LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Dear Dr. Lam,

I had a nose job about 1.5 week ago and now a lot of the swelling has disappeared. However, my nose looks incredibly round and bulbous right now and it makes me really miserable. I'm beginning to suspect that it was the alarplasty that I underwent that caused this bulbous look. It seems like my alar has been overstraightened ... I did some research (if only I had done it earlier!) and found many alarplasty before-and-after photos with the post-op nose looking just like mine! My surgeon also inserted a really large implant and I'm not sure whether the sheer size of it contributes to this roundness. If it were the implant then I could just have it removed. But if it was the alarplasty, what can I do? Is alarplasty even reversible? (I read that tissues have been taken out...so maybe that's not likely). Is there any way I could get my old nose back (I know it's not attractive, but it's not as unnatural as this...) or have a not-so-bulbous nose? If so, when would be the earliest possible time to do the revision? I'd really, really appreciate any suggestions you could give me at this point. I know I should wait a few extra weeks to see the results, but I doubt any miracle is going to happen... I've seen many people's post-op photos and none looks as unnatural as mine at 1.5 week. If only I read your advice in the other thread about the difficulties with nasal base narrowing....


Best wishes and Happy New Year!
Yeu

Pre-OP



Post-OP 1.5 week

first, thank you for your bravery and honesty of posting your results. your photos will probably help countless patients understand some of my unswerving principles in rhinoplasty, especially when it comes to African-American, some Hispanic, and Asian noses. I would not despair. Usually at 1.5 weeks out it is always better advice not to take mine but to ask your surgeon's. I would ask the same fairness if I had an unhappy patient with my work. I would want that surgeon to send him/her back to me to help counsel him or her about what is going on. I can only speak in broad strokes and say that an alar base is hard to reverse. However, your physician may work with you at this time on how to help your recovery process. I promise that if things don't go well for you we can talk about how to make things better maybe in a couple of months when things are beginning to heal and you begin to adapt to your changes. for the first couple of months, you should be in dialogue with your surgeon. best wishes for this coming new year. i look forward to help you in the coming months if you require my services.
thanks again for the post,
sml

To the Rhinoplasty patient.... I'm not dr. lam but i had a huge nose before a rhinoplasty 2 years ago (before I met dr. lam, so it was a completely different dr. just to be clear). i had an alar reduction too, but no implants. My nose took 18 months to get to its final state. It's pretty normal for swelling to take so long. Top 3rd of nose will deswell the quickest and then middle third and then tip the last (most tissue stuff is in bulb). So don't despair. I found myself OFTEN driving down the road looking at my nose in the rear view mirror, gasping at the size and position of my nose, figuring my life was over because of the rhinoplasty (ha)... that's really a safe driving practice of course. Nose is fine now. Nose deswelling is the longest process (versus fat transfer deswelling - see my other post - which is very quick).

thank you. that is a nice response, professor!
sml

Thank you, Dr. Lam and profwho, for your helpful and kind responses. I really appreciate it.
All I'm left with is hope now.... I'm feeling unwell and cry a lot (yes, for a male!) when I think about the fact that all this may be irreversible. The nose doesn't look so bulbous when I look into the mirror, but when I use a camera to do a flashlight frontal, it looks so ridiculous that I immediately burst in tears. The alar seems to have been fused together with the tip... I guess that's the way most people will perceive my nose, especially if they're looking at it from a certain distance. When I look into the mirror myself I see a lot of details, so the nose doesn't look too bulbous. But other people won't see those details. They'll just see a big, round nose!

I shouldn't have had a problem with my nose in the first place... it looks flared but that's just who I am. Now I don't know how to face my mom and dad and explain to them about all this......

I can only hope this is swelling. If the nose stays like this, what would you think is the thing I should do, Dr. Lam? Maybe I couldn't get my old nose back, but from your response, I gather there is still some cosmetic procedure that I could have to reduce the bulbous look? My surgeon has not responded to my email at all. Maybe he's just busy, or this is new year...

Anyway, thank you so much for the kind responses. Happy New Year!

Let's wait on my response. Again, it is not fair for me to respond this early on. I will help you after your surgeon has a chance first. It is the only right and ethical thing to do at this point. It is not just for you. This is my rule on this forum.
best,
sml

Thank you, Dr. Lam, I understand this is the rule of the forum.

I have temporarily removed my photos from the post above, because I'm not quite sure it's going to stay like this. I will repost my photos after a decent amount of time to give people a better idea of the results.

Thanks again!

no problem.
best,
sml

Hi there, I know it has been a while so how did your nose turn out? I really believe I am in the same situation as you were in

that post was some time ago. we'll see if she responds.
best,
sml

Hi, All.
I am in the same exact situation too. I had rhinoplasty almost 2 weeks ago. and I am so worried if it is the final result...

2 weeks is always too early to judge. if you have questions, always ask your surgeon so that he/she can alleviate your concerns.
best,
sml