Other Anxiety and emotional stress from a rhinoplasty surgery 7 years ago

[Lucycat]

Hi,
Was the original rhinoplasty done for medical reasons or as a cosmetic procedure? I am guessing that you had it done in Hungary as it was not available on the NHS?

My brother had an NHS rhinoplasty as a child for congenital nose deformity, and he still has a wonky nose to this day - but at least he can breathe through it now. For him that was the priority.

It concerns me that you would be prepared to undergo further surgery - which is never without risk. I think you should complete the CBT and any other therapy your therapist advises before embarking on more risky interventions.

 

[SLisa]

Hello,

Thank you for your message- Yes, it was for cosmetic purposes. I had a low self-esteem and social difficulty at school.

I'll definitely continue with therapy, which I'm currently receiving once a week, at the moment that is EDMR. And any other therapies that might follow.

I'm very apprehensive about further surgery. It's an area that must be tread very carefully. It has now been 7 years but I've been too afraid to go down that route. The way my nose was left from the first surgery has been dragging me down psychologically. I want to place my energy on fully working through my understandings into why that is.

To be able to breathe through the nose is priority. I'm so thankful I can breathe through it. It's the thing people take for granted when they are carried away with thoughts about improving other aspects. I remember when I perceived my hearing to be lost in one ear for 2 weeks, which turned out to be for another reason, When it returned, I was so happy and my depression/anxiety lifted. Something 'reset'. Our senses are incredible! It's important to start from a place of gratitude.

 

[littleoc]

I’ve had a weird amount of experience with people who lost their face, which I absolutely won’t get into — but I will say that it caused them all identity crises. I’m not sure if that fits your description (it definitely wouldn’t in the same way), but I do know that there is more to a person than their face.

Were you bullied a lot about your nose before the surgery? If I may ask? No need to answer of course.

Glad you’re getting help. You deserve a good life no matter what you look like

 

[SLisa]

That's very interesting what you've observed from your experience.

It does feel that its interfered somehow with my self-identity or realisation. It could be quite common for people who've lost a part of themselves in some way. Maybe an unsought event, or by choice (altering their body parts/face with surgery).
We also go through changes with age, and I've found it hard to adjust to both.

I wasn't bullied by a particular person or group in school, but more name-calling and remarks, from different people, which happened many times over a few years. I should've been more resilient but I would dwell on them.

Thank you so much. Yes we all do. I suppose with our faces, we tell each other apart and create a quick judgement when meeting a new person. But its on the surface and can only have so much meaning, and mostly its associated with perception. Other than the signs of nature, such as age, race, good health, which is a separate feature to be appreciated but not so relating to their true quality. There is, relatively, SO much more to a person- that's within. And could be much more interesting.

 

[SLisa]

I thought I would just add a photo link to this post to illustrate. (They show my nose before and after).