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POSTED UNDER African American Rhinoplasty Reviews

BUTCHERED! I hate my new nose!

UPDATED FROM PlasticPerception
1 month post

Stay Calm...Everyone Heals Differently

$9,500
I believe it is VITAL to understand that rhinoplasty is followed by a long healing process and everyone heals differently due to different surgical procedures, bone structure, thickness of the skin, etc. It usually takes around 12 months to see true results and it is definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Some days you think, “Ooookay...things are improving, I’m excited for the end results.” And other days you wake up swollen, thinking “I don’t know about this. Am I even healing? Did I ruin my face?”
But stay calm, patience truly is key, along with understanding everyone’s healing process is extremely different.
I feel it’s important to share my updates because during my pre-op research, I saw barely any ethnic rhinoplasty post op review pictures from patients or any updates regarding their healing process. Also it is extremely difficult to find a surgeon who specializes in ethnic rhinoplasty’s in California (oddly), but I was really blessed to find Dr. Tsai and see his amazing results with other ethnic rhinoplasty’s.
I’ve seen a lot of patient reviews 6 weeks post op and they’re out partying and taking cute pics (lol) and while my healing process is not at that level yet, I am confident my end results, rather it be in 6 months or 12 months, will be amazing. So hopefully I will too feel confident enough to post a cute post op pic of me living my best life within the next few weeks : )

PlasticPerception's provider

Roger Tsai, MD

Roger Tsai, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.4 | 77 Reviews
PROFILE

Replies (5)

Thank you so much for posting your review and updating. It really helps a lot of people with African-American noses as there just aren't many resources out there. have you been doing the exercises the doctor suggested to help with the initial crookedness? which other doctors were doing AA rhinoplasties that you were interested in? Most doctors don't advertise it so it's very hard to find pics even on their own websites. It's no surprise that so many women go to Turkey to get their noses done.
I agree...I see why most AA women go over seas because it's rare to find a Doctor in LA with results from AA rhinoplasty's. Sadly, Dr.Tsai hasn't recommended any exercises to me. At my 2 previous appointments, I asked him if there is anything I can do and he said not really and to be patient. He did give me a steroid shot to help with my swelling, but my swelling didn't go down. Other patients on here have given me advice on exercises to do, so I will probably try those. To be honest, my changes over these past 6 weeks has been more negative than positive so I am very concerned and depressed. I hardly leave bed these days and I don't even allow my family to see my face. I actually called Dr. Tsai's office and requested an appointment for this week (2 weeks soon than scheduled) because my nostrils are still extremely asymmetrical and you can see where the incisions were made and they are not symmetrical. One is pulled in more that the other. Also, the bridge of my nose has a huge bump on the side with the smaller nostrils and it's becoming difficult for me to breathe out of my left nostril (I never had breathing issues before this). I feel like I am definitely going to need a revision, but I have to wait 6 months to a year now...smh. If you DM me, I can give you information for other doctors who do AA rhinoplasty's who I am considering for my revision.
Hi I’m going through the same thing too but I only got alarplasty it’s been about a month. My nostrils now both have different shapes. I never had that. It looked better when it was swollen. As the swelling is coming down it’s getting worse. I told the doctor and his response was nobody looks under your nose. Really? I regret this already and looked better before. I have anxiety about this covid and masks is the only thing saving me right now. When covid is over and I have to show my face. Omg! Just know your not alone I hope it gets better for you
I am so sorry to hear about your surgical results + your surgeon's comments...smh. That's just adding insult to injury. Sadly you can't go back, but you can prepare for the future and just take this time to heal and research a new surgeon to do a revision once you are able to (8 months - 1 year). & I agree that having to wear a mask is a saving grace. I will pray for your recovery and hopefully your results turn out better than you expect. Check your inbox.
Hello do you mind sending me the list of surgeons I'm new here and am unsure not how to send a Dm
Don't go to the same doctor who you feel botched you. There is a doctor in Turkey who specializes in AA noses and his name is Bora Ok
Looks great
Your nose before was too cute! You also have a lovely side profile too, you have real model features! I hope your new nose is everything you hope it will be in the end!

Best wishes!
Hey! any update on your progress? It’s been awhile so hoping for positive results
Hello, I got butchered in california too by a surgeon who claims he can do ethnic noses. Please PM me! I can share some of my experiences and recent research (if you're still looking)
Hi! Do you mind sharing with me who the surgeon was that you weren’t happy with?
UPDATED FROM PlasticPerception
1 month post

UPDATE: 6 weeks post op

As of today, I am 6 weeks post op and have posted my progress photos (front & side) from week 1-5.
I had my splint taken off on June 26th (1 week post op) and my 1 month post op appointment on July 22nd.
During my 1 month post op appointment, Dr. Tsai gave me a steroid shot to help decrease swelling (I still have a little, esp on the right side of my face) and he instructed me to just be patient and wait for my swelling to go down which is when I will begin to start seeing some of the results. He said the majority of his patients are extremely happy and start seeing true results at 6 months. I do trust Dr. Tsai, which is why I chose him, so hopefully I will be a part of that majority.
Currently I am extremely concerned about the thickness + crooked-ness of my tip & bridge of my nose, and mostly my nostrils because they are extremely uneven, and prior to surgery that was not an issue (my left nostril is a lot smaller than the right nostril and my Collumella is slight more to the left side now). I am hoping this is due to swelling, but I have been taking a photo each week and haven’t seen any positive changes, which is very concerning.
I will discuss this with Dr. Tsai during my 2 month post op appointment on July 19 and post updated photos over the next few weeks at that time so you guys can see my 2 month progress, which hopefully is much better .
I know it’s only been 6 weeks but my nostrils are causing me a lot of depression and making me extremely insecure. Before my surgery, everyone told me “Don’t do it, you’re beautiful and your nose is perfect. You don’t want to ruin your face.” And now every person I have seen (without a mask - only benefit of COVID), points out how uneven my nostrils are and keeps saying I will need to have a revision. I really hope that is not the case because it took me time to save up for this surgery and I don’t have the money for a revision, esp after losing my job to COVID last week.
Fingers crossed ????, positive thoughts & prayers up !

Replies (5)

Omg! I have the same exact concerns regarding my recovery. The upper third is leaning to the right which makes my nose appear crooked. Also, because my tip is extremely swollen it appears as if the bottom third is leaning towards the opposite direction. I addressed the former concern with my physician and he suggested a digital exercise to implement twice daily. I hope to get a steroid shot at my next appointment to address the latter concern. Like you, I trust the guidance of my physician so that has given me a little hope during this process. While my nose is significantly different than what it was before, I still get paranoid that it will not go down in swelling. I'm just praying that I'm in that majority group that does witness a significant de-swelling of my nose (and that my nose no longe appears crooked). Here's to a successful and happy recovery for us both!
Thank God for your response girl! While I hope this improves for both of us, it helps to know someone else is also experiencing this, so it leads me to believe this I a natural part of the healing process. How many weeks post op are you? What is the digital exercise your surgeon recommended? I will ask Dr. Tsai to see if maybe that might help me too before I try it.
Yes - it does help to hear that we are not alone. I had my surgery this year on 06/29. Thanks for sharing your journey as it is important for people to understand how common this is in the process. The digital exercise requires me to push the upper third of my nose in the opposite direction of how it is leaning. So, since my nose is leaning to the right I have to push it to the left following the instructions noted above until my next appointment with him in 6 weeks. He indicated that since it is only off by a few millimeters that I should not do this more than twice a day. If you google nasal exercises, Dr. Hillinski (who was not my surgeon) has a great diagram and explanation of this specific exercise that was published in 2014. I would strongly suggest that you ask your physician about this sooner rather than later as some (it differs by physician) have indicated that these exercises are most effective within specific timeframes before the bones and/or cartilage have healed/settled. I’ve only been doing this exercise for 5 days so I can’t speak to the long term impact just yet. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much love! I looked up the digital exercises and they look very helpful. I also called Dr. Tsai to have an appointment this week, which is 2 weeks earlier than my next scheduled appointment but I am very concerned so I hope he can help me in some way. I've begun to have difficulty breathing in the left nostril which is smaller and have a lump on the left side of my bridge. Are you seeing positive changes at this point? I see no positive changes, just negative ones, sadly :(
Hi, i just had my rhinoplasty procedure in Turkey 3 weeks ago. Are you taping your nose at night? I have been doing that to combat swelling and i think it's helping.
Hey love! Who was your surgeon in Turkey and how do you like the outcome so far? Also, do you have any photos?
It looked great before. I don't see much of a change. Thanks for sharing.Good luck
Sorry to hear that you are unhappy. I really hope the doctor revised the problem without you paying extra.
Hey love...He has only told me to be patient; which I am being because I am now 9 months post op, but it's actually gotten worse overtime and the concerns I voiced right after my cast removal and my 1 month, are still huge concerns and I now know I have to get a revisions (which I knew when he first removed the cast). It's caused a lot of depression and I am currently seeing a therapist and trying to save up for my revision. It's just unfortunate I have to pay again when Dr. Tsai made so many mistakes on my face and botched my nose. This was the worst decision I ever made and now my only mission is to fix what Dr.Tsai damaged. I will actually be making a YouTube video to talk more about it and also warn people so they can do not have to experience the same thing.
I think it’s important to have a plastic surgeon who is an ENT who specializes in ethnic rhinoplasty. You might need to have a revision. I would suggest http://alpaslanyildirim.com.tr/ He is in Turkey. His work is amazing, and he does revisions. Check out his Instagram:
Thanks for the info love! I have actually been looking into him and Dr Bora for my revisión (which I cannot have until June , when I hit a year). This time I definitely require my doctor to be an ENT who specializes in Ethnic noses and I will not be having any doctor in the US touch my face ever again. My nose before looked 1000% better than my nose post surgery (it's soooo botched right now), I am just praying I can back to my natural beauty and recover what was damaged.
UPDATED FROM PlasticPerception
7 days post

UPDATE: Day 3 (after Surgery)

Today was the worst congestion and swelling wise. I felt like I could barely breathe all day and my splint was extremely tight due to the swelling, which left me with a horrible headache.
I haven’t taken any photos this weekwhich I wish I had, but I did take a few snaps on SnapChat so I might share those.
I think I will wait to begin taking pictures once my cast comes off in 3 days (6/26/2020), because that’s when I can really track progress.

Replies (2)

Hi, Do you have any photo updates?
Hi! I am only 3 weeks post op and still swollen, so I will post a photo in 1 week once I have my follow up at my 1 month mark with Dr. Tsai. I have been taking a photo each day so I will post a collage to show the progress over the course of 1 month on July 22nd. Are you considering going with Dr. Tsai?
Thanks for the update!
Can't wait. You're the only person i've found with a similar nose shape and width
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