- The surgical direction I wanted from the start 1. Safety first 2. I wanted correction of my hooked nose and deviated nose, but only as much as could be done reasonably within my own face (I was okay even if a little of the hump remained or my nose did not become perfectly straight. I did not want a perfect nose. My mindset was to do the best with what I already had.) 3. Cost-effectiveness is not acceptable when it comes to surgery. Even if it costs money, I need to have proper surgery.
- Consultation: 1. Before going to Wonil, I had consultations at two places. I passed on one because it felt like they were hiding an accurate explanation of the surgery, and I passed on the other because they seemed to pursue a flashy nose line more than safety and recommended donated costal cartilage. 2. Before the consultation, I had occasionally seen reviews saying the director was blunt, but I did not feel he was blunt at all. He is someone who tells you plainly what is possible and what is not, without hiding anything, but for people who need softened wording, that may feel indifferent. Also, from the start, the surgical direction was similar to what I was pursuing, so that may be why the conversation went well. 3. What I consulted about was removing the hooked nose hump, lifting the columella, slightly trimming the nasal tip cartilage, correcting the deviated nose, and slightly raising the nasal tip with septal cartilage; he said if there was not enough cartilage, he would use ear cartilage. 4. He said that because the hump would not be completely removed, there might be a chance it would not be perfectly smooth afterward, and I said that level was really okay.
- Surgery: When I went into the operating room, the doctor kept talking to me and telling me not to be nervous. Before anesthesia, because there was a possibility of harvesting ear cartilage, they disinfected my whole face and even my ears, and it was extremely cold. Shivering. Once the anesthesia went in, I fell asleep right away. But I woke up once in the middle of surgery. At that time, the doctor talked to me again. I wanted to talk, but blood was gurgling through my nose, so I could not speak well and only remember answering like, “Ugh.” It felt like dreaming, such a strange feeling haha. When the surgery ended, I was still half out of it, and the nurses supported me and moved me to the recovery room. Great deep sleep. Even while I was sleeping, the nurses came twice and the doctor once to ask if I was okay. (I think they were checking whether I was conscious.) When the doctor asked me at the end, I was still hazy, but I wanted to go to the bathroom, so I answered roughly and, driven by instinct, trudged off to the bathroom.... After the anesthesia fully wore off and I replayed the memory, I felt sorry because I must have seemed rude. Also, they only used septal cartilage for the nasal tip and did not harvest ear cartilage. Good.. This was the first time I benefited from having a big nose. Thank you, big nose. Thanks!
Day 1 After the anesthesia wore off, I was surprised because it hurt less than expected and I did not swell much. I had heard he is good at hemostasis, and maybe that is why he does not put cotton in the nose. Because of this, there was no major discomfort even when sleeping. The key on the first day is doing cold compresses properly.
Day 2 From the second day, bruising and swelling came up like crazy. I think it was because I did the cold compresses carelessly on the first day. I got hit properly by the karma beam.
Day 3 The day I went to the hospital for disinfection. Every time I received treatment at the hospital, the director always checked, explained things, and showed me my face. I liked that he also explained the progress. They removed the splint and tape and cleaned the blood crusts inside my nose, and that was truly death.. After cleaning my nose, I got two injections, and one of them really hurt like getting stung by a bee.. Since it makes you keep needing to pee, make sure to go to the bathroom before leaving the hospital.. (important)
Day 7 I went to the hospital and had the splint and tape removed, and I remember they disinfected it that day too.. I really hate the feeling of disinfection and suture removal.. Even though the splint is removed, after this day you need to keep doing well with putting the splint on before bed and applying ointment. Also, the blackheads are absolutely going wild. Thank goodness I had surgery in autumn; if it had been summer, it would have been awful.. Oh, and I took annual leave mixed in and rested for 7 days, then went straight back to work, but no one knew I had surgery.. Everyone asked if I had gone on a trip.
1 month Before surgery, I used to run occasionally.. Around this time, I tested it thinking, should I try running once? But my nasal tip felt like it was shaking as if it was not fixed, so I gave up immediately. (Actually, I remember the doctor also said to exercise after at least 3 months had passed..) The philtrum area still felt tight, and when I asked the hospital at the 1-week mark, they said that if there is a pulling sensation in the philtrum and I keep stretching(?) that area as if pulling it downward, the nasal tip could droop. Oh my god. Also around this time, I met close friends, and no one knew I had surgery.. I met three different groups, and really no one knew; they just said I had become prettier.
3 months Even my family keeps forgetting that I had surgery. The pulling sensation in the philtrum has completely disappeared, but sensation in the nasal tip and the area under the nose where the incision was made has not fully returned yet. The nasal incision site is also barely visible. Light running is possible too.
Now, approaching 5 months. If I do not rest well and sometimes overwork myself, my nasal tip and nasal bridge feel a little tight. I think I need to sleep well. Sensation in the nasal tip is still not complete. I think this will really take a year?? Still, my overall vibe has changed in a more refined direction, so I am completely satisfied!
Before surgery, I think it is important to accurately understand what shape is possible and what shape is not, and to have the mindset of how to bring out the best of my own beauty rather than external standards of beauty!
Since I did use cartilage anyway, I will have to keep watching it going forward, but up to now, approaching 5 months, I have been doing well without any problems haha