Melissa's Rhinoplasty Journal

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa and I am 21 years old. 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 bulbous 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 5 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 to do it? 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 immediately 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-bulbous tip using a spreader graft, columella 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 since it is an easy in office procedure and he wasn't sure that I needed it.

You will find a lot of info about my surgery in my Rhinoplasty Journal and by following my progress on the photo page. If you have any questions AT ALL please e-mail me at Sexxychickn@hotmail.com. I want to help as many others as possible! Feel free to e-mail your comments as well! 

I am 1 month post op! Yeah!! Still looks swollen, but I know in a couple more months I will start to see real progress. I will post 1 month photos soon, but looks pretty much the same as the 3 week pic. Some days/times are better than others. Keep e-mailing your feedback, I really appreciate it.

For more updates, please visit Melissa's website at: http://melissanmi.tripod.com/ 

Computer Imaging With Toriumi

Before & 3 weeks after