When I first had my nose done, I had no idea at all what problems my nose had. I had plastic surgery simply because I did not like the shape of my nose, and I think I learned about noses only after having surgery.
My nostrils showed a lot, the so-called "dragon nose." I did think I disliked it because of its distinctive shape, but I was still fairly satisfied with my face, and I lived for 26 years always thinking I should never get rhinoplasty. Then, seeing friends around me getting rhinoplasty one by one and becoming prettier made me develop unnecessary greed.
My first surgery was done at a factory-style clinic on 2020.10.29, and the surgery was tip-only with no implant. For the nasal bridge, only the hump was shaved down! Because of the nature of a dragon nose, my nostrils showed a lot, and once the tip was raised, it was an upturned nose like no other.. It looked like Pinocchio, and my philtrum was lifted too and did not come down for 6 months.. I had never had any problem breathing through my nose in my life, but I could not breathe through the right side of my nose, and I always sounded nasal, which caused problems with my job too. My self-esteem dropped, and this had been a face I was fairly confident in, but they said I had to wait 6 months for revision surgery, so I just waited endlessly. Back then I did not even know the concept of removal, so I thought revision surgery was the only answer. After 6 months passed, I had revision surgery right away this April.
The result of the second surgery was devastating.. It was not that the surgery was particularly done wrong or that I had functional problems. Still, after the first surgery, when I looked in the mirror, I did not feel like I was not myself, but after having surgery using cartilage taken from my rib, I no longer felt like I looked like myself, so I was really very depressed.. My nose, which had been short and slightly upturned, became much too long and high, and my overall impression changed so much. Right up until removal, all I wanted was removal.. It was a clinic that was really good at surgery, and the doctor was also good at difficult noses, so I felt really sorry to the director who had worked hard on my surgery, but I think I cried loudly enough to shake the clinic..
When it comes to removal, every clinic says this. They say they cannot guarantee the nose shape after removal.. I had it removed at the clinic where I had the surgery, and I said I would accept all of that, so please remove it. The director was kind-hearted, so there was no separate additional fee or anything demanded, and even though their schedule was packed and they were busy, they made time to do the surgery for me.. I think they probably thought healing my mind came first, and I was very comforted.
I had early removal 12 days after my second revision surgery. First of all, just having it removed made my mind feel at ease and good.. I did not have a separate splint on my nose, only taping and nasal cotton! Time passed, and after even the stitches were removed, this was when hell began.. I kept looking only in the mirror. It was an early removal soon after revision surgery, and I think there had been some manipulation such as autologous costal cartilage, so the pain and swelling were so severe.. I knew staring in the mirror all day would not change anything, but I kept wondering when it would be okay, what had changed, when the swelling would go down, and so on... I cried and prayed every day. That being able to breathe had been something to be grateful for, and that even if it took some time, I hoped I could slowly find my own face again..
As for the contraction period, honestly, I could hardly tell whether it came or not because there were no external changes. Instead, whether it was swelling from nostril lowering(?) or something, my nose became bulbous, and it was thick and strange enough to look like a straight line? from the nasal bridge to the tip. I think the swelling in the nasal bridge slowly went down first. Now my nose is a little deviated to the left (they said the cartilage had weakened because of repeated and early revision surgery and removal), and I still have some minor swelling, but I feel like 85% of my original image has returned!! It is something I am so grateful for.
While reading posts in this community, I read something like, "I realized that even if it looks a little lacking now, my natural original self is the prettiest." I think that is probably how everyone who has had removal feels.. You will probably go through so much emotional distress, and after removal it differs from person to person.. Removal does not mean it is over; because it is a surgery where you only know the result after a lot of time has passed, including the contraction period, swelling, and changes in impression, when people around me say they are thinking about rhinoplasty, I stop them first because I have gone through this hardship..
From now on, I want to live being grateful even for small things! Please think carefully before proceeding with both surgery and removal. It was a time so hard it felt draining!
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