Rhinoplasty was NOT worth it: Unhappy with intial results, now facing more uncertainty with upcoming revision

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
Kathleen   Rochester, NY  Aug 27, 2007  Cost: $5,500  Pain: Severe
Rhinoplasty provider: Not specified

I had an open rhinoplasty last December to correct a bulbous tip and generally large nose. The surgeon I selected assured me that my goal for my nose--which I illustrated using Photoshop--was both realistic and attainable.

Surgery was fine; I felt no pain during. When I awoke after 3 hours of surgery--an hour and a half longer then expected--I was very uncomfortable, but not in a large amount of pain. My nose bled for about 4 hours and my face, especially eyes and cheek, blew up. I was very swollen and bruised for about 7 days.

Recovery was a debacle. About 4 days after surgery, I went to the E.R. It was sooo painful to swallow and I hadn't been able to eat anything. I thought maybe the breathing tube used during surgery scratched the back of my throat? They never figured out what was causing all the pain--worst pain I've ever felt! went to the hospital finally after breaking down in tears! It went away after about a week. I had something called 'dissolvable' packing in my nose, which sounded very nice (I wouldn't have to go back to see the Dr. to have the packing removed). Unfortunately, the packing was hardly dissolvable and took a very long time to come out! The cast came off on the 7th day and my nose looked swollen and 'poofy.'

The Dr. said that the majority of the swelling would subside and I would be very pleased with the thinner, less protruding nose underneath. Six months later my nose looked almost exactly the same as it did prior to surgery, but with an ugly scar on my 'columna' and an assymetrical interior that was very noticable--deviated septum, from a broken sutre.

I was very relieved to hear that the Dr., too, was unhappy with my result and did not dispute any of my disatifaction. We decided to do the revision a year from the original surgery date. The Dr. would charge no surgeon's fee, but I would have to pay for the facility and anethesia--an additional $2,000 after already paying $5,500. The Dr. says he will be using a different surgical approach this time--removing sections of cartilage and sewing the remaining parts back together. This sounds like a nightmare, but I didn't spend so much money to have the same nose. I'm scared, but hoping for the best!!

Hey hello:

I hope that you get the nose you want. I am also considering rhino. I also have a bulbuous tip and would like to get it corrected. Can u kindly share some pictures of urself. ? I will eb grateful.

thanks
J

I had a similar experience. I had a rhynoplasty in December 2004, and the results were not as expected as my surgeon straightened the upper half of my nose, and not the tip - which looked hideous! I kept the same hideous nose for almost 3.5 years, until this week I had the correction done. My recommendation to anyone considering this - make sure you ask questions about how the results will look, because it is stupid and painful to go into surgery twice when it could have been eliminated the first time around. If your doctor is stubborn, change doctors....you have every right as a patient to ask questions, and ensure the doctor you are using is experienced! i mean it! I think my doctor was just starting when I did my initial procedure...ugh...

Anyways, im still bandaged up, but going in on Monday to have it removed, and its no more plastic surgery for me...for life.

Hello, I was also thinking of gettin a rhinoplasty in rochester NY... what doctor did you have so I can avoid him?

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