Please Recommend a Rhinoplasty Surgeon in Omaha!

Anothernebraska girl 1 Dec 2012

Hey Nebraska girl! I am less than a month from my surgery! I ended up choosing Dr Johnson! How are you - is everything still smooth sailing? Do you feel like you are totally healed up? It would be great to hear a general update if you have time - I am super excited but VERY nervous too! I think it may help me to know you are still doing well

nebraskagirl 2 Dec 2012

Hi! Yes, am still doing well! I saw Dr. Johnson for my one month follow-up about a week ago. My profile looks awesome without the bump and the ball is smaller but the same shape (which is what I wanted). It still looks like my nose - just a better version. I was afraid it would look like someone else's nose was attached to my face. I read once that a nose that is out of proportion, mishaped, etc is a distraction from your other features. When the issue is no longer there, it isn't as though everyone sees you and thinks anything about your nose because it sort of fades into the background rather than clamouring for attention front and center That's how I felt about mine and probably why no one but my immediate family has noticed the change. I understand how nerve-racking it is before surgery and the the first couple of weeks after are scary too. Good luck - if you have any last minute concerns, just ask him. He'll be honest and won't lose patience. I literally had three pre-op visits before my surgery!

nebraskagirl 25 Oct 2012

TWO WEEKS post Rhinoplasty with Dr. Perry Johnson and I am LOVING my nose!

Anothernebraska girl 26 Oct 2012

That is so exciting!!! did the upturn you were wondering about correct itself ? I met Dr Johnson this week and I have a huge decision infront of me. I had not expected to like him as much as I liked Dr D but he and his staff are exactly as you said and seem super competent! Is the bruising all gone? Are you self conscious at all going out now?? THANKS for the update

nebraskagirl 26 Oct 2012

Hi, Yes, the upturn resolved itself. I have two bruises left. Each less than one inch in length. Both are only slightly red at this point and can be covered with concealer. One is under my left eye. It is almost on my cheek bone and doesn't appear to have anything to do with my nose. The other is on the edge of the bridge of my nose. I am not the slightest bit self-conscious and could have gone into the office this week. I did under estimate how the lack of exercise would affect my mood. My energy level this week has been dragging. I am susceptible to depression and lying around last week brought me down. That aspect has been the hardest part of recovery for me, and it has nothing to do with my nose! I normally do yoga classes, but Dr. Johnson recommended I avoid the downward dog and other inclining poses for the next several weeks. I can definitely walk my dogs though and I have been trying to do that more regularly as a means for exercise. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am happy to help. I think you have two good options and either doctor would be a good choice. It may come down to selecting the doctor you feel you can communicate best with. You have to be able to trust whomever you choose. It is scary business being that vulnerable! Thinking back, I believe I have some internal biases that caused me to be more nervous about Denenberg. It was more about me than him. I have no doubt he is very talented but felt more comfortable with Johnson on some emotional level that is hard to explain. I went through all of the logical comparisons first (before and after pics, referrals, credentials, cost, etc). In the end, it was easier for me to trust Johnson.

nebraskagirl 19 Oct 2012

It is done and the CAST IS OFF! I want to post a quick follow-up to say everything went well today at my post op appointment with Dr. Perry Johnson -- I'm liking my nose! It is still swollen and I have a rash from the surgical tape adhesive... But those things will go away. I added a Septo/ Rhinoplasty Review to my profile if anyone out there is interested in hearing more about my experience with Dr. Perry Johnson. I will update the Review when/if I have something newsworthy to share with others considering rhino/ septoplasty with Dr. Johnson.

Anothernebraska girl 20 Oct 2012

YEAY!! I am so excited for you, It is a relief to hear that even though there is swelling that you love the turnout bc (again) some of the other threads on here dont love theirs right away! I just have one more question, did your nose require any tip work or just work at the bridge? CONGRATS! and THANKS for sharing your journey

nebraskagirl 20 Oct 2012

Hi! My main focus was the hump removal. I also asked for a slight deprojection, which involves taking some cartilage off the tip. When talking to Dr. Johnson the first time, he mentioned we could make the tip slightly less round. I didn't have an issue with the view of my nose from the front, so my immediate response was no. He said, okay, then I won't do that then. After thinking about it, I thought my nose might look funny if we left the tip the way it was without the hump on my bridge. I would have this straight nose and flat bridge with a round ball on the end? That didn't sound good. So I gave him permission to reduce the size of the ball of my nose -- slightly. I think I said slightly more than necessary. I am quite assertive and at my worst, bossy. LOL. Anyway, he did what he said he would. At this point, I can't say I love my nose because of the swelling. The whole thing appears a little wide, but I am hopeful that after the swelling goes down, I will LOVE it. He said it would and most of the change would occur over the next couple of weeks. That's what he told me to expect when he took the cast off. At this point, I can tell that a) I am going to LIKE my profile which was my main concern with the hump, and b) the front is going to be okay and not look too weird. I am happy because I can see my main concern was addressed and the whole thing is in proportion. I wasn't going for perfection, but improvement. I think this doctor did a good job. It is too soon to tell if he did a GREAT job, but I will keep you posted! Based on his suggestion that the tip could be reshaped, and the fact he did what he said he would, I am happy. I don't think my tip work was as complicated as some others may want or need, but it was something. Just ask him a lot of questions when you go to the consult. He is pretty straight and to the point and doesn't go into a ton of detail unless you ask. I know he wouldn't be offended, for example, if you asked him if he has worked on a nose like yours and if the patient was happy with the outcome. He may even tell you your other option is Denenberg. He did that with me. I could have interpreted that one of two ways. Either he had less confidence in himself (I doubt it) or he was trying to focus my search on him and the only other guy in the region I should be considering. That's what I mean when I say he is not a salesmen. He was respectful of Denenberg and didn't boast or try to charm me. And he wasn't put off by all of my questions. He's very fact based and logical. A couple of times, I asked questions about the end result and he thought I was asking about his specific technique. He started to go down the "I will make an incision here and pull the skin back..." Whoa --- I had to stop him before I got grossed out. I rephrased my question. LOL!

Anothernebraska girl 20 Oct 2012

omg - that is hilarious - I would definately stop him too! A little ignorance is bliss! I cannot thank you enough for answering my questions - my consult is just a few days away with Dr J and you have given me such great advice and I love your attitude! I am not looking for perfection either (but I am also on the bossy side so I will have to temper my requests) Look forward to your next post! THANKS again

nebraskagirl 6 Oct 2012

P.S. After my first post on Apr 11, 2012, I learned Dr. James Huerter only does septoplasty and not rhinoplasty. He's an ENT/otolaryngology. He said to go to Denenberg or Perry Johnson but noted that I would have insurance issues if I went to Denenberg. Dr. Perry Johnson is in-network with Aetna. My surgery will be covered in part by insurance due to the medical need for septoplasty. Even if I hadn't used my insurance, the fee Denenberg quoted was twice as much as Perry Johnson's. I've seen Dr. Johnson at both the NE Med Center and at the Village Point location. Anyone considering him for rhinoplasty should go to Village Point for their consult because he has more before and after pics available there. One thing that made me feel better about Johnson was that Huerter (the ENT doc) said all of the patients he's referred to Huerter have come away happy with their rhinoplasty results.

nebraskagirl 6 Oct 2012

Hey there -- I'm following up. Basically I took the summer off knowing if I had surgery it would limit some of my summer activities. After looking long and hard, I found there were really only two choices in the Omaha area for rhinoplasty. At least for me. The ENT I mentioned in my prior post said I might benefit from a septoplasty because my deviated system could be exasperating my migraine issue (because I also have bad allergies and the deviated septum may be making my nasal symptoms worse). I get bad migraines during my worst allergy season. The ENT ordered a CAT scan and was able to document a medical reason for the septoplasty. When I told him I wanted a rhinoplasty with the septoplasty, he referred me to two doctors in Omaha 1) Dr. Perry Johnson and 2) Dr. Denenberg. I had consults with both of them. Prior to specializing in plastic surgery, both studied otolaryngology. In other words, they should have a very good understanding of the functioning of the nose (otolaryngology is ear, nose, and throat) and be more likely to complete a perfect septoplasty. These two doctors are very different guys. Denenberg specializes in rhinoplasty while Perry does multiple types of plastic surgery. Something about Denenberg made me feel a little uncomfortable. He was almost too smooth and seemed to be overly attuned to image while Perry was a little more doctor-ish. For example, when using language to explain the surgery, Denenberg softened the description (i.e. he would never say he would break your nose) and he made a lot of promises. For example, he said I'd look great a week after surgery. Also, he didn't care to see the CAT scan which was a red flag for me. Denenberg encouraged me to consider getting a chin implant with the rhino. I do have a very weak chin but I don't like the idea of an implant. On the other hand, Perry wanted to see the CAT scan images and was very frank about "breaking" my nose. He also said bruising could last up to 4 weeks in a worst case scenario. Perry is associated with the Nebraska Medical Center and I believe teaches (it's been a while since I've read their bios). Perry is not a fan of chin implants because he doesn't like the risk associated. They can be absorbed into the bone. Denenberg works alone, is not associated with a hospital, and is not tied into a group of doctors. Denenberg was also three times more expensive. Both doctors took pictures and showed me their vision of what my nose would look like after surgery. In the end, I decided on Perry. I felt he was more likely to be honest and I don't really like salesman. Denenberg is probably good but I was more comfortable with Perry's direct style and hospital association. My health is primary and the cosmetic aspect is truly a secondary motivation to have surgery. I am scheduled for surgery this coming Thursday. I will let you know how it goes...

nebraskagirl 6 Oct 2012

Did you go through with surgery? Mine is now less than a week away with Dr. Perry Johnson. I am very nervous and have been reading about how to limit bruising/swelling. Did Denenberg show you the picture of his patient that had no bruising and looked beautiful after her first week? I just had this feeling he wasn't telling me everything. He has beautiful before and after pics!

Anothernebraska girl 7 Oct 2012

I am so excited for you and look forward to hearing about your journey. I am scheduled to have my rhinoplasty in Jan with Dr Denenberg (Jan worked best for me re recovery and limitation time). I understand the nerves, mine is still a long way away and I am also very nervous! It is funny that you posted now bc I JUST had a friend tell me about Dr Johnson. She actually had breast aug done by him and she likes him a LOT (she is a nurse anesthetist so i value her opinion and it makes me know he is definately good!) Maybe I will schedule a consult just to see options - I am definately bummed about the price that Dr D has quoted but I am trying to not let that sway me. My work is mostly in the tip of my nose and I felt like Dr D really had an artful hand in that work. I really look forward to hearing more about your journey, good luck !

Anothernebraska girl 14 Oct 2012

Hey NEgirl - I am wondering if you are post op now? I understand if you are not up to writing yet but thought I would tell you that your writings helped me decide to schedule a consult with Dr Johnson (at the end of the month) to explore all options, so THANK YOU for that!!! I hope you send an update when you can and am sure you are doing terrific!

nebraskagirl 15 Oct 2012

Hello - Yep. I am post op. So far it has not been a bad experience although a few things surprised me. The staff at Village Point were awesome. Everyone comes in to introduce themselves prior to the surgery. For some reason I started crying right before surgery! I think my husband was nervous and was a little cold (he's been great since). Plus, I hadn't eaten and had been running around getting ready to take two weeks off work, and then all of a sudden I was just sitting there waiting and started crying. It was embarrassing. I told them when I felt the tears coming on that I was feeling emotional, but that I was okay. One of the surgical techs was really cool about it when she came to introduce herself and saw I was teary. She said, "um, is there something we need to talk about?" She had frogs on her surg cap and made me smile. I didn't anticipate the number of people there. I was picturing a nurse and the doctor. In reality, I had AT LEAST a pre-op nurse who was also my post-op nurse, one or two surg techs, an Anesthesiologist, Dr. Johnson and his Resident and a student there to observe because of Dr. Johnson's association with the NE Med Center. Having the Resident and student there didn't bother me. They lightened my mood. When the student said he was "just a student", I saw a very serious Resident go from doctor in training (he went over my meds, listened to my heart, etc.), to this big brother type scolding his little brother "you are a student. Not JUST a student". It was entertaining. I thought for a second he was going to whack the younger "kid" up side the head. After surgery the anesthesiologist came over and was concerned I would have a sore throat. He told my husband if I have surgery in the future, we should let the doc know the breathing tube placement could be a challenge. I have a really small mouth and jaw issues so I am sure that's what he meant. I was impressed that he cared enough to come tell us. Meanwhile my husband was teasing me about putting pictures of me on Facebook --- he would NEVER do that – and the anesthesiologist overheard and got a little protective. My pre-op/post-op nurse had been around us long enough to assure him that he was just teasing. I was pretty groggy at that point but managed to smile and say, “can you believe I have put up with this for 12 years?”

nebraskagirl 15 Oct 2012

Because my throat was sore, some of the food I bought in advance wasn’t as appealing as I thought it would be. My favorite has been Eddy’s Frozen Coconut Bars. My stomach felt fine the day after surgery so when I started getting sick on Saturday I was really surprised. I vomited three times for no apparent reason. My husband called the on call doc and they called in medication for nausea. I think the pain meds, along with not drinking water prior to surgery, and not moving much made me constipated. Everything just seemed to sit in my stomach and not go any further. Or it might have been the drainage from my nose that made my stomach upset. Just make sure you have MILD food nearby, like saltine crackers. My swelling hasn’t been as horrible as I feared, but I was really diligent about icing throughout the first 24 hours and stayed elevated. The pain has been manageable. Like everyone says, it is uncomfortable. The latest discomfort is that my nose has started to itch. My latest fear is that I am going to look like Miss Piggy. With the cast, splints and swelling, my nostrils are way too evident.

nebraskagirl 15 Oct 2012

Bottom Line Advice -- Your stomach may be sensitive several days after surgery due to drainage/constipation. Buy lots of mild food to have on hand (soda crackers, frozen yogurt/fruit bars (not acidic fruit), applesauce (no cinnamon). Also, get bendable straws. I am glad we had some because they make sipping water easier. Also, I took someone else’s advice and bought a comfy travel pillow that I could wrap around my neck when sleeping upright. Target had several versions. I bought the softest, most supportive version they had and it has been a huge help. I was concerned about being able to sleep sitting up. We don’t have a comfortable recliner. I found an awesome Bed Lounge Chair on Giaim.com. I am so glad I bought it. Between that and the neck pillow, I haven’t had any issue sleeping and my back and neck aren’t sore from bad posture either.

nebraskagirl 15 Oct 2012

Thanks for your thoughts! I droned on in detail in the comments if you are interested in the surgical center atmosphere at Village Point. :)

Anothernebraska girl 15 Oct 2012

LOVING your updates! Such great information - I am taking notes and making lists. SO excited you are doing this well! Do you have to totally breathe through your mouth right now so it makes your mouth super dry or not bad bc of the Frozen treats? You mentioned you dont have much swelling... can you already see your nose? YEP - a load of questions - ignore them if your are not up to it but keep us posted when you have a chance as your journey goes on.

nebraskagirl 16 Oct 2012

I am totally breathing through my mouth. I keep a glass of water with a straw beside the bed to occasionally sip. I also have a humidifier in the bedroom so the air is not quite so dry. That might be helping a little. I can only see the tip of my nose right now. The nostrils were huge at first but the swelling has steadily gone down. He's got it taped up and back. I am trying not to think about it because I think I resemble Miss Piggy :o I've read that the tip comes down once all the gear is off and swelling continues to reduce, sooo I am trying not to panic about it. When I see him on Friday, he'll take the splints out and cast off and I should have a much better idea. I think I may still have some stitches after Friday based on what I've read. One caution - when they say "take it easy" there is a reason. At times when I've felt pretty good (probably the pain pills), I've gotten a little motivated. One time I cleaned off the kitchen counters and another, I painted my toe nails. Seems like no big deal, but I could feel the difference the next day. More junk in my throat, nausea, and more bleeding on my dressing below my nose. I think leaning down to paint my toe nails was the issue and light cleaning got my blood pressure up a bit. Neither are good for my healing nose... The bruising hasn't been as terrible as I thought it would be. I had surgery last Thurs. Today's Tuesday and my eyelids are just red and my skin is yellow underneath my eyes.

Anothernebraska girl 18 Oct 2012

Good idea re the humidifier! and good tip to paint my toenails BEFORE surg ha ha! Amazing to hear there is so little bruising! Thinking about you on the eve of your next appointment! Sometimes I go to other threads on this site and get a little freaked out bc not everyone has such smooth recovery as you so I am SO happy to "see" you go through this real time. Did you read a bunch of other threads before you took the plunge? Do you think you will be able to go out in public just like usual once your cast comes off or is the pain and bruising too much? Do you work outside the home and if so, when did they tell you that you could go back to work?

nebraskagirl 18 Oct 2012

Hi Anothernebraska girl, I am NERVOUS about getting the splints out and cast off tomorrow! I seem to have a lot of stitches across my columella and inside my nose. If he takes out the colored ones tomorrow and if the clear ones are dissolvable and clean up rather than look bloody, then I might not be in bad shape to go in public. I like to wear makeup so I should be able to camouflage and remaining redness enough to feel comfortable going to the store, etc. The appointment is at 9:15 tomorrow, so at least I don't have to wait all day. I don't really have any pain right now, except for allergy/sinus pressure related, but I think that will go away after he says I can start sinus rinses again. I think technically, I could go to work on Monday. I took Mon and Tues off and planned to work from home Wed - Fri. Based on what I read in others' threads, I assumed there would still be some swelling and the incisions might not be healed yet. I work for a large consulting firm and fortunately we have a lot of flexibility. I read that your bruising will depend on the surgeon's touch/technique, whether it is an open or closed rhinoplasty, and apparently it also depends on the thickness of the patient's skin. Thicker skin will bruise more because it doesn't adhere so quickly/closely to the bone and more liquid can get in between the bone and your skin. I will share more tomorrow!! Nebraska Girl

Anna Banana 17 Jul 2012

I would appreciate any Nebraska recommendations or cautions as well! Please share or send me a message, Nebraska people! I would really appreciate it. :-)

Anothernebraska girl 9 Jul 2012

Nebraska girl..did you decide to go through with your surgery? I had my first consult with dr Denenberg and am very close to scheduling my date but I am not from Omaha ( a couple hours away) and I am searching for all the info I can that will make me confident in this decision.

Is there anyone else who can add to TequilaMockingbird's recommendation? It helped a lot but it's only one.

TequilaMockingbird 19 Apr 2012

It goes without saying that having rhinoplasty is a major decision and it can be difficult to decide who to place your trust in. It took me nearly 20 years to finally summon the courage to have rhinoplasty two years ago and I now wish I had done it sooner. I don’t know of the two other doctors you mentioned, but I chose Dr. Denenberg in Omaha for my surgery, based on his training, years of experience, bedside manner, reputation among his peers (even my own PCP recommended him), patient reviews (including a friend who went to him), and the amazing results he achieves as evidenced on his comprehensive website. I had a “complicated” nose with a bump on the bridge and a bulbous tip. The bump I had long been self-conscious of is gone and the tip more defined - I now feel more beautiful and confident.

I was completely surprised at how well my surgery and recovery went based on all of the horror stories and misconceptions I heard over the years about rhinoplasty. I can honestly say that I was never in any “pain” – just mild discomfort for the first day or two and the bruising around my eyes was very minimal. I was out and about shopping with my husband the following day (nose splint and all – I don’t embarrass easily:) Unfortunately, I cannot speak to what pain or discomfort there might be from having septoplasty.

The only drawback to choosing Dr. Denenberg is that his fees can be cost-prohibitive for many (my surgery was in the $9000 ballpark). However, I believe he is worth every penny. The most important factor for me was being comfortable with him as my surgeon every step of the way. Hope this helps and good luck with your journey!