POSTED UNDER Rhinoplasty REVIEWS
24F: Septorhinoplasty was the best decision I've ever made!
ORIGINAL POST
Hey RealSelf! To start off, I'd love to talk to...
mtnldyFebruary 18, 2014
WORTH IT$6,525
Hey RealSelf! To start off, I'd love to talk to other RealSelfers who have undergone rhinoplasty, or are planning to (and everyone else, too)! I don't know ANYONE has had any type of cosmetic surgery, so I'm really looking forward to becoming part of this community.
So, as I know is very common, I have hated my nose since I was in middle school. I have always felt 'almost pretty'.. like my face was just a little off. I have a feminine personality, and I want my face to reflect that, but my nose is droopy, long, crooked, wide-bridged, and has an undefined tip & large hump. I have very thin lips that look even thinner when I smile, and the tip of my nose droops down making my top lip essentially disappear. I'm a petite girl and I feel like my nose overpowers my entire appearance.
A couple of weeks ago I had a consultation with Dr. Choe of the Choe Center for Facial Plastic Surgery in Virginia Beach, VA. I had already done extensive research and I was very impressed with him and his staff, so I scheduled a rhinoplasty with him for March 25, 2014. My pre-op appointment is March 10. On the day of the consultation, I paid $5,648 for the surgery, which is the price AFTER a discount from his front office for paying in full right then and there. I will also receive a discount when I pay for the anesthesia in cash, which will bring the fee down to $877.
$5,648 (Surgery) + $877 (Anesthesia) = $6,525 (Total Cost, with discounts)
These are the SURGICAL GOALS that Dr. Choe and I agreed on:
1) Add definition to the tip of my nose. Less droopy, more feminine & elegant please! Hopefully this will take away the 'long' appearance of my nose, especially when smiling.
2) Reduce the dorsal hump. This should greatly improve my profile.
3) Narrow the bridge of my nose. Ouch! This is going to make a big difference in my overall appearance, which I am really excited about.. but I'm definitely scared about voluntarily having my nose broken!
4) Projection.. ??? I can't even remember if we discussed this! Thank goodness for the pre-op appointment!
During the consultation, I brought up some of my SECONDARY CONCERNS:
1) As I've mentioned, my upper lip basically disappears when I smile, and even though modifying the tip of my nose will help how my lip appears, it won't physically change my lip's volume. He said that while I am under anesthesia for the rhinoplasty, he could do a very conservative amount of LIP FILLER (such as half of a syringe). I am assuming that we will discuss that again at the pre-op appointment, as it wasn't decided on when I left the consult. Do you ladies have any THOUGHTS/ ADVICE/ EXPERIENCE?? I honestly have always wanted to try a lip filler, but adding it to the cost of the surgery - and knowing that it will only last a few months - has me torn.
2) I'm only 24, but I have definitely noticed a loss of volume in my face over the last year or two. I know that this is primarily weight-related (5'4, 106 lb.), but putting on a few pounds (ex- I had the same issue when I was 114 lb.) doesn't help at all. The lack of volume under my eyes makes it look like I am always tired, and I can't stand it! Unfortunately, the rhinoplasty might emphasize that lack of volume, so Dr. Choe said that he could also do injections in that area, along with my cheeks. As much as I would like to add that to plan, all I can hear are a few resounding CHA-CHING$.
Overall, I am extremely excited for my surgery! Definitely nervous too, though.. I have never had any type of surgery before, and my pain threshold is laughable at best.
I need to make a decision about the fillers before my pre-op appointment, as well as research more about the rhinoplasty recovery process. I'm super lucky that my mom is actually going to be able to help take care of me afterwards! Any advice, tips, etc. would be sooo appreciated!
XOXO
So, as I know is very common, I have hated my nose since I was in middle school. I have always felt 'almost pretty'.. like my face was just a little off. I have a feminine personality, and I want my face to reflect that, but my nose is droopy, long, crooked, wide-bridged, and has an undefined tip & large hump. I have very thin lips that look even thinner when I smile, and the tip of my nose droops down making my top lip essentially disappear. I'm a petite girl and I feel like my nose overpowers my entire appearance.
A couple of weeks ago I had a consultation with Dr. Choe of the Choe Center for Facial Plastic Surgery in Virginia Beach, VA. I had already done extensive research and I was very impressed with him and his staff, so I scheduled a rhinoplasty with him for March 25, 2014. My pre-op appointment is March 10. On the day of the consultation, I paid $5,648 for the surgery, which is the price AFTER a discount from his front office for paying in full right then and there. I will also receive a discount when I pay for the anesthesia in cash, which will bring the fee down to $877.
$5,648 (Surgery) + $877 (Anesthesia) = $6,525 (Total Cost, with discounts)
These are the SURGICAL GOALS that Dr. Choe and I agreed on:
1) Add definition to the tip of my nose. Less droopy, more feminine & elegant please! Hopefully this will take away the 'long' appearance of my nose, especially when smiling.
2) Reduce the dorsal hump. This should greatly improve my profile.
3) Narrow the bridge of my nose. Ouch! This is going to make a big difference in my overall appearance, which I am really excited about.. but I'm definitely scared about voluntarily having my nose broken!
4) Projection.. ??? I can't even remember if we discussed this! Thank goodness for the pre-op appointment!
During the consultation, I brought up some of my SECONDARY CONCERNS:
1) As I've mentioned, my upper lip basically disappears when I smile, and even though modifying the tip of my nose will help how my lip appears, it won't physically change my lip's volume. He said that while I am under anesthesia for the rhinoplasty, he could do a very conservative amount of LIP FILLER (such as half of a syringe). I am assuming that we will discuss that again at the pre-op appointment, as it wasn't decided on when I left the consult. Do you ladies have any THOUGHTS/ ADVICE/ EXPERIENCE?? I honestly have always wanted to try a lip filler, but adding it to the cost of the surgery - and knowing that it will only last a few months - has me torn.
2) I'm only 24, but I have definitely noticed a loss of volume in my face over the last year or two. I know that this is primarily weight-related (5'4, 106 lb.), but putting on a few pounds (ex- I had the same issue when I was 114 lb.) doesn't help at all. The lack of volume under my eyes makes it look like I am always tired, and I can't stand it! Unfortunately, the rhinoplasty might emphasize that lack of volume, so Dr. Choe said that he could also do injections in that area, along with my cheeks. As much as I would like to add that to plan, all I can hear are a few resounding CHA-CHING$.
Overall, I am extremely excited for my surgery! Definitely nervous too, though.. I have never had any type of surgery before, and my pain threshold is laughable at best.
I need to make a decision about the fillers before my pre-op appointment, as well as research more about the rhinoplasty recovery process. I'm super lucky that my mom is actually going to be able to help take care of me afterwards! Any advice, tips, etc. would be sooo appreciated!
XOXO
mtnldy's provider
UPDATED FROM mtnldy
1 month pre
Wish pics!
mtnldyFebruary 20, 2014
This is the fun (but somewhat stressful) part! My surgeon actually didn't ask that I bring in any example pictures.. is that typical? Though I feel like we are definitely on the same page about the changes I want, the only visuals that we looked at together were the 'before' pics he took, and the 'after' that he created using some VERY BASIC photo editing program right in front of me (not the typical simulation that I have seen lots of RealSelfers post). I don't think I will feel 100% ready for surgery until we look at my wish pics together.
Will the pre-op be a good opportunity bring pictures in, or should I schedule an additional appointment?
Will the pre-op be a good opportunity bring pictures in, or should I schedule an additional appointment?
Replies (6)
February 20, 2014
my doctor never asked for pictures. I had the SAME problem you have. "The HUMP", ugh! I am so much more confidant in every day life, it is ridiculous! I was already a confident woman, but now SO much better! My doctor never had to see any pictures. Your doctor should just know. I would wait on doing anything on the lips!!! Your lips are going to be swollen, which I'm not going to lie, was my favorite part! If only I didn't have two blacken eyes to go with the nice puckered lips! LoL!. My surgery was in December 17. My nose is still sensitive to the touch in some places, but I make sure not to touch it :) I never had to use any of my pain pills, except for two times- which is awesome! my face was swollen for about 7-10 days. my black eyes were gone by day 4. Just make sure you don't do any fillers until after this procedure and AFTER the swelling has gone down. I could see that as a mistake waiting to happen. Make sure that you are comfortable with this doctor and that the updates/changes he/she want to do, is what YOU want to do. You have to live with your face, not them. I went through two doctors, who both kept trying to change the whole look of my nose! The third doctor, was AMAZING!!! Best of luck to you hun!
February 20, 2014
Ugh, the Hump! I will NOT miss it!!
I am so happy for you and your results! Thank you for all of the info.. and now you have me excited for swollen lips haha.
February 20, 2014
Hi! I had some issues with my nose (wide bridge, drooping tip, depressed tip upon smiling) that sound similar to your case. It might help you to look at my photos or skim my review! I went to two consultations and neither surgeon asked me to bring sample photos of noses I liked. One surgeon drew on photos they took of me and thought predictive imaging had too much potential to mislead, whereas the other surgeon I ultimately chose used predictive imaging software with me in the office. Since I was wary of getting a nose that was too petite for my face, some type of predictive imaging was very reassuring that my surgeon was on the same page as me. If you can't use any more sophisticated software, then I think bringing example nose photos to your pre-op certainly couldn't hurt! Just be open to the possibility that your surgeon may not be able to match them exactly and is still limited to working with what you presently have. I asked my surgeon about refining a lesser concern I had regarding an area of my nostrils, and he said that he wouldn't do any work there because there was too high a risk of damaging the nose's structure. It was actually nice to hear that there were things he said no to, because it affirmed that the things he did guarantee were possible. Lastly, in agreement with others, I personally would hold off on any injections. Above my upper lip was by far the most painful area during my recovery. Adjusting to only my nose's changes has been dramatic enough, and I think the addition of changes to my lips and eyes would have made my emotions even more extreme. Best of luck! :)
February 20, 2014
Meg, you are a godsend! Thank you so much.. this was exactly the info I was looking for! Other than just the physical recovery, I do agree that fillers AND rhinoplasty would be a lot to emotionally adjust to all at once. I tend to be pretty emotional with big changes as is, so I don't want to overwhelm myself.
February 21, 2014
I'm glad! :) I saw your new question about anesthesia. I don't know much about the topic itself, but I can tell you that for my closed rhinoplasty I had an IV first and then general anesthesia, which I believe was administered through the IV, too. I have diagnosed anxiety that I am on medication for and have also suffered panic attacks. I am very squeamish about medical things, blood, needles, etc. so I warned everyone many times that I might panic day of. When I arrived at the surgical center they gave me a Valium to dissolve under my tongue and waited about 30 min for it to kick in. I felt alright but still got panicky when the anesthesiologist came to do the IV. I had told them that the shortest possible amount of time between inserting my IV to me going under was ideal. Literally, in my memory he was swabbing my arm with cotton and asking me about my life, ...and then I woke up! I don't even remember him poking me, it was that fast! Anyway, I had a good experience using general anesthesia. I suggest you use the 'Ask a Doctor' section of this site to get some other Facial Surgeons' opinions. Also, alerting my medical team to my anxiety made a huge difference for me and my comfort level, and I suggest you do the same! If offering Valium morning of isn't typical for them, then perhaps ask if you can take a dose of Xanax the morning of with a tiny sip of water and confirm that wouldn't interfere with any of their drugs.
February 20, 2014
I think they don't ask for sample pictures, so patients wouldn't get a false idea that they are getting THAT nose. Obviosly all noses are different and doctors work with what we have:)
UPDATED FROM mtnldy
1 month pre
General Anesthesia or IV for Rhinoplasty.. the Great Debate
mtnldyFebruary 20, 2014
I am so thankful for RealSelf! One other decision besides "to fill or not to fill" (ok, injectable fillers.. I was trying to be creative haha) is the anesthesia.
The anesthesiologist that will be monitoring my surgery usually uses IV anesthesia with LMA (honestly, no idea if this is the right acronym..? basically it is some type of mask/airway device that is an alternative to the breathing tube). Until my consultation, I always imagined that rhinoplasty would be performed under general anesthesia, but from my research on here, it seems as if it is almost an even split of IV vs. General.
My surgical team will do general anesthesia if I ask for it, so I am trying to make up my mind.
-I am an anxious person. Ok, that is probably an understatement. I have an anxiety disorder that I take medicine for, and have had a handful of panic attacks in the past. Is IV anesthesia going to really going to knock me out enough?? I am scared that I will still have some consciousness or memory of the surgery.. oy!
-General anesthesia makes for a more difficult recovery. I obviously want as easy of a recovery as possible.
-My uncle, who is an Ivy League educated cardiovascular anesthesiologist, initially told me that he was very surprised that rhinoplasty would be performed without general anesthesia. Granted, anesthesia for plastic surgery is not his area of expertise, but his response definitely gave me some doubts about going the IV route.
So did you ladies have general or IV anesthesia?? Were you happy with your choice?
The anesthesiologist that will be monitoring my surgery usually uses IV anesthesia with LMA (honestly, no idea if this is the right acronym..? basically it is some type of mask/airway device that is an alternative to the breathing tube). Until my consultation, I always imagined that rhinoplasty would be performed under general anesthesia, but from my research on here, it seems as if it is almost an even split of IV vs. General.
My surgical team will do general anesthesia if I ask for it, so I am trying to make up my mind.
-I am an anxious person. Ok, that is probably an understatement. I have an anxiety disorder that I take medicine for, and have had a handful of panic attacks in the past. Is IV anesthesia going to really going to knock me out enough?? I am scared that I will still have some consciousness or memory of the surgery.. oy!
-General anesthesia makes for a more difficult recovery. I obviously want as easy of a recovery as possible.
-My uncle, who is an Ivy League educated cardiovascular anesthesiologist, initially told me that he was very surprised that rhinoplasty would be performed without general anesthesia. Granted, anesthesia for plastic surgery is not his area of expertise, but his response definitely gave me some doubts about going the IV route.
So did you ladies have general or IV anesthesia?? Were you happy with your choice?
Replies (6)
February 21, 2014
I had general both times and was happy I did. The second recovery was pretty easy, really and waking up after being under general wasn't hard for me (though I know it is for some). Here's what some doctors say about general vs. IV sedation. Ask your dr. about fast acting anti-anxiety meds, too, if you need them before surgery (some folks get Xanax, etc., to help them calm down, but do discuss with your dr. first.)
Good luck!
Good luck!
February 21, 2014
I wouldn't do the lip filler. Im surprised your doctor didnt mention your upper lip will be fuller and so is your upper lip frim swelling and will be like that for 1 to 2 years. If you get fillers during surgery it will give u extra swelling and grinch/ monkey look. Im against rhino but if thats what u want then do it without lip filler. Wait till you heal, which will be a long process good luck
February 21, 2014
I underwent rhinoplasty yesterday morning under general anesthesia. I believe its a must but God it made me sososososos sick ... Goodluck!
March 3, 2014
Thanks for the input! I read your review and I think the surgery I'm having will be very similar to yours. Hope you're feeling well, and congrats!
March 4, 2014
There is a pill ($60) your surgeon can write you a prescription for thatyou take before surgery, you just have to inform them that you get motion sickness. :-)
Replies (6)