*The photos are before removal for the top 2, and after removal for the bottom 2.
1. Reason for removal
It had been 6 years since the surgery. I had L-shaped silicone + ear cartilage + nostril reduction + lateral osteotomy. (I only recently found out it was L-shaped silicone)
There was no inflammation or contracture, but I was worried about side effects that could happen at any time, and over time my skin got so thin that the silicone looked like it would poke through I also had a tight feeling at the tip of my nose and some throbbing inflammatory reaction?
My face is small, but I was dissatisfied that only my nose was high and long. The bulbous nose had been improved to a degree I was satisfied with. The tip line was pretty too.
2. Consultation visits
First, I visited two clinics famous for removal (ㅅㅅㅇ, ㄱㅇㅅ) and two other plastic surgery clinics.
During the ㅅㅅㅇ consultation, the director explained things kindly and kept taking my questions, so I felt comfortable. However, the director did not speak in a way that gave me complete certainty. It was more like, if it is like this, I would do this; if it is like that, I would do that. They focused on solutions. Also, I was very drawn to the fact that aftercare was said to be good.
At ㄱㅇㅅ, both the coordinator consultation and the director consultation were good. Everyone spoke kindly and I felt comfortable. Until just before making the reservation, I agonized a lot between ㅅㅅㅇ and ㄱㅇㅅ, and the reason I kept hesitating was that ㄱㅇㅅ also had a good director consultation, and they were confident that removal would make me look better. I think that confidence is what kept me thinking about it
In the end, I had the surgery at ㅅㅅㅇ. The reason was that I felt more drawn there somehow.
3. Surgery day
I must have been tense, because the dinner I ate the day before upset my stomach badly, and I suffered from a migraine all night and could not sleep well. My condition was not good, so I worried a lot Even so, there was not much swelling after surgery, and they lightly refined the bridge, so I had a lot of bruising.
The surgery was closed approach, with removal of L-shaped silicone and ear cartilage, plus cartilage repositioning. They only removed the capsule at the tip of the nose and did not remove it from the bridge.
Because the silicone had been bent to the right for a long time, I was told that the left alar cartilage had broken and protruded. When they showed me the photo, I almost freaked out.... How did I live not knowing this No wonder the bridge hurt unusually when I touched it.. They realigned the broken alar cartilage and stitched it back together.
Also, I thought my silicone was 1 mm, but it was 3 mm, and it had been inserted all the way to the columella tip.... haha
They showed me before-and-after photos and explained everything, and wow.. I thought I really made the right choice to take it out. My biggest thought was that I should have removed it much earlier I should say the silicone had been in such a precarious state After removal, everything looked so much more stable.
When I talked with the director after surgery, they showed me the removed silicone and ear cartilage. I was truly grateful that I had not had side effects while having those inside my body
And while we were talking, they came over to my side.. and kept touching my nose this way and that, saying it would become a pig nose It was nice that they were showing me, but.. I was so scared
4. After surgery
It has only been two days since surgery, so I still have swelling, but I am satisfied. First of all, I love that my nose is shorter than before~ I kept doing cold compresses and drank a lot of pumpkin juice, and the swelling has gone down a lot and the bruising has almost disappeared!
I went to the hospital today, briefly saw the director, and had everything disinfected:) The tip of my nose still throbs, and the area between the eyebrows feels floppy like an airless balloon, but I am relieved because it seems prettier than my natural nose. My mom and my friends also said removing it was much better, and that once the swelling goes down, it will probably look even prettier haha
I have to sleep propped up at an angle, and washing is inconvenient
Ah, they do not use a splint here, and I think that is kind of nice! There is no discomfort even after surgery. If you wear a splint, the swelling in the nose goes down faster, but they say that swelling moves to the sides haha I guess it is different at each hospital.
I was prescribed antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and a topical medicine for 7 days.
Ah, and lastly, to add a few more words: When the surgery ended and I was still half-dazed, the first thing my mom and I both said was "What a relief."
I had silicone inserted against my wishes, and from after the surgery until the day it was removed, I was worried about silicone side effects, and having to treat my nose like a precious object and be careful all the time was sometimes exhausting. The pressure was intense when I lay down, and when I lay on my side I also felt it shifting
But after removal, there was no pressure at all, no shifting sensation, and I felt at ease knowing there was no foreign material left in my body. Even though sleeping was uncomfortable, I felt so at ease that I think I slept deeply.
For those who have no side effects but are wondering whether to remove it, and those who do have side effects but are afraid, I honestly recommend just letting it all go and getting it removed!!
I will leave another review after a week~