A few days ago, a quiet decision was made, and now the journey of healing begins. It is the second day after a non-surgical nose lift—a procedure known in some circles as a thread lift for the nose. The procedure itself took only ten to twelve minutes, after the anesthesia had been administered. That small window of time, so brief, yet it set in motion a week of careful tending, pain, and gradual revelation.
Waking up at seven in the morning, the nose feels tender. The swelling is less than the night before, but a persistent ache lingers. The upper lip is difficult to move, and the pain concentrates in two specific spots. Sleep came in fragments, not because of the pain itself, but because of the cold, or the need to relieve oneself. Yet with each waking, the pain was there, a steady companion. The mirror shows something promising: the eyes look better, the eyelids even. A small victory, but a welcome one.
Cleaning the face is a delicate affair. No splashing of water allowed for the first twenty-four hours—only gentle wipes. A careful application of Betadine on the nose and an ointment on the eyebrows follows. The pain is still sharp when touched in certain areas, so every movement is cautious.
By the evening of the second day, the routine deepens. Seven cold compresses have been applied throughout the day. The nose can now be wet, but the temptation is resisted. Better to wait another day to avoid any risk of infection. Eating is possible, but the upper part of the nose protests when chewing gets enthusiastic. The lower part seems to lead the pain, but it is manageable. Brushing teeth was impossible the night before—only mouthwash, because opening the mouth wide enough to insert a toothbrush was too painful. The doctor had asked beforehand if teeth had been brushed, a wise precaution.
Sneezing presents a unique challenge. Allergic rhinitis is a constant, and sneezes come without warning. A technique learned during pregnancy proves useful: sneeze through the mouth, directing the force away from the nose. It sends a strange vibration to the throat, but it protects the healing area. To further mitigate the sneezing, a dose of cetirizine is taken. The medications prescribed are paracetamol and amoxicillin, but no specific antihistamine was given, so self-reliance is key.
Day three arrives with a familiar pattern. Waking up, the nose is more swollen than in the afternoon. The swelling ebbs and flows. Pain persists in the middle part, making vigorous mouth rinsing still uncomfortable. A strange sensation appears inside the nose—a feeling of something sticky, like a blockage. It is not dirt; cleaning with a cotton bud reveals nothing. This might be part of the internal swelling, or perhaps a bit of thread material settling. So a massage technique is learned from another vlog: gentle pressure on the painful spot, then pulling downward and upward, to help the threads align and settle. It hurts, but it is bearable. The bump felt inside yesterday is now smaller, thanks to this massage.
Emotions begin to surface. Anxiety creeps in on the third night. The absence of sleeping next to a spouse and baby, the inability to perform daily chores—washing baby bottles, cooking, cleaning—weighs heavily. Guilt whispers: Was this decision right? The desire for the procedure was strong, and there is no regret, but the temporary loss of routine and role causes a restless night. The inability to carry the baby or kiss him freely stings more than any needle. One kiss, carelessly given, accidentally bumped the nose and caused a sharp pain. It is a reminder that healing takes its own time.
By the fourth day, the swelling is noticeably reduced. Yet the middle part of the nose still aches. A yellow discoloration appears on one side, resembling a bruise. The discoloration is not painful, but the tenderness remains. Smiling is becoming possible again, and the nose can be moved a little. Only one dose of pain relief is needed today, as the pain is no longer constant.
Moisturizer is applied for the first time—aloe vera gel, a trusted product bought online. The instructions said to wait two to three days before using any skincare, so the fourth day feels like a milestone. The gel makes massage easier, and the skin glides under the fingers.
Day five is marked by more yellowing, but the swelling continues to diminish. Massage in the morning caused a brief spike in pain, but it faded quickly. The nose can now be washed with gentle soap, but still scrubbing is avoided. The aloe vera aids in massaging, making it less abrasive. The yellow hue is fading as the day progresses.
The sixth day brings significant visibility of the result. The yellowing has lessened to a trace. The nose is still tender when bumped, but it can be washed with a stronger kojic soap now. For the first time, it feels safe enough to go outside. A taxi ride is smooth, but a motorcycle ride to the grocery store proves jarring. The vibration travels through the nose and up into the head, causing a headache that lasts for hours. A dose of paracetamol is taken to calm it. This is the first headache experienced during the recovery—a reminder that even small jolts can disrupt the healing process.
The seventh day dawns with less pain and less yellow. The nose feels more normal, though swelling persists, especially around the inner corner of the eye and a small bump that has appeared on one side. The bump is tender, and its origin is unclear. The eyes have returned to their usual shape; the double eyelid that appeared from swelling on the first day is now gone. However, the bump and the persistent swelling in the lower part of the nose obscure the final result. Patience is required. Full healing often takes a month, and even after ten days, some swelling may remain.
Standing outside in the slightly cloudy weather, a prickling sensation in the nose suggests that heat or inflammation is still present. The eyebrows, treated with microblading alongside the nose lift, seem to be settling into their final shape, but the nose itself remains a work in progress. The journey from day two to day seven has been a careful dance of ice packs, massage, medication, and emotional wrestling. The result is not yet fully visible, but each day brings it closer. The story continues, and the mirror will tell the rest.