Post-op questions!

[Sybil]

I have some questions that are a bit easier to ask other FFS patients than my surgery team. You know, both because I don't want to drive them crazy and because there's something comforting about hearing it from another woman in this situation.

For what it's worth, I am 30 years old and have very elastic skin (around age 24 or 25). If you have any insight on how this might relate to questions, please do include it!

1. When can you properly see again? It's been a week and I still have a difficult time seeing 10 feet in front of me, especially in low light.

2. For anyone who used to have a huge nose: how drastic was the change in size? Did your nose seem huge post-op due to swelling, but then wind up being a size you could appreciate? Or did your nose shrink only a little?

3. When did the lingering feeling of a heavy head congestion (if you had it) go away? It makes sleep very difficult for me and I find it otherwise very debilitating. It feels like it's not getting any better, whereas everything else is.

4. If you had full FFS, which areas did you feel were the worst swellers?

5. Is it okay to sleep on your side? If so, can it slow down swelling recovery? I can't seem to sleep on my back. Combined with the head congestion, I've been getting maybe 5 hours of (very interrupted) sleep each night.

[deeiche]

I have some questions that are a bit easier to ask other FFS patients than my surgery team. You know, both because I don't want to drive them crazy and because there's something comforting about hearing it from another woman in this situation.

For what it's worth, I am 30 years old and have very elastic skin (around age 24 or 25). If you have any insight on how this might relate to questions, please do include it!

1. When can you properly see again? It's been a week and I still have a difficult time seeing 10 feet in front of me, especially in low light.

Had surgery on a Wed, swelling was pretty bad until Sunday.  Monday I left the apt to get some food at the nearest Carrefour Express.  On Tuesday went for a long walk around financial district / dock area.

2. For anyone who used to have a huge nose: how drastic was the change in size? Did your nose seem huge post-op due to swelling, but then wind up being a size you could appreciate? Or did your nose shrink only a little?

3. When did the lingering feeling of a heavy head congestion (if you had it) go away? It makes sleep very difficult for me and I find it otherwise very debilitating. It feels like it's not getting any better, whereas everything else is.

I'm 4 months post-op and I still have occasional head congestion.  However at around 3 weeks I was breathing pretty well.

4. If you had full FFS, which areas did you feel were the worst swellers?

Cheeks, I had lots of soft tissue work done, including fat transfer to my cheeks.  I looked like a chipmunk for weeks.  :-)

5. Is it okay to sleep on your side? If so, can it slow down swelling recovery? I can't seem to sleep on my back. Combined with the head congestion, I've been getting maybe 5 hours of (very interrupted) sleep each night.

While I was in Buenos Aires I had hair transplants ~ 4 weeks post FFS.  I ended up sleeping on my back for about 6 weeks.  I am a side sleeper, so really hated it.  Occasionally I would get a good night sleep because I was exhausted.  Also, I live in rural suburbia, so all the city street noise ( no matter how "quiet" it was at night ) really bothered me.  Once I returned home I slept much better.

[Sybil]

Thank you for the replies, deeiche! It sounds like you had more energy a bit sooner. My head congestion is making me feel like I don't have any. I think the guiltiest part of it is my right nostril, which seems to still have a lot of dried things in it (the left one cleared up suddenly in the shower today). The left part of my head now feels amazing and the right part feels awful, lol.

I'm in a similar position with location. I'm right in the heart of Palermo, and they are doing construction. Definitely can't sleep during the day. Dogs bark at all hours. People are up partying until 3AM. It takes some getting used to.

I find myself shifting to my side in my sleep, unable to help it. I asked my surgeon if it was okay to sleep on my side and he said it was, but I still worry. Esp. b/c the right side of my face is considerably more swollen than the left, and that's the side I find myself waking up on all the time.

Thank you again!

[Jannicke]

Hello Sybil,

I would like to provide you with some answers, but it would be helpful if you could inform me about what surgical procedures you've carried out.

All the best

Jannicke

[deeiche]

Thank you for the replies, deeiche! It sounds like you had more energy a bit sooner. My head congestion is making me feel like I don't have any. I think the guiltiest part of it is my right nostril, which seems to still have a lot of dried things in it (the left one cleared up suddenly in the shower today). The left part of my head now feels amazing and the right part feels awful, lol.

Get some saline solution from Farmacity to irrigate your nose.  I had quite a bit of dried blood on both sides, regular flushing with saline solution really helped clear my nose.  Also, in addition to rhinoplasty I also had right nasal valve repair procedure to correct a long standing right nasal issue.  It has taken quite awhile for swelling on my right side to clear up.

I'm in a similar position with location. I'm right in the heart of Palermo, and they are doing construction. Definitely can't sleep during the day. Dogs bark at all hours. People are up partying until 3AM. It takes some getting used to.

Oh, that would suck.  My apt was located in the CBD, most apts were used as offices, very little neighbor noise out of business hours.  My main issue was street traffic noise.

I find myself shifting to my side in my sleep, unable to help it. I asked my surgeon if it was okay to sleep on my side and he said it was, but I still worry. Esp. b/c the right side of my face is considerably more swollen than the left, and that's the side I find myself waking up on all the time.

I used an inflatable travel pillow when I slept to keep from sleeping on my side.  I hated it, but it worked.  Perhaps MdM staff can locate one for you.

Thank you again!

[Sybil]

Hello Sybil,

I would like to provide you with some answers, but it would be helpful if you could inform me about what surgical procedures you've carried out.

All the best

Jannicke

Forehead Remodeling
Orbital Remodeling
Rhinoplasty (and some internal work very similar to what deeiche described)
Cheek Implants
Hairline Advance (in the corners only)
Chin Remodeling
Jaw Remodeling


Lots of osteotomies all around, not just shaving. The intensity involved in having all of those done and the associated swelling has just left me bursting with questions and concerns. I am really worried that the size of my nose and my sinus projection will not deflate as much as I'd like, although I am assured they will be. MDM told me that the swelling in those areas was pretty extreme, and I do trust him.

It's just really difficult not to be anxious, esp. as the swelling in other places comes down and makes those look even bigger.

@deeiche

I do have some saline solution! My nose seems to be very stubborn about clearing on the right side, though. Maybe because of what was done and also because that side is smaller on the inside.

As for the pillow, I don't think I can manage it. I was depending on my boyfriend to come and he just kind of disappeared and dropped all communication (don't want to get into that). I am scraping by until I can get back home. I do some times use a second pillow on my side, though, and it helps a little bit I think.