, your body's working overtime to heal from the incisions and swelling, you've been stuck at home doing nothing for a whole week, you haven't been eating like normal... I definitely overdid it. Work wise I think you'll be fine if you have an office job. My job is physically and mentally demanding (I work with kids) so I get drained so easily. Thankfully I have very understanding and supportive coworkers who pick up and carry everything for me (love them!).

I've really been enjoying my new nose! Nobody's noticed I had surgery done... The kids haven't, their parents comment I look different but they ask if I dyed my hair or lost weight (yes on the weight loss). I don't say anything unless they ask. The people who knew I was doing it are super supportive and excited to see my results. Those who have think it looks fantastic..

Can I just take a moment to thank you guys... each and everyone who've followed me and wrote all the wonderful comments about my results??? Wow....thank you!!! It's a bit of a weird feeling to get such positive comments about my nose and looks, totally not used to it...

:) Still using traumeel gel, still taking arnica montana pills, no pain meds at all, my bruises are aaalmost gone! I take a cutip, put traumeel gel on it and then rub it on my bruises in a circular motion. It really sped up the healing. I can see a difference right away when I massage it for a good minute. I put the gel on my nose too with a cutip (it's much more gentle than my finger). It's not much of a summer here in my city yet but I still put SPF 60 sunscreen on it. I use saline spray 2x a day. I put polysporin x2 inside and outside. My outside stitches are almost all dissolved. The insides are taking longer to heal. The only pain I feel is where it's still swollen.

Tip for when you're washing your face - be very gentle! Even when I rub my cheeks, if I rub too hard (which isn't hard at all) I feel pain in my nose because it's pulling at my skin. Oh and I also feel pain when I do too much (stand, squat - I still can't bend down - talk, laugh). It's not pain actually, it's more like a tingling feeling under my skin and that's when I know my nose is swelling up. It's funny cause I can see a difference in the tip and left side... by the end of the day it's noticeably bigger. And another funny thing - my right side barely has any swelling or pain (you'll see in the front view picture). It's only the left side and tip.

Ok guys, that's it for now! Hope you're all doing well :))

2 Days after Cast Removal -

I'm exhausted. On Friday I did a bunch of grocery shopping for ingredients of the pasta salad I was making for my work BBQ today. I was wiped out from the shopping. I came home and made it. Today I went to the bbq... Even though I had a good sleep last night, I got tired really quickly and had to leave the bbq early. I guess I forgot that technically I'm still in recovery mode :(

Yesterday I was really worried about my tip coming down. I kept putting traumeel gel on my nose hoping to bring down the swelling faster. I'm also still taking the arnica pills. I love my nose and I think it looks fantastic!! But I did not want a tip that high up... I was worried it'd be a permanent thing even though I know better! I know that I have to be patient and let time do its thing...

When I woke up today though I noticed THAT THE TIP CAME DOWN!! Even my dad noticed :). I think it'll come down so more and the whole thing will be smaller and narrower... even if it doesnt, I can definitely live with this!!! I am so inlove with it... I absolutely love it....I'm so happy I chose Dr. Buonassisi!!

The feedback from my coworkers - it looks very cute and natural... The coworkers I don't get to see everyday said they would not have known I had surgery if I hadn't told them. My corker who works with me everyday said at first I looked different the first time he saw me (I visited them on Thursday) but now that he sees me today it's as if I've always had it. :)))) Wohoooo

So I put up pictures I took today - Can you guys see a difference? I'm not sure if you can... But me and my family definitely noticed. And my bruises are almost gone (covered by makeup a bit too)