I’m someone who had every unfavorable condition for rhinoplasty: a short, low, small nose and thin skin. I think I took my time and went around to more than six clinics. When I was visiting clinics, some said it wouldn’t improve much, some called it an extreme nose case, some said costal cartilage was absolutely necessary so general anesthesia would be needed but they didn’t have an anesthesiologist, and some had one doctor harvesting the costal cartilage and a different director doing the rhinoplasty. There was also a place where, even though they charged a consultation fee, they seemed exhausted during the consultation, said only a few words, and quickly left. Most places said it would be hard to see the director after surgery. Oh, I think every clinic said the rib scar would be almost 3 cm.
On the other hand, the place I chose confidently said the rib scar would be 1.5 cm. The director also gave such a good impression, had many surgical cases like my extreme nose case (there are many on the doctor’s computer. There aren’t many reviews because there’s no review discount or anything, and it’s just expensive lol. I won’t comment on the surgery cost.) They explained everything calmly and very well, and the director knew how to treat patients with care. There were so few reviews that I had posted questions several times in a community too, and in the end I had surgery there today and came back.
The surgery review is...!!
My surgery was at 10, but after washing up, having a consultation, and resting a bit, I went into surgery a little before 11. I got an IV, they checked things like my ECG and blood pressure, and the anesthesiologist came and told me to take deep breaths. I thought they were teaching me how to practice breathing through my mouth, but I passed out just like that. Then I opened my eyes around 1:25, and they kept telling me to breathe through my mouth. The costal cartilage area hurt so little that I even asked if they really took the rib cartilage. There was a bandage on my right rib area, and they put an abdominal binder on me because fluid can collect there. They said I have to wear it for 2 weeks. I came out of the operating room at 1:40 and was in the recovery room getting an IV until around 3:30, I think. They seem to give injections without much pain too..? Even when they removed the IV, there was almost no pain. I’m someone who’s really scared of needles and things like that ㅜㅜ Anyway, the most painful place was my throat... They said it’s because, under general anesthesia, they intubate through the throat and make you breathe mechanically. But even that was bearable? The surgery was over and I wasn’t in much pain, so I wanted to talk a lot, but my throat hurt and it was hard to speak, so it was frustrating. The director came in and briefly explained once again how the surgery went, and said something reassuring like, “It’ll be pretty. I saw it during surgery, and it was pretty.” The words were so warm that I felt relieved.
My throat hurt so much I thought I’d die, but definitely turn on a humidifier near your face... It’s much better, and now my throat is a bit better so I can talk, but everyone is asleep ㅠㅠ And when the anesthesia wore off and my nose and rib area started throbbing slightly, I ate porridge, took my meds, and even took Tylenol, and then I felt okay again. Someone said it hurts even just going to the bathroom, but it doesn’t interfere with living alone. I once got a slight crack in a rib while playing golf, and this hurts much less than that. But maybe that’s because today is only the first day... For now, I’m very satisfied today! I regret not doing this sooner lol. And about the pain, I think I saw somewhere that the longer the surgery time is or the larger the surgical incision is, the more it hurts! But I cautiously guess that even though I had autologous costal cartilage surgery, I don’t hurt much because it took 2 hours and the rib scar is small! After saying this, I might be dying from pain tomorrow lololol Then I’ll come back to whine that it hurts again. Good night, everyone!
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