Allow me to introduce myself. My name is 'M' and, I created this web page
to inform others of the procedure and to document my progress.
Let me start out by stating what was wrong with my original nose. Like most rhino patients
I was constantly teased about my big, troll-like nose. It was wide and bolbous with a boxy tip. I dreaded having my pictures
taken, let alone see them! OH the horror!!! It seemed it would pop out at me. I remember getting my proofs back from my senior
picture photo session. I refused to let my mother buy them. Those pics made me think, "wow, do I really look that bad?" I
had to do something!
I had been researching the procedure for several years. I went to about five consultations
in my area, none of the surgeons specialized in rhino. I finally had the guts (and money) to finally do it! But who will
be the lucky surgeon? I knew I wanted a specialist since I heard rhino is THE hardest cosmetic surgery to perform, even
for the best of surgeons.
I went with a well known doctor, Dr. Toriumi in Chicago IL. I heard he was "The Best" and after
consulting with several plastic surgeons here in Michigan I decided to find out for myself.
I drove about 5 hours for a consultation and immediatly after I walked out of his office I got
a gut feeling I had to have "The Best"! His before and after photos were amazing! The game plan was to rasp the small bump
on the bridge, shorten the length, slim and round off the boxy-bolbous tip using a spreader graft, collumella strut to prevent
tip drooping, and also put cartilage in my nostrils to prevent them from collapsing. He did not reduce my nostrils as I suggested because
he wasn't sure that I needed it. He did say that if I did want it later on he can perform an in office procedure to reduce
them.
You will find a lot of info about my surgery in my Rhinoplasty Journal and by following my
progress on the photo page.
08/23/03: Sorry it's been so long since I updated the site!! I
just went to my 4 1/2 post op visit a few weeks ago. Dr. T says my swelling has gone down a lot, but I'm not there yet. These
pics are taken at five months. I did get my pictures taken at the office, but I have not received a copy yet. When I do I
will update.
08/04/04: WOW! It has been almost a year since I have updated this
site!! I am so sorry! I have been going through a lot of tough times in the past year-nothing to do with my nose, that is
going PERFECT! I have refined so, so much since my last photos were taken. Unfortunately, I haven't been taking photos like
I should. Right now I am aproximately one year and four months post op. My tip has narrowed quite a bit, and at my last appointment
a few months ago Dr. T said it has a little ways to go. Check out my journal for more info on my current status!
08/01/06
I am over 3 years post op now. 110% happy with my results. I don't even think about my nose now, like it
has always been a part of me. It totally changed my life (my rhinoplasty). I feel better about myself and I know I probably
wouldn't have been as confident in life with the "old nose". It was a risk I am glad I took. Research is key, people! I would
recommend Dr. Toriumi over any other surgeon. Sure, he isn't the cheapest, but this is your face! Don't mess around or you're
bound to be unhappy. Go with the gut, it will never steer you wrong. Good luck and Aloha!
07/21/11
Hello there, me again... I am about nine years post op and my nose is still refining! I am still happy with my "new"
nose, but what Dr. T says on his website is spot on--my nose is definitely getting narrower as the years fly by. The side
view looks the same, but the front view has changed slightly from the last photos I took. Keep that in mind as you're waiting patiently for the swelling to go down. The tip is not perfectly symmetrical anymore, but come to think of it I don't think it was
pre-op either. This has little to do with Dr T, however. It's mostly the way your body heals, so essentially the healing may
be damaging my "perfect" nose job. If I ever do need a revision I am pretty sure I would revisit Dr. T, but I hope it stops
refining already so I will never have to!
