Hello everyone!
I have been planning and searching for the right doctor to perform a rhinoplasty on my nose. I've wait on over 10 years (wanted this since I was 13) to finally make the decision to move forward with this procedure. I live in Sacramento and want to know if anyone can recommend any good doctors that have helped you or someone you know achieve great results from having rhinoplasty performed.
Thank you so much!!!
Updated on 31 Jan 2016:
Updated on 1 Feb 2016:
Words can not explain how excited I am to finally see my new nose! I know I should expect a lot of swelling and bruising so I am not expecting too much of a big celebration but just seeing my dorsal hump removed and a more narrow nose in the front is something I've longed for my whole life. I have attached photos of my before and what Dr. Kaniff and I came up with at the consultation! He so far has been the best by far.
Updated on 1 Feb 2016:
Just sitting in my bed... Taking my medicine... And awaiting the big cast reveal tomorrow!
Updated on 1 Feb 2016:
Let me start off by giving you some background. Now, bare with me, this may be long but I'm only writing this to help anyone going through this life changing process. Plus, I'm still in bed recovering with nothing better to do :) I'm 24 years old and of Hispanic decent. I have been wanting rhinoplasty (nose job) for as long as I can remember. If you see from some of the photos I've posted, I've always felt extremely insecure of my nose, especially how it appears in profile view and the front. I have a hump from the side and my front view has a dropping tip. I remember begging my parents to help me with the surgery for the past ten plus years! So now the time has come and my parents have financially helped me out and I went through with it. I am a very careful and paranoid person. I know how important it is to do your research! People often get very excited and settle with the first doctor that they feel will give them what they want. Big mistake! Please, interview AT LEAST five plastic surgeons before you make up your mind. Ask them every little question you can think of and make sure you leave the office feeling confident and like you've "fallen in love." I know that sounds silly, but picking the right doctor is essential and having REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS is huge as well. So many times I read bad reviews about doctors and see the after photos of patients and I'm left wondering, "So why are you so unhappy? It's an improvement from what you had before!" That's the key to any cosmetic surgery, you MUST NOT EXPECT dramatic results and the idea that you're going to end up waking out of surgery with a perfect Megan Fox nose or Vicroria Secret model nose. You need to understand that the goal of rhinoplasty is to achieve IMPROVMENT from your previous nose. For me, I want an IMPROVMENT in my hump and tip! Therefore when all is done, I see an IMPROVMENT, not a dramatic change. Also, people need to understand that everyone's facial structure is DIFFERENT. You can't walk into an office and show a doctor a particular nose and expect them to make it and you look just as good as the picture. That's not reality. What looks good on somebody else will not necessarily look flattering on you. Just because she looks good with short hair doesn't mean I will. There are so many different things to consider. Face shape (oval, square, heart, round), chin definition (strong chin, weak chin) bone structure, eye placement, etc! So please make sure you are mentally prepared for realistic results and not a total transformation. I think that rhinoplasty especially is very much mental. You need to have the right and positive mindset going into the procedure. So enough about that, now that you have a little understanding of my mindset...I live in Sacramento and have been doing my research! Lots of it. Before coming to Dr. Kaniff I had seen another facial surgeon that only worked on facial plastic surgery. His consumption went great but he had absolutely NO work to show me. No before or after photos, no previous patient testimonies, nothing. I walked out of there upset because I really thought he may be the one. So I moved on. (Dr. Toft, Roseville) I then had a consultation with my wild card doctor. One that doesn't necessarily specialize in facial surgery, but does a little of everything. I went to him because he is a very high rated and known doctor in the Sacramento area. And let me tell you, it went absolutely horrible. I felt that the moment I walked in there I was being judged. The staff would constantly look me down and made me sit in a busy waiting room with tons of other patients. This should be a private and relaxing experience, no? I was then taken photos of my self (oh, something the first doctors did not do) and sat in a very "hollywood" type of waiting room. It all felt just very fake to me. Way too over the top. At this point I was feeling really uncomfortable. The doctor then came in and I instantly did NOT feel the connection I wanted. He felt too forced and way too cocky. He then asked me nothing about who I was and what I wanted to achieve. He just looked at his computer, created an absolute generic, fake, and just overall disturbing looking nose. In my head, I knew I didn't want to further anything else. I felt that if I spoke up, he would only try to convince me again that he is the best and knows what's best. I smiled, said thank you and that I'll think about it. I then met with this lady who went over the cost, available surgery dates, and other details. SHE WAS HORRIBLE. Again, I felt like I was being judged! I'm not sure if it's because I am a little younger or shy but she made me feel rushed and made me feel uncomfortable and even depressed about the whole thing! I left and never looked back. (Dr. Kaufman & Clark, Folsom)So my journey with my other consultations were all hit or miss but none of them really made me feel like they were the one till I walked into Dr. Kaniff's practice. I came in with my sister (for support) and I was greeted by the most lovely patient coordinator. She was so professional, quick, warm, and welcoming! She made me feel already so at ease as if I already was a patient of theirs. The waiting area was lovely, simple, and private. I filled out my paperwork and was almost instantly taken in the back to the consultation room. The room was comfortable, warm, and beautiful. Kathy sat me down and asked me about myself. Why I was there and what were some things I was hoping to achieve. She gave me a run down of how everything at their office goes. Every detail was laid out and explained. The amount of information was almost overwhelming but that was great. It made me feel like even though I wasn't even a patient yet, they still cared enough to tell me everything to expect. She left me having no questions! She then took me to a smaller room to take pictures of my profile and front view. Again, she was kind and asked me questions about school and about me. Excellent Kathy. She made me feel like I was not just a potential $patient$ But that she actually had an interest in who I was as a person! We then went back to the consultation room and uploaded my photos. What struck me as kind of odd (but only at first) is she started to edit my image and come up with a new nose. At first in my head I though, shouldn't the doctor be doing this? Not the patient coordinator? But then it hit me. I THINK she does this first with the patient to help them feel at ease. Think about it, it is extremely overwhelming and even intimidating to meet the surgeon and automatically start laying down what you want. I felt a connection with Kathy therefore I felt that I could honestly and openly tell her what I wanted (a woman's opinion) before seeing the doctor who may make me feel intimated at first. She came up with a beautiful nose and we both smiled and she said she'd come back with Dr. Kaniff. She came back and I instantly felt like I had finally found the doctor I was looking for. Dr. Kaniff has an extremely kind and gentle manner to him. You instantly feel and see DOCTOR first then remember, he's a plastic surgeon second. I felt that he most definitely lived up to his credentials by the way he spoke and by his presence. I felt like I was talking to a doctor. Only once we stood before the three way mirror I saw his artistic side. I pointed out the areas that HE saw that can use IMPROVMENT. He then asked me almost always what what I wanted. I felt as though we both were on the same page of wanting to achieve an improved and natural looking nose. He then himself looked at the computer imaging and made his own adjustments to what Kathy and I came up with. It was like magic. He didn't rush the process and didn't sugar coat anything. He let me know of the possible complications and of how the image was only a 80% outcome. THANK YOU! For once a doctor that was HONEST. I wasn't there to hear how he can promise me the world, a perfect Hollywood nose, and a whole new life. I just wanted to hear that I would achieve IMPROVMENT and I would be happier then what I had now. He even asked my sister some questions about herself and he gave me the feeling I was searching so long for. Again I can not make this clear enough, he gave me the doctor vibe first. If I had to trust anyone with my nose it has to be someone who only specializes in facial surgery and is a Otolaryngologists. He is all of that and more. An artist. Surgery was set and the day came and I still can't remember a thing which is a good thing. The day of surgery was welcoming, easygoing, calm, and so relaxing. I would do it all over again if I could. Doctor Kaniff met with my nervous reck of a father and even put his mind at ease. I don't remember much about the surgery since I was on twilight annestia but I do remember the EXCELLENT surgecial technician that explained everything and made me feel so excited and overall good. The anesthesiologist was beyond outstanding and so genuine. She made me feel like she was going to take really good care of me. I couldn't wait to go under the knife (crazy I know) but that's how good the entire staff made me feel.So this review so far has just been on overall consultation and surgery day. The big cast removal day is tomorrow and I will make sure to update my review on my final results.
Updated on 2 Feb 2016:
My new nose!!!!! I can't believe it!!!! I'm so in love!!!
Updated on 2 Feb 2016:
That like bump on the left side of my nostril is a pimple that had unfortunately grown under the cast! I have extremely oily skin so I didn't surprise me that I broke out on my nose! Nothing a little acne medication can't fix!
Updated on 12 Apr 2016:
Here are some pictures of my nose. It's been roughly 3 months now since having my rhinoplasty done with Dr. Kaniff!! HE IS THE BEST FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON IN SACRAMENTO!