This review features an actual patient of VIEW Plastic Surgery and is published with the patient’s consent.
1. What procedures were you originally looking into?
I was researching revision eyelid surgery, a lateral canthoplasty and a nose job all at once. While looking into plastic surgery in Korea, I happened to come across VIEW Plastic Surgery and booked a consultation. I was especially careful about my nose, because I’d heard so many times that it’s the center of the face and carries real risks.
2. What made you trust VIEW Plastic Surgery?
The consultation manager examined my face really thoroughly and walked me through designs that would suit me. They pointed out things I hadn’t even mentioned — details no other clinic had caught — and the surgeon double-checked those same points in a follow-up consultation. It felt like genuine one-on-one care from the very first visit. My eyes and nose were handled by two different surgeons, each a specialist in their own area, and both suggested a design direction that fit my face and my overall vibe.
What sealed it was learning that VIEW has been around for more than 20 years. I figured a clinic with that much experience was one I could trust with my eye revision too, so I booked my surgery date on the spot. Walking out, I caught myself smiling and realized how comfortable I’d felt the entire time.
3. What were surgery day and the first week like?
I had my eye and nose surgery at the same time, on the same day. My eyes were done under IV sedation, and partway through I was awake, opening and closing my eyes as the surgeon worked. After lying still for so long, the back of my head started to ache, and the team slipped a pillow under it right away. Being awake for that part, I could feel how careful and precise everything was, so I felt more excited about the result than scared. My nose was done under general anesthesia. I don’t remember the surgery itself, but I remember the anesthesiologist calmly explaining everything right before, and the surgeon asking me a few questions — that’s when my nerves melted away and I drifted off comfortably.
The surgery was long, so I worried my recovery would be slow. But I came out of anesthesia quickly, it hurt less than I expected, and there was less swelling. Even with the swelling and bruising, I loved the symmetry of my eyes and the height of my nose, so I kept checking the mirror. After discharge, the rib area felt tight and stinging whenever I got up from lying down, but by lunchtime on day 2 it was fine. Over the first three days, the swelling went down noticeably every few hours, and once the nasal packing came out there was another big drop. By day 3, there was just a little yellow bruising on my cheeks.
Day 7 was splint-and-stitch removal day for my nose. The tape and splint had been so stuffy and itchy that taking them off felt even better than getting the packing out. The moment they came off, I saw my profile and gasped.
4. What changes did you notice in weeks 2 to 4?
At week 2, the stitches at the outer corners of my eyes came out too. I normally don’t de-swell easily, but people around me said my swelling was dropping day by day. The redness at the corners of my eyes filled in and looked natural, and the itchiness there eased once the stitches were out. I still couldn’t wear eye makeup, but with just base makeup and brows, people said my eyes looked clearer, younger and more elegant. For my nose, the major pain, swelling and bruising faded so fast that I’d forget about the rib cartilage — only twisting a certain way reminded me. There was still some swelling on my nose, so I removed my makeup very gently.
By week 3, people meeting me for the first time said I looked natural. The dull sensation around my nose had returned to normal. The two sides were going down at slightly different rates, but I was excited to see the full balance once everything settled. Given how slowly I usually de-swell, this quick recovery really showed me the surgeons’ skill.
At one month, it was just me versus the last bit of residual swelling. My rib area no longer hurt even when I stretched, so I started light stretching and even mixed short jogs into my walks. The tightness around my nose had loosened a lot, so my smile was becoming natural again. Honestly, this is the stage where you can say the discomfort is basically gone.
5. Was there a change you didn’t expect?
I fell in love with taking photos. I used to hate having my picture taken because there was so much to worry about, but from around one month I started posing comfortably no matter what state I was in. I barely need to edit my selfies, and even on a simple work-home routine I catch myself taking mirror selfies. By three months, I — never the “photo type” — was asking people to take my picture everywhere I went.
My makeup changed too. From two months on, I’ve been wearing lighter base makeup overall, and still no scars show.
At three months my nose swelling was clearly gone — I could make any expression and open wide to take a big bite of food. The skin around my nose became soft and flexible; now it just feels like my own nose.
The reactions were fun as well. At two months, people said, “You still look like you, but something’s different — you look pretty!” At three months, friends I hadn’t seen in a while asked if I’d had my eyes redone, and when I told them I’d had my nose done too, they couldn’t believe how natural it looked. I ended up referring them all. At four months, at year-end gatherings, everyone asked where I’d had it done and said they wanted to go too.
6. How painful was rib cartilage rhinoplasty, really?
Everyone warned me that “nose surgery hurts, you can’t breathe, and rib cartilage hurts even more.” Surprisingly, I had almost no pain and very little discomfort. The rib area never hurt so much that I couldn’t walk. At week 3 it just felt a little stiff when I applied ointment, and at one month stretching didn’t hurt. By two months it only bothered me in the shower — I’d forget until I saw the scar — and I could run while walking my dog without any pain. I just tried not to bump into anything. From three months on there was no pain at all, and by five months I’d basically forgotten I’d had rib surgery.
7. Let’s talk scars — how did they actually heal?
My columella scar, under my nose, showed slightly without makeup at two months but disappeared completely with makeup. By three months I had to look closely to find it, and at four months no one could tell even when I was bare-faced — even though friends who’ve had nose surgery have pretty visible scars.
For the rib cartilage donor site scar, I’ve been using ointment since week 3. At three months it was still red and needed more care; at four months it had faded to a light pink, and at five months it’s still light pink but not something that bothers me. At four and five months, the outer corners of my eyes had no scarring or complications at all.
Also, I’d had a thread nose lift before, so I’d been told my skin might not be perfectly smooth — but at week 3, I hadn’t noticed any real difference.
8. Five months on, how do you feel overall?
It looks so much more natural now. My parents and friends all say I look more natural and prettier. I’ve also been dieting, which made my features even sharper, and people sometimes tell me I look like an idol. It turned out just the way I described to my surgeon, and I absolutely love my side profile.
I used to wear contour makeup and mascara even on my days off; now I’m happy without them and go out bare-faced, since no scars show.
9. What would you tell someone still contemplating about nose surgery?
If you’re considering rhinoplasty in Korea, my biggest takeaway is that swelling is a waiting game. If you’re wondering what to expect 3 months after rhinoplasty, here’s my honest answer: the residual swelling keeps fading slowly, and the bruising around my eyes that had lingered was suddenly just gone. Every month I felt how big a difference one month makes. One day I looked at my fully de-swollen eyes and realized they’d become bigger and clearer.
Even within a day, once the morning puffiness passes, my features get more defined by the afternoon. By four months I’d gotten so used to my face that I’d forget — until a friend said mid-conversation, “You really got prettier,” and I’d feel quietly proud all over again.
Beyond 5 Months: Progress Photos Up to 12 Months
This written review covers the first five months; progress from month 7 to month 12 is shown in photos.
