Facial Surgery

Chimera + Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty Story: Four Thread Lifts Didn't Work, and I Wish I'd Had Rhinoplasty Sooner

Attending doctorDr. Zhao-Wu Yan Published Updated 4 min read

Key takeaways

Chimera + autologous rib cartilage rhinoplasty case: a flat nasal bridge that actually widened after four nose thread lifts. After an assessment with Dr. Zhao-Wu Yan, Chimera was used to raise the bridge and her own rib cartilage to support the tip. There was no significant pain afterward; swelling and bruising at the inner corners of the eyes peaked on days three and four, the swelling went down in about a week, stitches came out at two weeks, and the rib cartilage incision is small.

Contents
  1. Nose thread lifts widened my bridge; if I could do it again, I'd go straight to rhinoplasty
  2. Chimera + autologous rib cartilage for a high, Western-style nose
  3. Taking my medication on time and adding collagen: a pain-free recovery
  4. Stitches out at two weeks, with careful, quick and friendly service at NAISS
  5. My features look more defined, and rhinoplasty is the best investment I've ever made

"I'm Alice, I'm 23, and I'm a homemaker. I've always felt my nose was flat, and every time I did makeup I spent ages contouring my nasal bridge. I'd wanted rhinoplasty for a long time but never had the courage. Then I went for a nose thread lift with a friend: after her first one her nose looked really high, while four sessions did almost nothing for me. The next day I called my consultant to book a rhinoplasty consultation..."

Nose thread lifts widened my bridge; if I could do it again, I'd go straight to rhinoplasty

I really wanted a higher nose, so I tried hyaluronic acid and thread lifts, four thread lifts in all. The results didn't satisfy me, and my bridge kept getting wider, which made me decide on rhinoplasty. Also, I found thread lifts quite painful and somewhat risky: there can be bruising, poor absorption, or hyaluronic acid that doesn't dissolve and forms little lumps. Now that I've seen my rhinoplasty results, I think I should have just chosen rhinoplasty from the start and saved myself the detour, hahaha~

Chimera + autologous rib cartilage for a high, Western-style nose

What I cared about most was the bridge; I wanted a higher style like Western or Thai noses. I gave my consultant photos of nose shapes I liked, and she understood my ideas and preferences and passed them on to the doctor. On the doctor's professional advice, I chose Chimera plus autologous rib cartilage to adjust the bridge and tip. I chose rib cartilage because it gives better support than ear cartilage and could achieve the result I wanted. I'd also wanted alar reduction, but I'm prone to keloids and worried the incisions wouldn't heal nicely, so this time I only had the bridge and tip done.

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Taking my medication on time and adding collagen: a pain-free recovery

I'd had surgery under general anesthesia before, so I wasn't nervous this time. When the anesthesia wore off there was no pain at all. Around days three and four my nose and eyes were more swollen, with some bruising at the inner corners of my eyes. I took all the anti-inflammatory medication the clinic prescribed on time, drank lots of water, used cold compresses diligently and took collagen, and the swelling went down in about a week. There was no other discomfort during recovery. I didn't have nasal packing after surgery, so my nose wasn't blocked. The only slight annoyance was a constantly runny nose; with the incisions you can't blow hard, so you have to dab gently with a cotton swab.

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Stitches out at two weeks, with careful, quick and friendly service at NAISS

Two weeks after surgery I went back to have my stitches out. It was done carefully and quickly, with no discomfort at all. My incisions are under the nasal tip and inside the nostrils, and the ones inside the nostrils don't need removing. The incision for the rib cartilage is also very small, and now you can barely see any marks. It healed really well.

I chose NAISS CLINIC because the consultant I trust works here, and also because the NAISS team's service felt thorough and thoughtful. For example, when I arrived for my appointment, staff came to help right away instead of leaving me waiting for my consultant. The service is great.

My features look more defined, and rhinoplasty is the best investment I've ever made

It's been 3 months since surgery, and I rate my satisfaction 9.5. I'd still like to refine my nostrils later, but my nose already looks high and beautiful~ Now I don't need to contour my nose at all, just a little highlighter, and I don't see flaws in my nose in photos. With some eye makeup and Western-style colored contacts, my whole face looks really defined, and I love how I look now! Older relatives and friends all say I've become prettier; not one negative comment. I think the nose is the most important part of the face, so you won't regret it. If you want it, be brave and go for it; rhinoplasty is a great investment!

After Before

Attending doctor

Dr. Zhao-Wu Yan

Meet Dr. Zhao-Wu Yan

This story reflects one patient's experience. Results and recovery vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person about your own treatment plan.