Posts by Sam Kim12

rustygardener172 said:The nasal pyramid is made of bone... which means you definitely had them broken...

That doesn't have to be true😉,
To get that pyramid aligned, all you really need—to put it in layman's terms—is to shave down the bone slightly and remove some of the calcification. Now, if we're talking about a full reconstruction, that’s a whole different ballgame, but even then, we're discussing shaving and contouring, not necessarily breaking things—I mean, I honestly don't know who is still out there using such archaic surgical methods that they actually have to break bones just to get results.

My nose was completely reconstructed; I went through a massive, complicated procedure where they touched the entire pyramid structure. For instance, my roommate, Nine, also had a reconstruction, and they haven't even "ripped" or shaved much bone away yet, but they certainly fixed her pyramid shape😁. And interestingly enough—despite having a much more intensive surgery—my recovery was actually faster than hers
.
It’s been a month since my surgery now, everything is going perfectly, the swelling is finally subsiding, it looks fantastic, and yippeeeee—I can finally wear sunglasses again😍

Thomas Alvarez90 said:How long does it actually take to get scheduled for nose surgery once you finally land on a definitive diagnosis? I’ve been dealing with a deviated septum, and my doctor—after cycling me through every single medication under the sun—basically told me that if these pills don't do the trick, we’ll "start thinking about surgery." Well, I'm done waiting around—I want this sorted out before summer hits.

Look, let’s be real—you aren't getting an appointment at the Mayo Clinic anytime soon unless you happen to have some high-level connection pulling strings behind the scenes. As for the private clinics? That entirely depends on how slammed they are with patients.😉

Lawrence Sanchez said:Greetings, everyone. I’m looking for some insight regarding rhinoplasty. About eighteen months ago, I was involved in a car accident—nothing life-threatening, but enough to knock my nose quite far out of alignment. Now, I don't have any functional issues with breathing or anything of that nature, but from an aesthetic standpoint, the deviation is pretty glaring. I'm trying to decide on the best route for a fix. Would a major institution like the Mayo Clinic be able to handle a purely cosmetic procedure, or am I better off seeking out a private specialist if I want the results to actually look good? I'd appreciate any perspectives you can share. Thanks in advance. 🙂

Look, let’s be realistic about how things work here—you can't exactly go through Medicare to get aesthetic procedures done unless you're dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident, and even then, you need a documented medical history to prove it wasn't just elective. As for the whole debate over choosing a facility or going private? Honestly, I’d much rather stick with a major hospital system—even if I have to shell out the cash myself because insurance won't touch it. There's just a level of institutional stability there that you don't get elsewhere.😉

restlessfox3 said:I honestly don't follow your logic—how on earth do you think they could just go around breaking your bones without saying a single word to you? It’s simply not how things work. You were given a full medical history—a complete record of everything that happened—and let's be real, nobody in a legitimate American hospital is going to snap a bone without your knowledge. It just doesn't happen.🤷

So, what exactly are you going to write in the report—that he fractured it and then put it back together?😕 Look, let’s be honest—these diagnoses are nothing more than pseudo-scientific nonsense—stuff like *reconstructio septi et pyramidis nasi* or whatever other Latin-sounding gibberish they throw at you to sound authoritative. It’s all just jargon designed to make a simple procedure sound like some grand architectural feat. 😉

restlessraven12 said:The doctor gave me the news—he’s going to go ahead and remove the lump. Just a little bump, really, but enough to be a nuisance. 🙂 So, here’s the deal—they’re going to lift the nasal tip and perform several other internal adjustments. It’s looking like it'll be a significantly more complex procedure and will take longer than originally anticipated because that old injury from the impact healed all wrong—leaving behind a mess of internal fractures that need fixing. That's the situation, anyway. He didn't explicitly say whether they’d be breaking things down or just reshaping them, but there's no doubt it's going to be an intensive job. 🤷 And besides—Dr. Smith clearly knows what he’s doing—or at least that was my impression from our initial consultation.

My discharge papers state that I underwent an open septoplasty and rhinoplasty—basically, they reconstructed my nasal septum and the entire nasal pyramid using the open technique.

We’ll just have to wait and see—and frankly, I’m holding out hope that this whole mess finally burns itself out. 🙂

If we’re talking about a Reconstructio septi et pyramidis—that whole structural overhaul—then I’ve been right there in the trenches myself. I had a partial resection of the middle concha performed, though they used a closed technique on my end; basically, they made the incision right on the septum of my left nasal passage. Just a heads-up: you should probably brace yourself for some swelling—it can linger for up to a year. In my case, there is definitely some swelling, though it isn't egregious. Honestly, if you didn't already know me, you wouldn't even notice it—mostly because I’ve always had a pretty rugged, prominent nose to begin with.😁

Sophia Harris96 said:just wanted to give a quick shout-out again to everyone rocking their new noses...
(come on, someone please post some before and after shots so we can actually see the progress—hopefully for the better)
and to those of you who are still stuck in the "thinking about it" phase 😉

quick question for Sam Kim12... I've heard great things about the results from Dubrava too, but which doctor did you actually go to?

😘

with Dr. O'Regan

An excellent physician😉—he isn't much for small talk, he’s meticulous, and he truly knows his craft👍

rustygardener172 said:The happy ones usually don't bother coming back here... whereas the dissatisfied ones can't let it go—which is why there are more of them, or rather, they write more often.
Let me be blunt—I don't mean to offend anyone, and I'll grant exceptions where they exist—but everything boils down to this:
The satisfied group... Type 1—those who had a truly terrible nose, usually huge and hooked... once the hump was gone and the nose shortened, they were done. Lower expectations lead to higher satisfaction.

The satisfied group... Type 2—those who had breathing issues and decided to touch up the appearance while they were at it, but didn't have a massive hook to begin with. Their breathing is fixed, so they’re thrilled because that was their primary goal... though a small part of them wonders if the look could have been just a tad better. (That puts me in this category 😁 ) ...which starts to bleed into the third group, namely

The dissatisfied group... Type 3—these are the people who wanted surgery for aesthetic reasons but also happen to have a deviated septum (which about 80% of Americans have... so, you get the idea)... so they use "poor breathing" as the legitimate excuse for the procedure. These people are almost always unhappy because their nose will never be "pretty enough." They simply fail to grasp that a perfect nose does not exist—and never will. After every surgery, they find a new flaw to complain about and want to change that too. It’s a never-ending cycle... Because if they could accept themselves, and if they understood that imperfections can be beautiful, they would never have walked into a surgeon's office in the first place.

The dissatisfied group... Type 4—these are the ones where it doesn't matter what their nose looked like or why they went under the knife... they have genuine reasons to be miserable because, much to their profound misfortune, they are the result of a surgeon's error...

Types 2 and 3 are the most common. Type 4 is incredibly rare... I'm crossing my fingers that you don't fall into that one.
Use your head! Most dissatisfaction stems from unrealistic expectations and sheer ignorance. If you do your homework before surgery and stop expecting a "perfect" nose—because it TRULY does not exist—you're already halfway to being satisfied.
Good luck!

I partially agree 😬

I went in strictly for a functional procedure at the hospital; they also removed a bump caused by the calcification of a broken nose (the doctor offered, and I agreed to have it taken out, though it ended up being necessary for the reconstruction anyway)—but even if it hadn't been, it wouldn't have been an issue since I'd lived in symbiosis with that bump for 15 years🤣: and I am perfectly happy with my nose😍—meaning I wouldn't change a single thing, and now I have that old, purely natural nose (which I barely remember 🤣) like I had before I crashed into the ramp😂. It isn't perfect, but it's mine.😍

EDIT: and I can finally breathe.🙂

Rachel Fisher97 said:🙂 Come on, drop a pic already! 🙂)

I didn't bother transferring anything from my phone to my laptop—too much hassle—but I can definitely shoot it over via email.😉

And honestly? I am counting down the minutes until the day I can finally breathe through my nose again without feeling like I'm inhaling concrete.😬

Today marks my tenth day post-op. I just wrapped up my follow-up appointment where they finally removed the splint—and honestly, both the surgeon and I are thrilled with how things turned out. My nasal mucosa is still showing a bit of swelling, but my breathing? Absolutely phenomenal.😁.
I have some minor bruising under my eyes that should clear up in a day or two, and there’s a slight puffiness at the bridge of my nose—though, frankly, nobody would even notice it—but otherwise, everything is looking great. 😍

Ashley Wells16 said:Guys, what’s the move for outfit prep before surgery—like, should I just throw on some sweats...?

Look, if you want my advice, aim for something actually trendy—think floral prints, soft pastels, the whole bit. Just coordinate the look with some decent ballet flats and that essential little clutch bag, throw on some light nude makeup, and you’ll be totally set.😬

😂

For crying out loud, you’re going into surgery—you’ll basically just be in your underwear anyway.😉

My spouse's grandmother dealt with uterine prolapse—which eventually required surgical removal—and honestly, the whole situation was quite a saga. The woman is well over 85, and to make matters more complicated, they discovered she had a weak heart during the process. She actually had to get a pacemaker first, then about six months later—just a few months ago, really—she underwent the hysterectomy. Everything went remarkably smoothly, especially considering she's naturally prone to low blood pressure in the first place.😉
The procedure took place at Mercy Hospital.
A hysterectomy is, after all, a very common occurrence for women in that age bracket.

casualorca14 said:I honestly thought that having family present wasn't an option—which is why I was perfectly fine with how things were handled—but then I catch some doctor on TV claiming that being together as a family is a legitimate right that we are entitled to demand. Now I’m sitting here completely confused by the contradiction, so I figured I'd ask for some clarity.
Thanks to everyone for the responses.

Look, let’s get one thing straight: "rounds" aren't actually for the patients—they are for the hospital staff. We're talking doctors, nurses, the whole crew. The head of the department moves from bed to bed, reviewing charts, digging through medical histories, and checking statuses. Depending on how the specific facility is run, rounds often serve as the official shift handover, which is why you might see a group of ten or more people hovering around at once. Every hospital operates under its own internal logic. In some places, there's a briefing session held before rounds to go over the surgical schedule and other logistics; in others, that meeting happens afterward. It all depends on the institutional structure. If they had their meeting beforehand, the doctor will simply relay what was decided during that meeting—for example, confirming if an operation has been cleared. As for communication, some doctors engage quite a bit with patients during rounds, while others barely say a word. Again, I’ll say it: it all boils down to the schedule and the way the place is organized. If rounds start at 7:30 AM and surgeries are scheduled to kick off at 8:00 AM, don't expect a deep conversation. At that point, the doctor isn't there to chat; they're just there to confirm the day's plan. Consultations have their own separate time slots entirely.

The family might as well find something else to do during the morning rounds—that window of time when the department is strictly off-limits to everyone except the hospital staff.

By the way, I have to say—listening to the woman in the room next to mine was absolutely hysterical. Just constant, pathetic whining about how "bored" she was being stuck in her room, complaining that she couldn't just wander off for a coffee because she had to wait around for the doctor to show up whenever they felt like performing her exam. Honestly? Give me a break. You’re in a hospital, lady, not hanging out at a local cafe.🙂

Alex Evans10 said:Quick question! This is kind of urgent... I think I missed one of the orders🙂... Anyway, what tests am I actually supposed to get done before nose surgery?

Bloodwork, lungs, EKG, and seeing the anesthesiologist? What did you guys end up needing? I can't get a hold of my doctor, and I was hoping to ask her if that covers everything or if I missed some 🤷

It all really depends on your anesthesiologist and which hospital you're using—it’s not one-size-fits-all. In my case, I had everything cleared at the hospital where the surgery was scheduled just a day prior, and I did: blood panels, a urinalysis, and an EKG😉.

Long story short,
I'm being discharged today. My surgery was last Friday—they removed the splints and packing from my nose, though I still have to wear the mold for another week because of the reconstruction work. The swelling has gone down significantly; I just have these yellowish bruises under my eyes from where there was some minor bruising, but breathing is already feeling great 😁. Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the results or the staff at the Oakland facility. I won't go into the specific diagnoses and procedures—there's way too much medical jargon involved🤣

Thomas Alvarez90 said:Twenty-one?! Please... every surgeon has their own specific age threshold for these procedures...🙂 I have no idea why the website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons—who, let’s be honest, are the gold standard globally—would suggest someone could go under the knife as early as thirteen...🤷

Technically, you could do it at five, but there’s a reason we don't—everything has its logic. If we're talking about something that severely disrupts a person's ability to live a normal life, then sure, age isn't a hard barrier; however, if the medical history is milder, the timing is usually dictated by professional recommendation because facial bone structure doesn't fully develop until age 21. Also, just to correct my previous point—my friend's daughter was actually 14, not 13.😉

Thomas Alvarez90 said:Has anyone actually gone through with septorhinoplasty at sixteen? I’ve hit up both the public hospitals and private clinics, and the consensus is always the same—I'm too young. They act like I'm just being dramatic about my breathing issues, though I assure you, the functional struggle is very real. If I have to sit around and wait until I'm eighteen to get this fixed, then fine, I'll go crazy waiting!

From a friend's daughter😉(I think she might even be younger), who's an athlete—breathing issues were a massive deal for her, and she ended up getting surgery in her first month at Oakland. Generally speaking, there's this unwritten rule that you shouldn't mess with facial bone structure until you're 21 because that's when growth finally stabilizes—though obviously, everything changes depending on the specific diagnosis and what's causing the blockage. My advice? Keep seeking out more specialist opinions.🤷

restlessfox3 said:I actually have some heparin cream sitting here—haven't even broken the seal on it. I read about it on a forum and picked it up right before my surgery...
My doctor told me nothing but cold compresses and massage for the swelling and bruising...
And let’s be honest—every doctor is going to claim there isn't a single cream out there that actually speeds things up...
As for those injections, I haven't heard anything about them, so I can't really weigh in...
I'm just glad everything went smoothly for you ;-)

Every doctor operates by their own set of principles—it all depends on what kind of procedure you had. For instance, mine told me to skip the compresses entirely; instead, I get daily dexamethasone injections to keep the swelling down (and damn, they sting way worse than penicillin), but the heparin has definitely helped clear up my bruising😁

I can't exactly do any massaging right now because I've got a plastic mold in place—as for later, I honestly don't know, though I suspect I won't be allowed to touch it since they really worked over the bridge of my nose😬 but we'll see what the medical team says🤷. And if I'm being totally honest, the thought of getting the stitches pulled out gives me the chills—brrrr😳

Alex Evans10 said:Well, damn. I actually went in for a checkup because my GP practically forced me—I’ve been dealing with constant congestion and non-stop throat, ear, and sinus infections. I went to the Sisters of Mercy... and the doctor saw me, gave me a surgery date, and that was basically it. It felt incredibly abrupt. But then I realized they actually shove nasal tampons in there. Good grief, 😢

"A tampon is just a tampon"—that’s a common saying, because some people use them for cauterization while others just jam in a literal mountain of gauze 😉. I had certain conditions I wanted met for my own peace of mind, but regarding the hospital in Chicago, I can't say much since I wasn't there personally 🤷. Now, at Mayo Clinic, for instance, things vary wildly depending on the doctor's specific technology—like the specialist I saw in Chicago who uses this cutting-edge method; everyone raves about him because his patients have almost zero swelling or bruising (I confirmed this myself by watching patients in the waiting room who were back for follow-ups just the next day). But honestly, it didn't matter that he couldn't explain a single thing to me—instead, he just brushed me off, acting like my questions were irrelevant and that I was just being difficult 🙄. He even tried to tell me he needed to open my sinuses despite my sinus MRI coming back perfectly clear 😢

Sarah Cox66 — oh, that’s coming up soon, hang in there 🙂

Alex Evans10 said:Since I’m prone to this kind of panic—and we’re currently three weeks out from surgery—I’m heading in for functional stuff, and my absolute biggest fear is those damn nasal tampons... the idea of feeling like I can't breathe or might suffocate. Usually, I don't even mouth-breathe. If my nose gets stuffed up when I'm sick, I won't even try to sleep; I'll just get up because I physically cannot drift off unless I can breathe through my nose. It’s this crazy fixation 😁
But if you actually had positive experiences after everything was done, then I'm hoping things will turn out normal for me too..

Sarah Cox66 said:Sam Kim12, I am seriously so glad everything went smoothly for you and that you're feeling amazing... personally, I'm feeling a bit shaky... hoping for the best

Thanks, ladies
😉Don't let it get to you—we need some positive energy here. You know you have to do this if you want to actually improve your quality of life, and once it's over, everything works out fine
The most important thing is to do your homework and research thoroughly because you're the ones who know what you want: I looked at several private clinics and even checked out the Mayo Clinic, but I ultimately decided on Dubrava Basketball Club because the surgical approach, the recovery process, and the overall quality of care were absolutely vital to me. Personally, I stayed far away from doctors who shove those massive tampons up your nose—you know, two or three feet of gauze—and those old-school types who claim that stuffing gauze in there helps hold the bones in place (seriously, such outdated methods)😍

Ladies, just don't let anyone sway you; stay firm in your decisions because this is exclusively about you
and I truly hope you all end up being satisfied with your choices😉😍

Sarah Cox66 said:I'm wondering—did you have an osteotomy done? You know, where they actually break the bone?

Yes, I did—I had two fractures, and as I mentioned before, it involved a full reconstruction. But honestly, it’s really not as big of a deal when you’re being treated by top-tier professionals.😉

Alex Evans10 said:Oof... So how long are you stuck in the hospital?

And how's breathing with those tampons in? Does it feel like you're suffocating?😢

I was supposed to be out by Monday, but I'll likely be stuck here until Tuesday since my doctor isn't available until then.

Breathing isn't even an issue😉—you just get used to it. Personally, I don't get that suffocating sensation at all, unlike some of the people in the other rooms. The only thing that gets under my skin is the bleeding, though frankly, as long as it's just draining from the nostrils, I couldn't care less😬. My nose started itching a little while ago because everything is pulling tight due to the Dexic, but it's hardly uncomfortable
.
I can say with absolute certainty that I am beyond satisfied with the doctor, the treatment, the medication, everything. Everyone undergoing the removal of the packing—which consists of those specialized roller-style plugs that come out easily and absorb everything perfectly—gets a healthy dose of Lidocaine in the nose so the extraction itself is painless😁

restlessfox3 said:You absolutely have to dodge the sun, saunas, and tanning beds for at least two months...
Massages are strictly for managing swelling—so it subsides and your skin doesn't end up sticking to the underlying structure...
As for compresses, you should start those immediately after surgery; just pick some up at any local pharmacy...
Whether you deal with massive swelling or barely anything at all depends entirely on how carefully you follow protocol... there isn't some magic cream that's going to speed up the healing process... every doctor is going to tell you the exact same thing...
He’ll provide your specific instructions...
Ask him everything—that’s the only way you'll actually feel secure about the outcome.

To get that swelling under control, they usually go with Dexamethasone injections, and you can apply Kamagel or Heparin to the swollen areas😉, though you shouldn't even think about massaging it unless your surgeon gives you the green light.

But look
Yesterday, I went through an incredibly intense procedure—a full-scale reconstruction. They had to reshape the mucosal folds and perform aesthetic work too. I'm currently getting those Dexamethasone injections and using Kamagel, and honestly, my swelling is almost nonexistent—just a tiny bit left.

I'm wearing a splint on my nose to keep everything stabilized, and I have internal packing to reinforce the septum (since they completely removed and reconstructed my septum). Because the mucosal work was so extensive, I'm bleeding quite a bit, so they haven't pulled the nasal packing yet—they won't touch it for another two days because pulling it now would cause too much bleeding. Even now, I'm changing the gauze under my nose roughly every two hours.
I am beyond thrilled with the surgical results. As for the doctor, give him nothing but praise; he explains every single detail. Plus, thanks to the medications I mentioned, I look nearly normal already—though the constant gauze under my nose definitely ruins the aesthetic.😂
And just so you know, I had my procedure done at Dubrava Basketball Club's affiliated medical center.🙂

All I can say is that all the effort I put into vetting this surgeon and the endless consultations really paid off. If anyone is looking for an appointment slot at Mayo Clinic this October and wants to take mine, let me know—I'm all set and happy to hand it over.😬

restlessfox3 said:So, why does mine feel stuck... and I know exactly what it looks like—though I suspectthat any nose ends up looking identical once the skin adheres like that.

Now, this is the vital part.😉

restlessfox3 said:I honestly can't tell if you're just being dense or if you're pretending to be.
Let me clarify: even if the skin is more or less "stuck," the visual result is the same once it adheres. It doesn't look hideous—not really—but just the mere *concept* of it being stuck is enough to irritate anyone...
And frankly, getting into some pointless debate about specific needles used to loosen it would be beneath me, simply because I haven't gone through that experience myself...
What I was actually asking is whether anyone has successfully loosened it via massage—since my doctor explicitly told me to massage the area to encourage it to detach...
Furthermore, if someone claims it looks ugly when I already know it doesn't look all that abnormal, I’m going to call them out for exaggerating...

As for the rest of this, I won't even dignify it with a response; you are being nothing short of rude and disrespectful. Maybe try learning some basic social etiquette first.😉

amberskipper3 said:Someone already posted a recipe for juice up there.
I'm doing it in an old-school soda shop.
Look, if you're trying to make this work, here's the deal: for every kilogram of berries you’ve got, just toss in about half a cup of water. Give it a quick boil, let it bubble for a second, and then run the whole thing through a strainer. Simple as that.
If you're working with a kilogram of base, just toss in about half a kilo of vanilla sugar—or maybe a little less if you want to play it safe depending on how thick the juice is.
If you really want to level up the aroma, you could always throw in some lemon zest or maybe some star anise. It totally changes the game.
Man, that shade of blue is just gorgeous. Seriously, it’s perfect.

Man, oh man... I am absolutely doing this this year😁—sounds incredible (though, honestly, swear to me that 1/2 kg of vanilla sugar isn't overkill? That seems like a massive amount of vanilla to me)
John Doe😍