Posts by Carol Diaz31

Donna Watson80 said:So, you basically tore the mold apart, right? And now you're sitting there thinking the impressions are actually good... well, great. Just fantastic.
Is your nose hurting at all? I’m curious about how your breathing situation is holding up. Also, since there's a pretty good chance I'm going to end up with breakouts from the adhesive on these patches, I was wondering—how long should I wait before I can actually head to an esthetician for a facial cleansing? 🤷

How's everyone holding up with their sleep lately? I’ve been wondering... is it actually possible to sleep on your side without feeling like your whole body is being crushed?

Honestly, I’m not even a fan... looking at my face right now is just a total disaster, so I can't even bring myself to look in the mirror. And my nose? I don't even know if it actually hurts, because I’m too afraid to touch it. 🤣
As far as my breathing goes, I honestly feel like everything is totally fine. From the very first day after I had those tampons removed, I could breathe just like nothing had ever happened—and to be honest, that’s exactly how it feels today, too.
I wouldn't say they’re massive breakouts or anything, but yeah, a few have definitely popped up. Honestly, though, my skin just looks completely exhausted from dealing with that patch. It was huge—it stretched from my forehead, right over my nose and cheeks, all the way down to my chin. And let me tell you, the adhesive is incredibly strong; over this past week, it practically fused itself to my skin. 🤮

It’s the same deal when it comes to sleeping. As soon as I swapped out my tampons, I just rolled onto my side, though I did prop myself up with an extra pillow. To be honest, those adhesive pads felt incredibly secure and stayed perfectly in place, so I wasn't even worried about anything shifting around during the night.

As for the cosmetologist... I honestly don't have a clue.

rustygardener172 said:Don't worry about it 😁 just reach out tomorrow with your first impressions. Good luck!!!!!!!

Honestly, I look like a total little piglet right now 😂 it’s just bizarre... my nose is completely swollen, obviously, especially on the sides, and my face is the same way too... but it's still super cute 🙂
I mean, it turned out a bit smaller than I was expecting, but I'm certainly not complaining.

I don't think I can even begin to process what my new look actually is with all this swelling, plus the breakouts from the medical tape, messy hair, bloodshot eyes... 🤣

Sophia Hill22 said:I can breathe perfectly fine through my left nostril, but the right one? Honestly, it feels completely blocked. I went to see the doctor about it, and he basically told me that this kind of uneven breathing is totally normal. I don't know, maybe he's right, but it still feels incredibly frustrating. 🤷

I felt such immediate relief once they finally pulled those swabs out—honestly, I haven’t felt this clear since. But then, today, I started sneezing a bit, and now that right nostril is acting up again. It feels congested right at the base, near the nasal bone, and I can actually feel some blood starting to clot in there. I’m honestly a little scared to even touch it, though... I guess I'll just have to wait and hope that everything clears itself out by tomorrow. 😁

rustygardener172 said:Just checking in here for a second... I went in for my follow-up this weekend. It’s been almost five months since the surgery. My doctor seems pretty happy with the progress, I guess. He mentioned that the tip of my nose is still a little swollen. Apparently, even the bone structure itself is still a bit puffy, so once that settles down, the nose should look even narrower. Also, my nasal conchae are still quite inflamed—definitely more on one side than the other. He wants me to keep rinsing with saline solution every single morning through the summer, and then I can get back to doing a lot of scuba diving. 😁

So, things are actually going to look even better 😍
I’m heading in tomorrow to have the mold removed... honestly, I'm kind of terrified. 🤣

jadedriver0 said:Could you please write out a detailed breakdown of what Zambelli actually does? I’m thinking about seeing him soon myself, and I've already put down a deposit...😠 🙄 😲 😢It just makes me furious. It ends up looking like every single doctor in this country is just some hack.😠Dammit, it's like we're nothing more than lab rats here.😠

Honestly, I don't get it at all... I mean, what's the issue if someone uses open surgical techniques? Someone watches a video of an operation and then starts claiming they're "mutilating" people... I guess watching a surgery isn't quite the same thing as looking at a cartoon.🙄
What do you guys think any other surgery actually looks like? When they're working on your heart or your brain and all that...🤷

jadedriver0, I really don't think that you or your friend have any reason to worry. At the end of the day, what matters is that the doctor knows his business and why she chose him in the first place—not how the procedure looks visually or specifically how he maneuvers.

Also, I highly doubt anyone in that field is just looking for ways to get rid of patients to grab a quick paycheck. Obviously, if someone messes up once, it won't ruin them, but to act like that constantly? People talk. And I don't think it's in any surgeon's interest to have that reputation. A good reputation travels fast, but a bad one travels even faster.😉

I finally got those swabs out today, and honestly, I feel like I’ve lost 300 pounds.🙂 My eyes already look a little less puffy, I can actually smell food again, and I’m breathing through my nose—well, not perfectly, but it’s getting there.😁
The only weird thing is that the outer edges of my sclera look really bloodshot... and they told me that might stick around for a few weeks.

Has anyone else dealt with this? How long did it take for things to go back to normal for you guys?

That’s just not how it works. I’ve had moles removed myself using nothing but local anesthesia... and even at the dentist, when they're pulling a tooth, you're under local anesthesia, so there's absolutely no need for an anesthesiologist to be standing right there in those cases. As for the specific surgical methods or what exact substances are used, I couldn't tell you—that really just depends on the procedure being performed.

Kate Taylor59 said:Hey there... ugh, I feel so bad for you. 😢 Did it actually hurt during the surgery? I mean, I know you felt *something*, but was it sharp pain or more just a weird discomfort?
I heard some rumors that Tončić isn't great when it comes to anesthesia, apparently because they try to cut corners on paying the anesthesiologists... honestly, who knows...
Does your nose hurt at all?

Well, look, the thing about nerve blocks is that they only numb the sensation, right? So, while you don't feel the cutting, when they start working on the bone structure, you definitely feel that. They do have anesthesiologists on staff, but they're reserved for other surgeries; this one is done under local anesthesia... I guess I don't really understand why they do it that way.🤷
My nose doesn't hurt right now, though my head feels a bit heavy and my eyes are acting up a little. But I've just been lying here with compresses on all day, so it's manageable. I suppose the first day is always the hardest.

loneridge3 said:Issssse, Carol Diaz31, I am seriously so sorry to hear that she's being quiet. 😢 Who did you end up seeing?

Tončić

Kate Taylor59 said:Everyone needs to go read Suzuki's post! 😲 😲 😲

Well, I figured I should chime in now that I'm recovering from yesterday's surgery. Sadly, I have to quote this specific post because I went through the exact same nightmare. 👎 It was like the anesthesia didn't even touch me. I could actually feel the blood flowing, the throbbing, the aching... everything!! I talked to some of the other women who didn't have any issues with local anesthesia, but apparently, I'm just one of those unlucky ones. I guess the only silver lining is that since they gave me the heavy sedatives, I don't remember the worst of it, but make no mistake—I felt it. 😢 That’s why I’m telling everyone: just insist on general anesthesia, no matter what the doctors tell you.

Generally speaking, I feel okay today. Yesterday was absolutely brutal, but things are looking up a little bit today. Breathing through my mouth isn't really a huge deal—it just happens naturally—but my mouth is constantly bone-dry. The real struggle is having to lie in one single position all the time, and my eyes are incredibly swollen. My eyes are watering non-stop, my head hurts a bit, but I suppose I can get through it. I knew I was going to be bruised and swollen as much as humanly possible, but I think I held onto this irrational hope that maybe it wouldn't be that bad... well, hope is a damn lie. 😂

Hey ladies—seriously, don't do anything without general anesthesia!!!!

Sophia Hill22 said:Just focus on what comes after... 😉

That bolded part right there—honestly, I know that feeling all too well. 🙄 Like when I mentioned I was going in for surgery.
"Is it for aesthetics or function???" And then, if I tried to say it was both, I’d get those condescending little comments like, "Oh, but your nose gives you such *character*," or "Well, I guess that's your choice," said with this heavy dose of sarcasm. To be honest, that specific tone from people is probably what gets under my skin more than anything else.

Though, I suppose there were some who were incredibly supportive and encouraging, thank God. 😁

And that whole cliché line about "losing your identity"? It’s just so incredibly overplayed to me. 🙄

Look, if my "identity" is defined by having a large nose, then fine—I am more than happy to lose it. 😂

Elizabeth Collins5 said:So, how do you all usually handle it when you get a bump, a cut, or something similar? I mean, what’s your go-to routine? Personally, I had this tiny little nick on my finger recently—nothing major, really—but it took forever to heal. It feels like it was ten whole days before the wound finally closed up. I guess I'm just wondering if I'm being overly dramatic or if that's actually normal. Maybe I should be more proactive with the bandages or something.

I don't know, I haven't exactly gone under the knife in the last hundred years, haha... but I suppose I lean toward bruises. Not that they really scare me, though. Honestly, the absolute worst part of any visible surgical aftermath I’ve ever seen is when the area around the eyes gets completely red and bloody looking. It's just unsettling. 😲 Look, I just really hope this doesn't end up being another massive disappointment for me too. Honestly, I've had enough.

Honestly, as the date for my surgery gets closer, I’m starting to realize just how much this is actually getting to me. I guess it's just setting in. Maybe it's the anticipation, or maybe it's just the reality of it all, but the fear is definitely becoming more palpable. 😁
And honestly, what really gets under my skin is how everyone is suddenly jumping down my throat telling me not to go. It’s exhausting. They’re all acting like they have some say in the matter, saying things like, "Don't do it," as if I haven't already made up my mind. Meanwhile, they're just standing there complimenting my nose, telling me how much they love it. It's such a bizarre contradiction, really. One minute they're trying to control my decisions, and the next, they're being sweet about my features. I guess people just love to meddle, don't they? It's just... it's frustrating, to say the least. 🙄
It feels like I’ve always been the target of some kind of joke when it comes to my nose. It’s like everyone just assumes they have a right to comment on it. 😳

rustygardener172 said:It always turns blue for me too. Honestly, either you had your blood drawn by a nurse who doesn't quite have the touch, or you just have stubborn veins... I don't know... but I suppose recovery from surgery doesn't really have much to do with how good your veins are. 😁Just stay brave!

Well, what I actually meant was that whenever someone even pinches me, I bruise up immediately 😁 because I just have this tendency toward bruising 🙂

Elizabeth Collins5 said:Personally, after my surgery, I felt like I’d been run over by a tank. But then, when I went back for my follow-up a week later, there was this guy sitting right there on the exam table—he’d finished his procedure just thirty minutes prior—and he looked like nothing had even happened to him. I guess some people just have better luck than others.

As if I have any luck... I’ll probably be recovering way longer than you will. 😂
I had blood drawn yesterday for the pre-op workup, and my arm is already bruised, so I can only imagine what I'm going to look like once the actual surgery is over. 😲 😲 😲

loneridge3 said:For the ladies who have actually had the surgery done—could you please share some before and after photos? Or maybe just send them via private message...

I honestly can't make up my mind about which doctor to go to. Everyone keeps raving about Dr. Glumičić; he’s constantly all over the news and magazines... and then there are all those celebrities who went to him and stuff. But because of that, his fees are way higher than everyone else's. Ugh, does anyone have any advice on which doctors I should even be considering? I'm not from a major US city right now; in fact, I'm living abroad at the moment, so I want to make the absolute most of my trip back to the States and get everything handled all at once. (In case you're wondering why I wouldn't just do this where I am currently... prices here range from $3,000 to $4,000. I don't think they're quite that high back home.) Thanks so much. 🙏

Personally, I wouldn't really lean toward someone who is so heavily hyped up in the media; honestly, I don't even know why he's so famous. 🤷 I hadn't even considered him, mostly because I've heard rumors that he just does whatever he wants regardless of what the patient actually asks for.

I was really impressed when I went to see Dr. Tončić for a consultation. The two of them sat down with me, handed me a mirror, and he just said, "Look at yourself and tell me everything that bothers you or anything you don't like."
That's how the conversation started. I just talked, they listened, and only after I had finished explaining everything did he tell me exactly what could be done and how.
I really appreciated that approach, so I decided on him immediately.

rustygardener172 ..I want to say that I completely agree with you. I think the main reason people end up dissatisfied is having unrealistic expectations. Most people just want to look exactly like someone else, wanting a specific nose shape, but you can't just manufacture that since everyone has different bone structures and shapes.
I told my doctor that I just want a normal nose—nothing tiny and nothing weirdly shaped. I just want the tip shortened and the bump straightened out so it doesn't dominate my face. That's why I doubt I'll be unhappy; as long as that part is fixed and everything else stays the same, I'll be happy. 🙂

Kate Taylor59 said:Yeah, I mean... when your health starts failing you, it’s not exactly something you can just shrug off...
where exactly do you think you're headed?

But honestly, all of this eventually passes... though, I guess, hearing everyone else's stories doesn't exactly help. It actually makes things harder. You never really know if it's worse to be left in the dark or to be drowning in too much information.
It all depends, I suppose. Some people bounce back quickly without much trouble at all, while others go through absolute hell, and there's just no way to predict how you personally will react. Of course, there's a risk involved, but it doesn't necessarily mean the same thing will happen to you.

I'm going to see Tončić.

rustygardener172 said:cold compresses 😁

I went out and bought some at DM today.
Only 8 days left 😲
Kate Taylor59 and I am both absolutely terrified by the whole thing, but I already put down a deposit, so there's just no turning back now. 😂
I suppose I should remember that old saying: beauty requires sacrifice. 😍

So, I guess before the surgery, I really need to stock up on all the essentials—herbal teas, honey, soothing sprays, drops... is there anything else I should be looking into? 😁

So, I just got back from my consultation. Everything is officially settled and the appointment is on the books... honestly, I can hardly wait 😁
My biggest issue is that my nose is just way too long, so we’re going to go ahead with a rhinoplasty to shorten it. The surgeon told me that if I didn't get this done now, by the time I hit my senior years, my nose might actually end up dipping into my coffee cup 🤣

That is just unbelievable... 🙂