Rhinoplasty: Experiences and recovery tips?

Rachel Fisher97 said:Thanks, stormyharbor2. I honestly thought you only dealt with general anesthesia. I mean, I guess that’s not exactly a catastrophe... but the physical restraints? That's a whole different story. 😲

Of course they’re going to tie your hands behind your back. I mean, isn't that just how the whole system works? They set you up to fail before you even get started. It's almost predictable at this point. ☕ Back when I was stuck in the hospital for an extended stay, I remember how many of the older nurses would spend the entire night tying patients down. It’s because once you come out of general anesthesia, hallucinations aren't exactly a foreign concept to them. They've seen it all before. 😁 I mean, they’ll basically try anything at this point—from pulling out IV lines to all sorts of other stuff—but I guess they claim it’s all for your own safety. 😉

Rachel Fisher97 said:I guess I just got caught. 😁
So, I have this weird question... do they actually put you on that machine where you can hear your own heartbeat? 😛
And one more thing—do you know if they keep that needle in your hand during the surgery? You know, the one they put in your vein? I guess I'm just wondering how that whole setup works.
I think I know exactly what's going through your head right now... Honestly, she’s probably watched way too many movies and thinks this is all just some scripted drama, but for me? Every single little detail matters. It actually eats at me. Everything about it just keeps weighing on my mind.
Yeah... well, thanks for putting up with me. 😁

So, they strap you to that machine... and once the surgery is over, that’s your new reality. You’re stuck on it. I remember lying there, just listening to the rhythm of it, letting myself drift off into sleep. But then, right as I'm fading out, I start noticing how the clicking gets slower and weaker. It happens so gradually that I actually start thinking, "Maybe this is it. Maybe I'm dying," only to snap wide awake a second later. It's unsettling, honestly. 😁🤣😂

Ashley Gomez said:Well, here I am, officially joining the ranks of those living life without tampons. 😁 I was absolutely terrified about the extraction, honestly. I was deathly afraid. But then... nothing. I felt this little sting in my right nostril where they stuck the tampon, and while I was just sitting there waiting for them to even touch the left side, he already had it out. Done. Just like that. 😲

I’m breathing like a dragon over here—every single scent is hitting me at once. 🙏 I’m absolutely thrilled... I’m pulling the mold off tomorrow morning, and honestly, I can hardly wait. 😍

Hang in there, Kate Taylor59. Honestly, I’ve been finding it easier and easier to deal with tampons every single day, but mine didn't even budge until the fourth day.

Jeremy Barrett7, I have those exact same nose pads—the ones with the little molded shape—just like in your photo. Honestly, hearing that yours are actually flat is such a relief; I feel a little better about my own situation now. Anyway, congrats on having such a great nose. 😍

Super, I really hope this doesn't end up hurting me. My stomach is actually killing me right now. 🙄
👍

Well, it’s simply because I’ve been there before—and honestly, it still leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth!😢 I mean, I would love to go again, provided that Tony gives me the green light... and he definitely will!🤣

Come on, people—what kind of "restraint" are we even talking about here? It’s like sitting in an office chair and just sliding your hands under the lumbar support straps. We aren't talking about being chained to a bedframe so you can't budge, right? 😉

They didn't actually tie my hands down; I just tucked them into my pajamas 🙂 because the doctor mentioned it’s probably better than causing more trauma by physically restraining me. I kept one arm stretched out by my side so they could run the IV through it.

Kate Taylor59, don't go worrying about having the lines pulled out—it really isn't a big deal at all...

Carol Diaz31 said:Of course they’re going to restrain you.☕ When I was hospitalized for a while, the nurses used restraints quite often. After surgery, because general anesthesia can cause hallucinations, they might try all sorts of things, like pulling at IV lines. It's all for your own safety, I guess.😁 😉

They put you on that monitor... and you stay on it after the procedure. I remember lying there, listening to the rhythm as I drifted off, only to hear it getting slower and weaker. It makes you think you might actually be dying before you wake back up.😁 🤣 😂

Haha, my heart rate is probably going to hit a hundred beats per minute the second I hit the table.😁

Ashley Gomez said:They didn't exactly tie my hands behind my back; I just tucked them right into my pajamas. 🙂 The doctor says this is actually better than them trying to traumatize me further by tying me down. I just kept my other arm extended out beside me while they ran the IV.

Kate Taylor59, don't go getting all worked up about the extraction. Honestly, it’s really nothing...

Thanks. 🙂 Did you start leaking immediately after taking out your tampon?

Kate Taylor59 said:Thanks 🙂 I was wondering, did you start bleeding right after taking the tampon out?

Yeah, it’s true—there's this scent that kind of clings to you, so you end up inhaling it through your nose and exhaling it through your mouth. It wasn't really bothering me much, but I went ahead and picked up some nighttime nasal spray just in case things start feeling congested.

Rachel Fisher97 said:Haha, my heart is probably going to be racing at a hundred beats per minute just thinking about laying my head down on the table. 😁

Mine was pounding somewhere between 145 and 150 beats per minute. 😲 I think if I actually had the chance, I would have just grabbed a line right off that monitor; I honestly panicked so badly.

Ashley Gomez said:My heart rate was spiking between 145 and 150 beats per minute. 😲 If I had been able to, I probably would have grabbed something from that table; I just completely panicked.

isss I guess it might be the same for me😁 what a coward I am🤣

Rachel Fisher97 said:Thanks stormyharbor2, I honestly thought you only meant under general anesthesia. I mean, that part isn't even that bad... but being strapped down 😲 🙂)

I thought you were asking about general anesthesia? Forget it, I was drunk. 🤣

They didn't strap me down.

Honestly, I have to hand it to myself—I was surprisingly brave leading up to the surgery. It’s almost like I wasn't even fully processing what was happening... I was literally staring at the restroom door just thinking about how fast I could get back to that bed. xD The whole crew was great, though; they kept cracking jokes, and the recovery room was actually quite cozy. You’d almost want to take a nap in there (unlike the actual OR, obviously). xD
All things considered, it was a perfect ten. I didn't feel the anesthesia kick in, and I didn't even notice the IV—nothing at all. I just kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm actually here." When I finally came to, my family told me I had a massive grin on my face. My first question? "Wait, what did we operate on again?" xD
The only thing that gave me anxiety was that operating table. It felt tiny, almost like a miniature version of itself. I was low-key terrified I was going to slide right off the edge, haha! :P

So, I wanted to pick your brains on something... I'm staring down two different windows for surgery—either late July or early August, or waiting until the winter semester during finals week, which would be around early February.
I know logically that going during the winter makes more sense since the cooler weather helps keep swelling down, whereas dealing with that brutal mid-summer heat when it hits 100 degrees sounds miserable. But there's one thing weighing on me... maybe it's a silly question, but... winters are so cold here, and it’s pretty much a given that you'll have a constantly runny nose. I can't help but wonder if that's actually an issue? I mean, everything is going to be so raw and tender with the incisions and all... could all that constant sniffing and drainage make things worse?

Rachel Fisher97 said:So, I was thinking... 😁
after everything, one weird question popped into my head... do they hook you up to that machine where you can actually hear your own heartbeat? 😛
And another thing—do they put a needle in your hand during the surgery, if you know what I mean, like right in the vein 😁?
I know what you're probably thinking... that I've watched way too many medical dramas 😍, but honestly, I just obsess over every little detail and it keeps me up at night 😲 🙂
Oh, and thanks for putting up with me 😁

Well, look, stormyharbor2 already gave you an answer, but yeah, they clip a little sensor onto your finger to monitor your pulse, so you can hear those rhythmic beats 🙂
As for the needle, yes, they start an IV, but you won't feel a thing while the surgery is happening...
Honestly, you're stressing out over the wrong things! 😁 Instead of worrying about how your nose is going to look afterward, you're worried about whether the room is going to sound like "beep, beep, beep" 😁

driftingmoose47 said:Maria Hall92, I’ve been a bit out of the loop myself🙂 honestly, once I figure out how this all works (I just discovered the main directory for these threads on the forum, and even the forum itself 🤣) and once I gather enough nerve—maybe after a quick glass of bourbon—I'll take a photo, send it over, and let you be the judge. Fingers crossed I can get it done sometime this week! 😂

soup 🙂

Kate Taylor59 said:Honestly, I’m looking back at myself and wondering where that sudden burst of courage came from before the surgery... it was like I wasn't even fully processing what was happening. I was practically eyeing the restroom just so I could hurry up and get onto the table! xD The whole crew was wonderful—everyone was joking around, and the recovery room was actually quite cozy; you’d almost want to take a nap in there. As for the actual operating room, though... xD
All in all, it was a perfect ten. I didn't feel the anesthesia kick in, nor did I feel the IV being inserted—nothing at all. I kept thinking to myself, "I can't believe I'm actually here." When I woke up, my family told me I had a huge smile on my face, and the first thing I asked was, "Wait, what did they operate on?" xD
The only thing that gave me a bit of anxiety was that operating table. It felt tiny! I was genuinely worried I might slide right off the edge, haha! :P

Bravo! You know how it goes—it passes in the blink of an eye. You just have to deal with the tampons for a bit. When do you have to remove the mold? 🙂

Emily Martinez12 said:Girls, I need some advice... I’m weighing two options for my surgery. I can either go through with it in late July or early August, or wait until the winter semester during finals week, which would be around early February.
I know going during the winter might be better since the cooler weather helps keep swelling down compared to dealing with a brutal 100-degree heatwave in mid-summer, but I have one nagging concern—and maybe this sounds silly—but won't the cold be an issue? In the winter, you're constantly dealing with a runny nose, right? Since everything will be raw and full of stitches internally, could all that constant sniffing and drainage actually make things worse?

I actually had my first procedure during a cooler season—I can't quite remember if it was fall or winter... but looking back at my recovery times, things actually went by much faster during my most recent one, which was just at the start of this month. It might just be that my first time was at a major hospital under general anesthesia, whereas this one was at a local private clinic, which made the recovery feel a bit more taxing. Honestly, I don't think the season plays a massive role in how you heal. Sure, it’s easier to manage when you aren't sweating, but it's not a huge deal. You’ll basically need to keep your nose chilled for those first three days anyway. And look, it isn't such a terrifying operation that you're going to be completely incapacitated by swelling; you'll bounce back faster than you think. Personally, I’m always a "get it over with sooner" kind of person. Plus, choosing winter doesn't guarantee you won't have a runny nose. You’re going to deal with congestion regardless of the season because of the internal healing and all that extra mucus buildup once they remove the packing.🙂

Maria Hall92 said:stormyharbor2 already gave you an answer, but yeah—they basically put a pulse oximeter on your finger so you can monitor your heart rate. 🙂
You’ll have an IV line running, but I guess you won't actually feel anything while the surgery is going on.
I guess you're just wasting your time. 😁 Instead of worrying about how your nose is going to look, maybe you should just focus on whether the sound system in the hall is going to start making that annoying "beep beep beep" noise. 😁

It really has to work out, because if it doesn't, Tončić is basically done. 😁 I might just kill him, haha. 😁
I'm just kidding, obviously... though what do I know? I guess it just feels like a safety thing. A guy I know was telling me about his surgery—he was under local anesthesia—and at one point, he felt it weaken, almost like he could feel his pulse racing in waves. His anesthesiologist ended up giving him another dose through the IV, and then things settled back down to a normal pace. 🙂 I was actually a little worried if my own heart rate would start dropping too. 😍

I just have to say... this whole recovery process isn't nearly as easy as some people make it out to be...
You really need nerves of steel and an endless supply of patience. I'm currently on a heavy-duty antibiotic that's absolutely wrecking my stomach, and my throat is killing me from breathing through my mouth all night. Sleep? Forget about it. There’s this constant, nagging pressure from the nasal packing, and for those first two days, my nose felt incredibly strange—which was actually just blood seeping through the packing...
It's tough... you really have to be prepared for all of it...

Kate Taylor59 said:I just have to say... this whole recovery process isn't nearly as smooth as some people make it sound...
You really need nerves of steel and an incredible amount of patience. I’m currently on this heavy-duty antibiotic that is absolutely wreaking havoc on my stomach, and my throat is killing me because I’ve had to breathe through my mouth. Sleep? Forget about it. My head feels like it's under constant pressure from those nasal packs, and for the first two days, my nose felt incredibly strange—which, looking back, was actually just blood soaking through the packing...
It’s tough... you really have to be prepared for all of this...

Hmm... honestly, my experience wasn't even remotely like that. I didn't feel any pain at all. Sure, the nasal packing made me a little anxious and gave me some head pressure, but I didn't end up taking a single painkiller... I actually slept like a baby, which is a miracle because I'm a dedicated stomach sleeper. I have no idea how I managed to sleep so well (maybe it was breathing through my mouth?), but my throat didn't bother me one bit. Just make sure you drink tons and tons of fluids...
I'm so sorry you're going through such a rough time. Hang in there just a little longer :/ things will get better every single day... and hey, look at the bright side, girl. Who cares about the struggle? You're going to have a beautiful new nose! 😁😁 😁