before / post op 2weeks

I’m almost at the 3-week mark since my rhinoplasty, so I thought I’d share my experience! ????

I’ve had a slight dorsal hump on my nose since I was young, but it never really bothered me.

After having my first child, I was playing and jumping around with my little one when their head accidentally hit my nose. I had a nosebleed from both nostrils and my nose hurt at the time, but I didn't think much of it and just let it pass.

Years later, I visited a local ENT clinic, and the doctor asked me if I knew I had a septal perforation. I was completely shocked!

Honestly, I didn't know much about the anatomy of my nose. I just assumed it was normal for mucus and other things to move between my nostrils. So hearing that I actually had a hole in my nasal septum was quite surprising. ㅠㅠ

As time went by, I started noticing that my nose looked more crooked whenever I looked in the mirror, and the tip seemed to be drooping more and more. On top of that, the septal perforation was causing discomfort in my daily life, so I finally decided to undergo rhinoplasty.

I started researching clinics that could address both the septal perforation and the cosmetic appearance of my nose.

Surprisingly, there weren't many clinics that offered both procedures. I carefully ruled out clinics with concerning histories of medical complications and even looked into university hospitals.

Then, I came across a video where the surgeon explained septal perforation. After watching his content carefully, I immediately felt that he was the first surgeon I wanted to consult with.

On the day of my consultation, I arrived at RU Plastic Surgery and had photographs and a CT scan taken.

I first had a consultation with the counseling manager, Ms. Hee Joo Kim (she was incredibly kind and helpful during the consultation! GOOD!! ????), followed by a consultation with Dr. Hyun Joo Kim.

(I was also surprised by how tall and handsome the doctor was! ????)

According to my CT scan, the septal perforation was larger than expected.

I showed the doctor some reference photos of the nose shape I wanted—something natural and not overly dramatic.

Since I already had a relatively high nasal bridge, he recommended implant-free rhinoplasty using my own rib cartilage for the nasal tip rather than a silicone implant.

I had wanted to use only my own tissue from the beginning, so I was relieved to hear that!

We also decided to correct the dorsal hump through osteotomy while leaving my nostril wings untouched.

The doctor explained that bruising and swelling could last longer because of the osteotomy, but reassured me that the procedure could help improve the dorsal hump and crooked appearance while creating a nasal line that suited my face and preferences.

After the consultation, I debated whether I should visit other clinics since RU Plastic Surgery was the very first clinic I had consulted.

But I had such a strong feeling that this was the right place, and I really trusted the doctor. So I decided to book my surgery right away!

(Even now, I think that was such a great decision!)

On the day of surgery, I arrived at the clinic after fasting as instructed. The doctor carefully marked and designed my nose before I went into surgery at around 12 PM.

Waking up from general anesthesia was a little difficult, but surprisingly, my nose wasn't very painful. The area where my rib cartilage was harvested actually hurt much more.

After seeing the doctor and the counseling manager, I went home to rest. The following day, I returned to the clinic to have the nasal packing removed.

Once the packing was removed, breathing became a little easier, although it was still frustrating because I wasn't allowed to blow my nose.

During the first week, the hardest parts were resisting the itchiness under my nasal splint, taking my medication regularly, dealing with pain around the rib cartilage donor site, and managing my runny nose.

Still, I made sure to apply my ointment, use cold compresses, and take walks whenever possible to help reduce the swelling.

(Walking is really important!!! It was too hot during the day, so instead of going outside, I wore acupressure slippers while doing housework and walked for over an hour at night.)

At my one-week follow-up, the nasal splint was removed, along with the stitches on my nasal tip and rib cartilage donor site.

I was instructed to keep Steri-Strips on the rib cartilage incision area for about a month.

The doctor explained that the septal perforation had turned out to be quite large during surgery, so they couldn't place an internal splint near the nasal tip. Because of this, I could expect more swelling than usual and needed to continue managing it carefully with cold compresses.

He also told me that the overall shape of my nose had turned out well, which was a huge relief!

I had been worried about sebum building up under the splint, but thankfully, there wasn't as much as I expected.

At my two-week follow-up, the remaining transparent dissolvable stitches inside my nose were removed, and I had another chance to ask the doctor several questions.

I asked whether I would need another surgery if the dorsal hump still appeared prominent after the swelling went down.

The doctor explained that my swelling might take longer to subside than usual, but if a slight irregularity remained afterward, we could consider a dermal filler injection to smooth out the area.

I also asked whether my nostrils would become more symmetrical once the swelling around my nose improved, along with several other questions I had been curious about.

My next follow-up appointment is scheduled for the one-month mark.

I'm already excited to see how much more my nose will improve by then!

After having the remaining stitches inside my nose removed, everything feels a little more comfortable.

Since I still can't blow my nose, I've been doing nasal rinses every morning and evening, which has made my daily life much easier!

I'm now almost three weeks post-op, and I'm feeling really grateful to Dr. Hyun Joo Kim at RU Plastic Surgery! ????????