I did a ton of research, and I was very confident in my doctor, but this happened :(

After 10+ years of contemplating a nose job, I finally started looking into it this year. t's been an exhausting (and educational) process so far, but I am finally ready for my surgery! I tend to write a lot... so if you feel like reading super long amateur blogs, feel free to join me on my journey from humped, wide, bulbous tip nose, to something more feminine.

Lets start with my search for a doctor. I went to 4 consultations total. After a few days searching the internet, I got a consultation with a Dr. right away in Newport News. I won't say his name, but I think all his google reviews were fake! I was rushed during the consultation, the staff was borderline rude, and he didn't seem to enjoy his job. Um, yeah... not the kind of people I want cutting into me and having complete control while I'm asleep!! Next, I tried Dr. Carraway. Super knowledgeable guy! The consultation was rushed (I talked to him a total of 5 minutes before he was told another patient was waiting, and he left), and his nurse was extremely rude, but the surgery scheduler was friendly and answered all of my questions that the Dr. didn't have time for. I hoped that the Dr. and his staff would have more time for me at the next appointment because when I found out I could actually afford him if I took a cancellation, I was excited! As far as I can tell, he has a good reputation, and I was impressed with his knowledge. I was told I was first on the list for a cancellation appointment. She made it sound like cancellations happen all the time, so I waited a few weeks. Then I tried calling, but of course the scheduler wasn't in. I tried emailing and calling a few more times with no answer from anyone. I waited about 2 months, but never heard anything. So, I stared my search again. All I can say about Dr. Caraway is he is expensive, but they have all these discounts that make it easier (like if you get it done in the summer, or if you take a cancellation apt.). I think if they called me now and offered to do it for free I would turn it down. Who wants such a flaky and rushed office to do such a life altering surgery?! Not me!! They totally wasted my time. I could have recovered from a nose job by now. Also, the few before and after pics that the assistant showed me were very old. That made me a little uncomfortable. I want to know that my Dr. has done this surgery for years, and has done it recently. Anyway, I then searched this site for reviews on doctors because I was overwhelmed with all the options in the Virginia Beach area (and no longer believed the google reviews I was reading). I found one girl's review on Dr. Siegel from realself, and decided that was a good place to start. Dr. Siegel seems like a very nice guy. The staff was friendly, and he seemed knowledgeable. He has an in office surgery center that is certified just like the hospitals around here. I don't know all the technical terms, but I did learn from all my consultations, that in office surgery= a great way to save money! When you compare anesthesia costs for hospitals to anesthesia costs to the in-office surgery centers, it is about half the cost for the exact same job. Anyway, I did like Dr. Seigel and I was going to go to him, not just because of the amazing price, also because a friend of a friend knows him personally, and assured me he is a good guy. I went back to Dr. Seigel a second time and really had a hard time deciding what to do! I finally decided to see an ENT specialist as my last consult to compare what he said to the general plastic surgeons I had seen before.

Dr. Deutsch is the doctor I decided on in the end. My consultation was not rushed at all. In fact, he talked to me long after all my questions were answered. He personally showed me before and afters of old and recent surgeries he preformed. I could tell he enjoys his job and cares about what his patients feel and think. Everyone on his staff has been wonderful so far! Dr. Deutsch does cost more than most the other doctors I saw (Note: this is not because of the surgeon fee, as his fee was very reasonable, this is because Dr. Deutsch's surgeries are done in a hospital and hospital fees are crazy!). It was a very hard choice because I have saved up for 4 years, and it was tempting to have some money left over, but in the end, I decided I couldn't let money sway my decision. I went with the Dr. that I felt the most comfortable with. Also, the Dr. did his best to get quotes from local hospitals and find me the lowest estimate. I really appreciated that as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to use him unless I wanted to go out of my budget.

I have one more appointment before the surgery, but I feel completely at ease. I wish I could do this tomorrow. Luckily, l only have to wait a few more weeks!!

Today at my appointment, we talked more about what I want. The only thing I can't decide, is to slope, or not to slope?! The Dr. said I can bring in a pic the day of surgery to show him just how straight or sloped I want the profile to be.

I like a slight slope on other girls, but I am not sure if it will look right with my face shape. While watching 24 the other night (the older ones, as I am just now jumping on the 24 bandwagon!), I was telling my husband how cute Kim's aka Elisha Cuthbert's, nose is. He laughed and said he was just thinking how strange it is, and that the new rule is... he has to approve the nose I am going for, since he also has to look at it the rest of our lives. Fair enough. I wouldn't want him to drastically change anything about himself without my opinion on it either. Anyway, I know its not your typical barbie nose, but I like the slight piggy/ski jump look on her. I believe she has had a nose job since the show as her nose is more narrow and less slope like in recent pics, but either way, I would gladly take her old or new nose.

It is my opinion that the slight slope makes one look more youthful. I think if I had a slight slope I would be very happy about it when I am older, but I am not sure if I want that for this decade. I am 30, and was recently asked if I had my parent's permission to take a sample at Costco lol! Granted, I am fair-skinned with acne, and I wasn't wearing any makeup, but still, do I want to look even younger? Do you think a sloped nose takes a few years off your appearance?

I will add some more before/after computerized photos and maybe you can help me decide. Again, I am not an expert at photo editing, so I hope my nose turns out much better than these photos, but if just focusing on the bridge and ignoring the nostrils and tip, does the computerized image look too sloped? Not enough? My husband says it looks pretty straight and he wouldn't call it sloped, so now I am wondering if my idea of sloped is also different than the Doctor's.

Opinions are welcome!

I called the Dr. yesterday in hopes of getting an email address so I could send pictures. I started freaking out thinking that maybe I wasnt clear enough at my last appointment. Maybe he didnt really know what I wanted. I decided I would send him some pics and make sure he could SEE what I wanted. Yesterday his staff told me there was no email and I couldn't send him pics. I was a little distraught as I did not want to show him really quick before surgery and hope he remembers. I wanted him to see the pics today and really study them in advance. Luckily, being the caring Doctor he is, he called today and gave me an address to send my pics to. Wheew, now I can relax! I've done all I can do and it is in his (and His, meaning God's lol) hands now. I have triple checked my list of things for recovery and I am so ready to do this! 5 am can't come soon enough. I am fairly grumpy in the morning, but I have a feeling I will be all smiles tomorrow!!