Lifestyle

I had a Rhinoplasty and here’s what happened…

by dominikanova

As I am sitting here with my cast still on (I’m going to remove it tomorrow), I am trying to figure out where to start with this post. I guess I’ll start by saying I had an open rhinoplasty last Wednesday to get my deviated septum fixed, as well as to for cosmetic purposes. I’m not going to get into detail about the why’s – everyone has their reasons and any surgery, cosmetic procedures, etc. is completely up to personal choice. What I am going to get into is the helpful details like the surgery, and recovery tips (products purchased, vitamins, etc.). Let’s go!

Surgery

Nerves, nerves, nerves! Let me tell you, I was sooo nervous for surgery because I’ve never had any surgery before and I had no idea what to expect. Let me also tell you that after my experience I honestly could not have asked for a smoother surgery. My surgeon was Dr. Andrew Denton, located in Vancouver. He is a board certified facial plastic surgeon and a board-certified otolaryngologist. I did research prior to selecting him as my surgeon (as one should) and the universe also led me to him in a certain way – after I booked my consult with him I found out that someone I knew saw him and he was also recommended to me by another clinic. I just had a good gut feeling to go with him and I am hoping my gut was right.. so far so good.

Let’s move on to the day of the surgery. As soon as I was brought in by the nurse, I felt comfortable because of the way she was treating me (she also kept calling me ‘my dear’, which was nice haha). I got changed, did a mask swap, and was provided mouth wash, Benadryl, anti-nausea, and anti-anxiety medications. We also did standard examinations to ensure my health is optimal for surgery. A few moments went by and Dr. Denton took me in for a final consult, which proceeded with “alright kiddo, I will meet you in the operating room”. Into the operating room I went – I got onto the bed and started to get a bit nervous, shaking, telling the surgeon’s assistant that I was nervous. She looked at me and told me that they were going to take good care of me. Everything went fairly quickly; I was getting hooked up to things, and the needle was going into my arm as Dr. Denton and I were talking about my job/industry. The anesthesiologist said that she was administrating medicine that would make me sleepy and within seconds the ceiling started to spin a bit. I should mention that I was not under general anesthesia, but twilight (which I am sooo happy I did); it is a milder approach and has an easier recovery. I felt no pain and was super drowsy/relaxed and in a dream-like state. I also didn’t feel nauseous at all when I woke up, I just felt a little heavy and tired while I was getting up and changing back into my clothes. All in all, I have to say the surgery went extremely well.

Recovery

Preparing for recovery is huge. Before I provide the vitamins/supplements that I took, make sure that you follow your surgeon’s reommendations as each doctor might have slightly different methods and reccomendations.

I was advised to stop taking anticoagulants 2 weeks prior to surgery. I also stopped drinking all tea/coffee 1 week prior (personal choice). During recovery, I have been taking antibiotics to avoid infection. I was also prescribed pain medication but I literally didn’t have to take a single one (not even Tylenol) because I have experienced zero pain! Here are the vitamins I took:

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Zinc
  • Biotin
  • Bromelain
  • Multivitamin
  • Vitamin A
  • Arnica Montana

A week before surgery I also made sure to eat a healthier (less sodium/sugar) diet. Sodium increases swelling so avoid this during recovery as well. While I’m recovering, I have been having a smoothie every day that consists of: frozen pineapple, coconut water, banana, spinach. In terms of food, I’ve been eating softer food and not warmer than room temperature as this could also increase swelling. If you have someone that can help you the first 3/4 days with food prep, that would be ideal, trust me. Remember to drink plenty of water (8-10 glasses per day)!

In terms of my skin, through research I found that post-surgery my skin would get more oily. Is this true? It is, but honestly it is not as bad as I thought and I don’t have a single breakout (must be a lucky week)! I have been gently cleansing my skin with Bioderma Sensibio micellar water – my new ‘skincare routine’ and that’s all I have needed; no moisturizer as my skin is already producing more oil than usual.

I made sure to research and purchase products that would help make recovery more comfortable. PS – make sure to set everything up a few days or even a week before surgery so that you feel more prepared/less stressed. In addition to the standard products like gauze, Polysporin, tape, etc., here is a list of products I bought:

I’d also like to shout out my amazing SuJok therapist, Alla, who I have been seeing since the summer to help me with specific medical concerns – I saw her a day before my surgery for some acupuncture ( custom SuJok formulas), and I am convinced that her treatment, along with my surgeon’s technique(s) made this experience such a good one.

I think that about does it for the key points I wanted to share with you. Overall, I have to say that I feel so thankful for both my surgery and recovery experience – I had no complications, no pain, and feel good! Did I have bruising and swelling? Of course, we are all human, and this is a normal part of your body healing itself. Was sleeping uncomfortable? Yes – think about it, you are constantly breathing out of your mouth and sleeping upright, but it is bearable and short-term. Everyone is different, so everyone’s experience can vary, but this was mine. I really hope that this can help someone out there feel more comfortable about rhinoplasty. Do your research, watch some youtube videos, take care of yourself, and you will be okay. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram or email. Good luck! x

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