Posting a slightly late 2-week review.
I had my first rhinoplasty last year. The septal extension support was done using my septum and donated costal cartilage, and a little septal cartilage was also placed above the nasal tip. I also had alar reduction done at the same time, and nothing was inserted into the nasal bridge.
There were various reasons, but because of the anxiety that something had been placed inside my nose, at 10 months after rhinoplasty I had all of the implants and cartilage that were put in during the rhinoplasty removed. And while removing them, I also had alar reduction done again. Even though my surgically altered nose had already had alar reduction, I still thought my nostrils/alar base looked large, and I thought it would look spread out after removal, so I had it done together during removal. I think it was good that I did the alar reduction.
A few days ago, I had the stitches inside my nose removed. As for the nose shape, the bridge is my original nose, and the tip has become lower, but it is almost similar to my surgical nose. Now a lot of the swelling in my nose has gone down, so I’ve moved quite far away from the “fat nose” stage. Compared with right after splint removal, the tip seems slightly more upturned, but it’s only to the extent that I notice it. Still, it’s better than my original nose.
The nasal tip has become lower, so it has become more natural and suits my face. It has gone back to a slightly softer impression. The area above the nasal tip is a little uneven, maybe because the cartilage was removed, but it’s to the point where you wouldn’t know unless you looked closely. Maybe because the contracture period hasn’t come yet, there hasn’t been any big change since splint removal other than the swelling going down. After removing the stitches inside the nose, the occasional tingling? has reduced a lot.
The photos are, clockwise from the upper left: original nose, surgical nose, 1 week after removal, 2 weeks after removal.
Since my nose originally had a bridge, from the side I can’t really tell that it has become dramatically lower, but from the front or below it looks broad and spread out. After removal, the anxious feeling disappeared, so I’m very happy. The contracture period hasn’t come yet, so I don’t know, but so far my nose hasn’t changed drastically or anything.
If you go around for removal consultations, you’ll know this, but they often say they can’t guarantee the nose shape. It’s even more true for extension supports. At first I felt frustrated and couldn’t understand it, but now I think I understand a bit why they say that. There are variables such as the rhinoplasty method, number of rhinoplasties, the patient’s tissue characteristics, contracture period, whether the rhinoplasty was done well (whether it was made pretty only on the outside but a mess inside), and I think luck and the doctor’s skill also have to be there. One doctor said that out of 10 people, 8 end up similar to their original nose and 2 are unpredictable. Still, if you want removal, I think it’s right to do it.
I’m not taking questions about the hospital or cost. I don’t have points, so I can’t send private messages.
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