Your writeup is really helpful and useful. I'm going to meet him next week. Did you do just the tip or both bridge+tip ? For me I am going to just do the tip mostly but undecided about goretex.
Some questions I hope you can advice me:
1. Why was the op in Tri-service instead of KN hospital where you met him for consultation? Is it better?
2. How is operating room environment in Tri-service? Modern, clean, safe, well-lighted or very dim?, etc, etc?
3. How does your goretex and ear cartilage feel now? Any lingering sensation like as if there is some foreign object stuck in the nose feeling?
4. You mentioned you were awake while being operated. Did you not get any IV sedation through your veins? Or he gave only LA?
5. Who administered the LA? Dr Kao? The nurse?
6. What kind of anti-swelling medicine did you get. Was any ice-pack given by Dr Kao?
7. How much swelling was there at the tip?
8. How would you rate your overall experience with Dr Kao and the results of the op out of 5 stars?
Pardon my ignorance for asking as its going to be my first time doing this. Getting goose bumps already.
Hear from you soon. Cheers, M
TreeHugger wrote:Since I have time, i'll write up about what happened since this forum has been so much help to me.
I arrived on the morning of the 22nd and had my consultation that afternoon. Took the MRT to Kangning, was pretty convenient, kind of got lost but it wasn't too bad. You then had to register for your consultation downstairs and wait on the 2nd floor to see Dr. Kao.
I was about the 2nd last person to have a consultation with him, and it was nearing the end of his consultation time. He was still very patient with me though. Showed me past surgeries, took my picture, did a virtual transformation, etc.
I didn't bring any pictures with me, but we seemed to be on the same page about what nose would suit my face. I trust his aesthetic opinion. I used goretex and ear cartilage. The consultation took about 20 minutes. I didn't really ask any questions. We scheduled the surgery date for the 23rd morning at Tri-Service. He wrote down the directions for me and gave me a number to call if I got lost. He also arranged for me to meet with an english speaking nurse, Cherry.
So, I took the MRT to Kunyang MRT station then took the free shuttle bus to Tri-Service (takes about 20 minutes), but the bus only comes once every 30 minutes. The hospital is pretty big, so it's quite easy to get lost. I met with Cherry, and then waited for Dr.Kao. The cosmetic place is very nicely decorated, with a T.V, magazines, etc. He had his apprentice?.. or student? with him. He showed me the goretex that he uses (showing that it's sterile and stuff) and we went over my pictures and about the nose I wanted by looking through a magazine. I also got some pills to take before the surgery for the pain.
Dr.Kao went to go get changed and I went with Cherry to get my EKG. They said I didn't need a blood test since I was healthy and everything. I then put on the gown, slippers and hair net thing then proceeded into the operating room.
It was pretty freaky, tbh. I felt like I was getting butchered, they had my pictures taped on the cabinet and he also had the magazine picture for reference. If any of you watch Dexter, I felt like I was about to get murdered with the pictures on the side and stuff. I definitely do not want to go through another surgery.
So, I laid down and had local injected in my nose (through my gums) and my ears. Which is kind of uncomfortable. I sometimes felt the liquid go down my throat (or was that blood?) Dr.Kao will ask if it hurts if he senses that you are uncomfortable. I had to tell him it hurts many times throughout the surgery and got more local injected. They had to keep getting more vials.. maybe i'm really sensitive? The most painful part was when he was working with the septal cartilage. It was like an 8/10 on the pain scale. Kind of like getting your wisdom tooth pulled out.
I have no idea how long the surgery took, maybe 2.5-3 hours. I was awake the whole time, couldn't sleep. I was just checking out the blackheads on my nose while they were operating T_T
After the surgery, the nurses let me stay in the lobby with an ice pack and gauze for the bleeding. We scheduled the follow up meeting and went over the directions for the medication. Cherry also gave me her personal cellphone number if there was an emergency. I rested there for an hour and took the bus and MRT back to my apartment place. I was very tired and ended up sleeping for 12 hours once I got back.
Today I feel fine, nose is a bit runny. No bruises, just some swelling around the bridge. My eyes are a lot more pulled in now due to the surgery and the swelling, I kind of like it. I went out sightseeing today, no big deal.
Long post, but I hope it helps.