Seven Months After Complete Removal: Free From Nose Surgery!

About 20 years ago, I had my first nose surgery (ear cartilage and silicone). My bridge was far too high and I had many problems, so several years later I lowered the silicone bridge and had rib cartilage placed in the tip. At the time, the doctor said I had a nose with very visible nostrils and recommended nostril lowering, so I underwent it without knowing much. After that, I lived with nasal obstruction for more than 10 years. It was especially miserable at every change of season; because my breathing and circulation were poor, even my ears suffered, and I constantly had bloody crusts in my nose. My tip was always hard, and the inside of my nose was narrow, dry, and hard. Then the tip drooped again and a boundary between the bridge and tip became visible. I consulted the same clinic, and they told me to only lower the bridge silicone, so I did—but the boundary showed again after only a year. I truly wanted to get away from nose surgery, so I actively went around for removal consultations. The clinic where I had been operated on (which is still operating and performs many rib-cartilage procedures) only frightened me, saying I must never have removal because no one could know what my shape would be, and gave no solution. Other clinics also asked why I would get removal surgery and told me not to do it. Even when I said it was hard to breathe, they said it might not be due to that, and nowhere actively recommended removal. Then I consulted a place said to specialize in removal. The director said removal was possible and that I should do it. I did not want to suffer any longer, so I simply lay down on the operating table. I had some dissatisfaction with the clinic's system after surgery and went through emotional stress, but notably, even the nostril-lowering procedure that everyone had said they would not remove was cleanly removed by the director once I came off the operating table. Because it had been so long since surgery and I had undergone multiple revisions, the area between the columella was in very poor condition. The director inserted a very small amount of AlloDerm and slightly reinforced the skin of the nasal tip with autologous dermis harvested from my flank. At the time, I was very distressed that another foreign material had been put in. But after consulting with the director afterward, I was told clearly that they had never seen a small amount of AlloDerm cause a problem later rather than immediately after surgery, so I should just forget about it and live my life. And since you only know the condition of a nose once it is opened, I think that was the right call. Now I have no foreign-body sensation or anything like that; it is simply my own nose. During recovery, I worried because my nostrils were uneven, but after two to three months I gradually stopped paying attention. My side profile became much lower—perhaps back to my pre-surgery nose—but no one around me can tell from the front, and no one knows. I had lived with difficult breathing for about 20 years, but now my nose feels so~~~ clear... At my roughly two-month follow-up, I asked the director everything I wanted to ask, had a very satisfying conversation, and told them they had saved my life. Beyond the surgery having gone well, I was even more grateful because I know removal surgery is not easy for many reasons. Most doctors hesitate to perform removal surgery. Even at the place where I had mine, the director did not continue to give certainty about the final shape. I simply trusted that they had extensive experience and know-how, left it to a professional, and strengthened myself internally—the preparation I needed before removal surgery. I had surgery and completely forgot about this community, but I came back to write this as seven months approached because I suddenly remembered how incredibly hard things were for me seven or eight months ago, and the years of emotional suffering when I wanted removal surgery but could not find the courage. I had spent nearly half my life with silicone, so I was terrified and miserable, wondering what would happen if I removed it. But it was not as big a deal as I expected! Removal was a far better choice than living with lifelong complications and time-bomb-like complications that could come at any time! Everything will go well, and even if a problem arises, there will be a solution, so everyone, stay strong!!!! (I will not disclose the clinic because results vary individually and one must be cautious. The clinic where I had surgery did not have a good reputation in the removal-surgery group chat after my procedure, which made me anxious then, but ultimately I am very satisfied. I think everyone may differ individually.)