About 15 years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I had a nose surgery without really researching it properly and just went ahead with one that only lifted the tip. I already had no bridge to begin with, but once only the tip was lifted, it gave me a snub-nosed look and my nose became badly crooked, so I ended up living for 15 years with a nose that was worse than if I had never had surgery at all. T_T Even though it was a nose that had already been operated on, it looked so strange and became a major complex....
I just kept thinking that someday I would have to get it fixed again, and as my baby grew a bit and I also gained some mental breathing room, I started feeling strongly that I wanted to live the rest of my life with a pretty nose. haha
I did not want a high, flashy nose. I wanted one that would not damage my image, while improving the snub-nosed look and the crooked nose, and creating a nose where the bridge and tip connect naturally.
While raising my child, I made time one or two places a month and went to consultations at about five hospitals known for revision surgery. I first learned about ALU Plastic Surgery through a review post someone else had written about their consultation experience on a cosmetic surgery cafe. It was more expensive than other hospitals, but I saw many comments saying the director had a strong aesthetic sense, so I checked the before-and-after photos on the ALU website. All of the progress photos were not overdone, were natural yet pretty, and I could see that the patients' existing nose problems had been improved well, so I decided to visit.
Price was not important. As long as they could safely operate on just my nose and make it fit my face well, I did not think the money would be wasted.
First, the consultation with Director Heesun was also good. She listened calmly and organized my needs well. Director Kim Hyunju also gave a detailed and kind consultation based on my CT images, and at the same time seemed extremely confident, which made me trust her. haha For someone like me who still was not sure about the surgical method or shape for the nose, it felt like she was guiding me.
As someone indecisive and hesitant, that decisive, professional attitude from the director gave me confidence. In particular, she pointed out facial features I had not even thought about and said that it should be done in this shape, and I thought to myself, "This is it, haha..."
I had both the tip and the bridge of my nose done with autologous costal cartilage (Innofit 3D custom DCF). The director also preferred autologous costal cartilage because of its very low, almost nonexistent, risk of side effects. I hesitated for a moment because the price was higher than I expected, but I went ahead thinking this would be my last nose surgery.
Because it was 3D custom, there was another design consultation before surgery! At that time I was also seriously torn between a straighter line and a straight-bridged look, but the director clearly said, "Let's do it this way to match your image!" and it was such a relief.... haha
The surgery went well, and when I opened my eyes I was in the recovery room. Because it was general anesthesia, it was hard to fully come to my senses.... T_T More than the discomfort in my nose or ribs, the dazed feeling from the anesthesia would not really go away, so the whole day was a bit hard. T_T In the middle of that, I remember the director coming by and saying the surgery had gone well, haha.
They removed the packing the very next day, but breathing was not exactly comfortable. T_T Blood-tinged mucus kept coming out and my nose felt constantly blocked, so I kept breathing through my mouth, lol.
And while I had the splint on for a week, I worried a lot because the tip looked too lifted, haha. The day the splint came off, I realized those worries were unnecessary the moment it was removed, lol... (Sorry for troubling the manager so much, T_T) I was worrying unnecessarily without even realizing it was just being pulled upward by the splint... The moment the splint came off, the shape was so pretty that I was shocked and moved.
My straight, natural-looking nose in the slightly straight style I wanted... and it was a really small nose, but it became bigger in size too, which even made my face look smaller. T_T I loved it so much. Even my mother, who is conservative about plastic surgery, looked at my nose and said it was so pretty. At that point, I thought this nose surgery was a success, lol.
It has only been about two weeks now, and there is still swelling, but it is becoming more natural little by little, and people around me all say it turned out so naturally pretty, just like my own nose, haha.
It is not a flashy or high nose, but a naturally high nose that suits my image exactly, which is exactly what I wanted. There is a slight amount of scar tissue that has risen on the side next to the bridge, in a way only I would notice, but I trust the director when she says not to worry... my nose savior... haha. As the swelling keeps going down and the scar tissue settles, I am looking forward to an even prettier nose. ❣️