Considering Rhinoplasty

[sah168]

So I had a consultation yesterday for Rhinoplasty - I've wanted a nose job since I was 15 and at the age of 31 I am now in a position where I am able to afford one. I previously had filler in my nose which fixed my side profile, but it obviously did not really do much to narrow my wide nose which is my main area of concern.

I keep going back and forth with my decision on whether to go ahead - the surgeon I saw was great, very realistic in terms of a results and he also uses the Ultrasonic technique as opposed to the 'hammer and chisel' technique, which apparently means less bruising and a quicker recovery.

I've watched so many nose job vlogs so I feel like I sort of know what to expect in the recovery process, but a few have mentioned other side effects that worry me such as hair loss after the surgery (although temporary), spider veins becoming visible on the nose & trouble breathing.

I am also very aware that there is a 10% chance with this surgery that a revision might be needed, regardless of how skilled the surgeon is.

I would love to hear from anyone that's had it done - both good and bad experiences - particularly if you've had the Ultrasonic rhinoplasty! Aware everyone's experience is different, but I find comfort in speaking to other people who have gone through with it!

Are you going to have to wear a mask for your hair appointment? Be careful if you do as a tried to wear one in a shop today and I had to take it off as it didn’t feel good. I was going to book a hair appointment but I’ve decided to wait for a few more weeks yet on the assumption I’ll need to wear a mask for an extended period.

@BasinHaircut oh I didn't even think about that. I've booked my hair in for a month after my surgery. Not sure how long it'll be sore for but the masks annoy my nose as it is.

@BasinHaircut Did you experience a smell that wasn’t pleasant while you were healing? I can only smell it when I’m able to breathe through my nose obviously but it’s strange. I think it might be the ointment I was given but obviously I can’t tell. It’s doing my head in (but isn’t a worrying smell, if you see what I mean).

What does everybody think are the essentials to have when you're having a rhinoplasty? I've got arnica gel and saline spray. I think I need to maybe get some ice packs for the face and a pillow to help with comfort when trying to sleep upright. Not sure whether the big v pillows or a travel pillow would be best.

Hey @RaeCJ82! I didn’t do arnica (though I’ve admittedly bruised like a motherf**ker so make your own judgements) as my surgeon is against it. Who knows why.

The hospital gave me otrivine nasal spray which ran out quickly and I realised that I had an unopened Sudafed spray that was the same thing. That’s huge in terms of being able to breathe a bit.

I bought Biotene. Your mouth will be drier than the desert. It will ruin your sleep even further. Do what you can to make it better.

I use a reflux bed wedge with a pillow under and one on top. I already had this but it’s been great for me. I’m not upright enough though. I’m prepared to take the extra swelling and bruising as I’m an insomniac and I can’t add trying to sleep upright to my woes.

I used gel packs but I’m not sure how much they did. Felt nice though.

I bought Nilaqua dry shampoo cap things but to be honest, I managed to successfully wash my hair in the shower this morning (4 days post-op). I’m using cleanser on a cotton pad as I obviously can’t wash my face.

But some medical face masks. They aren’t tight like the reusable ones and you’ll need to leave the house at some point.

Ask for some sleeping pills when you’re discharged. Just saying.

Oh - I am using sterimar saline spray occasionally but I wasn’t told to. Didn’t use it until day 3 when the wounds were healing. You might want to check - or basin will know.

Sorry to sound like the oracle, all. Hark at me. 4 days post-op and I think I know it all.

@ABitOfAShitShow no I didn’t have a funny smell. I didn’t get given any ointment though, I was told not to put anything on it at all.

I have a piriton spray. It’s sea salt apparently (but I assume basically saline) and a mist spray rather than a pump IYSWIM? I started using it after a week when I couldn’t bear all the dry crusty stuff up my nose any longer and started spraying and gently wiping 1-2 times a day.

@RaeCJ82 I used arnica tablets. I don’t know if they helped but I am inclined to think they did. I think my bruising and swelling was quite bad because the first night they had to lay me flat to get my blood pressure under control, but then it was mostly gone after a week.

For sleeping I have been on the sofa bed in the lounge so I’m on a bed but the back is like a sofa, and then just made myself a pillow mountain to stay upright. A travel pillow is very useful though, I’ve used it every night.

For me the best thing is a headband with a hook on it so I can wear my glasses but not have them resting on my nose. I have had contacts in from week 2 but I couldn’t have got them in that first week. It was pricey for what it is, but worth it. I’m wearing it of an evening now when the lenses need to come out. It’s called a nose comfort. I think I bought it through Etsy but they do have their own website. It was £30, delivered from the US. I wouldn’t wear it out of the house mind you, it looks really silly

I don’t think you need to make any other special preparations except make sure you have soft-ish foods that you can eat in small bites for the first few days, buy some cleanser and cotton wool as you won’t be able to wash your face, and make the necessary arrangements so you can rest up for at least a week.

That would be my advice

Just had my 3 week check up. Surgeon was very pleased with my nose so far. Obviously still early days though.

I now have to massage it 3 times per day and she has advised bio oil on the scar, although I already can’t really see the scar!

Got to wait another 3 weeks before I can return to the gym.

Got to go back and see her in 2 months time.

That’s great news @BasinHaircut. How is the bruising and swelling now?

That’s great @BasinHaircut! Great that your incision is healing well.

It’s healing sooooo well.

Had my first night sleeping properly laying down last night and it was heaven! Slept like an actual log.

@BasinHaircut How long did they say to stop exercising for? That's one thing I'm really worried about.

How are you now @ABitOfAShitShow ?

@namechange202086 Hey! I’m pretty good but still very bruised. The dry mouth that keeps waking me is the main cause of my discomfort now. Cast off tomorrow!

Btw - my surgeon said back to the gym 2-3 weeks after surgery so half the time Basin was told. Obviously, just don’t things where there’s no risk of things hitting the nose.

6 weeks for me, but I lift heavy weights so the risk of hitting my nose is quite high I guess. It’s 6 weeks for contact sports too.

For now I am just walking and I am going to a bit in non-upside down yoga today too. I’m so stiff!

I made the mistake of sitting in the sun for a few hours on Saturday. Completely forgetting about my nose being sensitive. I’m certainly paying for it now, the swelling has come back up a bit. Nothing too sinister, just made my nose a bit red. But it will be a hat and sunscreen for the foreseeable future from now on. I hadn’t been told specifically to avoid the sun by my surgeon but I’ve read it online and I can vouch for you t being a good idea!

*for it being a good idea

Oh @BasinHaircut I know what you mean - I’m a pretty active person and the lack of working out is tough. Feel like everything is seizing up. Once my cast is off, I’ll start walking though. I just have too many nosy neighbours to bother while it’s on. Urgh I’d love to do some upside down yoga right now.

@ABitOfAShitShow I had some surgery on my foot in November too to I have been out of action for a while now. I am getting very twitchy

Good luck with the cast removal @ABitOfAShitShow. Make sure you update us later

Checking in!

Cast is off. My nose looks good but uneven and swollen so trying not to look much for now. It’s really sore in the middle of bridge and apparently this needs painful, daily wiggling (bloody knacks) but the rest is good.

Incision is healing well but I still have loads of sutures that need to dissolve (I could see that anyway).

Not back to see them for 2-3 months now. Have to tape it at night and use kelocote on the scars. I was told to blow it when needed and not to worry too much about babying it. It’s crazy how all the surgeons have their own approach!

Glad it went well @ABitOfAShitShow . How unpleasant was it on a scale of 1-10?

Getting the cast off? Maybe 2 or 3 - and only because I have that soreness on my bridge really. It was very quick and easy. I do have oily skin though and the nurse said that helps it lift off easier.

My skin under there was gross. They told me to exfoliate. I have done that once today (p50 rubbed over repeatedly with a cotton pad so chemical AND manual) but if I rub a finger gently over my nose, old skin skin still comes off.

Oh god my nose was peeling for ages! But I didn’t get at it until 2 weeks post op as I was taped when the cast came off and told to leave it on for a week. It’s so odd how different the advice is but maybe we had slightly different things done?

You are a braver woman than I @ABitOfAShitShow I, I found the cast removal much worse than a 2!

My surgeon told me to ‘massage’ my nose 3 times a day, which is basically pressing it on the sides where it was fractured and then sort of pinching the tip.

Good plan not to look at it too much, I’m not as obsessed now but I am still taking daily photos and there is still a noticeable difference each day. Not always an improvement, some days it’s more swollen than the last, but things are definitely happening which must be good!

Did they say you also have loads of internal sutures and stuff higher up your nose that you can’t see?

They didn’t mention what’s going on inside as far as sutures and things go, @BasinHaircut. Still got them outside - they can take ages to dissolve though.

Pleased to report that I’ve now done 3 hours at the hairdressers and it’s fine with a surgical mask (because it’s loose).

Bet it feels great to have new hair! I have to wait til 13th May for my appointment. I went for a consultation and explained I couldn’t wear a mask and they were absolutely fine.

How are you get on with your nose wiggling/massage @ABitOfAShitShow?