Just had FFS with Dr. Zukowski in Chicago at 6:30 AM on March 3rd at age 22 and 11 months (been on hormones for overv5 years).Nearing the 24 hour mark and just woke up at 2:25 on March 4th. Wanting o get this out while it's fresh to help other people. There is a LOT I wondered about that I could never find online, so expect details and to possibly hear graphic stuff that might upset you.
First, Dr. Zukowski is a really awesome guy. He's funny and sweet and clever and makes you feel so at home and taken care of even from that FIRST consultation. Dr. Zukowski quoted me three procedures. They are as follows:
Brow contouring, $5,000
Feminizing rhinoplasty, $3,500
Fat graft to cheeks, upper lip, and nasolabial folds, $1,500
With anesthesia and facility fees, the full quote on that was $15,000
Mainly due to anxiety over having both brow work and not feeling much insecurity over my brow, I decided not to do the brow...this time around. You ARE supposed to do them together, but Dr. Z said doing them in steps is fine, too. I may decide to come back and get brow work done...I may not. But the two main areas that bothered me were nose and lips. So that's what I did this time around.
I will say later why I really thanked myself for that decision!
I'll skip the boring stuff in between scheduling and surgery. Just a lot of waiting and communicating with the lovely Cole and Michelle, who you'll meet later if you do decide to go with Dr. Z.
When I got to the clinic, I made a rough decision. I wore no makeup at any time and kept my hair pulled back. I dressed very simply, in a UNI t-shirt and jeans. I wanted the doctor to see me totally unfiltered and I think that was important. The first day was fine. You sign about a million papers. But then there are the photographs.
That may upset you. They take them at all the worst angles...about a million of them. With and without flash. But this part of the process is important. Dr. Z needs to see what he's working with. At this point, your face WILL change, so don't worry what you look like in the pics! That's why you're there...to let Dr. Z heal you.
After the pictures you have a brief consultation where Dr. Z will tell you everything HE thinks is wrong with your face. But then also say what he thinks is the bare minimum change. For me, it really, really was my nose which was very prominent and wonky from most angles. He will NOT pressure you into any surgery you don't want. He's very informational, confident and unemotional at this stage.
Expect to have your face touched a lot and moved and manipulated. And to be called sweet nicknames!
When you go back to your hotel, there are important instructions to follow. I stopped eating basically right away because I wanted no risk in surgery. I remembered popping an adderall about a month ago when I had to write an essay and super regretted and worried about that right up to the pee test (all clear). Do yourself a favor, avoid ALL drugs as far in advance as possible...or just all the time!
When I got to the clinic there were more forms. I met the anesthesiologist who was not as personable as Dr. Z by a mile. I met the nurses, who were amazing. More on them in a minute. I peed in a cup, again, passed. I had privacy for that part. You're alone in a bathroom for it.
Then they had a team meeting where they discussed with each other what they were going to do and Dr. Z from that minute on to listen and do what I'm asked and not try to make suggestions, so I listened. They made me use the restroom one last time, then took me to the OR room.
I had to lie on the bed. They took my hair tie out and washed my hair, but I was asleep for that. They hooked me up to a bunch of machines. Don't be modest. When they were hooking me up, they basically saw everything frontal. It's awkward if you make it awkward, so don't make it awkward! They are all highly sensitive and make sure you know that it's all for a good reason. They stuck an IV in my arm and honestly, I don't remember falling asleep.
The next thing I remember is feeling like I was waking up from a dream in my own bed and Dr. Zukowski telling me where I was and yelling and everyone trying to hold me down from touching my nose. My pain was about a 10. They moved me from the OR to the recovery room.
My throat was on fire from the tube. I could barely speak my lips were killing me. My nose was packed and painful and unbreathable. I was FREEZING from the anesthesia and they gave me a heated blanket. Again, don't be modest at this point or shy. Don't try to cover up, DO tell them what you need.
At this point, I have to compliment his amazing staff. There were two nurses. The one I interacted with most was from Romania. I remember at one point I was super claustrophobic and one of the ladies held my hand and it made me feel so much more grounded.
The Romanian lady (I can't remember her name) was very kind and patient. She gave me everything I needed to feel comfortable. She spoke softly, told me everything looked great. She really is fantastic at her job, so if you get her for your recovery, you're in luck.
They gave me fentanyl for the pain which helped immediately, but I got high, hallucinated a bit, and broke out on my breasts. They made a note that I was potentially allergic. Be sure to share any medical allergies with them beforehand. This was my first surgery and first time on painmeds, so I couldn't do anything but guess.
The next hour passed like 5 continuous minutes. As in, I felt aware of the entire period, but when she told me I'd been awake for an hour, it felt like it had only been 5 minutes. It was crazy. They had a little suction thing for the spit because it's hard to swallow but try to relearn it while you're there. That way, it'll be comfier at home.
The nurse helped me get dressed, which again...was awkward only because I made it awkward. I was feeling very feisty again by that time and was determined to get dressed myself but she insisted. She wheeled me out to my brother, read over my instructions with him, and wheeled me out to the car.
Make sure, make sure, make sure that you have someone amazing to support you for this part like I did with my brother. He is a true saint of a man for joining me. You're going to feel really funky, but you should have a lot of supplies and prescription meds to help you feel better. I'm still taking the oral tramadol and it helps without doping me up much at all. The Valium makes me dopier.
My brother has helped me with everything though, and I swear I've never appreciated him more. I plan on purchasing a very legitimate "thank you" gift for him, so budget for that. Whoever takes you deserves it.
All in all, the experience isn't so bad but I think it would have been pretty unbearable if I had more done. I think I'd be freaking out, actually. I get claustrophobic so doing it in steps like this lets me 1, see if I feel I even need it afterward and 2, break up the recovery into something more manageable and less hellish.
I haven't really gotten to see my results yet. My lips are extremely swollen still. BUT, I can tell my nose is smaller and swoopier and I'm super excited about that! Definitely can't wait to get the cast off. Dr. Z is coming by to remove the packing today. In about 12hours here. Excited to be able to breathe a bit better.
I will post pics of every step of the way when I'm more recovered...the good, the bad and the ugly! So if you're interested, check back for that. Wishing you all the best and your own speedy recoveries!!!
