Cookie Cutter Nose Job

Some rhinoplasty surgeons have made great careers (and lots of money) out of a particular looking nose. Years ago, having a rhinoplasty was a "status" symbol. In the early years of rhinoplasty, patients and their surgeons actually wanted the nose to look "done".
When "all the noses look the same afterward" there is an obvious "done" look to the nose. The technique used is usually the same without regard for the individuality of the nose with relation to the other facial features. The local surgeon who you speak about above has patients who notice his/her "done nose job" and want that look.
In my opinion, today's beautiful nose gets out of the way of the other facial features so that the focus of attention is drawn towards the eyes. Ideally, one should not be able to tell that someone has had a rhinoplasty; it should look natural and fit the individual face. This requires making a diagnosis of what is distracting about the nose, creating a unique surgical plan, and carrying it out.
I agree with your friend that I would stay away from the cookie-cutter rhinoplasty surgeon, unless you like that "done" look.

A nose job is a very complex operation and one that is difficult to predict due to the forces of healing and patient to patient variation with wound healing. Once a surgeon gains experience with a technique that provides him/her with a greater degree of reliability, the surgeon will tend to use the same technique over and over to deliver a consistent albeit clone-like outcome.

My personal philosophy when it comes to rhinoplasty is to create noses which are well balanced, functional, and blend with the other features of the face. There is no single best nasal shape which is appropriate for every individual. So many factors come into play, including gender, ethnicity, age, height, chin projection, facial shape, skin thickness, and most importantly, individual aesthetic desires.

The best way I have found for patients to communicate their aesthetic sense to me during the consultation is through the use of computer imaging. I spend quite a lot of time with patients during this process to create a shared cosmetic goal and then use the images during surgery as a guide to indicate when the surgery has been completed. It also allows me to communicate in visual form what I feel is a realistic goal in primary and revision rhinoplasty, given the patient's anatomy and all the factors I mentioned above.

I would advise you to seek out surgeons who offer this computer imaging during the consultation, to ensure that your aesthetic sense is being considered, not just the surgeon's. The ideal endpoint of this or any surgery should be a happy and satisfied patient.