Posts by Rachel Fisher97

Hannah Wright6 said:The day after tomorrow marks exactly one month since my surgery. Everything seems to have calmed down significantly over the last week or so—there's barely any swelling left to feel, let alone see. I guess things healed pretty fast for me, 🤔 though it felt like an absolute eternity. When the swelling shifted down toward my lower cheeks, I looked like a chipmunk 😁 with just the tip of my nose looking puffy. Basically, I was somewhere in between a chipmunk and a teddy bear. 😁

Wow, you really recovered fast. 🙂 I wonder who your surgeon was... shoot me a DM sometime so we can swap some photos. 🙂

Rachel Harris63 said:How long has it been since your surgery?

The first time I looked in the mirror, I was pretty disappointed. Between the swelling and a nose bridge that looked strong enough to knock someone out, it wasn't great. But after about a month—though I guess everyone heals differently—it looks completely different. You just have to be patient. Dr. Džepina warned me about all this beforehand, which made the waiting a bit easier.

I had my surgery on November 2nd, so it’s been 14 days, or two weeks.
My splint was actually removed just two days ago 😁
I get that patience is key... I was just wondering how long it might take before I look like this 😁 a month, two, three? Or maybe sooner 🙄

Rachel Harris63 said:Yeah. But that was five years ago, so I don't really remember all the specifics. I just know I had great care at the Mayo Clinic with Dr. Džepina. I ended up with an infection because we moved into a new apartment right after being discharged, so there was a massive cleaning marathon going on. All those cleaning supplies triggered an infection for me. It cleared up pretty fast, though—the swelling went down quickly too.

You say the swelling goes away fast... how fast are we talking exactly? 😁
The swelling is making me look unrecognizable, and honestly, I'm feeling pretty desperate about it. 😍

Rachel Harris63 said:Recovery is different for everyone. Personally, I didn't deal with any incisions or fat grafting.

Haha, just give it a little more time. If you listen to what the doctor says, I guess you'll probably feel a lot better in two weeks. 🙂 It's all worth the struggle. 🙂

Oh man, it’s already paying off... I feel like I can finally breathe again. 🙂 The profile looks pretty solid. As for what comes next... I guess I'm just hoping things move along as quickly as possible. 😁 Thanks. 😍

Hey everyone, just checking in to let you know I finally had my surgery. To recap, I went under for a full septoplasty and nasal pyramid reconstruction—basically, the doctor tackled both the functional issues and the aesthetics at once. It all happened on November 2nd, so everything is still incredibly fresh. My profile looks amazing, but from the front? I am just SO swollen. Like, seriously swollen. Does anyone have any tips on how to speed up the swelling reduction, besides lymphatic drainage? This whole sensation is pretty unpleasant; I can't feel my nose at all, and whenever I touch it, I get these weird, uncomfortable tingles. Gross. 🙂 Is there any specific cream or anything you guys tried that actually helped? I realize it’s all very recent and this is totally normal, but I head back to work in a week and I'm feeling a bit self-conscious about how much I've puffed up. 😁

coppertrucker13 said:Thanks for all the support, everyone. I just finished my surgery and everything went great. Now I'm just waiting on the results once I head back for my follow-up! 😁

🙂

Maybe send over a photo via DM once they take the cast off. Keep us posted. 😍

coppertrucker13 said:Hey everyone!
I'm actually scheduled for nose surgery with my doctor in a few days. The consultation went really well—they were straightforward, easy to talk to, and didn't try to oversell me on anything. I'm hoping everything goes smoothly. Fingers crossed for me. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Good luck! Let us know how it goes. Hang in there. 😉

Rachel Vaughn85 said:unknown, my life is such an adventure 😂
I guess I highly doubt I actually have any issues, but you're right, it's probably worth checking out and giving it a shot 😁
Thanks, and good luck with the surgery. Once you're back on your feet and recovering, I'd love to hear how it went and all the details! 😁 👋

Thanks, I'll definitely share my experience. Fingers crossed. 😉

Rachel Vaughn85 said:I guess I wouldn't know how to go about it since I don't actually have any respiratory issues myself (thank God). But honestly, seeing someone at a private clinic feels a bit intimidating; I feel like I'd be safer in a hospital setting. I'm just not sure how to handle it. 😕
It would probably be pretty embarrassing to just show up out of nowhere and ask them to, you know, fix my nose for no apparent reason. 😁

To be honest, I’d be nervous about a private clinic too. A hospital is a hospital, and doctors there deal with much more serious cases than those at private practices, so they might be more experienced.
And look... I've heard that plenty of people have a deviated septum without even realizing it. For instance, until about three years ago, I never imagined I had any breathing problems, until the headaches started. I didn't even suspect a deviation could be the cause 🙂—I thought it was just sinus inflammation or something—but the doctor saw it immediately and said surgery was the only way to fix it.
So, turns out I have a left-sided deviation, an empty columella, and a few other things, plus a hump. 😁
You don't really have anything to lose. Just go for the exam and see what happens; you might actually have a deviation. 😁 😁

Rachel Vaughn85 said:That’s great! 🙂
What’s your situation, briefly? Is this more for aesthetics or health reasons?
Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly 🙂

I actually came in for an exam primarily for health reasons—dealing with awful headaches caused by breathing issues. My doctor recommended surgery and even suggested the aesthetic option himself.🙂

Rachel Vaughn85 said:Has anyone here actually dealt with Rib before? 😕
Can anyone recommend a good private practitioner in Washington, D.C.?
Thanks!

I’m heading to Rib in about a month, so I'll let you know how it goes. 🙂)

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Rachel Fisher97 — I ended up removing my piercing just ten minutes before the surgery... Apparently, you aren't even allowed to have nail polish on. They wouldn't tell me why, though. I guess it's just one of those things. 😉

Thanks for the info, Elizabeth Fox57. 🙂

Hey guys, quick question about piercings... how long before surgery should I get them removed?

I guess it’s best to just check with the head nurse; hopefully she’ll have a moment to talk to me... thanks so much for all the info, you guys have been a huge help. I'll stay in touch and probably keep bugging you with more questions 🙂 and I'll definitely let you know how everything goes.
The surgery is set for October 18th, so I still have some time, but the anxiety seems to be creeping up a little more every day.
It’ll turn out fine, right? 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Betty Edwards22 said:🙄
Nothing was actually gifted here—if you're going to apologize, maybe do it to the American taxpayers who fund the healthcare system and pay for everything from chemo to this. The surgeon doesn't really have anything to do with it, since they get paid regardless. So, feel free to ask whatever else comes to mind...

That's true, but any aesthetic tweaks to my nose are purely at the doctor's discretion. I came in for functional reasons, not because of the bump. But I'll definitely ask him about everything...
Just let me know when I'll actually get a chance to talk to him again. Is it during the pre-op visit right before surgery, or should I bring my test results by for a private chat? Honestly, thank God, I've never had surgery before, so I'm not really sure how the process works...

Elizabeth Fox57 said:Don't play games... you might as well tell the doctor everything now so you don't end up saying "I didn't know" later. Recovery takes forever, and you really need to mention all your concerns. Doctors can't read minds... it's just two sentences, takes two seconds, and then you're covered.

You have a point. It’s just a little awkward since I'm at a public hospital rather than a private clinic... but I'll probably bring it up before the surgery. Whatever happens, happens. :-P

Betty Edwards22 said:Moderná's nasal sprays seem to avoid that extreme upward tilt that causes them to buzz right into your nostrils. I guess there's also a tendency for the nose to settle back down after a few months.

I guess it’s probably best to work on the nasal tip using an open technique; that way, you can actually see everything clearly and keep it under control.

What you’re describing sounds like instability in the nose because there isn't enough support within the columella—basically, there's a lack of cartilage. I guess you can picture it like this: a piece of cartilage is taken from another area and tucked into what's called a columellar pocket. A suture is then placed to hold everything in a more elevated position. Once that stitch eventually dissolves, you basically find out if the tissue itself was strong enough to take over the job of stabilizing things.

My report says they’re going to use an open technique. I guess the doctor probably knows what they're doing, so I probably won't mention that I'm not looking to end up looking like Miss Piggy. 🙂

So, I've got a left-sided nasal septum deviation, an empty columella, and external kyphosis of the cartilaginous-bony part of the dorsum... I think I understand most of that, but I'm a little fuzzy on the last part. Any idea what that actually means?
Thanks for the reply. 🙂

UglyKidJoe
I have a question... does the tip of the nose always drop? Like, is it always positioned higher than it’s supposed to be once the splint comes off?
Apparently, they'll need to do a lot of work on my columella because it's considered "hollow." I'm trying to wrap my head around what actually happens in those cases... my guess is they lift the nose and reposition the cartilage, 😁 but my biggest fear is ending up with that "Miss Piggy" look if he lifts it too much.
To be honest, I originally went to the clinic just to fix my breathing issues, but the surgeon suggested a cosmetic touch-up as well.
Would it be awkward to ask him to make sure the nose isn't "over-rotated" or too upturned, considering I'm technically there for functional reasons? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks. 🙂

Elizabeth Fox57 said:I have a surgery scheduled with Dr. Zambelli on July 19th... since I forgot to ask him, does anyone know if it's possible to fix it so your nose doesn't drop when you smile (if you know what I mean 😉 )

It's possible; they might need to release the muscle that actually pulls the nose downward.
I've heard that for some doctors, it's just part of the standard routine (like Dr. Smith)
Anyway, definitely ask him... good luck 😉

Ashley Wells16 said:What are you guys using to rinse your noses to make blowing them easier? p.s. I'm sure this has been asked on the forum already, but I don't really have time to dig through old threads right now... if someone could be kind enough to let me know, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

I've heard saline is the way to go. 🙂