Saddle nose/ rhinoplasty

[twigtitus]

Hey guys,

Today I saw my ENT doctor today and he's finally cleared me for getting my nose rebuilt! He's refereed me to another specialist and I'm waiting for my appointment. I'm just here to get any advice/information that I can from those of you that have gone through the same issues/surgery. I don't really know what to expect so any information would be great! Also if you've got any before/after photos I'd be very thankful!

[pberggren1]

As long as you are confident in your doc I think it should be fine. May I ask why you are having your nose rebuilt?

[twigtitus]

I haven't met him yet so I'm unsure about everything which is why I'm asking here.

I'm having my nose rebuilt because there is no longer any cartilage within my nose, just bone. As well as it causing issues with my breathing, I've had enough of people assuming I like to have a good fight or have a cocaine problem or sometimes both! :)

[pberggren1]

Ask freakygirl on here, she had it done. I know a few others have had it done as well with success.

[Alysia]

Hi,
I think there are some threads about it. In the future, when I will be in remission I might consider doing this surgery too. although it can be risky. so I hope to get as much as info about it as possible....
Samantha, are you around ?

[annekat]

I would consider it someday if I'm in remission and have the money, since I can breathe fine and it would be a cosmetic issue. At my age, 61, it is not as much of an issue as in a younger person, and my glasses disguise it pretty well, but I am fully sympathetic to anyone who would rather have the nose they were born with than the one Wegs gave them.

[Julbkwrm]

I have yet to go in remission, so I will probably not have surgery soon. I understand your predicament. I also have no septum left, and now I need a CPAP machine at night, but my glasses hide my saddle nose most of the time. My ENT is also a plartic surgeon, so I have the best of both worlds. He also said it would not be cosmetic it is a reconstuction from a pre-existing condition, so it should be covered.

[annekat]

I have yet to go in remission, so I will probably not have surgery soon. I understand your predicament. I also have no septum left, and now I need a CPAP machine at night, but my glasses hide my saddle nose most of the time. My ENT is also a plartic surgeon, so I have the best of both worlds. He also said it would not be cosmetic it is a reconstuction from a pre-existing condition, so it should be covered. Hmm... I guess I could look into that aspect of it.... I don't have much of a septum either, except for what is left of the bony part.. actually I don't even have a clue what it looks like in there. I know that the cartilage dropped, so that it no longer provides a bridge for my nose, but I don't known where it went, or if it is still in there, but just dropped! Maybe Wegs just ate it up. My original damage was a hole in the bony part that made the cartilage become unattached from the bone. My ENT said the hole was pretty far up in the bony part and quite small at the time of my nasal biopsy. I'm sure I have a limited understanding of the progression of it.

[rhinoplastyindia123]

To understand the rhinoplasty cost it is first important to briefly understand what the surgery entails. Rhinoplasty is a relatively safe plastic surgery procedure that is performed under anesthesia by a plastic or cosmetic surgeon

[Dirty Don]

Welcome rhino, are you a doc, patient, advisor or what? Hope you're not an 'or what'! Your statement, while nice, is hardly informative to this group. Share more as you see fit, best to you.

[annekat]

Don is right. Rhinoplasty for the general public and rhinoplasty for people with Wegener's Granulomatosis involve two different sets of considerations. Understanding the cost is of interest, but what is more important is that the doc performing the procedure understands our disease, is experienced with WG patients, and knows that this cannot be done at just any time on a WG patient, if at all. And we need to know more about who you are and why you are posting here.

[cjhnsn29]

Twig I am having the Same problem you are with the nose. I need to have rebuilt Dr's won't okay it right now. I am also like you people are thinking I am doing cocaine also and it's getting me upset especially when you are sick to begin with. My husband laughs and says there's no way she's not peppy enough and we don't have the money lol. My Dr said before we go through all that nose surgery I have to show progress because if it doesn't work then it could make my face worse. I would love to get it fixed but it has to be clear of any infections

[annekat]

I am glad I wear glasses, because they hide my saddle nose. Recently I had to get a new driver's license picture, and their new policy is to have people take their glasses off for the pic. Rats! That stressed me out quite a bit. Now, if I get pulled over, the cop will look at my pic and think I'm a druggie. In actuality, the pic is small and they probably won't look at it that closely. But still.... it looks weird. Perhaps you could get a pair of glasses with little or no correction in the lenses, or as much as you might need? I am afraid, though, that no correction would mean flat lenses, which would be kind of obvious when light reflected off them. Maybe there's a way to work around that. No lenses, maybe? No, that would look weird, too. I'm grasping at straws, here.

[cjhnsn29]

Anne thats too much you sound like me. I wear glasses for the same reason. People don't see my saddle nose as much.

[annekat]

Anne thats too much you sound like me. I wear glasses for the same reason. People don't see my saddle nose as much. Ha! I wear them because I need them to see, but it's true that I used to wear contacts and would NEVER consider wearing them now! And these days, glasses can be quite stylish.

[cjhnsn29]

Anne I saw where you said getting your nose fixed is cosmetic, my Dr said when it's time for my saddle nose surgery that insurance would cover it, due to it being medical. Dr said if it's worded just right.

[annekat]

Anne I saw where you said getting your nose fixed is cosmetic, my Dr said when it's time for my saddle nose surgery that insurance would cover it, due to it being medical. Dr said if it's worded just right. There's been discussion about that... I don't think that insurance always covers it, but I guess one could try to convince them to do it. In some cases, the saddle nose actually affects people's breathing, so I'd think it would be more likely to be considered a medical necessity. In my case, and some others, it does not affect my breathing at all. I'm on Medicare, and would be surprised to hear that they covered anyone's rhinoplasty, unless it was an absolute medical necessity so the person could breathe. I hope I'm wrong and your doc is right! Does yours affect your breathing?

[Titus3:2]

I think Medicare would cover rhinoplasty in our case it would fall under reconstructive surgery.At the teaching hospital I go to rhinoplasty surgery using rib grafts and cartilage can take up to six hours.I had it performed once years ago .At that time it was a single rib graft down the center of my nose.It did not last,but rhinoplasty has come a long way since then.My girlfriend is a long time O.R.nurse and ENT is one of her service's.Keith.

[Jayne 14]

I hate hate hate the way my nose looks
It's better a little now since diagnose and on meds but as soon as I can I will deffo get reconstruction
It's horrible !!


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[Velma]

I had my nose rebuilt using my rib bone. The nose did really well (it has fallen a little since 2007) but is better than what it was. Problem is that the methotrexate messed with the healing of the rib area and it became a nightmare. Know the side effects and possible problems due to healing and infection while on this medication. I would definitely be in remission before doing this surgery. If you look at my picture I just uploaded with makeup it isnt that noticeable but it is still not perfect. But I don't care anymore. If people don't like me for the way I look then don't look. Let us know how it goes.

[aewaustin]

Interesting thread. My nose is starting to fall, this week I am getting some stint put in to help with breathing, my doc said that would work for now. He mentioned that I will also have to have my nose rebuilt in the next few years. I have two pretty big holes in my septum and the falling down of my nose is affecting my breathing. He said the bone would be from the ear, but rib sounds more reasonable.

What has been experience with reconstruction? Did it make your nose wider? Do you also need a plastic surgeon in addition to an ENT?

[Titus3:2]

At the teaching hospital I go to the ENT Dept. has one or two ENT docs skilled at rhinoplasty.They also do plastic surgery.My saddle nose is severe,and would require a rib graft.The rib would be cut into three pieces,and shaped accordingly.One rib down the center of the nose,and two small pieces of rib to prop it up.Tent shaped.Cartilage would also need to be harvested from the ear.The doc gave it a 90% chance of success.The rib and cartilage need a good blood supply to survive.My first rhinoplasty looked great,just like before my saddle nose.I am an old tiger,and will probably never get rhinoplasty again.Good luck to you all.

[Velma]

I had my nose repaired by my ENT team using my own rib bone and it was a success in my opinion. It isn't perfect but better than it was. I had issues with healing in the rib area more than the nose. Just be aware that your healing time may be slow especially if you are on any methotrexate and/or prednisone. I would do it but be aware of the possibilities of unexpected infections or slower healing. Good luck.