Stephen F. Bansberg, MD

This review is for both a rhinoplasty I had performed for my deviated septum at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as for a rhinoplasty revision that needed to be done shortly thereafter due to the fact that a lady on an airplane dropped her heavy bag from the overhead compartment directly above the seat where my baby and I were positioned on a plane. It would have hit my newborn son, had I not blocked the falling suitcase with my own face.

I only know the approximate combined cost so I listed it here, and the date listed is the date for the 1st procedure. Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Stephen Bansburg at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. In short, "My answer was Mayo Clinic." ;-)

I had needed this surgery for some time as breathing through the right side of my nose had always been more difficult than the left. I underwent some allergy testing before insurance would agree to cover the surgery to determine whether any of the breathing difficulties I was having were due to allergies. No allergies were detected.

The surgery itself went well the first time around. I had an incision at the bottom of my nose so Dr. Bansburg could open it up to perform the necessary procedure. There is a tiny scar, but I don't really think about it or notice it much anymore. It is far worth accepting this small scar for the grand improvements in both my breathing and my nose's symmetry.

He could perform the second surgery to fix the clicking without having to "reopen" the nose. I believe that could all be done internally. There is medical term for this type of rhinoplasty vs the open type I believe, but it escapes me at the moment.

Healing was somewhat difficult because of having to breathe solely through my mouth for a while after both surgeries. I remember the necessary coordination of breathing and swallowing was somewhat difficult to maintain while trying to eat early on.

I was considerably bruised up under my eyes, and around the nose following surgery - particularly the first one. To give you an idea, a good friend told me I looked as though I had been to "Fight Club."

I remember the odd feeling of the PULL as the packing was removed. It is a strange sensation having it pulled in a long string from your nose. It just seems to keep going and going and you find yourself wondering, "How in the world did they cram all that stuff up there in such a small space?!?!!"

It was wonderful to be able to breath better! Dr. Bansburg also attempted to correct a little bit of asymmetry in my nose which was great! I was happy with it as it is much improved following surgery.

The reason the second surgery had to take place was because after the suitcase hit my nose, every time I would yawn or smile, the cartilage in my nose would click. It wasn't just a clicking sound. It was something physical going on with the movement of the cartilage inside as well. It didn't hurt, but I was very conscious of it, and it was extremely annoying.

Dr. Bansburg was my own little miracle worker. I'm so grateful it was something that could be fixed. Going back to see Dr. Bansburg after the airplane incident, I was nervous that he might say that there was nothing he could do to help me. Also, since I was happy with the cosmetic result of the previous surgery, I worried that going back in to fix the clicking could possibly cause me to end up with a worse cosmetic result. Fortunately, he was able to go back into my nose, repair it, and the clicking is completely gone. My nose still looks fine, and I'm extremely happy with the end result.

However, during the 2nd surgery (despite all of the negative allergy test results) somehow I developed an allergy to the M3 tape they used to tape my eyes shut during surgery. I had A TERRIBLE allergic reaction with my eyes swelling, tearing, and burning from that tape. I ended up back in the Mayo Clinic emergency room because I couldn't see, I couldn't sleep, over the counter allergy medication seemed to do nothing for me, etc. It was JUST a HORRIBLE ordeal. However, I realize I am still very lucky as there are many other things (much worse things) that COULD have gone wrong & didn't.

No surgery is without risk, and as my favorite cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert Yoho, says, " The only minor surgery is surgery someone else is having." From then on, I have always gone into my procedures hoping for the best but always fully aware of complications which I could be confronted with in each and every case.