We asked an influencer: What is it like to get a nose job?

Mar 9 2020, 3:00 pm

Cosmetic surgery used to be a word reserved for celebrities and the tabloids. But now, the world of fillers, injectables, and skin treatments is accessible to everyone — and you’ve probably scrolled past a dozen different treatments on your Instagram feed today alone.

But the truth is, “plastic surgery” isn’t the scary buzzword it used to be, and more and more people are turning to these procedures to live their best lives and feel like their best selves.

Vancouver-based lifestyle influencer and digital marketing manager Ashley Nicholson has experienced this on a personal level.

“My biggest insecurity growing up was always my nose. When I became a content creator, I became more aware of it and all of my angles,” Nicholson told Daily Hive.

After years of struggling with confidence, she made the decision to look into getting a nose job — AKA rhinoplasty. But it was important to her to work with a doctor who could achieve the results she desired while staying true to who she is.

That’s why it’s key to choose the right doctor, go in with the right expectations, and ask the right questions.

But first, what are the right questions?

Ashley Nicholson and Dr. Thomas Buonassisi/8 West Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Skin Clinic

The marketing manager wanted to make sure she was seeing an expert who she could trust, and so she sat down with Dr. Thomas Buonassisi at 8 West Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Skin Clinic for what she described as an “eye-opening” consultation.

Dr. Buonassisi is a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has specialized in surgery of the nose, eyes, face, neck, and ears for over 20 years, and he was able to make recommendations specifically suited to Nicholson’s face shape. He also explained that there are non-surgical aesthetic treatments that can be used to alter your nose shape, such as through fillers.

“I was surprised to learn how many factors are considered when it comes to an aesthetically pleasing nose,” Nicholson explained. “I wanted a smaller nose, but that actually meant a reduction of my bridge, upward rotation and reshaping of the tip itself. Through computer imaging, I was able to see the changes, and that part was pretty exciting.”

Through the discussion, Nicholson and her surgeon decided that rhinoplasty was the best option for her. So, Nicholson booked her surgery and anxiously awaited the big day.

What to expect from recovery

Wondering what the recovery process was like? Nicholson reported that it was “a little rough” because she couldn’t breathe through her nose at first and had to sleep propped up. However, once that passed, she had no issues (other than what she called a mild embarrassment walking her dogs with two black eyes and a cast).

One week post-surgery, she was back at 8 West Clinic for her first follow-up appointment and to have her cast removed. “When we took Ashley’s cast off, it was very close to the images that we’d initially generated, so she was really excited and, of course, I was pleased, as well,” said Dr. Buonassisi.

“I couldn’t believe it was my own face in the mirror. I don’t think I heard a word Dr. Buonassisi said to me after the cast came off,” Nicholson added.

Now, months later, she says she appreciates the fact that she still feels like herself — just with a little more confidence.

“Since a big part of my job is shooting and posting photos of myself, I used to be really conscious of situations where I didn’t have control of the camera,” she explained. “Now, I feel comfortable being photographed by other people, and I have more angles to work with.”

Knowing the options… and limitations

Although cosmetic rhinoplasty can create dramatic transformations in a person’s appearance, Dr. Buonassisi cautions that it has significant impacts and real limitations.

“It is not possible to change all nasal features and as a result, there is a limit to how much a person can change their particular nose,” he explained. “The resiliency of cartilage, the orientation of the surrounding facial bones and the thickness of the nasal skin all contribute to the appearance of the nose.

“So, you probably can’t have any nose you want, but you can have an improved version of yours that with the appropriate expectations, you will be very happy with.”

Nicholson’s top tip for anyone considering rhinoplasty? “Making sure you’re with an experienced surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty will take so much of the stress away, because you’ll know that you’re in good hands.”

If you’re considering making a change just like Nicholson, click here to learn more about rhinoplasty and other surgical and non-surgical options. You can also download a free copy of Dr. Buonassisi’s Essential Guide to Rhinoplasty here.

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