Holy Cow...my nose!

Message

#1 Post by **TinaAH** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:43 pm

I am currently 10 days post-op and wondering about my nose. I had no idea that my nose would change so dramatically. My nose was long and pointy (kind of like an exaggerated Romanesque art look) - and I hated it. Now its quite a bit shorter and swoops upward slightly. Lovin' it.

However, I noticed that the middle part of my nose that separates my nostrils (the cartilage?) seems to be crooked. It seems like one nostril is bigger than the other and the cartilage seems pushed over slightly.

Should I be concerned? I'm still slightly swollen around my cheeks around my nose area, so I hope that's the problem. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

Also, heh, how would you bring this up to the surgeon at the next appointment? I don't want to come across as accusing him of screwing anything up or get him defensive at all. He did a great job, as far as I'm concerned, I'm just worried about the uneven nostrils.

--Tina

#2 Post by **TinaAH** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:45 pm

Here's a picture of me 3 days after surgery. You can see the nose thing I'm referring to in this picture:

http://www.axishost.com/tinajaw.jpg (warning - I am swollen and bruised!)

Thanks!

--Tina

#3 Post by **TinaAH** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:50 pm

One more thing...

When can I blow my nose without worrying that I might blow my brains out through my nostrils?

Seriously, I would love to really blow my nose - but I'm afraid it might bleed or screw something up.

--Tina

#4 Post by **moth** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:41 pm

hmm, maybe it's just from the swelling? i'm having a similar issue, my whole nose seems to be slightly crooked now, it's kind of pushed towards the right a tad. one side of my face is much more swollen than the other, so perhaps it's swelling. i'm now at 19 days post-op and the crookedness doesn't seem to be as pronounced as it was earlier. either that, i'm doing some really intense wishful thinking haha. i don't like my nose now though. it was already wide to begin with and now it just seems bigger, blockier, and piggier looking. hopefully it'll go back down in time, as i still have quite a bit of swelling all around.

i wouldn't worry about the OS getting defensive - it's your face, you have the right to be concerned! i mentioned it to my OS and he didn't take offence. he noticed it as well but he didn't seem bothered (then again, do they ever?!), so i'm guessing he is passing it off as swelling, too.

good luck!

#5 Post by **TinaAH** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:57 pm

Yeah, I was hoping it was just the swelling. The crooked side of my nose IS on the side of my face that's the most swollen...so it could be. Thanks for the reassurance. That will stop me from worrying at least until tomorrow...haha.

--Tina

#6 Post by **peggysue** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:22 am

Don't worry! Its still really early days! I'm 8 weeks post op and I went through a similar experience with my nose. The swelling is going to make it look wonky, and it'll usually be more pronounced on one side.

Even when I smile now one side of my nose kinda splays out more than the other (the amount has decreased massively in the last 4 weeks) but this is just the residual swelling which i was told takes up to 3 months to completely go.

In terms of the dramatic change in length/shape of your nose, I think thats dependant upon how your top jaw was moved...but its great news that ur loving your new nose even in the early stages of healing!

I ask my surgeon A LOT of questions (luckily he doesnt mind, and is really cool with it), haha, so I can totally understand your worry about the difference in your nostril sizes...I was too! Basically because of the nature of the operation, you wont have been intubated in the regular way (down the throat, through the mouth) for obvious reasons. Instead, they intubate through one of your nostrils...which will be the one that looks bigger. The tube is pretty chunky, plus then they pack it to stem the bleeding (or they did with me anyway) so it'll be swollen etc for a while. Mine has shrunk down a good bit so isnt really noticable unless i tilt my head back (but then what kinda person is going to be assessing my nostril sizes anyways? lol).

As I say, its still early days for you, but if you have any questions you want in depth explanations for you should def ring your surgeon, or ask him at your next appt!

Oh, and make sure you get your OS to clear you for blowing your nose before you do! Im still sneezing with my mouth open, and not blowing my nose because I want to give my sinus cavaties as much chance to heal as I can...and because Im a teeny tiny bit scared! haha

#7 Post by **TinaAH** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:34 pm

Thanks peggysue. Your post made me laugh and was also very reassuring.

--Tina

#8 Post by **OzzysMom** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:41 pm

Hi Tina, don't worry........you are only 10 days out of surgery. You are still going to see major changes over the next few days, then the changes will be slower.
I'm 6 months post-op and still have a bit of residual swelling. For what it's worth, I recently saw people who hadn't seen me since 4 months post-op, and they told me how much the swelling of my nose has decreased since then. I also had turbinectomies and a partial septoplasty so my nose was more swollen than most.
If you have any doubts or questions, I think calling asap and not waiting until the next appt would be the best thing and I'm sure the surgeon is used to those kind of concerns anyway.
Best wishes on a smooth recovery!

**having patience waiting for healing/swelling to go down has been the hardest part of this whole process

#9 Post by PJ » Sun May 03, 2009 3:45 pm

Hi Tina,

All I can say is that if you are happy with your nose at this point, feel blessed. I am 12 days out after surgery, and was told that 75% of the swelling would be gone in 2 weeks, but 2 more days won't be near enough to transform this Miss Piggy back to herself! Yep, rounded cheeks and rounded nose was my result. I wish I looked like I had surgery, rather than just looking facially porcine. I have to go back to work tomorrow. It must be true, what was said about patience waiting for the swelling to go down being the hardest part--well, that and not being able to even get my freaking toothbrush all the way to my back molars...

#10 Post by **moth** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:12 pm

PJ - i feel your pain. i am at 4 weeks and still quite swollen, and my piggy nose still isn't gone! i suppose it's been getting a bit better, but my nose (and cheeks for that matter) still seems huge -_-

#11 Post by **TinaAH** » Sun May 03, 2009 7:55 pm

Most of my swelling has gone down now (2 1/2 weeks post-op) - but my nose is still a bit lopsided. I'm getting nervous about it now. Everyone says its not that noticeable, but it bothers me.

--Tina

#12 Post by PJ » Sun May 03, 2009 8:13 pm

Tina,
I can certainly understand your concern, and you should probably ask the surgeon about it, but I am guessing that your nose isn't really lopsided--it's probably just that one side has more swelling than the other. Hang in there!

Moth,

Thanks. It's nice to not be the only pig face around.

Of course, knowing you are still that swollen at 4 weeks isn't making me feel better.